Training Videos
Tips for Searching the Catalog:
- The search engine on library's website will display results from every campus library's print collections, databases, and e-resource subscriptions. Because of this, narrowing and refining your search results is highly important for locating items and providing patrons with the most detailed information we can pertaining to access.
- Use quotations marks when searching for an exact phrase/title. This will narrow down your results to only the most exact matches.
- Once you've searched for a title or topic, look at the filters in the left-hand column. Think about the item you're trying to find and how you could narrow the search further. For example:
- Is the patron looking for a physical item or online resource? Select the box beside "Held by Library" for physical items or the "Available Online" option for online editions.
- Format: What exactly is the patron looking for: articles, books, films, videos, etc.
- Library: If looking for an item specific to Central library, then select that option.
- Date: Select the date of publication if patron is looking for a specific edition.
- Author: Narrow by author's name, but sometimes has multiple entries.
- Location: If the item has a special location, you can also narrow down that way.
Reading Catalog Records
Library records should contain all the same information for locating an item, including library, call numbers, and special locations within the library (example: 4th floor leisure reading). Records also display information on the item's temporary locations or movement under its "status," which is helpful to figure out its exact location if a patron cannot find it in the stacks. The record will say "Item in Place" if it is in its correct location. If the record shows that the "Item is not in place," check the status to figure out where it is currently.
- On Loan: Item is currently not in place because it is on loan to a patron.
- In Transit: Item is en route from one library department to another library or department.
- Billed / Lost: Item was considered Lost because that item was severely overdue. Lost items have been billed.
- Missing: Item has been marked as missing from the shelves.
- Preservation: Item is having damage repaired.
- Withdrawn: the item has been withdrawn from the library's collection
In the regular library catalog Discovery view, an item's record will look like this: 
- In the lines directly beneath the title, the record will show if the item is currently available for loan, the call number if the item is in place, and the reason if it's not currently available (on loan, in preservation, etc).
- The "Send To" menu allows for patrons to have the item's call number and information sent to them through text or provide a citation for the item so they can search for it. If it is an electronic material, it will also send them the link to view the item online.
- The "Get It" menu provides more detailed information for obtaining the item, like its specific location within the stacks, links to recall the item from the person it is currently on loan to, or links to have the item sent to another library for pick up. If there are multiple copies or formats, the record should display details on each copy.
In ALMA, an item's record looks like this:
