Use OneSearch on the library homepage to search the library's books collection, and to search and request items from other libraries through CSU+. For more information and tips, please visit the library's guide to using OneSearch.
How to search for books
Start at the library homepage.
Enter your keywords in the Books and Media search box
How to find your book
Each book in the library will have a location, call number, and status.
If the book is available, write down the call number, find it at the location listed, and bring the book to the Circulation Desk, near the library entrance, to check out.
If you aren't sure where in the library your book is located, or it's not on the shelf, Ask Us, or stop by the Start Here desk for assistance.
Or, for more information on finding books at Fresno State, watch this video.
There are a number of strategies you can use to locate books with primary source material.
In a title:
In a subject heading (located in the item record):
If you are researching a specific person, look for that person's name listed as an author (just below the title). It may be a book they wrote, such as an autobiography, or a collection of their works, such as speeches or letters.
In Advanced Search, you can also search specifically by author.
You sometimes identify primary sources based on the date of publication. Sources published during the time period you are researching can be primary sources. Just be aware that primary sources can be published long after the event, so date alone won't always tell you whether a source is primary.
Check the bibliography or reference list of secondary sources that you have found, such as books, articles, or even Wikipedia. These sources will almost always list their sources, and sometimes will even include a separate list of primary sources they consulted.
