Wamego High School Library
Return to the Library Research Tips page.The library is currently using the DOS version of Winnebago. The catalog is available from all the PCs in the library and the Computing Lab (room 201). Online Catalog Search Tips
To Begin
If the screen message is “Press Any Key,” touch any key to display the catalog input screen.
General Guidelines
- If searching for the title of a book, begin the search with the first noun of the title (A, An, and The, are not used at the beginning of titles in the Online Catalog)
- Use the Regular Catalog (F8) mode if you are searching for a book title or an author. Use F7 in the Regular Catalog to select the appropriate field.
- Use the Keyword Catalog (F8) when doing subject searching or if you can’t remember the exact title of a book.
- When your results list is displayed, use the arrow keys to move up or down to the desired item, then press [Enter] to see your selection.
- Information needed to retrieve the item from the library shelves includes: the complete call number and the items’ location (if other that the regular stacks, i.e., Professional Collection, Career Resources Center, Reference).
Searching
There are two forms of searching the catalog: Keyword and Regular Catalog.
Keyword Searching will find the key word/s you enter from one or all of several fields: the title, the subject headings, the notes, and/or the author. A few hints for searching:
- Using only one word per line usually works best
- Change the source fields you are searching in by using F6
- Combine lines using the Boolean operators (AND, OR, AND NOT) using F2:
- AND will narrow your search by looking for both terms in the same record;
- OR will broaden your search by looking for either term in any record;
- AND NOT limits your search by eliminating one term (or group of terms)
- You can add an author, call number or barcode to your keyword search by selecting F3
The Regular Catalog mode allows you to search for materials by specific field: author, title, subject.
To perform an Author Search, type the author’s last name.
- When the index screen displays, select the appropriate author and press [Enter] to see a list of titles.
- You may also type a (,) followed by first initial or first name, but the index screen will allow you to browse by last name.
- To perform a Title Search, type in the title of the book (this must be exact or at least the first few words must be exact).
- Remember not to use A, An, or The at the beginnings of titles (the catalog will register no entries found!).
For assistance at any time, please ask a library staff member.
- To perform a Subject Search, type in the subject heading (if you don’t know the complete subject heading, type in the beginning portion, i.e., calculators, to see subjects beginning with the term “calculators.”).
- Unless you know the exact subject heading, it might be better to try Keyword Searching.
WHS Library home page.