Search tips on using the Library Catalogue (Full Catalogue Search) http://library.cuhk.edu.hk are listed below.

SEARCHING

The Library Catalogue is multilingual. You may search and display Chinese/Japanese/Korean (CJK) characters as well. (How to view / input Chinese characters)

You may search the entire collection or one of the following kinds of materials:

• Audio-visual Materials
• CUHK Theses
• E-Books and E-Theses 
• E-Journals and Databases
• Hong Kong Government Documents
• Law Library
• Local TV Programmes
• Music Department - Audio Library
• Music Department - Chinese Music Archive
• Music Department - Chinese Opera Information Centre
• Music Department
• Periodicals
• Reference Materials

  

Then search the entire collection or the selected kind of materials by any of the followings:

Author
Title
Author & Title
Keyword/Phrase
Subject Heading
Library of Congress
Biomedical (MeSH)
Local
Table of Contents
Publisher
Call Number: LC/NLM / Local
ISBN/ISSN/Publisher No.

Search term

• can be in uppercase or lowercase letters (same result will be retrieved);
• can omit initial article such as A, An, The etc.
• can omit punctuations except +, @, and #

Author Search

Type the complete or the initial part of the AUTHOR name:

Personal name (LAST NAME first) -- or just -- Organizational name -- Conference name --

hemingway ernest hemingway e hong kong education dept american music conference

Title Search

Type the exact title or the first few words of the title. You may search for the title of any kind of material, including periodicals.

For uncertain title: use the Keyword search option.

Author & Title Search

Type the complete or the initial part of the AUTHOR name and type the keyword(s) of the TITLE.

Keyword/Phrase Search

The default field to search is "Any field" which includes Author, Title, Subject, Table of Contents and Note while the default boolean operator is "AND".

Choose the field to search, type the search terms in the respective input box, and use appropriate Boolean Operator to combine them.

Search tips:

Multiple words
Multiple words are combined with AND by default.
Use quoatation marks (" ") to search an exact phrase.
e.g. "police force" matches records containing the phrase police force.
e.g. police force matches records containing both words in any order.

Truncation
Use truncation symbols to include all words beginning with the root word
e.g. computer** matches words like computers, computerization.
• Use a double asterisk ** for open-ended truncation.
• Use a single asterisk * to truncate from 1-5 characters.

Wildcard
Use the wildcard symbol ? to substitute a single character within a word.
e.g. anders?n matches words like anderson, andersen

Boolean Operators
Use AND, OR, AND NOT to combine keywords. The default operator is "AND"

• AND: both terms must be present e.g. comic and culture
• OR: either terms must be present e.g. teenager or adolescent
• AND NOT: latter terms are excluded e.g. advertisement and not television

Proximity

• NEAR: Use NEAR to specify words close to each other, in any order e.g. diagnostic near devices
• WITHIN: Use WITHIN # to specify terms which occur within # words of each other e.g. diagnostic within 4 devices

Parentheses
Use parentheses ( ) to set the order of the search. Terms within the parentheses will be processed first.
e.g. (television or radio) and advertisement -- (television or radio) will be searched first and the result will then be combined with advertisement.

The new keyword search interface, Library Catalogue 2.0, is now available. Please click here for the search tips.

Library of Congress Subject Heading

Type the exact or the first few words of the Library of Congress Subject Heading.

Search the Biomedical Subject as well for topics like psychology and life sciences.

For uncertain Library of Congress Subject Heading: use the Keyword search option.

Biomedical Subject Heading (MeSH)

Type the exact or the first few words of the Medical Subject Heading (MeSH).

For uncertain MeSH: use the Keyword search option.

Local Subject Heading

Type the exact or the first few words of the Local Subject Heading.

For uncertain Local Subject Heading: use the Keyword search option.

Table of Contents Search (TOC Search)

TOC AUTHOR
Type the AUTHOR that appears in the Table of Contents, with the LAST NAME first.

TOC TITLE
Type the exact TITLE or the first few words of the TITLE that appears in the Table of Contents.

TOC TITLE KEYWORD or TOC AUTHOR KEYWORD
Conduct a Keyword/Phrase search. On the Keyword/Phrase search screen, select the field "Table of Contents" and type any work(s) in the input box.

Publisher

Type the name of a publisher e.g. Oxford University Press

Call Number Search

Call Number: LC/NLM
Type all or the first few characters of the LC or NLM call number e.g. WA900J6R43, PE1065G46.

