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Finding Books, Book Chapters, and Book Reviews: Tips for Searching the Library Catalog

Searching the Library Catalogs

Discovery is the NYU Law Library's catalog. It allows one to search many of the Law Library's physical and electronic resources in one centralized search box. Discovery can be accessed on the Law Library's homepage, using the main search box available. 

Search box on the NYU Law Library website, with the search box highlighted in red

Key Features

  • Find electronic and physical library materials
  • Includes individual articles, unlike traditional catalog. Caveat: Some legal databases excluded
  • Signing in with your NYU ID unlocks various features, including saved items, searches and alerts

Searching Discovery

  • For a list of general search tips, such as applying Boolean operators, check the Discovery Research Guide.
  • Use the Advanced Search function to perform a title search if you have a known title. 
  • Apply filters to narrow results where helpful, e.g. ‘Catalog only’ for library holdings. Source type; year of publication and such can also be useful filters.

Examples of filters in the Discovery library catalog search interface. In particular, the 'All Filters' and 'Catalog' options are highlighted as an example.

  • View 'Access options' for physical or electronic access details. Note the coverage for online resources and location/availability for physical resources.

Example of a book retrieved by the Discovery library catalog. The 'Access options' are highlighted, as well as additional options in the dotted menu on the top right hand corner of the book.

  • If you have signed in, you may save items of interest by selecting the bookmark icon.

Example of the website page containing a list of Saved items. The save function for each book, represented by a bookmark icon, is highlighted.

Searching Julius

Julius is NYU Law Library's classic catalog. It is used in tandem with Discovery, especially when locating specific information on library holdings.

  • Julius Records: Julius contains records for many of the NYU Law Library's print and online holdings, including books, databases, microforms, journals, and so on. There are no records in Julius for articles, unlike Discovery. For information on finding articles, go here.  
  • Search Fields: Julius can be searched by author, title, author/title, keyword, subject and so on. Search fields are available from a pull-down bar as well from links on the black banner at the top of the Julius page. See the illustration to the right. 
  • Keyword vs. Subject Search: Keyword and subject searches are different. Julius's subject field correlates to specific subject headings. Generally, for broad subject searches, keyword searches are preferable, as it draws from a range of Julius fields. However, a pertinent subject heading--if known--can be an efficient method to locate relevant materials. Subject headings can be derived by locating a sample text and clicking on relevant headings found under.
  • Obtaining Perma Link: Once you have found a relevant library record, you can click "Bookmark link for this record" to generate a permanent URL, which you can copy and paste.
  • Title & Author Searches: Title searches are not forgiving. Make sure you type in the exact title. But do not include colons (even if in the actual title). Author searches must follow this order: last name, first name. 
  • Finding a Specific Volume: If you are searching for a specific volume of a journal or serial (like a reporter), click on the gray bar that reads "View additional copies or search for a specific volume/copy" to see all volumes or search for a particular one.
  • Limiting Results: Too many results from your Julius search? Author and title searches can be limited/sorted by year, library location, and material type. Keyword searches must be manually modified.
  • Course Reserves: On the left-hand navigation bar, you can search for course reserve material by professor or course name. Most course reserve material is held at the Circulation Desk, but always check the specified location for a particular item identified in the Julius record.
  • Information in Julius Records: Julius records provide a variety of information about a library item. For a print record (such as for the print version of a book or journal), this information includes the item's physical location in the library (e.g. Main Reading Room or B1), status (availability), call number, ISBN/ISSN, and subject heading. For online items (e.g., databases, ebooks, but not articles), Julius provides a link to the content.

Julius Screen Map

Julius Search Box and Fields

Picture of the Julius law library catalog, with the basic search box, "Find Books & More" highlighted. This example also includes a dropdown menu of search options, such as a Keyword versus Title search.

Sample Julius Record

An example of a sample book record from Julius. The URL is highlighted as an example of a permanent link you can generate on the Julius platform by clicking "Bookmark link for this record."

Renewals & Circulation Records on Julius

Logging into your Julius account (left-hand navigation bar under "My Julius Account"), allows patrons to check their circulation record and renew items. Once logged in, if you search for an item and find that it is checked out to another patron, you can place a recall for that item.