Help using the main catalogue

The main catalogue has various search functions, including a basic search, an advanced search, browse functions and an A to Z journals list to help you find material.

Library collections or extended search

The default setting of the main catalogue is to search Library collections, which provides a focused search of our printed, manuscript and archive, moving image and digital collections. If you select extended search, this includes Library collections, plus a large number of e-resources, and high quality resources from databases, other libraries and publishers.

Search for books

To find a specific book, you can:

• Click or tap Browse, then Browse by title or Browse by author. You can then enter the title, e.g. 'The Wasp Factory', or the name of the author — surname first, followed by first name — e.g. 'Stevenson, Robert Louis'.
• Use the main search box to either enter keywords from the title or the exact title. For a more focused search, put the exact title in quote marks, restrict to Library collections or use a search filter.
• Use Advanced Search to combine search terms like ISBN number and publisher name, and to filter by material type, language or date.

Search for journals

To find a specific journal title, you can:

• Enter the name of the journal in the main search box, e.g. 'Glasgow Herald', and filter your results for journals.
• Use Journals A to Z to look for the title alphabetically.

Search for articles

To find a specific article, you can:

• Search for the journal the article is published in — as above — and then check the holdings to see if the Library has the issue containing the article.
• Enter the article title in the main search box, e.g. 'Why Digital Data Collections Are Important'. Some articles are available online, either through open access, our eResources, or legal deposit.

Search for films

Details of films in the Moving Image Archive are included in the main catalogue. For each film, the main catalogue record connects to the Moving Image Archive catalogue, where you will find more specific information about the item. Some films are available to view online, you can arrange to view others by contacting the Moving Image Archive at Kelvin Hall. To find a film in the main catalogue, you can:

• Enter a keyword search term for a subject of a film of interest, e.g. 'skiing' and then filter your results by resource type.
• Use Advanced Search to restrict the material type to 'Audio visual'.

Search by Library shelfmark

If you know the Library shelfmark of the item you are looking for, you can:

• Enter the shelfmark — e.g. NG.834.b.34 — into the main search box.
• Click or tap Browse, and then Browse by shelfmark and enter the shelfmark.

Search by subject

To find material on a particular subject, you can:

• Click or tap Browse, and then Browse by subject. You can then enter a subject keyword, e.g. 'Heraldry'.
• Use Advanced Search to combine search terms, e.g. 'Heraldry' and 'Scotland'.

You can use Filter my results to refine your search results. Filters include the following:

• Availability — to sort by 'Full Text Online', 'Available in the Library', etc.
• Resource type — to sort by 'Books', 'Journals', 'Audio visual' content etc.
• Library location — to sort by our different reading rooms in Edinburgh and by Kelvin Hall in Glasgow. Filters include: 'Special Collections Reading Room', 'Moving Image Archive, Glasgow', 'Reading rooms, open shelves', etc.

Interpret your search results

Each record in the list of search results contains a piece of information telling you more about the item. Examples include the following:

• Multiple versions of this item exist. See all versions. This means there is more than one copy or edition of the item. Click or tap on See all versions to see the individual records for each version of the item, and use search filters to find the version of interest.
• Consult in General Reading Room or Consult in Special Collections Reading Room.This means the item is available as a hard-copy, which can be viewed in one of our Edinburgh reading rooms. You must therefore request it for consultation in the relevant reading room.
• Check holdings. This may indicate that the item exists in more than one part — for example, a journal — and that the parts may be stored separately. It may also indicate that there are different copies of the same item. Before you request this item, you will need to select the relevant holding. You can click or tap each holding to find more information. Many of these types of items need to be ordered using the alternative request system.
• Stored in Reading Room. This means that the item is available on the open shelves in one of our Edinburgh reading rooms and therefore you do not need to request it.
• Checked out from or on hold shelf. This means the item is in use by another person. You can still order it, meaning you will be placed in a request queue.
• Online access, view online or Full text available. This means the item is available electronically, for example through the digital gallery, electronic legal deposit or the eResources, and therefore you do not need to request it. For films, this takes you to the Moving Image Archive catalogue record for the item.
• If you are unable to find what you are looking for you can see whether other libraries hold an item through Library Hub Discover and Worldcat.

When you have identified a book, journal or other item of interest, if it is not available online or on the open shelves, you will need to request it.

To request an item, you must be logged in to the main catalogue. Click or tap the title of the item of interest to see the full item record. At the end of each item record, there is information about how it should be requested.

Request this item

Most items have the option to Request this item, which you can click or tap to submit your request. When you have submitted the request, you will receive an email notifying you when your requested item is ready to consult in the relevant Edinburgh reading room.

Request queues

If an item you wish to order is in use by another person, it can still be requested. Once you have submitted the request, your place in the request queue for the item will be confirmed. 'Place in the queue is 1' means you are the only person waiting for the item, and it will be transferred to you after six working days, or when the other person has finished with it. You will receive an email notification once the item is available for you to consult.

Alternative request system

If an item does not have the Request this item option, it should be requested using the Alternative request system. Some journals, newspapers and Advocates Library material should be requested in this way. To request items using the Alternative request system, you will need to log in again — using the same login details as before.

When you have viewed the holdings information for the item you should select the relevant holding. Use the comments box to specify the date and volume of the item you require, if applicable, then click or tap Submit this request. You will receive an email notifying you that the request has been made, but it will not appear in your main catalogue account.

You will receive email notifications when items you have requested are ready to consult. You can also check on the progress of your requests by logging in to the main catalogue and looking at My Account. My requests lists all the items you have asked for, and My loans lists all the items available for you to consult.

Items which have been requested using the Alternative request system such as journals, newspapers and Advocates Library material will not appear on your main catalogue account, but you can track the progress of these requests by contacting us.

If you need further help using the main catalogue, please do not hesitate to contact us in one of the following ways:

• Ask A Librarian online enquiry form
• Chat online, available Monday to Thursday 2pm to 6pm, Friday and Saturday 2pm to 4pm.
• Tel: +44 (0)131 6233700 ext 3820

About the main catalogue