May
2005
WebCat
(the Library’s
Catalog):
How
to Search It on the Web
I. WebCat and How Do I Get to It?
In the duPont-Ball Library, the catalog is the
Sirsi Unicorn WebCat™. The catalog lists the books, periodicals (but not
individual articles), scores, links to cataloged Web sites, and non-print
materials (records, videos, microforms, etc.) held by the Stetson University
Libraries (DeLand and Celebration Campuses): the duPont-Ball Library (
It is important to remember what is NOT listed in the catalog.
Most importantly, individual articles in the periodicals are not
listed. To identify those, you must use
a periodical index (either an electronic database or print); see the Library’s
database page at http://stetson.edu/library/databases.php.
The Stetson library uses the Library of Congress
Classification System. In this system,
cataloged materials are grouped and shelved according to subject headings. The letters of the Latin alphabet are used to
designate the subject areas. To find out
more about the Library of Congress Classification System, go to http://www.loc.gov/catdir/cpso/lcco/lcco.html.
To get to WebCat,
Go
to http://cat.stetson.edu, then click on
WebCat, or go to
http://stetson.edu/library/, then click on “WebCat.”
II.
Searching
If you need help on how to use Boolean
operators and other aspects of searching electronic databases,
go to http://stetson.edu/library/handbook.html#DATABASES.
Type
your word or phrase on the “Word or Phrase” line, then
click on “Search.” This search looks for the word(s) you typed in anywhere
it (they) might occur in the electronic record of each item in the
catalog. The words do NOT have to appear
right next to each other, nor do they have to be found in the same order in
which you typed them. They do have to be
in the same field (that is, in the title field, author field, subject field,
etc.).
Tips:
- It doesn’t matter if you type
using uppercase letters, or lower case, or a combination.
- Boolean (logical) operators (OR, AND,
NOT) can be
used within each field. Boolean operators between fields can be changed by
clicking on the down arrow to the right of the search line, then clicking
on the operator you want.
Example-- Words
or Phrase: elections and
- Words entered with a blank
space between them will be searched in any order but in the same
field. To search for an exact
phrase, use the letters “adj” (for the word adjacent), without
the quotation marks, between the words.
Example--Words or
Phrase: presidential adj elections
- To search for both singular and
plural
forms of a word, use either the truncation symbol ($) or enter
your terms with the Boolean operator OR.
Example: child$
This will search for child and children, but it will also
retrieve childhood, childish, childlike, and perhaps others. Example using Boolean or: child or
children
- You can also type as much as
you know of a name or word, and then use the dollar sign ($), the truncation symbol,
to find all possible endings to the stem.
Example: colon$ will find colony, colonies, colonial, colonel and
others
- To search for subjects if you
don’t know the exact subject heading, enter terms on the Words or
Phrase line. By entering terms on the Words or Phrase line, the
words can be in any order, in any field (but they must be in the same
field). If you enter terms on the Subject line, the terms will be searched
for in the subject field only.
- As you browse through the
results, you should note the subject headings assigned to those books.
You can click on those subject headings to see if the Library owns other
materials that have that same subject heading. In the complete record, you may click on
anything underlined to link to other materials in that
category. For example, clicking on
the author’s name will move you to other records by that author; clicking
on one of the subject headings will move you to other materials with
that same subject heading; clicking on the call number will move
you to a list of books in call number order as if on the shelves, then
clicking on the Forward or Backward buttons allows you to browse
the shelves around the item you’ve just retrieved
- If you wish to browse in a call
number section but you don't have a specific title on the
screen, click on the Call No. Browse tab in the upper
right-hand corner of the search screen.
Type in a call number, and click on Browse Shelves. You can then use the Forward and
Backward buttons to move through the list.
It does not matter if you type the
call number using spaces or not.
Example: PR2066 will be searched the
same as PR 2066.
But
the second line of the call number (which begins with a letter) should begin
with a period to be searched correctly.
Example: CT 503 H85 will not
produce the same result as searching CT 503 .H85.
Search Options
Scroll down the search screens to see search
options. Four are of particular note:
·
pubyear: you can
type in one year (1995); you can give a range of years (1990-1997).
