HOW DO I …?  SEARCH THE LIBRARY CATALOG  

Author search:  Last name, first name: ex. BECKER, GEORGE

Book Title search: If title starts with article (the, a, or an), drop it: SUN ALSO RISES.

Journal/Newspaper Title search: Search complete title (no abbreviation). Drop initial article (just as you would searching book titles). PLEASE NOTE the LIBRARY HAS field to be sure the library has the date and volume you need.

Keyword search (and/or/not):

• Always use quotation marks (“ “) for phrases: “right to die”
• Use AND to search more than one word or phrase: “right to die” AND law
• Use OR to broaden your search: “right to die” OR euthanasia

• Use a question mark (?) to truncate a term: leg? (legal, legalize, legislate, etc.).

 

Keyword search (use + before keyword/phrase):

 

• Instead of using “and,” put a plus sign (+) before each word or phrase:

Ex: +”right to die” +(law or leg?) 

  Subject Headings:

• Success depends on using the same headings used in the catalog:
   

     Ex: “Right to Die”  (This heading is used, as well as Euthanasia, Suicide)

     Ex: “World War II” (this subject heading is not used, see World War 1939-1945)

Guided Keyword Search (Advanced Search):

• Guided Keyword search
   

  Allows for more flexibility in searching. You can combine search words/phrases and limit your search to specific fields.

   

• “LIMIT BY” or “SET MORE LIMITS"

Using this feature will restrict your results by location, language, format, etc.  (This feature does not work for subject, author or call number searches.)

Other Catalog Features

• Course Reserve tab
  • Lists items on reserve (to read items on electronic reserve choose My E-Reserve List from the library’s homepage)
     
• Table of Contents
  • Once you are in a catalog record, click on the Table of Contents tab (not all records have tables of contents at this point).
     
• Print, Email or Save
  • At the bottom of the screen, you will see an option to print, email or save your records or search history. Be sure to enter your complete email address: jjone123@uwsp.edu
     
• Buttons at top of screen:  Press…

“Search” to do new search; “Titles” to return to list of titles; “Headings” to return to the list of headings; “Requests” to request a UWSP book that is checked out to someone else; “Patron” to see a list of books you have checked out and to renew them; “New Items” to see items recently added to collection; “Other Catalogs” to search Portage County Public Library or other UW libraries; “History” to see your search history