Welcome to Help
Introduction
- What is WorldCat?
- How do I navigate?
- What if I am asked for an authorization or password?
- How do I set up an account?
- How do I create a user profile?
Searching
- How do I conduct a search?
- How are search results sorted?
- How can I maximize search results?
- How do I refine a search by location?
- How do I refine a search by format (also called faceted browsing)?
- What does it mean when my default search is sorted by relevancy?
- How do I find database information?
- How do I find a specific edition or format?
- What item formats are available?
- How do I use Advanced Search?
- Advanced Search tips
- How do I find out if an item is available?
- How do I print or e-mail records?
Requesting an Item
System Requirements
Recommended browsers:
Microsoft® Internet Explorer versions 6, 7, 8
Mozilla Firefox versions 3, 3.5
Safari versions 3, 4
Introduction
What is WorldCat?
WorldCat is the world's largest network of library-based content and services. WorldCat is a "master" catalog of library materials. It's a way for you to locate a book, video or other item of interest and discover which libraries near you own the item. Individual member libraries in your community and elsewhere provide the actual services, such as loaning you a book or providing access to online articles.
WorldCat lets you search the collections of libraries in your community and thousands of other libraries around the world.
What will you find in WorldCat?
You'll find popular books, music CDs and videos—all of the physical items you're used to getting from libraries and bookstores. You can also discover many new kinds of digital content, such as downloadable audiobooks.
You may also find citations for articles with links to the full articles, plus authoritative research materials, such as documents and photos of local or historic significance; and digital versions of rare items that aren't available to the public. Because WorldCat libraries serve diverse communities in dozens of countries, materials are available in many languages.
Specialized resources
Some WorldCat libraries make their specialized reference databases available on their Web sites, but only to library members. Your WorldCat search may produce direct links to articles and other resources in these databases. To access these resources, though, you may first be required to log in using your active membership account with the owning library.
If you are using this site from physically within a WorldCat library or over an Internet connection recognized by the library (such as a campus-wide network), you may be able to link to the full text of an article right from its WorldCat detailed record.
How do I navigate?
To navigate, use the Forward and Back buttons and also the links provided on various screens. Also use the Forward and Back buttons at the top of the help window for best navigation of the Help system.
Note: In some cases, you may need to click the Back button several times to get back to a previous screen. Many links open in a new window.
What if I am asked for an authorization or password?
Authentication methods vary from library to library, and are chosen by the library. Some features may require that you enter a username and/or password within your library’s local system to get access to certain items. You may be prompted for an authorization and password, if necessary.
How do I set up an account?
Benefits of an account
Signing up for a WorldCat account is fast and easy, and requires only an e-mail address. On top of the ability to search many libraries at once, a WorldCat account lets you:
Your library account
Your library membership—the account associated with your library card—is what allows you to perform activities at your library's Web site, such as reserving a book, join a waiting list, manage your requested items, ask a librarian a question about an item, search databases or pull up the electronic full text of a magazine article.
Search results and detailed records often link into these online services at your local library. But only your library membership will give you full access to them. If you do not have a membership at your local library, aren't sure whether you have already created an account on the library's Web site, or have forgotten the user name or password associated with your account, visit the account maintenance area on the library's Web site to see what options are available to you.
Create a WorldCat account
You access the Create an Account screen by clicking the Sign in link in the upper right corner of the screen.
To create a free account:
| Step | Action |
|---|---|
| 1 | Enter a unique user name, password and e-mail address. [Required fields are marked with an asterisk (*). Note: Once you have established your account, your user name cannot be changed. If you want another user name, you must create another account with a different e-mail address. |
| 2 | Read the Terms of Service. |
| 3 | Check the age certification check box. |
| 4 | Type the word(s) shown in the image directly below the check box. |
| 5 | Select the I agree button. Result: The Thank you for registering! screen appears, followed shortly by a confirmation e-mail to the address you specified. |
How do I create a user profile?
Create a user profile
When you sign up for a free account (see above), a profile is automatically created for you.
About your user profile
You can enter as much or as little information in your profile as you want. If you do not feel comfortable entering certain types of information or uploading a picture, you may leave those fields blank.
Some of the things you can do with your profile:
Searching
How do I conduct a search?
The WorldCat search box is located on your library’s Home page.
To conduct a search:
| Step | Action |
Result |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Type key search terms, such as title, subject or author, in the search box. | |
| 2 | Click the Search button. | Results appear, sorted by location and relevance (see How are Search Results Sorted?). |
How are search results sorted?
The Search Results screen presents your initial results set sorted in the order your library configures:
Location
Relevance is the result of a ranking scheme that is based on the following:
Clicking the underlined item title on the Search Results screen will take you to the Detailed Record screen, where there is more information about that particular item.
For more information, see: What does it mean when my default search is sorted by relevancy?
How can I maximize search results?
Each search result set provides a variety of library resources found, in different locations and formats. To make the most of your search, you may narrow your results by several methods.
How do I refine a search by format (also called faceted browsing)?
What item formats are available?
How do I refine a search by location?
How do I refine a search by location?
You may limit your search results to your preferred location by using the drop-down menu to the right of the search box.
To limit a search by location:
| Step | Action |
Result |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | After a search, limit your results by selecting one of the location options in the drop-down box. | |
| 2 | Click the Search button. | Results are resorted to the location you chose. |
If you have too many search results, you may sort your results by relevancy, author or publication date. Also, you may refine your results by using faceted browsing on the left-hand side of the screen. For more information, please see:
What does it mean when my default search is sorted by relevancy?
