Searching the Library Catalogue

Quick Search

Allows you to find records quickly. 

• Select the type of search from the drop down list e.g. anywhere, title, author
• Enter your search term/s 

Tip: if you know the title and the author surname, use Anywhere (default value) for a more targeted search

• Select from following types of searches:
• Keywords – find the words anywhere in the record
• Phrase – find items with the words you have entered in a sequence
• Exact match – find items matching only the words you have entered
• Fuzzy – with anywhere selected, fuzzy search option will find records containing any of the terms or forms of the terms entered.
Click Search

If your search is successful a page of records will be displayed showing brief details sorted by relevance as default. Click on a title link to display full details including location and status details.

Tip: don’t include prepositions in your search e.g. the, and etc. It will reduce the number of irrelevant search results you get.

Title Search

Allows you to search for words in the title or series title and allows you to browse through titles beginning with certain words.

• Select the type of search from the drop down list e.g. title or series title
• Enter your search term/s 

Select from following types of searches:

• Keywords - find the words anywhere in the title
• Browse - find titles starting with the text you have entered
• Phrase - find titles with the words you have entered in a sequence
• Exact Match - find titles with words matching only the words you have entered

Click Search

If your search is successful a page of titles will be displayed. Click on a title to display brief details of the items with this title.

Author Search

Allows you to search for words in an author's name. You can select to search all authors, only individuals, or only organisations. 

• Select the type of search from the drop down list e.g. all authors, personal or corporate authors
• Enter your search term/s 

Select from following types of searches:

• Keywords - find the words anywhere in the author's name
• Browse - find author names starting with the text you have entered. You can enter as much or as little of the name as you know. 
• Phrase - find authors with the words in their names you have entered in a sequence
• Exact Match - find authors with names matching only the words you have entered

Click Search

If your search is successful a page of names will be displayed. Click on a name to display brief details of the items associated with this name.

Subject Search

Allows you to search for words in a subject heading and also allows you to browse through subjects beginning with that text. 

• Enter your search term/s 

Select from following types of searches:

• Keywords to find the words anywhere in the subject heading
• Browse to find subjects starting with the text you have entered
• Phrase to find subjects with the words you have entered in a sequence
• Exact Match to find subjects matching only the words you have entered
Click Search

If your search is successful a page of subject headings will be displayed. Click on a subject heading to display brief details of the items about this subject.

Advanced Search

Allows you to perform more complicated searches. You can enter word/s in the any or all of the text boxes. Records will be found if all the search terms you enter are in the same record.

You can do a very specific search if you know exactly what you are looking for, or you can do a broader search and then narrow down the list of records later using the Refine Set option, if needed. 

• Select the type of search from the drop down list e.g. anywhere, title, author
• Enter your search term/s 
• Select the type of search e.g. keyword
• Select the Boolean operator e.g. and, or, not
• When you have entered you search terms and selected items from drop down lists 
• You can also select language, location, or collection

Click Search

If your search is successful a page of items will be displayed showing brief details for each item. Click on a title link to display full details for the item.