If you want to search for materials by a particular author, you can perform an author search. In the library catalog, search for authors by typing the last name, then the first name or initial.

Some Spanish and Portuguese authors have "two" last names, often referred to as "compound surnames." In such cases, how do you search for the names in the catalog? Follow these tips to convert an author's name into a valid search strategy:

• Spanish:  Enter the first part of the compound surname first.
  
  Example:
  Gabriel García Márquez   =  garcia marquez gabriel
  
  
• Portuguese:  Enter the second part of the compound surname first. Sometimes, you do not even need to enter the first part of the compound surname at all.
  
  Example:
  João Guimarães Rosa   =  rosa joao guimaraes

If you have trouble searching for an author name, try different combinations until you find the correct word order. You can also do a keyword search, which may provide a clue as to how the author's name is indexed in the catalog.

The article databases should follow similar conventions as the catalog, but rules may differ slightly. Use a database's "Help" section if you have trouble.