Searching
Hints and tips when using the library catalogue.
To search the library catalogue:
- you do not need your barcode number or a password,
- just use the Guest Login button.
- choose the option Barnet Libraries Catalogue
Simple keyword searching
Finding an item by title and author/composer
- In the ‘Search for’ box type the author or composer’s last name, and a couple of words from the title.
- Choose the least common words from the title, and never include the words ‘and’, ‘or’, ‘not’ ‘the’ ‘of’.
- Use the grey Submit Search button in the centre of the screen to start searching.
- A list of items which include the name/words you used will be shown
Finding an item by a particular author/composer
- In the ‘Search for’ box type the author or composer’s name. Use the full name where possible, and leave a space between the first and last name.
- Try different spellings for authors such as Tolstoy/Tolstoi
- Use the down arrow beside the box with ‘All words’ and change it to ‘author’.
- Use the grey Submit Search button in the centre of the screen to see the list of title by that author.
Finding an item by title
- Type a couple of words from the title in the ‘Search for’ box.
- Choose the least common words from the title, and never include the words ‘and’, ‘or’, ‘not’, ‘the’, ‘of’.
- Change the ‘All words’ option to ‘Title’.
- Use the grey Submit Search button to show a list of titles containing the words you choose.
Finding an item on a particular subject
- Type one or more words about a subject in ‘Search for’ box. For example ‘wild flowers’.
- Use the grey Submit Search button to see a list of titles.
Finding an item by ISBN (International Standard Book Number)
- Type the ISBN (without spaces between the numbers) in the ‘Search for’ box.
- Change the ‘All words’ option to ‘ISBN’.
- Use the grey Submit Search button to show the title you searched for.
- The ISBN belongs to only one edition of a book. If there is no match, it does not necessarily mean that the library doesn’t have the title - it just means that the particular edition is not in stock.
