Click Here for the PowerPoint file.


SEARCHING THE SFC LIBRARY CATALOG

You will use the library catalog to find books, DVDs and VHS tapes, CDs, and journals in print. You can access the online catalog from any computer that has an Internet connection.

_____________________________________________

____________________________________

______________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________


____________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________

More Tips for using Basic Search

Title
Journal Title
  • Type as much of the title as you know starting at the beginning of the title.
    sun also rises
    new england journal of med
  • Omit initial articles (a, an, the, etc.).
    grapes of wrath not the grapes of wrath
  • Title searches do not retrieve individual articles found in journals.
Author
  • For individuals, enter last name first:
    hemingway ernest
  • Enter names of organizations or groups:
    national academy of sciences
Keyword
  • A keyword search looks for words anywhere in the record.
  • Use distinctive words.
  • To combine search terms, use and, or, not.
  • To search phrases or hyphenated words, use quotes: "global warming" "co-operation"
  • To find a term with variant endings, use ?: comput? finds computers, computing, etc.
  • To group terms, use parentheses: (child? or teen?) and reading
Subject
  • Type the first few words of an authorized Library of Congress or Medical Subject Heading.
    Library of Congress example: dolphins behavior
    Medical Subject Heading example: cancer, breast
  • If you don't know the authorized heading, try a Keyword Search.
Subject Keyword
  • A subject keyword looks for words in authorized Library of Congress and Medical Subject Headings.
    Library of Congress example: dolphins behavior
    Medical Subject Heading example: cancer, breast
  • If you are not having success with this search, try a Keyword Search.
Call Number
  • Use this for Library of Congress call numbers. (For other call numbers see Call Number Exact.)
  • Enter as much of the call number as you know, including punctuation and spaces.
    Examples:
    bf698.b3193
    ps3515.e37 s8 1962
    da28.35
Basic Search Limits
  • Can only be used with Keyword and Title searches.
More Limits
  • Can only be used with Keyword and Title searches and must be set BEFORE entering your search terms.
  • Use to restrict searches to certain dates of publication, languages, mediums, formats, place of publication or library locations.
  • Use to apply one or more limits to a search.
  • More Limits are also available from the search results screen by clicking on the Post Limit button.
  • More Limits are retained between searches until removed by clicking on the Clear Limits button.

QUESTIONS?

library@stfranciscollege.edu

718-489-5307
Or stop by the Reference Desk

Home | Top