Browsing the Collection
Use the Library catalog to search the COD Library's collection of books, videos, e-books, and streaming media. Use your COD Library card to check these items out or access them online.
Get a C.O.D. Library Card
- 24/7 access to our full-text electronic books and article databases
- Check out videos, books, software, anatomical models
- reserve small group study rooms
- FREE book and article Interlibrary Loans (ILL) if we don't have the resources that you need
- Cards are FREE for C.O.D. students and 502 community members
- Learn more...
An easy way to start searching the Library catalog is to do a keyword search for words that describe your topic. You may need to experiment with keywords to find ones that work for your topic.
Keyword Searching
Do a keyword search of the Library catalog using words that are specific to your topic. Try using specific keywords, such as proper names, combining several keywords, or using keyword phrases. For example:
- health care reform AND United States
- (health management organization) OR HMO
- (health OR medical) AND coding
- (electronic medical record) OR (electronic health record)
- For more tips on creating keyword searches, see the Journal Articles section of this guide
Once you find some items, you can use subject headings to find other items that cover the same topic.
Subject Searching
Try these subjects to browse the General and Reference Collections.
| health care reform united states | medical laws and legislation |
| HIPAA | medical jurisprudence |
| malpractice | medical policy |
| managed care | medical records |
| medical care law and legislation United States | medicine terminology |
| medical claims | medical transcription |
| medical ethics | nosology |
Call Number Searching
Another strategy is to search by call number. Health-related materials are shelved in the "R" section of libraries that use the Library of Congress classification system. HIT and Coding books are located in several call number areas.
Sometimes books are located in other areas of the "R" section if they deal with specific age groups . Other resources may be located outside the "R" section if they deal with legal matters (such as malpractice or legal/ethical issues). Search the Library catalog to locate the call numbers for specific resources.
| Subject | Call Number Range |
| Health Communications | R118 |
| Medical Terminology | R123 |
| Health Information Processes (including Transcription) | R728-730s |
| Electronic Health Records | R858-R864 |
| Health Office Management | RA971-RA976.5 |
| Coding | RB115 |
| pharmacology & drug handbooks or guides | RM100-300s |
There are two locations for "print" or physical material (videos or software) in the C.O.D. Library: the reference collection (items don't leave the Library) and the general stacks (items that you can take home). Library staff members will be happy to help you find books in either section--just ask!
Reference Materials
Reference materials are well indexed, up-to-date, concise, and highly credible. They provide overviews, definitions, specific information (such as causes & symptoms, diagnosis, treatments, prognosis, etc) or addresses. Types of reference books include: directories, dictionaries and encyclopedias, basic health books (describing diseases and conditions), and drug resources. Since you cannot normally take these materials home, remember that you will have to photocopy, or write down the information that you need. Some reference materials are available full text, online via our databases. Below are some examples of the types of reference books found in the C.O.D. reference collection.
Some of these resources are designed for consumers (such as the Johns Hopkins or Mayo Clinic health books), some for health students and consumers (the Gale Encyclopedia series), and some for health professionals (Cecil or Harrison's), so the type and level of information differs to suit each audience. Some reference works are available in Spanish language versions.
Reference Best Bets
Dorland's Illustrated Medical Dictionary
REF R 121.D73 2012 ONLINE ACCESS
Gale Encyclopedia of Nursing and Allied Health
ONLINE ACCESS*
* This link will allow you to simultaneously search all of the specialized Gale Encyclopedias available in the Gale Virtual Reference Library database
Merriam-Webster Online Medical Dictionary (select medical reference, includes audio pronunciations)
Goldman's Cecil Medicine
REF RC46 .C423
Conn's Current Therapy
REF RM101 .C87
Current Medical Diagnosis & Treatment
REF RC71 .A14
Harrison's Principles of Internal Medicine
REF RC46 .H333
Mosby's Diagnostic and Laboratory Test Reference
REF RB38.2 .M67
Religion : a Clinical Guide for Nurses
REF RT85.2 .R45 2012 and ONLINE ACCESS
Streaming Health & Medical Videos
You must have a valid College of DuPage library card to access these video databases from off-campus.
Academic Video Online
A diverse collection of full-length streaming videos. A wide-range of disciplines are included. Most useful is the Health & Health Care collection. Also included in the subscription are full transcripts of each video program that are keyword searchable, easy playlist and clip making functionality, permanent embeddable URLs for easy use in online courses.
Nursing Education in Video
Nursing Education in Video is an online collection of videos created specifically for the education and training of nurses, nursing assistants, and other healthcare workers. All of the videos in the collection have been created with the guidance of the Medcom-Trainex advisory board, and are regularly reviewed for accuracy, currency, and compliance with US Federal regulations from agencies such as OSHA and CMS.
Rehabilitation Therapy in Video
Rehabilitation Therapy in Video is a collection of video materials for the study of occupational therapy, physical/physiotherapy, and speech-language pathology. The collection allows students and faculty to easily find, cite, and share footage of top clinicians and academics explaining the underlying anatomical and neurological issues in specific patient populations, while demonstrating effective techniques and methods for their treatment.
Sports Medicine And Exercise Science In Video
Sports Medicine and Exercise Science in Video is the most extensive video collection ever assembled in the areas of fitness and health assessment, disease management, injury treatment, nutrition, medical fitness, sport science, work-site wellness, exercise adherence, and much more.
Remember that additional DVDs, CD-ROMs and health-related multimedia resources can be found by searching the COD Library catalog. Use your COD Library card to check these items out for in-library, home viewing, or online access (depending on availability).
Anatomical Models
Anatomical Models are available at the Library circulation desk.
For even more assistance with anatomy & physiology, check out the COD Library's Anatomy & Physiology Research Guide!