Example - the CDU Catalogue
Generally speaking, when you come into the library to find information relevant to your topic, you will first need to find some books to get you started. Books provide comprehensive information on your research topic and can provide background information as well. They can also provide a context for your topic in relation to other relevant issues and can summarise research in a particular area or provide an historical overview. The main way to find relevant books is to search on the library catalogue.
The Library catalogue is an example of a computerised information retrieval system that indexes all physical resources (books, journals, videos, etc) that are held in the library as well as all the resources that can be accessed electronically (databases and electronic journals). The CDU Library catalogue is available on the internet.
Searching From Scratch – Basic Search
If you don't have a particular title in mind, you can use the Basic Search screen and use Topic Keywords to search for relevant materials.
Basic Search Screen (click to launch pdf view of this screen 100kb)
Power Search – advanced searching
The CDU Library catalogue also has an advanced search screen – Power Search.
You can access the Power Search option from the Basic Search screen of the catalogue. The Power Search allows you to search in a more controlled and refined manner. You are able to combine searches, place limits and sort your results.
The Power Search allows you to combine searches, such as Topic Keywords and Author. For instance you can search for books on a given topic by a particular author (eg Stanley Jaki on important issues within the philosophy of science, or Peter Kreeft on logic or thinking). The Power Search also sorts the search results into a particular order (eg date, title or author) and limits to particular options (campus, collection or media type).
Power Search Screen(click to launch pdf view of this screen 100kb)
Interpreting the results
Catalogue records are divided into fields that can be searched separately and which assist you in interpreting if the material is useful. A common catalogue record looks like this.
The 1st screen shows author, title, publication plus location, call No and collection details. Next click on the "Details" tab for contents details.
Interpreting results (click to launch pdf view of this screen 100kb)
Details tab (click to launch pdf view of this screen 100kb)
Some important fields in catalogue records
Author: Important – obviously some authors are more reliable than others
Published: Place of publication, Name of publisher, Year of publication.
(These are also important to consider, in various ways in terms of country published, date and characteristics of the publisher)
Subjects: Words or phrases describing the main subjects the book deals with.
Contents: Chapter titles – currently not present in most records.
Call No: Needed in full, number and letters, to find the book on the shelves.
Activity
Can you access the following book in the CDU Library? What information do you need to locate it?
Ethics in psychology : professional standards and cases /
Author: Koocher, Gerald P.
Published: New York : Oxford University Press, 1998.
Type your answer in the box below: