About the Mount Allison University Library Catalogue


The Library Catalogue may be used to search the Mt.A Libraries collections of books, e-books, journals, magazines, newspapers, government publications and A-V materials, including printed and recorded music and films on DVD and VHS. 

  • Individual articles are not indexed or catalogued in the Library Catalogue. For example, you can use the catalogue to find out if the Library has Macleans magazine, but you cannot use it to search for articles published in Macleans.

To search for articles published in journals, magazines or newspapers, please use the indexes and databases listed on the A-Z Databases page.  In many cases, you will be able to access the full article in digital format, directly from the library database. If the index or database you are searching does not provide the full article, you can then use the Library Catalogue and Journal Finder to determine if the journal, magazine or newspaper in which the article was published is available at the library in print or in another library database.  For more information, see the Find Articles page.

  • Licensed resources (such as databases and ebook collections) are accessible off-campus to authorized Mount Allison patrons (students, faculty and staff). A Mount Allison user name and password is required.

HELP CONTENTS:

Overview of Key Features and Functionality of the Library Catalogue

How to...

Advanced Search Features

Browsers Supported by the Library Catalogue
More Information About the Catalogue
Questions or Comments


Overview of Key Features and Functionality of the Library Catalogue


Types of Searches: Keyword, Starts With, Exact, Advanced Keyword, Browse and Call Number

The Quick Search Page
The main search page of the catalogue is the Quick Search Page.  From here, three types of searches are available: Keyword, Starts With, Exact.

A Keyword search allows you to search the catalogue using words or phrases.  This is a flexible type of search that permits you to search for words or phrases that appear in the title, subject headings, author’s name, or elsewhere in the catalogue record.  You can combine words and phrases using Boolean operators such as AND, OR, NOT. For details about these and other operators, please see Searching Using Boolean Operators below.

Please see Phrase Searching below for more details about how the catalogue processes phrases. 

A Starts With (or Browse) search allows you to browse a list of titles, authors or subject headings that correspond to the information you provide.  This type of search is best used when you are searching for a particular title, author or subject.

An Exact search is similar to a Starts With (Browse) search except that it skips the browse list and leads directly to the record(s) in the catalogue that match the information you provide.  This type of search is best used when you are searching for a particular title, author or subject and already know the precise title, author name or subject heading. Omit initial articles when using Exact search.  

    A note about Starts With and Exact searching: 
    The contents of the drop-down menu to the right of the search box remain the same regardless of whether you choose to do a Keyword, Starts With or Exact search.  When performing a Starts With or Exact search, the drop-down menu should be set to correspond to the type of search you wish to perform.  The options are: author, title, LC subject*, series, and journal title. "Words or phrase" is not a valid option for a Starts With or Exact search.  

    * Library of Congress Subject Headings: these are standardized headings used to describe what a book or other publication is about. Search Tip: when viewing the catalogue record for a particular item, you can click on the LC subject heading(s) assigned to that item to find other items in the library which cover the same or similar subjects as an item you have already found.

The Advanced Keyword Search page:
Accessible by clicking on Advanced Keyword Search from the Quick Search page, the Advanced Keyword Search page provides a multi-field search form designed to facilitate more complex searches. The Advanced Keyword Search page also permits searches to be limited by language, item type, location, and publication year.

The Browse Search page:
Accessible from the Advanced Keyword Search page, the Browse search page offers another means of performing Starts With searches (described above).

Call Number Search page:
Accessible from the Advanced Keyword Search page, the Call Number Search page allows you to search for items by Call Number. The Library Shelving Scheme is set to LC (Library of Congress). This is the shelving sheme used for most items in the library.

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Phrase Searching (applies to Keyword Searching only)

To search for an exact phrase, enclose the phrase within ‘single quotes’

    For example:
    A search for the phrase ‘Canadian foreign policy’ will return only items that include this exact phrase. 

The same search performed without the use of the single quotes will be processed differently. 

    For example:
    A search for Canadian foreign policy (without single quotes) will return records that include all three words in the same field (title, subject, notes, or other field) but not necessarily as a phrase in the order in which you typed them. 