Call Number: Local
Type all or the first few characters of the Local Call Number for microforms e.g. mic 100

ISBN/ISSN/PUBLISHER NO.

Type in the ISBN, ISSN, Publisher Number e.g.0673523365

VIEW RECORDS

Extended Display

Click on the EXTENDED DISPLAY button to view the location and call number of the items.

Limit This Search

Use LIMIT THIS SEARCH to limit the search with the following criteria and sort the search result by publication year.

• language
• material type
• publication year
• publisher
• keyword in author, title, subject
• location

Search as Words

Click on the SEARCH AS WORDS button to conduct a keyword search with the input term, i.e., need not to re-enter the search term.

WebBridge

WebBridge is a tool that enables you to transfer a search query done on the Library Catalogue to some of the electronic resources. It facilities:
• locate required journal articles from available databases
• check if other libraries hold that specific items (book, journal, etc.)
• look up an online dictionary and/or reference works for related information
• obtain free internet resources relevant to your information need

To use WebBridge:

• on the search results list or the full record display page, click on the WebBridge button.
• a window will pop up with hyperlinks to electronic resources such as CINAHL, ERIC, JSTOR, PsycINFO, Web of Science, PubMed, Encyclopedia Britannica, Google Scholar, etc.
• click on the appropriate hyperlink to transfer the search to the respective electronic database.

Search HKALL

Click on the Search HKALL button to repeat the search on the Hong Kong Academic Link.
You may request items available from other UGC libraries but unavailable from CUHK Libraries be delivered to the University Library for you to check out. (Details of HKALL)

Save to My Lists

To save records to My Lists in My Library Record for future use:

1. Click on the boxes at the left of the titles you would like to save
2. Click the Save to My Lists button.
   NOTE: If you are not logged in to your Library Record, you will be prompted to input your Student/Staff/Library ID and Library Password.
3. You may create a new list or select from existing lists to save the marked records.
4. To review, edit or export your lists, click on the My Library Record button. To continue searching the Library Catalogue, click on the Start Over button or the LOG OUT button.
   
NOTE: Records in a list can be retrieved by logging into My Library Record

Full Display of a Record

Please note its LOCATION, Call NO., and STATUS before going to the book stacks.

• LOCATION
  Click on the hyperlink to obtain further information about its location.
• CALL NUMBER
  Jot down its call number. Materials are shelved according to call numbers. (How materials are shelved)
  To conduct a call number search, simply click on the Call Number hyperlink.
• STATUS
  
  • "NOT ChkOut" : in the Library;
  • "LIB USE ONLY" : cannot be charged out of the Library;
  • "Due on dd-mm-yy" : already borrowed by another user;
    You may click on the Request (Hold) Button to place a hold on the item. You will be notified to pick up the item when it is available. (How to place a request (hold) or cancel the request (hold))
  • "missing", "late & bill" or "Bindery" : not available in the library
  • An item does not have location, call no. & status but the following messages, "1 copy ordered for .....", or "1 copy in process ....": the library has ordered / is processing the item, i.e., the item is not yet available.

Journal Issue Holdings Information

• At the full display of a print periodical, the holdings information of the periodical is shown in two boxes.
  • The lower box shows the holding information of the bound issues.
  • The upper box shows the location, call number, summary holdings information and the information on the unbound issues. Click on LATEST RECEIVED to view the holdings information of CURRENT/UNBOUND JOURNAL ISSUES. TO BIND at the status means the issues have been sent to the bindery.

    Example:
    

    

• At the full display of an electronic journal, the hyperlinks of available e-versions are listed in the left column and each version's full-text coverage is given in the right column.
  Click on the hyperlink of an e-version which provides the full-text of the issue you need. (E-journals must be accessed via the CUHK Campus Network.)

  

Print, Save or Email a list of Records

• At the title list display, click on the boxes at the left of the titles you want to mark. BEFORE leaving that page, you MUST click on the button Save Marked Records to save the marked records of that page.
• Or at the full record display,
  • click on EXPORT to mark the record for later printing, downloading or emailing;
  • click on the Export to RefWorks button to export the records into RefWorks. (What is RefWorks and how to Export to RefWorks?)
• After saving all marked records, click on Export Saved List.
• To print a list of records:
  Select Screen at the right column and the desired format at the left. Then click Submit. Then, use the Print function of the web browser to print the list of records.
• To save a list of records to disk:
  Select Local Disk at the right column and the desired format at the left. Then click Submit. Then, provide the path and file name of the file to which the marked records be saved. You MUST change the "File as type" to ".txt" if you want to save the marked records as plain text files which can be read by word processing softwares.
• To send the list of records to an email address:
  Select Email at the right column and the desired format at the left. Then click Submit. Then, type the email address to which the marked records be sent.

