PHED: Personal Health and Wellness: GIL Catalogs

Quick tips for searching GIL-Find:

• Use the main words of your subject as search terms, not a whole sentence.
• If you are not finding enough results:
  • Try more general words as search terms (e.g. "depression" instead of "asthenia")
  • Try synonyms (e.g. "nutrition" instead of "diet")
  • Try connecting similar terms with OR (e.g. "nutrition OR diet")
  • Try using fewer search terms
• If you are getting too many results:
  • Try using the limiters on the left to refine your results. Especially consider format, date, and location.
  • Try using more specific search terms (e.g. "depression" instead of "mental health")
  • Try adding additional search terms (e.g. "vegetarianism and health" instead of just "vegetarianism")
• Omit A, An, and The when those words are the first word of a title.
• Journals are listed in the catalog by title of the journal, but you can't look for specific articles in the catalog. Use Research Databases to look for articles.

Use the GIL-Find Library Catalog to find materials at all Georgia State University campus libraries, as well as materials from other University System of Georgia libraries.

Find in GIL-Find:

• Books
• Journals / Magazines / Newspapers by title
• DVDs 
• Audiobooks
• Music CDs
• Some electronic items such as e-books, streaming video, and journal articles.
• & More

Use GIL-Find@GSU, the GSU Libraries catalog, to find books, videos, etc. at all Georgia State University campus libraries, as well as e-books and streaming videos.

Quick Tips for GIL-Find:

• Boolean operators (AND, OR, and NOT) are optional, but must be in all caps if you use them.
• "Catalog searches look in title, author, subject, and other information about a book (video, etc.), but does not search within the text of the book itself.
• To limit your search to items at one campus, use Advanced Search or choose a location after searching.
• If at first you don't succeed, try another search term!

More Catalog Tips:

• Advanced GIL-Find Search allows you to search for combinations of Author, Title, Subject, Call Number and more.
• Request books and DVDs from other GSU libraries with Intercampus loan.  This service is free of charge and takes 1-2 business days. 
• Renew materials online through Your Library Account. 

This video shows you how to use the GIL-Find@GSU catalog to search for physical items and e-books.

Sometimes the Basic Search isn't your best option and you will want to use Advanced Search.

Reasons to use Advanced Search include: 

• When you have an exact title or author 
• When you are researching a person as the subject of your research. (use the drop down to select "in subject")
• When you want to combine search terms to create complex searches

In the example below, you are searching for a book (or other item) that mentions math, algebra, or mathematics anywhere in the description, that has anxiety as a primary subject term, and is written by Marilyn Burns.

On the results page, you will see all the results. This may be too many or many not seem relevant.

• "Tweak My Results" contains limiters such as "Show Only," and "Format" to refine your results. 
• ​When you see an item you're interested in, click on the title to get information about the item's location, availability and more.
• Electronic items will contain an access link.

To find a book in the library, note its location and call number. If Call Numbers confuse you, you are not alone! Just ask a library employee for help.  (I've included a video below in case you're shy.)

If the item isn't at your library, you can usually request that it be delivered to the library most convenient to you. (See "Placing a Request.")

You can request a book or other item physically located at another campus by requesting an "Intercampus Loan."  This typically takes 1-3 business days.

Request books from other USG libraries by placing a "GIL Express Request." This typically takes 3-7 business days.

To place requests, sign into your account,  click "Request," then follow the prompts. Be sure you indicate the campus where you want to pick up the item.

After placing your request,  you can check your account to see the status of the request.  You should also get an email if the request is denied (for example, if the book is not found on the shelf) or when the book is available for pick up.

Find more books at other libraries in the University System of Georgia by expanding your search to "University System of Georgia."

Only books may be requested from other USG libraries. Electronic books, DVDs, and other non-book media are not included.

To request copies of articles from print journals and small portions of non-circulating books, place an Interlibrary Loan request.  You may also use Interlibrary Loan to request books not owned by USG libraries.

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