Library. Guide to Searching the OPAC (Online Public Access Catalogue)

Transcription

1 Library Guide to Searching the OPAC (Online Public Access Catalogue) Wessam El Husseini Assistant librarian for technical operations & information skills March 2012

2 The library owns several items; not just books but also CDs, DVDs, dissertations, audio cassettes, newspapers, references, and more in both English and Arabic. To find what you re looking for, you need to use the library OPAC. *OPAC is an acronym for Online Public Access Catalogue Access the OPAC 1. You can access the OPAC at OR You ll find a simple search box on our home page at

3 Search the OPAC 1. Basic Search The Basic Search allows you to search the library catalogue using many search options by series, title, subject, author, keyword, call number or ISBN by choosing from the drop-down and typing your search term(s). To perform a search, click on the "Search" button. Search box: here you can type your search term(s) Search Options Book Author: to find books for a particular author, choose Author in the search options and then type for example :John Grisham in the search box Book Title: if you know the full title of what you are searching for or just a part of it, choose Title in the search options and then type for example: Android in the search box Note: omit a, an, or the when they are the first words of the title. Keyword: select this option to search using any word you want if you are not sure of exact title, author, or subject. Choose Keyword in the search options and then type for example: research design in the search box Note: this is a very broad search as it searches for words in the title, author, and subject fields in each catalog record. Series: to bring together all publications under a particular series; choose Series in the search options and then type for example: McGraw-Hill series in materials science and engineering in the search box Subject: if you are searching for books on a particular topic. Choose Subject in the search options and then type for example: marketing research in the search box ISBN (International Standard Book Number): is a unique number usually located on the back of the title page or back cover of the book). Choose ISBN in the search options and then type for example: in the search box Call Number: a combination of numbers and letters used for locating items in the library. Use it when you already know the full call number of the book. Choose call number in the search options and then type for example: des in the search box

4 Apply the Search A title search for Android is typed in the search box. Total number of results Click on Rss feed to allow our OPAC to alert you with any updates and additions for items of interest to you. Once set up, information is delivered directly to you instead of searching for titles online.rss is an acronym for Really Simple Syndication or Rich Site Summary Each entry on the search results page includes information such as: the title, the author, type, year, and copies available, plus placing a hold or adding to cart Click on each title to view the full record Sort results according to relevancy, date of publication, alphabetically by title or author View Record Click on the 1 st cover page to be directed to amazon.com Click to show the table of contents for this book Click on the 2 nd cover page to be directed to Google books

5 1 1. To locate any item use these 3 indicators: a. Location: Library 1 or Library 2 or Nursing Library b. Call Number : The exact shelf location of the item c. Status: Current status of the item. Available means that the item may be located on the shelf. Checked out means the item is checked out and may be returned by the date shown. Other statuses include Lost, Lost and paid for 2. To make a hold on this book if it s checked out. Click Place Hold. (You need to login first using a user name and password given from the circulation desk in the library. You will be telephoned when the book becomes available). 3. To print this record click Print To add this book to your cart, click on Add to Your Cart, you will notice that the Cart button will become green. a. Click on the green button, it will open a window with your preferred items (this tool is useful to keep a copy of your favourite items during the current session but it is still a temporary list unless you log on). 5. To search about this title in other databases or stores like: worldcat.org, scholar.google.com, or bookfinder.com, follow links as shown in front. 5

6 When you log on you will be able to use some features: Add personal tags or keywords for this title to be added to User Tags 7. Type your comment on this title 8. Type your own review using your account on Amazon Click on Save to Your Lists and choose whether this list is Private (only available for you) or Public (available for anyone) or Open (to be edited by anyone), then click Save 2. Browse by Most Popular If you would like to know the most checked-out items, click on Most Popular Filter your results by choosing number of titles, item type, and time, and then click Submit

7 3. Advanced Search The Advanced Search allows you to combine more than one search term using different search options and limiters as well to narrow your results. Example: Try to find dictionaries published by Macmillan a. Type dictionary in the 1 st search box as a title b. Type Macmillan in the 2 nd search box a s a publisher c. Check next to Reference Material (to refine your results using item type) Example: Try to find a book on Java for Liang the 8 th edition a. Type liang as an author b. Type Java as a title c. Type 8 th ed. as a keyword If you click on More options at the bottom of the Advanced Search page you will find a (+) icon that will help you to add more search boxes and search options as well. IF you have any questions, Ask a Librarian Library home page