Help for using the Siegen University Library catalogue

Contents

The library catalogue contains title data of books, journals and all other media. Also titles which are ordered, but not yet available in the library, are included.

The library catalogue is available in a version for smartphones, tablet PCs etc. with the same functionalities as in the catalogue with “classical” user interface.

With the smartphone-icon in the navigation bar of the library catalogue you can search the catalogue, place a reservation and have access to your user account.

The Catalogue of Journals (Zeitschriftensuche) enables access to the titles of printed and electronic journals. A complete list of the electronic titles can only be found in the "Elektronischen Zeitschriftenbibliothek".

User account

Information about address, loans, loan reservations, fees and interlibrary loans can be found in the user account. Here you can change your password or profile and can inform us about a change of your address.

For accessing the user account you have to log in with your library card number (GHSS97001457, GHSA ..., UBSI ...) and password, which you receive / have received at the loan desk.
If you've forgotten the password to your account, you can get a new one at every loan desk of Siegen University Library.

After a successful log in, the navigation bar changes, so that user account and the possibility to log out (important, when using the catalogue at a computer terminal in the public user area!) are accessible.

Please notice the hints for SSL-encryption and the certificate.

You may use following functions in the user account:

• Loans:
  List of all borrowed media (local and interlibrary loan) with due date and overdue fees. Details are shown, when clicking onto the number in the first column.
  In the detailed view you can renew the medium, if the due date is not exceeded and there is no loan reservation.
  With the function "Renew marked titles" all media can be renewed, which you marked in the list before. Items, whose lending period is exceeded or that have a loan reservation can not be renewed. Items which are borrowed via interlibrary loan can not be renewed online.
  At last you receive an overview which media are renewed and which not.
  Brief instruction for renewing
• Loan reservations:
  List of all requested media (loan reservations and closed stack items) with request date and status. When the medium is on hold you will find the appropriate date. You can delete a loan reservation within the detailed view (Click onto the number in the first column to get there).
• Interlibrary loans:
  List of all interlibrary loan requests and deliveries.
  Registering a new interlibrary loan order is not possible here, but can only be done via the link ILL (Interlibrary loan) in the navigation bar.
• Cash transactions:
  List of all cash transactions which are incurred for your account, i.e. fines for interlibrary loan requests or for items which were returned delayed. You will see the fines for delayed media only after they have been returned. An information about the fine can be seen within the overview of loans.

Navigation bar

The navigation bar is always visible in the upper frame of the catalog. Use this exclusively for navigating the catalogue, navigation via the browser buttons can be uncertain.

Following menu items can be selected:

• Basic search: Searching with one search criterion and one or more search terms
• Advanced search: Searching with several search criteria, including publication year and flexible combination of the terms
• Index browse: Scanning the indices (Beginning of title, person, call number, ...)
• Periodicals catalogue: Link to the periodicals catalogue: Searching for journal titles
• Classification search: Searching within the classification (GHBS)
• ILL: Registering a new interlibrary loan request within the "Digitale Bibliothek"
• New acquisitions: Monthly list of new media, sorted by subject
• Closed stack items: Form for requesting media from the closed stacks
• Purchase suggestion: Form for making suggestions for new books
• Result list: Short title list of the results of the last search request
• Basket: List of collected titles
• Search history: Summary of the search requests of one session
• User account (Log out): Loan and address data
• Help: This text

Searching

For searching the catalogue there are several search criteria, partly only available in the Advanced Search.

