Research Guides: HIST 301: Historian's Craft (Petty, Fall 2024): Worldcat: Accessing books we don't own

WorldCat

WorldCat This link opens in a new window
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Materials held by thousands of libraries in the US and abroad. Books, websites, computer programs, films, slides, journals, magazines, papers, manuscripts, maps, musical scores, newspapers, sound recordings, videotapes, etc. Coverage: Before 1000BC-present.
WorldCat Discovery This link opens in a new window
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WorldCat Discovery includes access to a wide variety of electronic, licensed, physical and locally digitized materials. Users can discover more than 1.8 billion items in local libraries and around the world with a single search.

Including 3 billion items across 500 million records in 483 languages by 100 million authors, it is the most complete record of books known to exist. Before it was set up in 1998, people had to use the 754-volume National Union Catalog.

WorldCat works the exact same way as our catalog:

Search your keywords or subject and it'll generate a list of books.

It'll tell you if WM owns the book, and if not, who Does own it.

In most cases, WM can order it from the other library & you can pick it up right here in Swem - at no charge!

Suggestions for Purchase
Let us know any items you'd like us to purchase, either general recommendations or specific titles. We give priority to materials that support courses taught at William & Mary. Fill in as much information as you have in the form.

Order books through ILL (it's free!)

Our Interlibrary Loan service will order books you find without charge!