NUsearch is the library's tool for finding books, journals, videos, images, and so much more (both physical and electronic) in our collection.

Google Books allows you to search within the contents of books in ways a traditional library catalog cannot. This it a good way to locate a specific chapter or reference within a book that is useful to your research. When you find a good book on your topic, be sure to check NUsearch to see if Northwestern owns a copy of it.

Probably the best way to approach searching for books in NUsearch is to start with a keyword search.

• Enter your search terms, using words you're familiar with that describe your topic.
• Scan through the results.
• When you find a book that is relevant to your topic, explore the details of the book, including the author, table of contents and publisher by clicking on the tab labeled "Details".
• Pay special attention to the subject headings. Clicking on these will call up a list of other books that deal with similar topics.

Subject headings provide a controlled means to find books in the catalog by using specific terminology that describes what a book is about. Here are a few examples of subject headings you could use to find books on careers in various arenas.

• Graduate students -- Employment
• Mathematics -- Vocational guidance
• Psychology -- Vocational guidance
• Social sciences -- Vocational guidance

Some books you need may be held at the Galter Library, Pritzker Legal Research Center or the Oak Grove Library Center.

You can request items from other library locations be sent to an Evanston campus library directly through NUsearch!

To place your request from the item record in NUsearch, simply click on the “Sign in to request” link next to the item, log in to your account, and follow the instructions.

For materials that are not available via Northwestern, or books that are checked out by someone else, you can submit an interlibrary loan request to have a copy of the item sent here.  Articles are sent in digital format and arrive more quickly than books, which are delivered by mail/delivery services;  average time to receive a book request is 5-10 days.

If time is tight and you are willing to travel to another library in the Chicagoland area, take advantage of our Reciprocal Borrowing agreements with the University of Chicago,  Loyola University of Chicago, and University of Illinois Chicago.

Feel free to suggest a purchase, too!