• Keyword anywhere:
  Searching with words out of the fields:
  • Title (including other title information)
  • Person
  • Organisation (Institutions, congresses ...)
  • Call number
  • Subjects (Classification - only german terms)
  Example:
  Searching for fontane finds all records, which contain the term fontane within the title, person, organisation name or the subject heading.
• Title keyword:
  Searching with words out of the title (without other title information)
  Example:
  Searching for biology finds all records, which contain the word biology anywhere within the title, i.e. "The biology of learning" or "Computers in biology".
• Beginning of title:
  Searching for the beginning of titles, including leading articles (without other title information).
  Example:
  Searching for the old man finds all records, which title begins with The old man, i.e. The old man and the sea.
• Person-Stichwort:
  Searching with words out of the names of persons
  Example:
  Searching for thomas mann finds all records, which have the term thomas and the term mann within the name field, i.e. "Thomas Mann" or "Golo Mann und Thomas Schmidt".
• ISBN:
  Searching for the ISBN. Enter it with or without hyphens
  ISBN: 0-224-60278-0 Treffer: The book with the ISBN 0-224-60278-0 (The old man and the sea)
• Subject search:
  Searching with terms of the classification (only in german) and with subjects headings.
  Example:
  Searching with mittelalter finds all records, which deal with the Mittelalter.
• Organisation:
  Searching with Words of the category organisation. This could be institutions, but also meetings and conferences
  Example:
  Searching for Max-Planck-Gesellschaft finds all records which include the phrase Max-Planck-Gesellschaft anywhere in the organisation or institution name.
• Call number:
  Searching with the call number. Enter it in one string without spaces, beginning with the location.
  Examples:
  55zwh* Results: 55ZWH1022, 55ZWH1658, 55ZWH1666(4)
  55zwh16* Results: : 55ZWH1658, 55ZWH1666(4)
  If there are special character as "(" or ")" in the search string, it has to be set in quotation marks.
  "55zwh1666(4)"
• Classification-Notation:
  Searching with a Notation of the Classification (Aufstellungssystematik).
  Example:
  Searching with ZWH finds all records, which contain ZWH in the field notation, and which accordingly are placed on the shelf at ZWH.
  Please use * for truncation, the "!" can not be used.
• Person (Advanced search):
  Searching with the name of persons (Author, Editor). Last name and first name can be separated by spaces or colon. Names are automatically right-truncated, the search for schmidt, p also finds Schmidt, Peter, Schmidt, Paul etc.
  Example:
  Searching for friedrich finds all records, which person name begins with friedrich, i.e."Friedrich, Adalbert" or "Friedrich <Preußen, König, II.>"
• Series title (Advanced Search):
  earching with keywords out of the title of the series.
• Publication year (Advanced Search):
  Searching with publication years (recommended only in combination with other search criteria). The publication year must be entered four-figure.
  Example:
  Searching fo 2005 finds all records, which contain the year 2005 as year of publication.
• Kind of material (Advanced Search):
  Restrict the search onto some kind of material
• Publisher (Advanced Search):
  Searching with words out of the name of the publisher.
  Example:
  Searching for kramer finds all records, which contain the term "kramer" within the field publisher.
• Place of publication (Advanced Search):
  Searching for a publishing place.
  Example:
  Searching for berlin finds all media which were published in Berlin.

Please mark when entering the search terms:

• There is no difference between capital and small letters
  computer = COMPUTER = ComPuter
• Mutated vowels can be entered as one or two letters: Krönchen = Kroenchen.
• Several search terms, which are separated by spaces within one searchfield are automatically combined by AND:
  shakespeare romeo = shakespeare and romeo
• Truncation (abbreviation) is possible both at the beginning and the ending of a word. The sign for truncation is the " * ".
  lib* finds library, librarian, liberty, ...
  *ology finds Psychology, Biology, Geology,...
  spa*etti finds Spagetti, Spaghetti.
• Single letters can be replaced by " ! "
• The Boolean operators AND, OR and NOT can be used for the search within one search field:
  wom!n AND (cinema OR film*).

Basic search

You can start a search request at the first page of the catalogue:

• Choose a Search criterion.
• Enter one or more search terms into the search field.
• Start your search request by clicking onto the button SEARCH or by pressing Enter.
• As a result you will get a short title list.
• If a search request with more than one search term does not find a result in the database you will get a new page with the number of results for each search term.

The basic search is available as an edit line within the result list and the item details.

Advanced Search

The advanced search makes it possible to combine up to 3 search criteria. Only search fields, which were filled in, will be considered for the search request.

