Tips on using the Library Catalogue What is the Library Catalogue? A library catalogue tells you what and where a material is held by the library. Most libraries have computerised catalogues which allow you to access via the internet. For example, the NTU Library Catalogue. There are also catalogues which allow cross-searching of multiple catalogues at once. For example, the Virtual Union Catalogue enables you to search across the catalogues of 11 libraries in Singapore. Making use of Boolean Operators Ever encounter search results that are too long or too few causing great frustration in your research? You can use Boolean Operators to narrow or expand your searches as needed for a more effective and accurate searching process. There are 3 Boolean Operators, “AND”, “OR”, and “NOT”. In general: Boolean Operator “AND” Narrow search results by ensuring only results with all the search terms are displayed. “NOT” Narrow search results by removing results containing the undesirable search terms. “OR” Broaden search results by ensuring results containing either of the search terms are displayed.
Function For example, if you are looking for titles on cognitive semantics, enter search terms “cognitive AND semantics” instead of “semantics”. For example, if you are not looking for titles on logical semantics, enter search terms “semantics NOT logical”. For example, if you are looking for phonology or phonetics, enter search terms “phonology OR phonetics”.
Created by Lee Meiyu for Chinese Linguistics on 14 June 2010 All Rights Reserved. NTU Library 1