To perform a phrase search that includes words used as Boolean operators (such as AND, OR, NOT), place “double quotes” around the operator. 

    For example:
    A search for the phrase ‘american literature “and” culture’ will search for this exact phrase.  The double quotes around the word “and” tell the catalogue to treat this word as part of the phrase, and not as a Boolean operator.

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Field Suffixes

When searching by keyword, it is sometimes helpful to specify in which field you want to find a particular word or phrase.  The drop-down menus on both the Quick Search and Advanced Keyword search page offer one method for doing this. 

Field suffixes may also be used to specify that the word(s) or phrase entered before the suffix are to be searched for in the designated field only.

Example:  smith {au} and introduction {ti} and literature {su}

The above search will search for and retrieve items with author name smith and which have the word introduction in the title field and the word literature in the subject fields. 

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Truncation and Wildcard Symbols

The truncation and wildcard symbols are special characters used to find variations (different forms, spelling, etc.) of a word.

The truncation symbol is $.  It can be used to replace an unlimited number of characters at the end of a word. 

Example:  histor$ will search for history, historical, histories, etc.

The Wildcard symbol is ?.  It can be used to replace a letter within a word.

Example: wom?n will search for both woman and women. 

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Searching Using Boolean Operators (AND, OR, NOT, XOR)

Boolean operators (AND, NOT, OR, XOR) allow you to locate records containing all or any or some of your search terms.

  • Use the AND operator to locate records containing all of the specified search terms. For example, if you search for "dogs AND cats", the Catalogue locates records containing all of the specified terms.
  • Use the OR operator to locate records matching any or all of the specified terms. For example, if you search for "dogs OR cats", the Catalogue locates records containing the first search term or the second or both.
  • Use the NOT operator to locate records containing the first search term but not the second. For example, if you search for "dogs NOT cats", the Catalogue locates records containing the first search term (dogs) but not the second (cats).
  • Use the XOR (exclusive or) operator to locate records matching any but not all of the specified terms. For example, if you search for "dogs XOR cats", the Catalogue locates records containing either the first search term or the second, but not both.

See the More Boolean Operators section in the Advanced Search Features section below for information on additional operators.

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Kept List

The Kept List allows you to “keep” one or more items to print or e-mail. 

A Keep button appears next to every item title on the Search Results page and at the right of the screen when viewing the record of an individual item.   Once you have “kept” one or more items, you can click on Kept in the garnet menu bar to access the Kept List.  From there, you may view, print or email one or more of your kept items. 

Kept records are retained across multiple searches for the duration of your current session.

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My Account

Mount Allison users with a current library account and PIN can access their account to view the list of items they have on loan, renew items (if renewable), and change their PIN. 

To obtain a PIN if you do not have one already, please visit the Access Services Desk at either the Main or Music Library.

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New Books List

    Located on the Library Info page, the New Books list feature allows you to view a list of all new items added to the library collections within the last week.  Items are arranged alphabetically by title.

    You can also view monthy lists of new items (sorted by call number) from the New Books Lists page on the Library website.



How To...

Find More Items that are Similar to the One You've Already Found

In addition to using the LC Subject Headings (see Search Tip above), the following three features are available when viewing the record of an individual item:

Find More by this Author:
Allows you to view a list of all other items in the collection by the same author(s). 

Find More on these Topics:
Allows you to view a list of all other items in the collection with the same subject heading(s).  If an item has more than one subject heading, the list will include items with at least one matching subject heading. 

Nearby Items on Shelf:
Allows you to view a list of other items on the same shelf as the item you have already found.   In other words, you can virtually "browse" the shelf.  Since books are organized on library shelves by subject, this can be a helpful way of finding more items on the same topic as the item you have already found.

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Search for Words or Phrases that include Hyphens

A search for words or a phrase containing a hyphen will behave differently depending on whether you perform a Keyword, Starts With (Browse), or Exact Search. 

If searching by Keyword:
Search expressions containing hyphens (-) are searched with the hyphen included. A search without the hyphen displays words both with and without the hyphen.  For example:  a search for value added (no hyphen) will find items with both “value added” and “value-added.” 