• Choose a search criterion. Notice the different settings.
• Enter one or more search terms into a search field.
• Repeat this for the other search fields if you like.
• Change the operators (AND) for combining the search criteria if necessary.
• You may activate the search option "Phrase search?". With this a search for a given sequence of words or letters is possible.
• You may narrow your search to a given publication year (four-figure) or a special kind of material.
• Start the search request by clicking onto the button SEARCH or by pressing Enter.

Browse Index

With the Browse Index function you can browse alphanumerically sorted lists of a choosen index.

• Choose an index.
• Please notice, that all indices exept Keyword anywhere are phrase indices, that means, that entering the index is possible only at the beginning of for example the title or the name of a person. The index "Keyword anywhere" alphabetically lists the individual keywors of the indexes title, person and organisation.
• Enter a search term or some letters into the search field.
• Start your search request by clicking onto the button SEARCH or by pressing Enter.
• The system, will enter the choosen index at the place of the entry, that starts with the given letters. The number of records to every entry is shown in the column "Hits".

You may scroll forwards or backwards within the list. By clicking onto an entry, which is highlighted, you will get a result list for that entry.

Classification search

The stock in the open-access area is shelved by subjects with an extensive structure. You can choose a special(ized) classification within the text of the classification (only in german language) and then start a search request in the catalogue with a choosen notation. This is the same as searching in the basic search with the criterion Classification notation.

Results

Result list

After a successful search request you will get a result list with short information to author, title, (publication) year and to the existing items. If the resulting record is available on the internet there will be a link in the column URL.

• Items details:
  Click onto one of the shown call numbers within the column CALL NUMBER, for getting to the details.
  If the field is empty (for example at subordinated titles of multipart items, ordered or electronic media), go to the title details first. From there you can change to the volumes (Title of item) or the status for the order (All items).
  
  
• Title details:
  • By clicking onto the title.
  • By clicking onto the number of the record in the first column.
  • Click onto the symbol , to view all records of the result list in the details view.
  • Mark one or more hits by checking the box. Then click onto the number of the first marked record to view the choosen records in detailed view.
• Informationssymbole:
  Exemplarstatus sind durch Symbole im Katalog gekennzeichnet. Nähere Angaben erhalten Sie auch, wenn Sie mit der Maus auf die Symbole zeigen ("Mouse over").
  Green check mark for items which are not on loan but can be borrowed. This means: at least one available item should be on the shelf.
  Yellow check mark with the explanatory text, "possibly available items on shelf. Check item details." This symbol is shown, if there are as well items which can be checked out and items that cannot be checked out and you will get further information in the item details.
  Red check mark for items which cannot be borrowed.
  Yellow exclamation mark for items within a reserve book collection.
  Red cross for items which are on loan. A reservation could be possible. You will get further information in the item details.
  "No entry"-sign for items which are in the reference collection of a lecturer ("88er"), for items which are missing, lost or ordered and for items which are in progress.
  
  
• Kind of Material:
  Audio-visual materials are marked by symbols in the short title list.
  DVDs, CD-ROMs and Blu-ray discs
  floppy disks
  Music supplies
  Audio-CDs, cassettes and records
  Videos

• URL:
  If the resulting record is available on the internet, there is a symbol in the column URL:
  for a link to an abstract.
  for a link a table of contents.
  for a link to the EZB (Elektronische Zeitschriftenbibliothek).
  for a link to an eBook.
  for all other links.
  There is always just one link in the result list, please check in the title details if there are more links.

• New request:
  You can start a new search request directly with the input line, choose a search criterion and enter one or more search terms.

• Navigation inside the result list:
  • You get 20 results on one page per default. Choose OPTIONS, to change the number of results per page.
  • The button >> takes you to the next page of the result list, the button << to the previous.
  • You get exactly to the choosen record in the result list if you enter a number into the entry field.

• Sorting the result list:
  • Per default the result list is sorted by publication year and author.
  • To sort the list by any other criterion click onto the header of the appropriate column.

• Mark records for further use:
  
  • Click onto the symbol , to mark all records of a result list, onto to delete the marking.
  • Mark one ore more records by checking the small box.

