Tips and tricks for using the catalogue
Simple ways to get the most out of searching the Library’s catalogue so you can find what you need quickly and easily.
Where to start
- Use the catalogue to search across everything in the Library's collection.
- If you already know what you're looking for, select All Fields and then select Title, Subject, Author/Creator or Call Number.
- If you're looking for specific formats, after searching use Refine my search and then select boxes in the Formats filter.
- If you're looking only for digital items, after searching use Refine my search and then Online in the Access filter.
Search terms
Searching with a phrase
Use double quotation marks if you're looking for a specific phrase or part of a phrase, such as the title of a book.
"three little kittens"
Include or exclude terms
Use or/not commands in your search terms to narrow or broaden your results.
For example:
- If you want to search for either cats OR dogs:
- If you want to search for cats but NOT dogs:
Search with variations of a word
Use an asterisk to search for variations of a word.
For example:
- show variations including woman and women.
- show variations including inventions, inventors, invented and inventing.
How to filter your search
Once you've entered a search term, you can filter your results using the Refine your search panel on the results page.
What to filter
You can filter your search for an item by:
- how to access the item (for example: online or in the Library)
- format
- author/creator
- subject
- language
- dates
- location.
Exclude types of result
You can exclude results from your search.
For example:
- if you want to exclude books from your search, expand the Format filter, then select the number beside Books to exclude this format.
Clear your search and filters
- To clear your search but keep any filters you've selected, select Clear in the search box.
- To start a new search and clear your filters, also select Clear all filters above your search results.
Filter by access method
Searching within a format type
Filtering by access method helps to find results relevant to your search and how you'd like to use the material.
Examples:
- to see only results for digital collections:
- Go to the Access filter in the Refine your search panel.
- Select the down arrow next to Access.
- Select the down arrow next to Online.
- Select State Library Digital Collection: freely accessible.
- to see only items that you can use in the Library’s reading rooms, select For use in the Library.
The following table shows all the locations found under the Access filter and what they mean.
OnlineSelecting Online will show results for digital collections or links to online content. You may need a Library card to use some items. | |
State Library Digital Collections: freely accessible | Shows results that include digital collections. You can also explore these results in Digital Collections. |
Resource: freely available | Shows items with links to freely available online content, such as archived websites in the PANDORA Australian Web Archive or publisher websites. |
Resource: log in with a Library card | Shows items that NSW residents can access with a Library card. These include journals and newspaper articles, ebooks and other online content from the Library’s eresources collection. |
For use in the LibrarySelecting this will show items that you can use only when you're at the Library. | |
Find on shelves | Shows items that you can take from the shelves to use in the Library. |
Request with a Library card | You'll need to log into the catalogue with your Library card and request to use these items. You can use them only at the Library. |
Online resource: for use in the Library | Shows online resources (such as ebooks) that you can only use in the Library. You’ll need to be connected to the Library's wi-fi or use a Library computer. |
Enquire for access | Shows items that have special access requirements. If you're in the Library, speak to a staff member or use our Ask A Librarian service to find out how to access these items. |
Ask at your local public librarySome collection items are held in NSW public libraries. If your local library doesn't have the item, ask your local NSW public library if they can loan it from the State Library of NSW. | |
Ways to use catalogue records
Once you've found the records you want, you can:
- print and export the records
- view digital collections in the catalogue
- download files from digital collections, including images, PDFs and transcripts
- log into MyCatalogue to save searches and records, or to check the status of your loans and requests.
Saving and sharing a catalogue record
Each catalogue record has a unique permalink that you can save, share and use for citations. The URL of the page in your browser is the permalink.
You can also copy the permalink from the 'Share' button at the top of the page.
Searching in Digital Collections only
Searching the Digital Collections interface is a great way to quickly browse the millions of digital files in our collection, including pictures, manuscripts, books and audio.
Digital Collections contains a subset of the Library's full archive. It does not include comprehensive catalogue information or records that do not have digital files attached.
Using Digital Collections
- You don't need to use detailed search terms. Try searching with a simple term such as 'penguin' or 'Nellie Melba'.
- You can use filters in Digital Collections in the same way as in the main catalogue, but they’re collapsed by default. Select Show filters in your results list to see which filters you can use.
- You can search for images by file title, creator name and image caption, or by computer-generated tags that identify their content. These tags inform your search results. You can also filter your results by these terms under the Tag section in filters.