Using the Library Catalogue

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Using the Library Catalogue

• Accessing the Library Catalogue
•  
• Searching the Library Catalogue
•  
• Making reservations
•  
• Renewing items
•  
• Finding journal titles
•  
• Advanced search and further assistance
•  

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Accessing the Library Catalogue

• The catalogue can be accessed from the Library
  website www.port.ac.uk/library .
• Click on the tab for the Library Catalogue.

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Searching the Library Catalogue 1

• Choose your type of search from the options on
  screen.
• If you have a specific reference, combine Author
  and Keyword searches to interrogate the
  catalogue.
• Combine the authors surname with a significant
  word from the title.

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Searching the Library Catalogue 2

• TOP TIPS!
• When typing in a title you dont need to enter
  the whole title the first few words are usually
  enough.
• When typing a keyword try to pick one or two
  distinctive words from the main title.
• If you dont have a specific item in mind then
  try a Keyword search on the subject you are
  interested in.

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Searching the Library Catalogue 3

• Enter the search term then click on Search.
• The default setting of searching the Main
  Catalogue will retrieve any items with the word
  murder in the title this may include books,
  journal titles, videos or student projects).
• Click on the drop down arrow to see other more
  specific search options

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Searching the Library Catalogue 4

• A keyword search for murder retrieves 135 items
  and the first few are displayed title order.
• Again you have the option to change this order
  using the drop down arrow.
• Click on an individual title to see more about
  the specific item.

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Searching the Library Catalogue 5

• Each record will have details about the book,
  such as which edition it is and who publishes it.

• There are also loan type and availability details
  in the blue box..
• The shelfmark is the number on the spine of the
  book and tells you where to find it in the
  Library.

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Searching the Library Catalogue 6

• Clicking on Show details displays a yellow bar
  showing the date when each copy of an item is due
  back, if it is on loan, and also tells you
  whether anyone has currently reserved it.
• The Back link will take you back to your original
  results list.

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Making reservations

• If all copies of a book are out on loan you can
  make a reservation so that the book is held for
  you on its return.
• You cant make a reservation if you have
  outstanding fines or if there is a copy of the
  book available for loan.
• To make a reservation you need to have the record
  for the book on the screen. Click on the blue
  reserve button and fill in your borrower number
  as requested (this is the number next to the
  barcode on your campus card).
• Once you have placed a reservation the person who
  has the book will be asked to return it and you
  will be notified when the book is ready for
  collection.

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Renewing items 1

• You can also use the catalogue to renew items you
  have on loan saving yourself a trip to the
  Library (as long as no one has reserved the
  book).
• Select My Account from the main catalogue
  screen.

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Renewing items 2

• Type in your borrower number as instructed on
  screen (this is the number next to the barcode on
  your campus card) then click Logon.
• Click on Loans and you will see a list of all the
  items you have on loan with an option to renew

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Finding journal titles 1

• You can search for journal titles by using one of
  the search options already described (eg Title or
  Keyword searches). Then select Journals and
  Serials from the Collection box - only the
  journal titles will be searched now.

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Finding journal titles 2

• You will get a list of journal titles and our
  holdings for them they may be print or
  electronic, we may still take the journal or only
  have a backfile of it.
• To find out more details click on the journal
  title, or on Show library holdings. Some titles
  will be held in both print and electronic
  versions like the title below (although the
  holdings may differ).

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Finding journal titles 3

• Electronic versions are marked computer file or
  electronic resource. If you click on their
  title you will be taken to a link to the online
  source.
• To access the electronic version click on the
  title details then on the Click here link. (You
  will need an Athens account to do this if you are
  off campus.)

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Finding journal titles 4

• To find out more details on a print copy click on
  Show library holdings.
• This entry shows where the item is held and that
  we have copies covering the years from 1558 to
  date.
• NB Some titles will be held in both print and
  electronic versions like the title below
  (although the holdings may differ).
• If you are a distance learner you can apply for
  copies of articles from hard copy journals via
  the Distance Learners Service.

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Advanced search 1

• Click on Advanced search for more sophisticated
  search options.

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Advanced search 2

• For example you can use the drop down menus to
  make your search more specific
• In this example we have asked that the keywords
  murder OR homicide appear in the titles and we
  have asked for only books written in English and
  published in the last 3 years .
• Explore the options offered by any of the
  numerous drop down arrows.

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Advanced search 3

• There is also a Browse facility in Advanced
  search.
• Again explore the options offered by the drop
  down arrows.
• Try browsing the titles of journals and serials
  only to find those with the word law in the
  title.

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Further assistance

• If you want help using the catalogue contact any
  library enquiry desk.
• or
• For further help exploiting library resources in
  your own subject area please contact your subject
  librarian at-
• www.port.ac.uk/library/contact