The search screens
The Keyword Search screen / Browse searching / Advanced SearchLimit your search / Is it a phrase? / Sort options / Format options / Preferences / Truncation
The first search screen you see in our catalog provides for a variety of keyword searches.
A keyword search is an inclusive one that will bring up every record in which a word appears. It's the best choice when you have incomplete information -- a couple of words from a title, for instance -- or when you want to cast a wide net and see everything in our collection that might pertain to a certain topic.
For example, let's say you'd like to find out what is in our collection about ministry to persons with disabilities. You can do a very general Keyword search, or you can choose a certain field within the bib records. Open the drop-down menu, and scroll down. Let's try a Subject search. Click on Subject, and then click on Go.
You receive a set of more than 600 records about theology and disability, and about pastoral care in cases of chronic illness. The records are listed in order of publication year, with the most recent items first.
To see more information about any of these items, click on its title, or on the little underlined number on the left side of the screen. That will open the full bibliographic record.
The full bib record includes publication data, subject headings and so on. It also shows you the call number where the item is found in the stacks.
(Please note : if there is no Holdings line, that means the item is still on order or in processing, and not yet available for use. If you need access to such an item, please have a word with the Cataloging staff -- they may be able to allow you to see the item.)
Now return to the previous screen.
There is a quick way to get the call number of an item and to see whether a copy is on the shelf. Click on the link under Copies Available, on the right side of the screen.
You can see each copy of the book in our collection, along with the call numbers. This book is available for Regular Loan (it's not in Course Reserves, Reference, etc). If someone had already borrowed it, you'd see a date under Due Date. But this one should be there in the stacks, ready to use.
If someone else has already borrowed the item, you may be able to recall it, or put a hold on it, so that you will be notified when it is returned and you can be the next in line to borrow it. Contact our Circulation Desk for more information about borrowing procedures and policies.
Browse searching
A browse search makes an exact match between the words you enter and an alphabetized list of headings. When you have precise information -- perhaps a title from a bibliography or syllabus -- it's the most efficient way to determine very quickly whether that item is in our collection. To use the browse function, look for the heading Browse Indexes in the blue zone near the top of the catalog screen.
When the search screen opens, enter the title of the item you're looking for, choose Title, and hit Go.
You can also choose Journal Title or Series. This is especially handy because periodicals and monograph series often have very general names like Theology or Interpretation, and doing a keyword search on terms like those in our collection can yield a large number of records to read through.
You can use a Browse search to find the accurate name of an Author, as it appears in bibliographic records. This can also be the best way to find a person's name as Subject, especially for a biblical figure or other ancient or medieval name. When there are several individuals with similar names, the catalog will provide dates to help you distinguish them.
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