Catalog Assistance

 

Tip: Start search by logging in. This will allow you to place multiple holds without having to log in each time and access your account. If you need help, use Log-In Assistance.

 

The Catalog is used to:

 

Tips for finding . . .

 

Searching the Library Catalog

Search the Library's catalog to find books and other materials (e.g., DVDs, videos, recordings, and more). If you are most interested in what the Library has added in the last two months, see our list of new materials. Try Can't Find It? if we don't have it here. Narrowing a search might help too.

 

Staff will answer your questions in person or over the phone. If you need help with anything in the Library, please ask for assistance. If you are outside the Library, consider other options to contact us.

 

Holds

When all copies of a book or other media are checked out, or the item is at another branch, you may place a hold. This puts you in virtual line for the item. Remember when placing the hold to select the pick-up branch.


If when attempting to place a hold you get a privilege expired message, you should contact the library to make sure your borrower registration is current and up to date.

Here's more Help with Placing a Hold.

 

eBooks

If downloading audiobooks, Getting Started (on the right side of page) will offer technical requirement and help.

Get more information about the eBook collection and help.

 

Music

Music and song lyrics are frequently searched for and found at the Library. The Library's collection of songbooks and individual song titles have been entered into the Library catalog. Here are tips for finding songs in the catalog.

 

Songs in the Catalog

  1. Enter a song title in the search box of the catalog, then add 'AND music' like this: 'You are my sunshine' AND music
  2. Set the search type to 'title' using the dropdown menu left of the search button.
  3. Click Search.

Music books with "RM" in the call number may be retrieved at the Cesar Chavez Central Library Storage Desk (1st floor).

 

Note: Disregard catalog note saying 'No copies available in any library.'

 

Recorded Music

Finding songs and artists in the recorded music in the Library's collection is easy. Narrowing your search will get you the best results:

 

Can't Find It? If our library system does not have what you are looking for, we might be able to get it through LinkPlus. Ask library staff how you may borrow a book from a library outside San Joaquin County.

 

How to Narrow a Search

The Library catalog provides advanced search features. These allow for narrowing a search, for a precise, smaller result set. This is generally done with Power Search.

 

Limit by intended audience (age group)

Enter a search word or phrase. Use item category 2 to select the intended audience. Options include adult, juvenile (children), and teen. (Power Search)

 

Limit by language

Enter a search word or phrase. Use language to select the language in which the material is written, spoken, or sung. Fourteen language options are available including, English, Spanish, Chinese, Japanese, Hmong, Vietnamese, Khmer (Cambodian), Lao, Tagalog and Cebuano. (Power Search)

Note: This search method ALSO retrieves items translated from the selected language.

For example, results of a title search on Don Quixote, limited to Spanish include English-language translations of this classic novel.


Limit by publication year

Enter the search word or phrase. Enter year information in the Pubyear box (Power Search). Examples of years, include:

 

Publication Year Search Samples
Year(s) Means
1999 1999
1999-2003 From 1999-2003
>1999 After 1999
>=1999 1999 to the present
<1999 Before 1999
<=1999 1999 and earlier

 

Limit by Publisher

Enter the search word or phrase (author, title, subject, keywords, etc.) and add:

AND publisher's name {260}

For example, the search for

McIntyre Vonda AND Bantam {260}

retrieves books by Vonda McIntyre, published by Bantam.

 

Multimedia

Search tips for movies, books on tape, music recordings, and language instruction follow:

 

Movies

Videorecordings - Any Kind

To retrieve movies in any format (DVD, video, etc.)

Use videorecording AND, followed by your search words.

DVDs Only

Use DVD videorecording AND, followed by your search words.

VHS Only

Use videorecording AND, followed by your search words. Then add, NOT DVD

Entertainment (not educational)

Use videorecording AND, followed by your search words. Then add, drama.

Educational (Nonfiction) Videos

Use videorecording AND, followed by your search words. Then add, NOT drama.

Actor or Director Search

Use videorecording AND, followed by the actor or director's name.

Books on Tape

Use audiobooks AND add the author's name or title you wish to search for.

For example, to find books on tape by the author Tolkien, enter this search:

audiobooks AND Tolkien

Searches may be further limited by genre type or fiction/non-fiction classifications:

 

Limit to

Use these words

And these words

Books on tape by genre

(type of fiction)

audiobooks AND

fiction AND

[Pick a genre]

Christian, horror, humor, love stories,

mystery, suspense etc.

Nonfiction books on tape

audiobooks AND

[your search words] NOT fiction


Downloadable Audiobooks

Audiobooks  can be downloaded to your PC and then transfer to a compatible media player.

Add search term downloadable audiobook to your search. (more info)


Music Recordings

To search for recordings in any format

Use (audio or compact) AND, then add your search terms.

For example, to find recordings by Frank Sinatra, enter this search:

(audio or compact) AND Sinatra

To find only recordings on CD

Use compact disc AND your search terms.

 

To find only audiocassettes

Use audio AND your search terms.

For example, to find only audiocassettes of singer Johnny Cash, enter this search:

audio AND Johnny Cash

Searches for recorded music can include song titles, by putting the song title in single quotes in this way:

audio AND 'you are me sunshine'

 

Language Instruction

To find language instruction media

Use audio or compact or audiobook AND [language name] language self-instruction.

These can also be altered to search for videorecordings, DVDs, or only compact discs. For example, to find Spanish instruction on DVD, enter:

dvd videorecording AND Spanish language self-instruction