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Currently no newer database. Click here to access existing scholarly databases.
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3.4 Locating items
The brief or detailed record provides information about the library holdings, for example the number of copies, where they are located, and whether they are out on loan. This information is usually found towards the bottom of the record. The title display also sometimes provides this information.
Location
Search result displays show holdings at all Regional Centre libraries. It is important that you note which library holds the item you are looking for. Each site that holds a copy of an item will have a separate location description. This tells you :
- The name of the library in which the item is held
E.g. HQ Library-General Collection, RCIpoh-General Collection
- The name of the collection within that library
E.g. RCJB Audio-visual/Multimedia
- Whether or not the item is on Reserve e.g. On hold
- The call number e.g. PE 1128 B893 2015
- The number of copies that are held in that collection
- The status of the copies e.g. Available or Due
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3.4.1 Understanding call numbers
Have you ever wondered how library resources are assigned their places on the shelves? Each book in the library has a call number.
A call number tells you where the book is located in the library. Call number appears on the spine of books and in OPAC.
Note that the same call number can be written from top-to-bottom, or left-to-right.
A call number label is attached to the spine or front cover of each item. Tun Dr Lim Chong Eu Library uses the Library of Congress (LC) Classification System to assign call numbers.
A call number is the address of the book in the library collection.
(a) The first line of a call number may begin with one, two or three letters e.g. QE 352
- The first letter of a call number represents one of the 21 major divisions of the LC System. In the example, the subject "Q" is Science.
- The second letter "E" represents a subdivision of the sciences, Geology. All books in the QE's are primarily about Geology
Most other subject areas will have call numbers with one or two letters. These letters should be read alphabetically A-Z. A call number that begins with A is shelved before one that begins with B, C, etc. and a call number that begins with QE is located somewhere before the one that starts with QL.
(b) The second line is the numbers after letters with one or more digits.
- The first set of numbers in a call number help to define a book's subject.
- "534.2" in the example teach us more about the book's subject. The range QE500-625 are books about "Dynamic and Structural Geology".
Books with call number QE534.2 are specifically "Earthquakes, Seismology - General Works - 1970 to Present".
This line is read numerically. A call number with a smaller number in its second line is placed before one that has a large number for its second line.
(c) The third line is the trickest part of the call number. The letter is shelved alphabetically and the numerical component is read as decimal number. The third line often represents the author's last name. Example : B = Barron
Thus :
The numbers have to be read as decimals :
0.444 before 0.64 before 0.7 before 0.7543
(d) The final lines of the call numbers may include dates, volume indicators, issue numbers, copy numbers.
Tips on how to read call number
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3.4.2 Location prefixes
Some call number, however, are preceded by a location prefix.
Example: REF HF5821 D545 2015
The REF prefix indicates that this book is shelved in the Reference Collection. Location prefixes mean that book is shelved in a special place, and may have loan restrictions. Tun Dr Lim Chong Eu Library uses the following location prefixes :
| Prefix | Collection |
| [Blank] | General Collection |
| REF | Reference Collection |
| SC | Serial Collection |
| VF | Vertical file - Digital collection created by staff |
For more information about call numbers and finding library materials, ask your Librarian or e-mail us.
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3.4.3 Status
This status messages tell you where the item is and whether there have been any requests placed on it.
Available
- Item is not currently on loan, and should be on the shelves.
- it it's not there, it may be used by another person in the library or it might still be waiting on a trolley for shelving.
Note: Each copy number is listed, so if a location has 4 items (i.e. copies) and Copy-2 is listed as on loan, there should be 3 copies still available on the shelves.
Due date
It indicates that the item has been borrowed. The due date and time are also listed. An item that is overdue, reserved and recalled will be indicated.
Example : Due date: 29-4-2016 23:59
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3.4.4 Reservation
Reservation can be made by clicking on the Request button.
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| Back | |
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| Step 1: | Develop your topic |
| Step 2: | Find background information |
| Step 3: | Use the Library catalogue |
| Step 4: | Search MyDigital Library |
| Step 5: | Find information on the World Wide Web (WWW) |
| Step 6: | Review and evaluate your sources |
| Step 7: | Cite your resources using a standard format |
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