  Remember to clear the saved list after exporting the records.

• Click the REQUEST HOLD button to start the request process.
• Then, enter your Student/Staff/Library ID and your library password as requested to hold the item.
• Check the radio button next to the desired item to place a hold on it.
• Click on REQUEST SELECTED ITEM
• The message that tells whether the request is successful will be shown.
• If the request is successful, you will be notified by email/mail as soon as the item is available in the owning library.
• To cancel a request or check the status of requested books: go to My Library Record.

COURSE RESERVE

Materials put on reserve at the Reserve Books Counters can be searched by COURSE RESERVE at the Library Catalogue. You may retrieve the reserve materials by:
• PROF/TA - type in the name of the course instructor (Last name first).
• COURSE - type in the course title or the course number.

MY LIBRARY RECORD

Click on My Library Record, then enter your Student/Staff/Library ID and your Library Password when requested.

To renew books you have checked out: Click on items currently checked out.

• Click on the box at the left of the title to be renewed.
• Press the button Renew selected items or Renew all.
• New due date will be assigned. If not, the item cannot be renewed.

  Items without hold may be renewed five times.
  An overdue item may be renewed and the overdue fine will be charged to your account.
  You cannot renew items in the following conditions:

  • too soon to renew: item can be renewed after half of the loan period.
  • too many renewals: item has been renewed five times.
  • on hold: another library user has placed a hold on the item.
  • item cannot be renewed: the library's loan rule does not allow renewal of the item.
  • your library card has expired: you have to be re-registered.
  • you have exceeded the highest overdue level: you has not responded to the 4th overdue notice or you have an overdue item which is requested by another user.
  • you owe too much money: you have to pay fines.

To cancel a request / to check on the books you have requested:

• Click on Request (hold) outstanding.
• If the requested book is available to you, the message "READY FOR PICKUP" will display.
• You can also cancel the request. Select the item you want to cancel the hold by clicking the circle and then click on CANCEL SELECTED ITEMS or CANCEL ALL.

Search the Catalogue:

• Click on Search the Catalogue.
• Peform searching as usual.
• To save a search, click on the Save as preferred search button on the result list.
• REMEMBER: click on the LOG OUT button after searching.

To view / re-run saved searches:

• Click on the Preferred Searches hyperlink.
• To re-run a search: click on the respective Search hyperlink
• To remove a search: check the "Mark for Remove" radio button at the left of the search term, then click on the Click on the "Update list" button
• To create an alert: check the "Mark for Email" radio button at the leftmost of the search term, then click on the Click on the "Update list" button; the search will be re-run automatically every Monday and a list of relevant new additions, if any, will be sent to your email account.

To view the history of the items you checked out at the Library Catalogue:

• Click on My Reading History.
• You may delete the undesired item(s) appearing in the list.
• If you want to disable the collection of your checked out history, you may click on the hyperlink "Disable Reading History (Optout)".
• To enable the collection of your checked out history, simply click on the hyperlink "Retain Reading History"

To view or export records saved in your lists:

• Click on My Lists
• To delete a list: check the box at the left of the unwanted list and click Delete Marked
• To delete all lists: click Delete ALL
• To view a list: click on the name of the list
  • To delete records from the list: click on the box next to the unwanted title and then click Delete Marked
  • To export records in the list: click on Export My Lists, then print or save records

To add/update your E-mail Address:

• Input the preferred email address for receiving library notices such as Coming Due Alert, Recall, Hold Pickup Notice, etc.

Search All University Libraries in HK

Select One Stop Search All University Libraries in HK and then click on the Go button to search the catalogues of all university libraries in Hong Kong in a single search.

OR

Select HKALL and then click on the Go button to search Hong Kong Academic Library Link. (Details of HKALL.)

OR

Select a university and then click on the Go button to search its library catalogue.

Library Catalogue 2.0

Library Catalogue 2.0 is a new keyword search interface. Enter words in the input box to search it for library materials. Click here to read its search tips.

This user guide provides only general guidelines for searching the Library Catalogue (Full Catalogue Search).
Ask a Reference Librarian for any further information.