Using the ICAST catalogue

A library catalogue contains one particular record for each item (book, video, journal
title, etc) a library has in its collections. Most library catalogues are now in a digital
form. They not only index items that can be found on the library shelf, but also
electronic information that can be found within databases or on the Internet. The NTU
library catalogue is beginning to contain more and more references to selected items
available online.

Now we will learn how--

An important step in learning how to use any library catalogue is to become familiar
with the kind of information a catalogue record contains. Computer catalogues are
tools for you to use. As with all tools, you need to learn the techniques of using them
properly.

Let's take a look at a catalogue record and the fields like title; author; publisher;
subjects ; class no; accenssion no. etc..

The ICAST OPAC allows you to search certain fields of a record depending on which
search option you choose.
Currently user can use 2 versions of the ICAST OPAC:

Here we are going to focus on the WebPAC version of the ICAST OPAC (later we
will also take a look at the Telnet version).

When using the WebPAC library catalogue, choose "Web Access". with a search
box where you can type in your search words. First, you select the database given in a
drop down menu. Then you can restrict your search queires by selecting the fields given
in INDEX option, given just right side of each searh box.. So to have a better search
result select the search option you want to use, that is, the catalogue index you want to
search.
Then you can restrict your result displayed by selcting the opting 'DISPLAY TITLE'
OR 'DISPLAY FULL RECORD' give below of the search box. Then press "BIGIN
SEARCH" button.
Good luck !!! you may spot your exact requirement.

Keyword or any other field searching within computerised information systems usually
involves using Boolean logic. Our Web-OPAC has provided this option into the search
box.
In the following you will be introduced to some of the most commonly used steps of
Boolean searching:
Using the Boolean AND connector
Using the Boolean OR connector
Using the Boolean NOT connector

* Use "*" (without quotes) between the terms for the boolean operator "AND" For
example: java * handbook
* Use "+" (without quotes) between the terms for the boolean operator "OR" For
example: airfoil + aerofoil
* Use "^" (without quotes) between the terms for the boolean operator "NOT" For
example: aerodynamics ^ helicopter
* Use "$" (without quotes) for right truncation. For example: comput$ will retrieve
computer, computing, computational...
* Use "." (without quotes) between the terms for phrase search .
For example:
composite . materials => composite(space)(dot)(space)materials
for 'composite materials'
cyrogenic . . tunnels => cyrogenic(space)(dot)(space)(dot)(space)tunnels
for 'cryogenic wind tunnels'