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Tips for Searching the Catalog

Using WorldCat

WorldCat is the world's largest library catalog, with hundreds of millions (yes, that many!) of resources compiled from thousands of libraries and other repositories worldwide. Searching Worldcat allows you to see not only what we have at MSM, but additional resources at other institutions that you can then borrow for free via Interlibrary Loan. We've configured our settings to show our holdings first for your convenience.

What WorldCat Does and Does Not Do

What you can see: What you cannot see:
  • Items at the MSM Library that have been fully or mostly processed
  • Items we do not own that are available at other libraries
  • Items in our catalog that have not been processed
    • Items on order that we have not received
    • Items in our backlog (we have the physical item, but have not assigned a call number to it)
  • Older institutional recordings and select rare materials

What you can do:

What you cannot do:
  • Place an interlibrary loan request on physical media (scores, CDs, books)
  • View and download open-access (i.e. public domain) e-resources
  • View copyrighted e-resources for which MSM has purchased an institutional license
  • Place an interlibrary loan request on e-resources (e-books, e-scores, e-dissertations)
  • View and download copyrighted e-resources for which MSM has not purchased an institutional license