• Use the Browse function if you are looking for a specific title or author (type last name first).
• Use the Keyword function and combine terms to search on a topic then use the subject headings from relevant books for additional search terms.
• Write down the call number and location for any book you want. If the item is not at your campus use the "I Want It" button to request it. 
• For electronic books, click the link under the words "online content" to access the full text

You can also find books via

Suggested CAT Search Terms: Search for organisms (e.g. Rana pipiens or Drosophila or cichlids or viola), processes/techniques (e.g. cell culture or population distribution mapping) or concepts (e.g. biological diversity or apoptosis or proteomics or eutrophication or genetically modified). Most Life Sciences print materials at University Park are found in the Life Sciences Library, 4-Paterno.

General call numbers and subject areas are:

• QH - Natural History and Genetics
• QK– Botany
  • QK640-707   Plant Anatomy
  • QK710-899   Plant Physiology
• QL - Zoology
• QP - Physiology
• QR– Microbiology 

• Check books out at the nearest lending desk or self check-out station. 
• Loan periods are usually one semester
• Books can be recalled for another user, so respond ASAP to library notices. 

If you know the item you want, and Penn State does not own it, use Interlibrary Loan!

Try these databases if you want to search other libraries by subject or author.  

You can request the items directly within these systems and they will automatically use our InterLibrary Loan service