·
location: if you
want to find material in the Reference Collection, for example, use the
location option.
Scroll
down, then highlight Reference.
·
item
type: if you want to find a particular type of cataloged item,
scroll down, then highlight it.
For
example, if you want to find all the videocassettes the Library has cataloged,
scroll down and highlight VIDEOCASS.
·
format: if you want to find all visual media materials (videocassettes, DVDs,
VHS, feature films, etc.), scroll down, then highlight VM for Visual Media.
Search Results
Tips:
·
If your item comes up in an alphabetical list, click
on your item.
·
If your item does not appear in the catalog, the
computer will put you in the nearest alphabetical listing.
·
Click on the forward button to move forward in the results
list; click on the backward button to move backward in the list.
·
In general, items are listed in chronological order by their publication
date or the date the Library cataloged the item. Items on order or
in processing most likely will appear first.
III. Showing, Marking,
and Printing Records
SHOWING
If you wish to see the complete record for any item, click on the view
button.
In the complete record, you may click on anything underlined
to link to other materials in
that category. For example, clicking on the author’s name
will move you to other records by that author; clicking on one of the subject
headings will move you to other materials with that same subject heading; clicking on the
call number will move you to a list of books in call number order as if on the
shelves, so then clicking on the Forward or Backward buttons
allows you to browse the shelves around the item you’ve just retrieved.
PRINTING
Printing
Screens: To print
the brief records showing on the
screen, go up to your Web browser’s File>Print function. Click on “print.”
Printing
a Complete Record: have the complete record showing on the
screen. Go to your Web browser’s
File>Print function. Click on “print.”
MARKING
Marking Results: Click in the box above “View”
button in the Results List,
or click in the box at the very top of the page of a complete
record, where it says "click here to mark this record for
Print/Capture."
PRINTING/EMAILING/SAVING MARKED
RESULTS
Printing Marked Results
After marking records, click on the “Print/Capture” button. Or even if you haven't
marked them, you
can indicate results numbers or a range of results numbers to be printed after
you’ve clicked on the “Print/Capture” button (e.g., 1-5, 12, 25-30).
In
most cases, the Brief Record is all you will need, so after you
have clicked on the“Print/Capture” button, then click
on the down arrow to the right of the “View of Records” line. Click
on “Brief.” Click
on Print.
Emailing Marked Results
Click on “Print/Capture.” In most cases, the Brief Record is all you will need, so after
you have clicked on
the “Print/Capture” button, then click on the down arrow to the
right of the “View of Records” line. Click
on “Brief.”
Type in the full email
address (userid and address).
Click on Email.
You can
email up to 200 records at one time. You can type in a range greater than 200, and
the computer will tell you the results were emailed, but only the first 200
will be emailed. When you go into your email utility to read your email, you
should see a message from Sirsi (the company that produces WebCat): that will
be your catalog records.
Saving Marked Results
Clicking on “Print/Capture.” In most cases, the Brief Record is all you will need, so after you have clicked on the “Print/Capture” button, then click
on the down arrow to the right of the “View of Records” line. Click
on “Brief.” Click
on the “Save."
The
results you have marked should then appear on the screen. Go to your browser’s File> “Save As”
function. Give your file a name and
indicate the drive and folder to which you want the file saved.
Once you
begin a new search, all marked records from the previous search are erased, so
email, print, or download before going on to a new search.
IV. Other Features—Blue Bars Across the
Top of the Search Screen
Catalog-- Takes you back to the search screen.
Reserve
Desk --brings up the listings of reserve
materials organized by course number, by course name,
and by instructor. This list contains the titles only of the
materials on reserve. It does not
give the text of
the materials.
User
Services
·
User Status Inquiry lets you
check on what
books you have checked out or on hold. It also lists
materials you have
been billed for and allows you to send and receive library messages.
Your user ID is your student, staff, or faculty 800 number. Enter this
number WITH the dashes.
You will need your Library PIN
number which you can get by coming to the circulation desk in the
Library
or by
emailing the Circulation Department at circdept@stetson.edu. You can then
change your PIN if you want
to (see
below).
·
Change Your PIN lets you change your Library PIN
number.
