Calling a method from a class from an element within a list of Objects

Background:

I have two classes Book and Videoand a Driver class made to hold a list of Book and Video objects so to have a virtual library. Each class has a method getTitle() which returns the given title from first parameter of the class constructor as a String. Additionally, the Driver class has a method getList() which returns the list (lib in this context) as a List<Object>

Relevant Snippets:

List<Object> lib = new ArrayList<Object>();

// Params for each constructor is a single string for the title for this example
Book b = new Book("Book");
Video v = new Video("Video");
lib.add(b);
lib.add(v);

So, say I run something like:

for (int x = 0; x < lib.size(); x++) {
    System.out.println(getList().get(x).getClass());
}

The program will return

class Book
class Video

However, if I call a method from the Book or Video class (same method name):

for (int x = 0; x < lib.size(); x++) {
    System.out.println(getList().get(x).getTitle());
}

I get the following error:

java: cannot find symbol
  symbol:   method getTitle()
  location: class java.lang.Object

So my question ultimately is,

How can I call getTitle() from an element within a list of Objects if the getTitle() method is not in the Object class? If I override toString() within the Book or Video class, it runs the toString() from Book or Video, as it should-- but it seems like the way it's running is flip-flopping between whether the elements of my list is an Object or an instance of one my classes.

Solutions I have thought about but don't know how to implement:

Casting elements back to Book or Video. Challenge: How to variably cast to multiple types & how to do it inline.

Using another array/list-like container which would allow for specific data types to keep Book and Video. Challenge: Unfamiliarity, possible over-complication, and I'd like to be able to use lists.

Final Remarks

If you're wondering-- Yes, this is an assignment for class. That's why I need ONE list/array instead of two for each type, which would make my life much easier. The reason I didn't upload all of my code is for trying to make the question as simple as possible considering I have three unique classes I made, and there are much more than a Title and one method for each class. If it's pertinent, I could upload the actual code.

Thank you for taking the time out of your day to think with me and work this out.

You don't want a list of objects here; your library is intended to hold library-like things. A File isn't intended to be stored in here. Nor is a lock, an inputstream, an integer, a string, a car, a house, or a galaxy.

Define the concept of what can be stored in a library. Make this an interface:

public interface LibraryWork {
    String getTitle();
}

This says: There is such a thing as the notion of 'a library work', and all library works have in common that they have titles.

Then:

class Book implements LibraryWork {
    ...
}

Now, you can make your library have a list not of Object, which is quite useless and overly broad, but instad, a List<LibraryWork>.

And now you can call getTitle on it as much as you prefer.

Generally, avoid .getClass, instanceof, class casts, etc - if you must, make an enum of library work kinds and have your Book class return 'BOOK' if you must.

NB: I'm not too fond of the name LibraryWork, perhaps you can think of something better.