How to search the Catalogue for a copy of a book
To find out if the Library has a copy of your book you will need to use the details you know about the book (title, author etc) to see if the Library holds a copy. Find out how to search the Catalogue if you know:
If the State Library has a copy of the book, note down the details from the catalogue entry (title, author and location number) and ask at your local public library about borrowing a copy through the Library's interlibrary loan service or come to the State Library of NSW and find the item in the Library.
If you know the exact title of the book
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Open the Catalogue in a new window.
- Click the dropdown box on the Catalogue screen then click the search type Title (starts with).
- Click in the search field to the right of the dropdown box and type the title of your book. For example, to find 'The Handmaid's Tale' type handmaids tale. Then click Start search.
- You may find a number of versions of the book you're looking for. Select one you are interested in by clicking on the title in your results list, then use the information from the catalogue entry to find a copy of the book in the Library.
If you know the first word(s) in the book's title but not the exact title
- Open the Catalogue in a new window.
- Click the dropdown box on the Catalogue screen then click the search type Title (starts with).
- Click in the search field to the right of the dropdown box and type as much of the title as you know. For example, to find 'The Handmaid's Tale' type handmaids or handmaid. Then click Start search.
- This will return a list of possible titles beginning with your word(s).
- Select the book you are interested in by clicking on the title in your results list, then use the information from the catalogue entry to find a copy of the book in the Library.
If you know only some of the words in the title
A Title (keywords) search finds a list of titles each containing your word(s) in any order.
- Open the Catalogue in a new window.
- Click the dropdown box on the Catalogue screen then click the search type Title (keywords).
- Click in the search field to the right of the dropdown box and type keywords from the title in the search box and click Start search.
- This will return a list of possible titles containing your word(s). For example, typing the words children honour will find a list of titles, including the book 'Honour & Other people's children : two stories'.
- Select the book you are interested in by clicking on the title in your results list, then use the information from the catalogue entry to find a copy of the book in the Library.
If you know the author's last name and some of the words in the title
This combined search is useful if your book title is very common.
- Open the Catalogue in a new window.
- Click on the Advanced tab at the top of the Catalogue screen.
- Select Author: from the first drop down box under '1. Fill in your search terms:'. Type the author's last name only, or their last name followed by a comma and then their first name or initial, eg Ondaatje or Ondaatje, Michael or Ondaatje, M in the adjacent search box.
- Select Title: from the second drop down box under '1. Fill in your search terms:'. Type all or some of the words in the title, in any order, eg skin or lion or skin lion or lion skin in the adjacent search box.
- Click Search.
- Select the book you are interested in by clicking on the title in your results list, then use the information from the catalogue entry to find a copy of the book in the Library.