·
Renew Materials lets you renew materials you have
already checked out. You will need the
same user ID
and PIN number as listed above under User Status Inquiry.
·
User Requests
Questions--where you may submit a question to a librarian
Comments--where you may submit a comment on Library materials
or services to a librarian
Request That An Item
Checked Out To Another Be Held For You--allows you to place a “Hold” on an item already checked
out. This means that the item cannot be
renewed or checked out by someone else until you have been notified that it is
available for you.
With the item that you want to place a hold on showing on
the screen, click on the User Services tab, then on
User Requests, then on REQUEST THAT AN ITEM CHECKED OUT BE
HELD FOR YOU. The call number and bar
code of the material you wish to renew should already be entered into the
form. You will then need to enter your
user ID and PIN and then click on Place Hold.
Celebration Students’
Requests for Journal Articles-- to be used by students at Stetson’s
Celebration Students’
Requests for Books--to
be used by students at Stetson’s
User Requests That
This Item Be Renewed—can
be used to renew items already checked out.
You will need your student, staff, or faculty 800 user ID number to use
this option.
Look up the item you want to renew in WebCat. With that item showing on the screen,
click on the User Services tab, then on User Requests, then on USER REQUESTS
THAT THIS ITEM BE RENEWED. The call
number and bar code of the material you wish to renew should already be entered
into the form. You will then need to
enter your user ID and click on Place Request.
Gateways—Links to the Library's database
page, the Library's home page, and the Library's page of Hours and Calendar
V. Finding Materials within the Library
When you are searching for materials on WebCat, in
addition to copying or printing the call number, note the Location of
the material (far right-hand corner of the results).
A map of all three floors of the Main Library
(the duPont-Ball Library, the one on the quadrangle,
east
of the fountain in DeLand) can be found at http://stetson.edu/library/maps_librarymap.html.
Materials can be located in specialized collections within
the duPont-Ball
Library (
in the Jenkins Music Library (MUSICLIB) in Presser
Hall, http://stetson.edu/library/music/JenkinsMLib.php.
Location Within the Library—Special Collections
or Place Designations
in the duPont-Ball (MAIN) Library
Some special place designations are the following (if you
have a question about a place designation, ask a reference
librarian):
Feature Film--This location includes
videocassettes and DVDs of popular motion pictures and television
programs. Main Floor, duPont-Ball
Library
Folio--This location includes books that
are too large to fit on regularly spaced shelves. Northeast corner, Mezzanine
floor, duPont-Ball Library
Govt.Docs.--Government Documents, Ground
floor, duPont-Ball Library
In-Process--Item has been received by the
Library, but it is not yet on the shelves
Microform--This location includes microfiche
and microfilm. Main floor, northeast
corner, duPont-Ball Library
On-Order--Item has been ordered, but it has
not been received yet
Ready Reference--Reference materials that are used
frequently. Kept on bookshelves
immediately behind the Reference Desk
Reference--The Reference Collection includes
indexes and books
that give background material, overviews, or definitions, among other
things. Reference books are meant to be
referred to, not read cover to cover. East end, Main floor, duPont-Ball Library
Remote_DB--This designation refers to a remote
database or Web site. There will be a URL link to the site in the cataloging
record. Just click on the link to be taken to that site.
Reserves--A professor has placed this item
on reserve. Ask for reserves at the
Circulation Desk
Software--This location includes CD-ROMs and
computer disks. Ask for at the
Circulation Desk
Stetson**--This collection includes materials
specific to Stetson such as faculty publications and Stetson Master's theses.
University Archives, Ground floor, duPont-Ball Library
Treasure**--This collection includes rare
materials. University Archives, Ground
floor, duPont-Ball
Library
Video--This location includes
videocassettes and DVDs of nonfiction, educational, or performance video
programs. Main floor, duPont-Ball Library
**Locked collection--please ask at the Reference Desk or
Circulation Desk for assistance.
VI. Getting a Book if Stetson Doesn’t Own It
If you have identified a needed book that Stetson doesn’t
own, you may request that book through Interlibrary Loan.
Go to http://stetson.edu/library/departments_ill.php for information on this service.