When you look for library materials on the OPAC, you will need to type some KEYWORDS into a FIELD. A KEYWORD is a word that describes what you want to find. A FIELD is the space on the computer screen for finding a specific kind of information.

The "simple search" screen of the OPAC has 3 fields. They are called SUBJECT, TITLE and AUTHOR. Most of the time, you will need to search for materials about a particular topic and you will use the SUBJECT field. At other times, when looking for works by an author you know or with a title you know, you will of course, use the TITLE or AUTHOR field as needed.

You can try typing the first part of your keyword and ending the word with a * This will find all words beginning with the letters you have typed. For example, typing "DANC*" will find all these words:dancer; dancing; dance; dances; dancers; danced.

Type one or two words (KEYWORDS) that describe what you want to find (For example, PANAMA CANAL). Now press the ENTER key to see a description of what you found.

Did you find anything? If you didn't, you can try eliminating a word (for example, type only PANAMA) and see whether you find some more information. (This works because the computer has searched for BOTH "PANAMA" AND "CANAL" together in one item. Using just one word makes it easier to find more items.)

Did you find what you needed? Now try using a synonym or a more general category in the subject field (for example, CENTRAL AMERICA). You may find more items this way.

Get more information about your book by pressing the ENTER key. You will see the full cataloging information for your item, including a group of SUBJECTS. Often, looking at these cataloged subjects will give you a helpful hint for words to use in your next subject search.

Read through all the titles you found. Are there any good ones? Mark them by pressing the F7 button. You will see a red arrow appear on the right, next to your selection. Print your marked records by pressing F8. Respond "Y" when you are asked if the printer is ready. You will soon find a written record at the printer with titles and call numbers for each selection.

You can check by hitting the F5 button. A pop up screen will show you the available copies.

Type in any words from the title you want. If you aren't sure of a word, you can just leave it out.

The author's name, in any order. If the author has a middle name or some initials that are only used some of the time, leave them out for a better search.

If you are looking for material about your author, use the SUBJECT field.

The advanced search screen offers a way of searching for a subject and getting only those items which are about your subject exactly. Sometimes you will find an item which is just what you have been looking for, but you notice that you have spent quite a bit of time in looking through unrelated items. WHOLE SUBJECT SEARCH can sometimes help with this sort of difficulty. Look closely at what the OPAC screen has to say about your excellent item. Put the cursor on the item and press ENTER. You should now be looking at the full cataloging for the item and it should include something about SUBJECTS. Each of the subjects you find in this screen is a "whole subject." That means that every word and punctuation mark -- the "whole thing"-- make up a standard subject term that is agreed upon by librarians and catalogers. If you search for this WHOLE SUBJECT, you will get only relevant hits.

Here's how to do it: Make sure that you are in the advanced search screen by pressing F9. Position your cursor in the subject field. Now press the

TOGGLE key (F5) and your subject field should say "whole subject." Now press the BROWSE key (F4). When you begin typing, a list of subject terms will appear. Choose a term and press the enter key. There you go! Now see if the items you found were good ones.

You will find the call number for books to the left of each book listed on your OPAC screen or print out. For CD-ROMs or videos, ask the library staff.

If you have mastered simple OPAC searching, and would like to experiment with more advanced techniques, try using the F9 key. It will bring up the advanced search screen with its 5 Fields or search areas. Three of them, SUBJECT, AUTHOR and TITLE, are already familiar to you.

The two new fields are CALL NUMBER and MEDIUM.

You will also notice that the words "AND" and "OR" appear to the left of the five fields. This offers some interesting possibilities. You can combine call number and medium searches with your other keyword searches in order to limit what the OPAC will find for you. Make sure you use the browse key (F ) to help you understand what call numbers and media there are. An example of a search might be for an oversize book (type OV into the CALL NUMBER field) about the painter of Leonardo da Vinci (type Leonardo into the SUBJECT field). The OPAC will find only those items that are both oversize AND about Leonardo.

The advanced search screen offers a way of searching for a subject and getting only those items which are about your subject exactly. Sometimes you will find an item which is just what you have been looking for, but you notice that you have spent quite a bit of time in looking through unrelated items. WHOLE SUBJECT SEARCH can sometimes help with this sort of difficulty. Look closely at what the OPAC screen has to say about your excellent item. Put the cursor on the item and press ENTER. You should now be looking at the full cataloging for the item and it should include something about SUBJECTS. Each of the subjects you find in this screen is a "whole subject." That means that every word and punctuation mark -- the "whole thing"-- make up a standard subject term that is agreed upon by librarians and catalogers. If you search for this WHOLE SUBJECT, you will get only relevant hits.

Here's how to do it: Make sure that you are in the advanced search screen by pressing F9. Position your cursor in the subject field. Now press the TOGGLE key (F5) and your subject field should say "whole subject." Now press the BROWSE key (F4). When you begin typing, a list of subject terms will appear. Choose a term and press the enter key. There you go! Now see if the items you found were good ones.