If performing a Starts With (Browse) or Exact search:
If you use a hyphen in a Browse or Exact search for an author or title, you will only find items that include the hyphen.  If you omit the hyphen, you will find items without the hyphen. 

For example: to find the title, Value-Added Agriculture in Canada, your Browse or Exact title search must include the hyphen.

When performing a Starts With (Browse) or Exact subject search, omit the double hyphen used to separate subdivisions of the Library of Congress Subject Headings (LCSH).

Example of a LCSH that uses the double hypen:

DeLillo, Don--Criticism and interpretation.

To search for items with this subject heading, omit the the double hypen and replace with a single space.

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Print or Email Records

You can print or e-mail record information by marking items to "Keep" from a Search Results hit list or from the Details display. Items marked Keep can be unmarked by clicking Remove.

Kept records are retained across multiple searches for the duration of your current session.

When you have finished marking all of the items you wish to add to you Kept list, click on Kept in the garnet banner.

Use the Sort By menu to choose how items will be orgaznied. You can sort records by author, title, or call number.

Use the View of Records menu to select the level of detail you wish to print or email: All, Full, or Brief.

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Renew Your Library Materials

Mount Allison users with a current library account and PIN can access their account to view the list of items they have on loan, renew items (if renewable), and change their PIN. 

To obtain a PIN if you do not have one already, please visit the Access Services Desk at either the Main or Music Library.

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Find a Book on Course Reserve

You can search for information on reserve by using the Course Reserves module of the Library Catalogue.

- In the Search For box, type an instructor name, course number, or course name.

- You may use the Desk drop-down menu to select only those items at the Main (R.P. Bell) or Music Library reserve desk.

- Click the appropriate search option (Instructor, Course Number, or Course Name) to display the items placed on reserve.

- List of Course Number Prefixes

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Place a Hold on a Book that is Currently on Loan

If you need an item that is already on loan to another user, you can place a hold on it. When the item is returned to the library, you will be notified that the item is available for you to pick up. You must log on before you can place a hold.

To place a holds, look up the item you wish to obtain in the Lbrary Catalogue. Click Details, then Click Place Hold.

You will be prompted to log on if you have not previously done so.

You will also be given the option to select the Library where you would like to pick up the item (Main or Music Library), and may include and expiration date if you wish to indicate that you will not need the item after a particular date.

Click Submit Hold. A message confirming that your Hold has been placed should then appear.

Users also have the option of placing a RECALL on items that are on loan. When a recall is placed, the loan period of the current borrower may be shortened, and the item cannot be renewed. To place a RECALL, please contact Access Services.

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Change the Level of Detail Displayed for a Record

The Library Catalogue automatically displays the most commonly required fields of each bibliographic record (such as title, author, publisher, year of publication, subject headings and ISBN).

To view all fields for a record, simply click on Change Display and then use the View of Records menu to choose the level of detail you wish to view. You can select ALL information, FULL record information, or Brief record information.

Note that the default setting is FULL which is fuller than BRIEF, but less detailed than ALL.

To view a record with MARC tags, click on Change Display and then set the Unformatted Display menu to YES.

 


Advanced Search Features


More Boolean Operators (beyond AND, OR, NOT, XOR) 

The Searching Using Boolean Operators section above explains how to use AND, OR, NOT and XOR operators.

This section provides an overview of additional operators you may use when searching the Library Catalogue.

Positional Operators

Positional operators (SAME, WITH, NEAR, ADJ) locate records in which the search terms are in close proximity within the same bibliographical record. Positional operators can be used to connect words or phrases within a search field but not between search fields.

