Select a subject area Aborigines and Torres Strait Islanders Architecture Arts Business Disabilities Encyclopaedias and dictionaries Genealogy Health and medicine History Humanities and social sciences In print Internet Access Law and government Literature and reviews Maps Multi-subject database Newspapers Science and technology Serials in Australian Libraries Sport Statistics

• State Library of Victoria main (text) catalogue
• Searching the text catalogue
• Pictures Catalogue
• Other library catalogues

State Library of Victoria main (text) catalogue

At the menu home page move the cursor onto the words Library Catalogues and click on the left mouse button. From the next screen choose State Library of Victoria catalogue.
The Library catalogue lists books, magazines, newspapers and audio-visual material, such as cd's and videos.

Go to how to search the catalogue for information on the different types of searches that you can do. There is also a prompt for help at the bottom of each screen. When using the catalogue, type in a question mark ? to go to help at any time.


Go to Top | Workstation help | Information databases help | Internet help | Exit Help

Searching the text catalogue

The computer catalogue lists books and serials (magazines, journals, newspapers and annual reports) held by the State Library. The Library is progressively adding other types of material such as pictures and maps.

Please note

• The catalogue does not list articles in journals, magazines or newspapers.
  
• Some entries for some older (pre-1980) material are incomplete. If you do not find what you are looking for, ask at an information desk.

Our catalogue is one of several options available on workstations across the Library.
To go to the catalogue:

• From the main menu, choose Library catalogues and click the left hand mouse button.
• When using the text catalogue do not use the mouse, instead press the enter key on the keyboard.

This will take you to the front screen of the catalogue with a list of options for different types of indexes you can search, for example, author, title, subject.



What do the keys do?

• Enter : use this key after you have typed in each request, that is, to enter your request for the computer to process it.
• Backspace : use this key to correct any typing error
• Space bar : use this bar (at the bottom of the keyboard) to make a space between letters

To begin a search

• Type in the number next to the type of search you want to do, then press the enter key.

  For example: Choose 1 if you have the title of the book or serial; 3 if you are interested in finding books we have on a particular subject.

• Type in your request, then press the enter key.
• The line at the bottom of the screen lists the options you have. For example: b=back (will take you back one screen at a time); so= start over (will take you back to the main menu screen); c= copy status (for call number and holdings information).

To see a book or magazine

Once you have found the item on the catalogue, the banner on the top left hand side of the screen will tell you:

• Which part of the Library the item can be found in, for example, Trescowthick Information Centre, Arts Library, Temporary Reading Room or La Trobe Information Centre.
• Whether you need to fill out a call slip, or if the item is on open access so you can get it yourself.
• The call number (e.g. SLT 333.79 G56P). You need to write down ALL the letters as well as the numbers.
  
  

  To fill out a call slip:

  �For books, write down the call number, title and author.

  �For journals or magazines write the call number, title of the journal (not the article), volume number and date of the issue(s) you require

  .

• Hand the call slip in at the appropriate Book Delivery Desk (in the Trescowthick Information Centre, Arts Library or La Trobe Information Centre).
• Help screens are available on the catalogue. Hold down the shift key together with the question mark key; then press the enter key.

Go to Top | Workstation help | Information databases help | Internet help | Exit Help


What sorts of searches can I do?

1. Title list

Use this search only if you are sure that you have the exact title.

Examples:

history of australia

artists of the Australian gold rush

2. Author's name

Enter the surname first, followed by first name or initials.

Examples:

blainey g

smith lawrence

3. Subject list

Subject headings are used to describe what a work is about. Type in the words for your subject and press enter, to get to a section of an alphabetical list of subject headings used by the Library (Library of Congress Subject Headings).

Examples:

child abuse

cattle - feeding and feeds

If you are unsure about the correct form of the heading, try subject keyword (option 5), or topic (option 7).

For material about an organisation, for example, BHP, choose organisation (option 4)

4. Organisation name (Keywords)

This searches for keywords in the name of an organisation. The organisation may be the author of a book or it may be the subject of a book. You can enter the significant word or words in the name of an organisation. Use less common words first.

Example:

works board (for publications by or about the Board of Works)

5. Subject keyword(s)

This searches for keywords in subject headings.

Example:

gold bendigo (for books about gold in the Bendigo region)

6. Title keyword(s)

This searches for keywords in a title. If you aren't sure of the exact title, type in the main words.

Example:

peculiar people (for books with those words in the title)

7. Topic

This is a very broad search. It searches for keywords in the title and subject headings. Use this search if you do not know the exact title or the correct form of the subject heading, or are having trouble finding any material on your subject.

Examples:

acid rain

australian mammals

8. Call number

This allows you to search under Dewey Decimal Classification number. This system assigns a number to every book indicating the item's subject area. It can be used as an alternative to a subject search if you already know an appropriate classification number. Enter the number without the location prefix.

Examples:

657.34 H34B

938.2

9. Magazines / newspapers title lists

This is an index which lists magazines, journals, annual reports and newspapers. It does not list individual articles.When you have found the title you are looking for, select it from the list, and type in SS. This will take you to the subscription summary screen which tells you which issues we hold.

10. Place newspaper published

Use this search to find the names of all the newspapers published in a particular town/suburb, state or country.

Examples:

geelong

canada

11. Picture indexes

Select this option to search the catalogue of the Picture Collection. The Collection comprises unpublished photographs, drawings and paintings of Victoria and Victorians. The Collection's card catalogue is gradually being entered into the computer catalogue along with digitised images of the pictures. Use the Library's Pictures Catalogue to view the images.

12. Series title keyword

When books are published in a series, they are catalogued under their individual titles as well as under their series title. To search for a series, type in the keywords from the series title.

Example:

For the series "Great books of the western world", type in the words > great books western world.

13. In-house indexes

The Library has produced several in-house indexes, focusing on Australiana and hard to find, quick facts known as Fugitive Facts. To use these indexes, follow the instructions at the bottom of each screen.

14. Log off

If you wish to use any of the other options available on the workstation, logoff from the catalogue first.

Returning to the menu home page from the text catalogue

To return to the menu page from the catalogue, choose option 14 - (logoff) from the catalogue menu. Click on the Home button at the top of the screen.

Need help? Ask our information desk staff.

Go to top



Pictures Catalogue

The Pictures Catalogue consists of images from the State Library of Victoria Picture Collection, such as unpublished photographs, drawings and paintings. They reflect the visual history of Victoria and Victorians from 1803 to the present day. The Collection's card catalogue is gradually being entered into the computer catalogue along with digitised images of the pictures. Currently over 160,000 photographs, paintings, postcards, posters and prints are included.

Move the cursor onto the words Pictures Catalogue and click on the left mouse button.

Returning to the menu home page from the Pictures Catalogue

To return to the menu page from the Pictures Catalogue, click on the X on the top right hand side of the screen. Click on the Home button at the top of the screen.

Need help? Ask our information desk staff.

Go to top



Other library catalogues

Coolcat text catalogue

Coolcat lists the holdings of Victorian university and academic libraries - including the State Library - but it can't tell you if something is on the shelf or not.

VICNET libraries links

VICNET libraries pages provide direct links to other library catalogues in Victoria and Australia. You can only search one catalogue at a time, but it will actually tell you if the book is available. You need to book an Internet enabled workstation to use these links. Ask at an information desk.

Go to Top | Workstation help | Information databases help | Internet help | Exit Help