• Further use of the result list:
  • BUILD SUBSET: A new result list of the previously marked record.
  • SAVE/E-MAIL: Saves the marked records to the local drive or sends them to an email address.
  • INTO THE BASKET: Copies the marked records into the basket for further use. If you are logged in with library card number and password, the contents of the basket will remain, otherwise it will be deleted when the session is closed!

• Change the display format of the result list:
  
  • Click onto OPTIONS.
  • Titles per page: Number of records, that are shown on one page.
  • Format of the result list: Display format of the result list.
  • Your changes will become active after reloading the result list. For this, click onto SEARCH RESULTS in the navigation bar.
  • If you are logged in with library card number and password, the options will be saved in your profile and used when you log in again.

Full title view

The records with complete title information are displayed in the full title view. This view is called from the short title list

• Navigation inside full title view:
  
  • Click onto the button >>, for viewing the next record.
  • Click onto the button <<, for viewing the previous record.
• Further navigation:
  
  • RESULT LIST: Go back to the short title list.
  • Click onto highlighted field contents (i.e. Persons names), to call up further services (find related records, browse index list, authority entry):
    • With FIND RELATED RECORDS you can find further books (of an author).
    • With BROWSE INDEX LIST, the index will be opened, starting with the entry, which was given by the field contents of the detailed view. This function allows you, to scan the surroundings of a entry, i.e. persons with similar names.
    • The SEARCH FOR THE AUTHORITY ENTRY shows detailed information for Persons names, Organisations, Subject Headings and Notations, i.e. other names or synonymous terms.
  • TITLE OF ITEM (series): Detailed view of the title of a part of a monographic series.
  • SUBORDINATED TITLE (Parts and Volumes): Detailed view of the subordinated title.
  • REFERRING WORK: Detailed view of further referred titles.
  • VOLUMES (OVERVIEW): Overview of the volumes of this title in a new windows.
  • VOLUMES (CREATE): Result list of the volumes.
  • ALL ITEMS: Item details for this title
• Change the display format:
  • There are two formats for the full title view, Standard (default) and Catalogue card: Catalogue card in ISBD-Format.
  • Click onto the appropriate link to change the format.
  • Navigation is only accessible in the standard format.
• Further use of the detailed view:
  You can copy a title form the detailed view into the basket for further use during your catalogue session, or save or sent it via email with the option Save/ E-Mail.

Item details

The item details shows bibliographic data and detailed information to location and call number. The item details are accessible from the result list and (in some cases exclusively) from the detailed title view, but only if there are items for that specific title.
If a medium is ordered but not yet available in the library, you will find in the column STATUS either

• "Ordered", if the medium is ordered but not yet delivered,
• "In progress", if the medium have been delivered by the bookseller, but is not yet available for usage.

If all borrowable items of a title are on loan there will be the link RESERVE/ORDER for placing a loan reservation. If the location of an item is the closed stack and it is not on loan, the same link will result in a closed stack order for that item.
If an item, which is on loan, is shelved in a "Semesterapparat" (reserve book collection for the period of a semester), the due date is a link, where you can get further information to that "Semesterapparat".

Search history

In the search history you can access previously made search requests. You reach the history via the link in the navigation bar.
Each search request is listed with the search request and the number of records found.

For viewing a previous search request again in the short title list, mark a search request in the list by checking the small box and click onto the link VIEW.

To delete search requests from the search history, mark one or more search requests in the list by checking the box(es) and click onto the link DELETE.

To combine search requests, mark at least two search requests by checking the boxes and click onto the link COMBINE. Choose an operator for the combination:

• AND, OR: Combine as many requests as you like
• 1., NOT 2. Set, 2., NOT 1. Set: Exactly two search requests can be combined.

Click onto the button COMBINE.
The result will be presented as a new entry in the list of the search history, with VIEW the new result list will be shown.

Basket

In the basket are the records, which you have put there during one session from the result list or the detailed title view. It is always accessible via the link in the navigation bar.