  • Use the SAME operator to locate records in which a bibliographic record field contains all of the specified terms. All of the search terms are located within the same record field, though not necessarily in the same sentence. For example, if you search for "Sackville SAME history", only records containing both "Sackville" and "history" within the same bibliographic field will be retrieved.
  • Use the WITH operator to locate records in which a field contains a sentence with all of the specified terms. For example, if you search for "Sackville WITH history", only records containing both "Sackville" and "history" in the same sentence in a bibliographic field will be retrieved from this search.
  • Use the NEAR operator to locate records in which a field contains all of the search terms next to each other but not necessarily in the same order they were entered. For example, if you search for "Sackville NEAR history", only records with the terms "Sackville" and "history" next to each other within the same bibliographic field would be retrieved. "Sackville" or "history" could display first in the field.
  • Use the ADJ operator to locate records in which a field contains all of the search terms adjacent to each other and in the order they were entered. For example, if you search for "Sackville ADJ history", only records with the terms "Sackville" and "history" adjacent to each other within the same bibliographic field and with "Sackville" listed first in this field would be retrieved.

You may append a number to the positional operators NEAR and ADJ to limit or broaden the proximity between words.

For example, "FROM ADJ1 HERE ADJ2 ETERNITY" shows how to search for the title, "From Here to Eternity." ADJ2 means that the words may be within two searchable words of each other, but they must be in the order they were entered.

Relational Operators

Relational operators (<, >, =, <>, <=, >=) allow you to search numeral expressions. Use relational operators by enclosing a field name or entry tag number in braces {}, then typing a relational operator and number.

Operator Definition
< less than
> greater than
= equal to
<> not equal to
<= less than or equal to
>= greater than or equal to

For example, if you type "{260} > 2008", the Library Catalogue searches for records where the publication date field (field 260, see below) contains values greater than 2008.

Operator Precedence

When the search expression consists of a combination of terms, the order in which these terms are searched can be defined. If two operators are at the same level in the list, the Catalogue first searches the term at the left, then moves right. Refer to the following list for operator precedence, with the highest listed first.

=
<>
<
<=
>
>=
NEAR, ADJ
WITH
SAME
AND, NOT
XOR, OR

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Limit Search Fields Using MARC Tags

Records in the Library Catalogue are formatted using MARC tags and fields (MARC stands for Machine Readable Cataloguing).

Searches may be limited to certain MARC fields by typing a search expression followed by the entry tag(s) enclosed in braces. For example, if you enter Twain {100} the Catalogue searches for items written by Twain.

Refer to the following table for some of the most common US MARC entry tags:

Entry Tag Definition
100 personal author main entry
245 main title and statements of responsibility
260 publication information including date published
440 series title entry
500 general note
505 contents note
520 summary or abstract
650 topical subject heading
651 geographical subject heading
710 added corporate author

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Keyword Indexes: Fields searched when searching by Title, Author, Subject and Series

The table below describes which MARC fields are searched when performing a Keyword search limited to the Author, Title, Subject or Series fields.

Search Field Internal Synonyms Keyword Indexes Searched
author AU 100, 110, 111, 700, 710, 711, 720
title TI 130, 245, 440, 730, 740
subject SU 600, 610, 611, 630, 650, 651, 655, 690, 691
series SER 400, 410, 411, 440, 490, 800, 810, 811, 830, 840

 


Browsers Supported by the Library Catalogue

The Library Catalogue is designed by SirsiDynix and supports the following Web browsers:

  • MS Internet Explorer 6 (IE6)
  • MS Internet Explorer 7 (IE7)
  • MS Internet Explorer 6 (IE8)
  • Firefox 2
  • Firefox 3
  • Safari on Mac

For best results, it is recommend that you use the latest version available of the above-listed browsers.

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More information about the Catalogue

For more information about Library Catalogue features and functionality, please Ask a librarian.

Please note: We still have a card catalogue

The online Library Catalogue contains records for materials acquired since 1980 as well as thousands of older works that have been re-catalogued and transferred into the online catalogue.  When searching for a work published prior to 1980, please check the card catalogue if you do not find what you are looking for in the online catalogue. The card catalogue is located on the main floor of the R.B.Bell Library.

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Questions or comments?

The Library welcomes your questions and comments.  The Ask a Librarian link under the Library Info heading in the catalogue points to contact information and an online form that will send your message directly to a librarian at the Research Help Desk.

Updated September 2010 / December 2014

Sources: Some of the information included in this document has been adapted from the SirsiDynix eLibrary Help files.

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