Library

The Online Catalog is an index of books periodical and audio-visual materials for the University of St. Francis Library as well as the holdings of 70 other academic and research libraries in the state of Illinois.  It is the place to find call numbers and locations for needed books, videos, and films, and it can also be used as a tool to search for possible paper topics. 

Click here for a PDF version of this information.

Click here for a video demonstration of a title search

Click here for a video demonstration of a subject search

Click here for an overview video demonstration of keyword searching in the catalog NEW!
(Demonstrations require Macromedia Flash player).

• Enter the word(s) you want to find in the "search for" box.
  
  
• Choose the type of quick search you want to perform from the "search by" box .
  
  • Any Word Anywhere - looks for any one of the words you search for in any part of the recor
  • Title or Journal/Magazine Title - type as much of the title of a book or magazine as you know. Do not use "a," "an," or "the" if they are the first word of the title.
  • Boolean Search - combine search terms with "and," "or," or "not" (see below for Hints on Boolean Searching).
    Browse (Subject or Author or Prolific Author/Composer) - see subjects/authors that contain your term.
    
    
• Optionally, choose a limit from the "quick limit" menu or "more limits" button to narrow your search (receive fewer results).
  
  
• Optionally, choose the number of records you want to appear on a page.
  

Advanced Search For More Complex Searches

• Take a moment to plan your search. Think about synonyms & plurals for your search term(s). Divide separate ideas into different concepts. (e.g. teacher recruitment and retention = concept 1; "teacher or teachers or educator or educators" = concept 2 "recruitment or retention").
  
  
• Enter the word(s) you want to find from your first concept in the first "search for" box.
  
  
• Choose how you want the words searched for from the box to the right of the "search for" box. You will choose from "all of these words " (same as Boolean and), "any of these words " (same as Boolean or), or "these words as a phrase." For the most results choose "any of these words." For fewer results choose "all of these words."
  
  
• Choose an option from the "search by" box to tell the catalog in what part of the records to search.
  
  
• If you want to create a search with multiple concepts, repeat the process above using the next set of "search for" and "search by" boxes. Make sure that you also select either "and," "or," or "not" to combine your first search concept and later search concepts.
  
  
• Optionally, select "more limits" to refine your search.
  
  
• Optionally, choose the number of records you want to appear on a page.

Hints on Boolean Searching

• Shakespeare and Milton - returns all items containing BOTH (fewer results)
  
  
• Shakespeare or Milton - returns all items containing EITHER (more results)
  
  
• Shakespeare not Milton - returns only items with the first term (Shakespeare) that are also without the second term (Milton)

More Limits Feature

When using Quick Search, this feature only works with keyword ("any word" or "any word anywhere"), title and Boolean searches. Limits stay in place for future searches until they are removed or the search session is ended. This feature allows limiting your results (for fewer returns) by:

• Language
• Type of Library or Specific Library Holding the Item
• Year of Publication
• Format (e.g. book, magazine/journal, film/video, etc.)

Viewing Your Search Results

Once you have created and submitted your search, you will see a list of results. If more than 20 items match your search, you will see the number of items found at the top of the results page. The title of the item is a link that will take you to the complete record for that item. You will also see the following features for each record:

I-Share is a consortium of 65 academic & research libraries in the state of Illinois.

Because I-Share Catalog is a catalog for all of the I-Share Libraries, you can use it to view and request items from other I-Share libraries. See the "Requesting Materials from other I-Share Libraries through I-Share Catalog" webpage for more information.