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Searching the Library Catalog

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The TRU Library OPAC

Print materials owned by TRU Library, in addition to selected e-resources are searchable in the library's catalogue. You can search the catalogue here.

By keyword

Use the "Keyword" option when you you want to search for items containing the word(s) you entered. These words may appear in any order and in the same field (author, title, subject heading, contents, publisher, etc....).
  1. Type in the words of your topic.
  2. Retain the "Keyword" default.
  3. Press the [Search] button or the [ENTER] key on the keyboard.
  4. Use the 'forward' and 'backwards' buttons to move through the list.
Example:



Keyword Searching with Boolean Operators
Use the Boolean Operator AND to search across fields (author, title, subject heading, contents, publisher, etc....). This is particularily useful if you know the Author and a word in the title. Search Everything may only be used for Keyword searches, not Browse or Exact searches.
  1. Type in the words, joining them with the Boolean Operatore AND.
  2. Retain the "Keyword" option.
  3. Press the [Search] button or the [ENTER] key on the keyboard.
  4. Use the 'forward' and 'backwards' buttons to move through the list.
Example:

By author

Keyword Searching

Use the "Keyword" option if you do not know the complete author's name. You may enter the author's name in natural or reverse order (i.e. John Steinbeck or Steinbeck, John)
  1. Type in the words of the author's name.
  2. Change the default option from "keyword" to "title" on the pulldown menu to the right of the search box.
  3. Press the [Search] button or [Enter] on your keyboard.
  4. Use the 'forward' and 'backward' buttons to move through the list.

Example:

Browse Searching
Use the Browse option if you want to browse through a list of titles that begin with the first word entered in the search box.
  1. From the library's homepage, click on the link "Advanced Catalogue Search" found underneath the catalogue search box.
  2. Click "Browse" from the "catalogue search" box on the right of the screen.
  3. Type in the beginning words of the author's name in the Browse search box.
  4. Press the 'author' button so that your words are searched only as the last name of the author.
  5. Use the 'forward' and 'backward' buttons to move through the list.

Example:


Exact Searching

Use "Exact Searching" if the you know the exact name of the author.
  1. From the library's homepage, click on the link "Advanced Catalogue Search" found underneath the catalogue search box.
  2. Type in the beginning words of the subject in the author search box.
  3. Below the search box, change the default for "Match On" to "Exact Content".
  4. Press the [Search] button or the [Enter] key on your keyboard.
  5. Use the 'forward' and 'backward' buttons to move through the list.
Example:

 

 

 

 

By branch

You can limit your search in the TRU Library catalogue by Branch so that your results will only show the holdings at the Kamloops or Williams Lake Libraries.  To limit your search:
  1. Click on the "Advanced Catalogue Search" link and type in your search terms.
  2. Below the search box you will find a number of pull down menus.  For the search limit "library", select the campus library you wish to limit your results.
  3. Press [Search] button or the [ENTER] key to perform a keyword search.
Example:

By subject

Library of Congress Subject Headings are used by academic libraries across North America and they often do not match everyday language. Therefore it is often better to initially choose the Search Everything option, then switch to a Subject search once the correct subject headings have been determined.

For example:
- information on "Canadian movies" is listed as Motion Pictures - Canada
- information on "Domestic violence" is listed as Family Violence
- information on "Native Peoples of Canada" is listed as Indians of North America - Canada
If you are in the library, you can consult the Library of Congress Subject Headings books (those big red books near the Reference and Assistance Desk) or the staff at the information desk.

Keyword Searching
Use the "Keyword" option when you you want to search for subject headings containing the word(s) you entered. These words may appear in any order.
  1. Type in the keywords of the title in the search box.
  2. Change the default option from "keyword" to "title" on the pulldown menu to the right of the search box.
  3. Press the [Search] button or [Enter] on your keyboard.
  4. Use the 'forward' and 'backward' buttons to move through the list.

Example:



Browse Searching
Use the Browse option if you want to retrieves a list of subject headings beginning with the first word entered.

 

  1. From the library's homepage, click on the link "Advanced Catalogue Search" found underneath the catalogue search box.
  2. Click "Browse" from the "catalogue search" box on the right of the screen.
  3. Type in the beginning words of the subject in the Browse search box.
  4. Press the [subject] button so that your words are searched only as a subject of an item.
  5. Use the 'forward' and 'backward' buttons to move through the list.
Example:

 

Exact Searching
Use "Exact Searching" if the you want to search for subject headings that exactly match the word(s) entered.
  1. From the library's homepage, click on the link "Advanced Catalogue Search" found underneath the catalogue search box.
  2. Type in the beginning words of the subject in the subject search box.
  3. Below the search box, change the default for "Match On" to "Exact Content".
  4. Press the [Search] button or the [Enter] key on your keyboard.
  5. Use the 'forward' and 'backward' buttons to move through the list.
Example:

 

By title

Keyword Searching
Use the "Keyword" option if you only know a few words that are in the title of the book.
  1. Type in the keywords of the title in the search box.
  2. Change the default option from "keyword" to "title" on the pulldown menu to the right of the search box.
  3. Press the [Search] button or [Enter] on your keyboard.
  4. Use the 'forward' and 'backward' buttons to move through the list.
Example:


Browse Searching
Use the Browse option if you want to browse through a list of titles that begin with the first word entered in the search box. You will need to be in the full version of the library catalogue. 
  1. From the library's homepage, click on the link "Advanced Catalogue Search" found underneath the catalogue search box.
  2. Click "Browse" from the "catalogue search" box on the right of the screen.
  3. Type in the beginning words of the title in the Browse search box.
  4. Press the 'title' button so that your words are searched only as a title of an item.
  5. Use the 'forward' and 'backward' buttons to move through the list.
Example:


Exact Searching

Use "Exact Searching" if the phrase or keywords are in the exact order of the title. You will need to be in the full version of the library catalogue. 
  1. From the library's homepage, click on the link "Advanced Catalogue Search" found underneath the catalogue search box.
  2. Type in the beginning words of the title in the title search box.
  3. Below the search box, change the default for "Match On" to "Exact Content".
  4. Press the [Search] button or the [Enter] key on your keyboard.
  5. Use the 'forward' and 'backward' buttons to move through the list.
Example:

Searching for Reserves

All Reserve materials are entered in the library catalogue.   From the library homepage, click on the link "Course Reserves". 
 

Searching Reserves examples:

To search by course:

Enter the first 4 letters of the abbreviated course name (i.e. ENGL for English; PSYC for Psychology etc.) in the search box and click the second blue button.  You do not need to enter the course number (i.e. ENGL 1100) as this feature executes a browse-type search.  Notice your results; you should see a list that includes more than just English courses.

 


To search by instructor:

Enter the instructor’s surname in the search box and click the first blue button.

Searching for videos

   1. Type in the word(s) of your topic and add videorecording after your keyword(s).
   2. Press the 'search everything' button or press the [ENTER] key on the keyboard.
   3. Use the 'forward' and 'backward' buttons to move through the list.

  • Last Updated: Sep 5, 2019 11:52 AM
  • URL: https://libguides.tru.ca/libcat
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Tags: catalogue