Further use of the titles in the basket:

• SAVE/E-Mail: Save the marked records or send them to an email address
• DELETE ALL
• VIEW: View ithe details of that record
• DELETE: Remove a record from the basket

Saving and sending via email

You have the choice either to save marked records of a result list or to send them to an email address.
There are four formats available:

• Catalogue card: the records will be presented in the for library catalogues usual form
• Standard: structered presentation with field names and field contents
• CSV: "Comma-Separated Values", Format for the import into common word processing, spreadsheet or database programs. Instead of the comma a semicolon is used as separation.
• RIS-Format: Format for the import into Reference Management Systems like Citavi or Endnote. When importing choose the filter RefMan / RIS.

Loan reservations

If a medium is lent out to another user, you can place a reservation on that item via the link Reserve/Order. You can find the due date and the number of already existing loan reservations in the window item details of the desired title. You can choose the period of interest in which you are interested in the reservation in the following window. If you are informed via postal mail, when the medium is on hold for you, you will have to pay 0,55 Euro for postage. Because of this you should delete loan reservations from your user account, if you are not interested in them any more.

Interlibrary loan

Via interlibrary loan literature for studies and research can be requested, which is not available in Siegen University Library. Ordering can be done within the library catalogue via the link "ILL" in the navigation bar. There you will get detailed information for the ordering process (german language only).

New acquisitions

After choosing a month of the last 12 months and a location you will get the usual result list ordered by publication year and author of the new accessions.

Closed stack items

Via the link "Reserve/Order" you can initiate an order direcly from the item view. If the medium is on loan, a loan reservation will be created instead.
With the link "Closed stack items" in the navigation bar you will get to the order formular for media, which are shelved in the closed stacks and have to be requested for the use (loan or reading room). Please notice the times, when the books will be on hold. In difference to loan reservations for media, which are on loan, you will not get informed, when the medium is on hold.

Purchase suggestion

You can send suggestions for acquisition of books or other media with the offered form to the subject librarians. You should enter your email address and your user account number for questions and loan reservations.

Site Availability

Between 3:00 and 05:30 a.m., the catalog is unavailable due to maintenance. During this time you can search our inventory on the HBZ union catalog. The functions of the user account are not available there.

Hints und Tricks

Please notice the hints for SSL-encryption and the certificate.

Search strategies

Which kind of search is useful?

• Basic search:
  
  • Fastest search, if you know striking search words, (i.e. person or words from the title).
  • Not useful for complex request because you can only choose one search criterion.
• Advanced search:
  
  • Word search with the possibility to combine several search criteria. The criterion "publication year" can be used as well.
  • With the field "Kind of material" you can easily search specific media (DVD-Video, Audio-CD, ...).
• Index browse:
  • Checking of search requests that resulted in no hits.
  • Search for similar entries by browsing the surroundings of an entry within the browse list.
  • Quick access to the list.
  • Search requests, that resulted in too many hits in the word search.
  • Index browse is a phrase search, that means for using the beginning of the phrase (i.e. beginning of title) must be known.

Use of the index "Keyword anywhere":

• The index keyword anywhere contains the most important fields of a record (Title, Person, Organisation, Call number).
• The search word(s) will be searched in all these fields.
• Please bear in mind, that the terms may be found in different field, when searching with several search words.

Please notice our training course "Search strategies".

Known restrictions and errors

• If there are too many hits, a search request will be aborted. Therefore make your search requests as precisely as possible.
• In the result list you will see five call numbers at most in the column "Call number" (with the addition " . . . ", if there are more items). Change to the item details to view all items.
• Search requests will be automatically truncated after the 35th letter.
• Avoid searching with special characters.

Search Plugin

The internet browsers Mozilla and Firefox offer the possibilty to install further search engines in the searchbar (besides the address line). If you choose an engine or a catalogue there, you can enter your search request without retrieving the appropriate internet site and after pressing the enter key you will get to the result set.

Feedback

We like to hear suggestions, ideas, questions, criticism, requests or praise about the catalog.
You can contact the employees in the library personally or via email to adv@ub.uni-siegen.de.