WebCat Quick Reference Guide
WebCat -
Don't hesitate to ask a
Reference Librarian for help in searching WebCat. Librarians recommend PowerSearch – see
section two below.
WebCat
will help you find books, journals and magazines, recordings, scores,
videotapes, and all other items owned by the University Libraries.
1. Quick Search automatically searches for keywords, and you can tell it where to search - author, title, etc.
Keyword Searches – are the easiest to use especially if you're unsure of exactly what subject term to use, or unsure of all the words in a title, or an author's name.
Search Everything - automatically searches for your term (or terms) in all areas of all records
when you press "Enter," or click on the "Search Everything" button.
Examples:
Title - searches for your term only in the area of each record containing titles.
Example:
Author - searches for your term (in this case an author's name) only in the area of each record
containing authors' names
Examples: Johnson (will find all items authored by any person named Johnson)
William Masters (will find items authored only by any William Masters)
Masters and Johnson (both names must appear as authors)
Periodical Title - searches for your term only in records which represent journals and magazines.
but will not find any books, recordings, or other items with these terms in the title)
Having trouble finding enough information? Use $ to request multiple word endings. Example:
Histor$ will retrieve records using the terms History, Historic, and Historian
2. Power Search - is recommended by librarians – look for it just below the default dialogue box. Power Search is easy to use - it allows you to specify types of terms (author, title, keyword/phrase), use multiple terms and multiple limitations. Feel free to see a librarian for help. Examples:
Set Search Limits (scroll down to lower part of the screen) - Item Type: Music Scores
Title: Choral AND
Author: Bach
Will find only Scores containing Choral in the title, and Bach as author
Set Search Limits (scroll down to lower part of the screen) - Item Type: Journals and Magazines
Subject: Physical Therapy
Will find only Journals or Magazines with Physical Therapy as a primary subject
Set Search Limits (scroll down to lower part of the screen) - Item Location: Reference Area
Word or phrase: Statistics AND
Word or phrase:
Will find only Reference Area materials,
and both Statistics AND
records
Set Search Limits (scroll down to lower part of the screen) - Item Location: Children's Non-fict.
Word or phrase: Animal
Will find materials in Children's Non-fiction which have the term Animal in the record
Set Search Limits (scroll down to
lower part of the screen) - Item Type: Electronic Journal
Word or phrase: Education
Will find only electronic journals which are related to education
Set Search Limits (scroll down to
lower part of the screen) - Library: Smith
Language: German
Item type: CDs
and LP Recordings
Word or phrase: Bach
Will find only recordings in German by Bachs housed in Smith Library
Having trouble finding enough information? Use $ to request multiple word endings. Example:
Psych$ will retrieve records using the terms Psychology, Psychological, Psychologist etc.
3. Navigating and viewing results:
Go Back - this button will always take you to the immediately previous screen
Backward - available only when you have a list (like books by Hemingway), will move you up the list
Forward - available only when you have a list (like books by Hemingway), will move you down the list
New Search - will take you to the opening screen
View - allows you to look at the full record
Print/Capture - allows you to sort records by title, author, and date, then print, save to disc, or e-mail
the record
Help - provides a short explanation of keyword, browse and other useful terms
4. Reserve Desk - type in your instructor's name, the course name, or course number to find materials
Examples: Wigley - then click on "Dr. Wigley" to see list of courses having reserved items
KIN 350 - provides a list of reserve items for Sports and Exercise Psychology
Sports and Exercise Psychology - provides list of reserve items for KIN 350
5. My Account - select this button to:
Renew Materials View your personal library account
Change you pin number Change your PIN
Note: You can link from the catalog directly to e-journals
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