The online catalog can be found here.

Using the Search Field

On its home page, you can search for books in the collection by author, title, or subject. (See below for a list of suggested search terms.) If you use the search field, a “results” page will come up showing all the titles by that author or related to that subject.

The Scrolling Book Covers

At the bottom of the home page is a continuous scroll of book covers, chosen in random order from the collection. LibraryThing, the web platform we are using, automatically imports a color image of the book if it has an ISBN number entered into the system. For books published before 1970 and books published after that date but not registered with the Library of Congress, it will show a gray cover with the title. Over time the Library Committee will photograph and upload images for those books as well.

Clicking on any of these covers will also take the user directly to a “details” page with more information about that book and its location in our library.

The Details Page

When results come up from a search, click on the book’s title to get to the details page. For most books, this will include the Library of Congress classification number (LCC), which is the shelf number where it can be found in the Dozier Library.

For books that are located in special sections of the library, the name of the section will be shown in a field called “Local Notes.”

Most books in special sections also have a special spine label, showing the abbreviation for that section, followed by the author’s last name, and the date of publication. Examples include:

  • CB-B        Children’s Books – Bible
  • CB-S        Children’s Books – Stories
  • SMA        St. Mark’s Authors
  • YM           Youth Ministry

Reference books and those relating to youth confirmation or worship planning will have spine labels showing the LCC number at the top (or the title of the book, if no LCC number is available), with REFERENCE, WORSHIP, or Youth Conf. at the bottom.

If a book has a special spine label, it will appear on the results or detail page as “Call Number.”

To see where special sections are located in the library, see “Special Sections and Locations” under Introduction to the Collection on this web site or see the location information posted on the bulletin board in the library and contained in the Catalog binders.

Book Descriptions and Reviews

For books with ISBN numbers, LibraryThing occasionally imports book reviews, which will also be shown on the details page. Most often these are reviews drawn from reputable library journals but occasionally there will also be “reviews” written by individuals who use LibraryThing for their personal or institutional collections.

Related Books

For books that have ISBN numbers, LibraryThing will also list books on related topics that can be found in our collection. These are shown at the bottom of the detail page. 

Suggested Search Terms

The Dozier Library includes many of the major works one would find in any church library. Because of St. Mark’s traditions and the diverse interests of the congregation, it also encompasses some subject matter that might not readily come to mind. To aid individuals conducting topical searches on the home page of the online catalog, the Library Committee offers some suggested terms.

  • Art – videos as well as books
  • Architecture – also cathedrals
  • Atlases
  • Bibles – Hebrew Scriptures and New Testament, different translations, commentaries, prophets, parables, Jesus, Apostles
  • Church history – early Christianity, Catholic Church, the Reformation, the Anglican church, the Episcopal church, other denominations
  • Clergy – preaching, sermons, pastoral care,
  • Congregations – also laity, lay ministry, caregiving, hospitality, leadership, organization, stewardship
  • Education – teaching, youth and adult education, Catechesis of the Good Shepherd, Functional Education, Education for Ministry
  • Environment and environmental stewardship
  • Hymnals – Baptist, Catholic, Episcopal, Lutheran, Methodist, and others; commentaries
  • Israel – ancient Israel, modern Israel and Palestine
  • Life issues – birth, celebrations, rituals, aging, illness, death
  • Music – choral, organ, composers
  • Mysticism
  • Myth
  • Novels
  • Philosophy
  • Poetry
  • Psychology
  • Reference material – concordances, dictionaries, encyclopedias
  • Saints
  • Sermons
  • Social justice and outreach
  • Spiritual practices – prayer, meditation, journaling, retreats, spiritual directors
  • Theology – feminist theology
  • World religions – Buddhism, Judaism, Hinduism, Islam, etc.
  • Worship – lectionaries, prayer books, liturgies