How to search the catalogue

For Quick Searching, use Easy Search

  1. Enter your search word/s
  2. Select either Keyword (searches all fields), Title, Author, Subject, Dewey Number, Series Title
  3. Press Enter on your keyboard 
  4. To see more information about the book,  click on the Title of the book
  5. Click on Search Results to go back, or
  6. Refine your search by returning to the Easy Search page without losing what you initially entered.

For extended search criteria use Advanced search - this enables you to do multi-field searches

‘Truncated’ searches are useful too – try using this type of search when you’re not sure how to spell a word, or what words are used – e.g. in a title.

Type in what you remember of the word followed by the * symbol (shift key + 8) on your keyboard.

E.g. child*  will include childhood, children and childbirth in your search.

 

Looking for a DVD, Talking book or Music CD?  Go into Advanced Search put in the name of the DVD, Talking book or Music CD in Keyword and then go down to Subject and put in DVD, Talking Book or Music. Here is an example:

Say you were looking for the Talking Book, Barra Creek by Di Morrissey

Go into Advanced Search – in Keyword, enter Barra Creek – go down to Subject and enter Talking Book. Alternatively you could enter Di Morrissey in Author and then talking book in Subject. You do the same steps for DVD or Music CD. Just remember to only enter the word Music into subject for a CD.

Search Terms Explained

After selecting one of the above search types (‘Easy’ or ‘Advanced’), enter your search word/s then nominate one of the following options:

Keyword

Searches all fields, i.e. title, author and subject

Title

Type only the keywords of the title you’re searching, i.e. omit words like: the, of, and, a, is –these are called ‘stop’ words.

Author

Enter the surname, or full name, of the author. e.g. ‘Gregory’ or ‘Philippa Gregory’,

Subject

Find out what we have in our catalogue on a subject of your choice, e.g. New Zealand Birds

Dewey Number

If you know the number of the book you’re looking for, search using this option. e.g. 956.1

Series Title

Use this option if you would like to check the titles in a particular series.

E.g. ‘Conclave of Shadows’ or ‘A Series of Unfortunate Events’

Reserving Online

NOTE:

A $1.00 charge will be added to your account when reserving a book. No reserve charge for children’s books.

Currently, you can reserve items online, successfully, via two alternatives:

Click on  My Library Account to Renew or Reserve Items

A.

  1. Click on Borrower Login (Library card number and password)
  2. Click on Search the Catalogue 
  3. Click on the Title of the item you wish to reserve.  
  4. Select Reserve This Title
  5. Click Place Reserve
  6. Click OK

B.

  1. Search for the item/s by clicking on Easy Search or Advanced Search on the Catalogue page (NOTE: you don’t need to be logged in as a borrower at this stage)
  2. Select each item you require by clicking in the selection box 
  3. Scroll down and tick the Add selected items to reserves list box
  4. Click the Add button
  5. Select Process Reserves List - at either the top or bottom of the page
  6. Enter your borrower details - Library Card number and password
  7. Select – Place Reserve
  8. OK 

Click  Contact Us.  to send us an email. We are always happy to help.