How do I refine a search by format (also called faceted browsing)?
What item formats are available?
Note: If you sort your search results by one method (relevancy, author or publication date) then choose another sort method, your first sort option will not be retained. However, if you complete a search and then limit the results by location, that location limit will remain for the duration of your session (all results from other searches will also be limited to that location).
How do I refine a search by format (also called faceted browsing)?
You may limit your results to a certain type of format by using faceted browsing. To do this, choose an option under Format. The number of results for each type of available format is listed in parentheses.
If you have too many search results, you may also sort your results. For more information, please see:
What item formats are available?
What does it mean when my default search is sorted by relevancy?
How do I refine a search by location?
What does it mean when my default search is sorted by relevancy?
The default search results are sorted by relevance as seen in the Sort by: drop-down box. For more information on how search results are sorted, please see How are search results sorted?.
If you have too many search results, you may also limit your results by preferred format or location. For more information, please see:
How do I refine a search by format (also called faceted browsing)?
What item formats are available?
How do I refine a search by location?
How do I find database information?
Databases that were searched are listed on the left-hand side of the screen, in order of the most search results found. The number of results for each database is listed in parentheses.
Note: If all results have not yet been found, a "partial results" message appears.
You may retrieve a larger set of results by clicking the link provided.
To limit your search results to a particular database:
Action |
|---|
| Click the database name to find results for that database. Result: Search results are refined to show results for only the selected database. Click << All databases to show all results. |
For more information, see Databases in Detail.
How do I find a specific edition or format?
Edition information appears on the Search Results and Detailed Record screens.
To access all editions and formats:
Action |
|---|
| Select the View all editions and formats link. Result: The Displaying Editions screen appears, listing all editions and formats for the selected item.Click << Return to Search Results to go back. Note: For more information on formats, see What item formats are available? |
Note: Editions are assembled based on title. Foreign language versions are listed separately. For more information, please see FRBR Work-Set Algorithm from OCLC Research.
What item formats are available?
Format |
Examples |
|---|---|
| Article | Text that is part of a larger item such as conference papers, chapters, or articles. |
| Book | Books, pamphlets, technical reports, typescripts, theses, dissertations, manuscripts and other written works. Includes Braille and large print editions. |
| Visual Material |
|
| Sound Recording |
|
| Musical Score | Printed music materials, including full score, choirs score, close score, condensed score, miniature score, part, music manuscript, books of musical studies and exercises. |
| Internet Resource | Websites with online documents, graphics, systems or services. |
| Serials / Magazines / Newspapers | Serial publications such as periodicals, newspapers, annuals, journals, memoirs, proceedings, monographs. |
| Computer File | Items in the following classes of electronic resources: computer software (including programs, games, images, graphics, sounds, and fonts), numeric data, computer-oriented multimedia, interactive multimedia, computer-oriented documents. |
| Map | Maps, map manuscripts, globes, atlases, aeronautical charts, navigational charts, celestial charts, remote-sensing images, computer-generated maps, and other cartographic material. |
| Archival Material | Materials in two or more forms that are usually related by virtue of their having been accumulated by or about a person or body. This category includes comprehensive archives and manuscript collections of mixed forms of materials, such as text, photographs, and sound recordings. |
How do I use Advanced Search?
Advanced Search allows you to construct more complex searches by entering keywords for multiple categories and limiting your results by database, format (such as "only books"), date of publication/release, subject content, audience, and/or language. You access the Advanced Search from Search Results, Search for Library Items, and Search All Libraries screens.
To conduct an Advanced Search:
Step |
Action |
For more information see... |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | On one of the locations listed above, select the Advanced Search link. Result: The Advanced Search screen appears. |
|
| 2 | Database(s) available to search are listed at the top of the screen. | To add or remove databases |
| 3 | Type key search terms in at least one field. Note: Available search terms vary by database. Only search terms available to all selected databases will appear. |
Advanced search tips |
| 4 | Optional. Select values for one or more of the Limit results by fields. Note: Available search limiters vary by database. Only search limiters available to all selected databases will appear. |
Limit search results | 5 | Click the Search button. Result: A progress window will appear, followed by your search results on the Search Results screen, sorted by location and relevance. |
How are Search Results Sorted? |
WorldCat is the default database used in searching.
To add or remove databases:
| Step | Action |
For more information see... |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | On the Advanced Search screen, click the Add/Remove databases button. Result: The Select databases to search screen appears. |
|
| 2 | Select individual databases or groups of databases to search by clicking the check box by each name. Result: The database moves to the right column, under Selected Databases. When selecting a group of databases, only the database names, and not the group name, will appear. Note: You may also use the select all, clear all and reset buttons. |
Databases in Detail |
| 3 | When you are finished, click Save Selections. Or click Cancel to go back. Result: The Advanced Search screen appears. |
You may also limit search results by:
Field |
Returns only: |
|---|---|
Library |
Items owned by selected library(ies) |
| Year | Items published in a certain date range (whole years only) |
| Audience | Items for the audience |
| Content | Items with the content |
Format |
Items in the format |
| Language | Items in the language |
Note: Not all limits are available for all databases.
Advanced Search tips
You may use any of the following in a basic or advanced search to limit your search results.
Keyword Searching
A keyword search uses one or more complete words (keywords) in a search. Results with all of your search terms appear, but they do not need to appear as a phrase (to search for a phrase, see Phrase Searching, below). Keywords may appear anywhere in the record, including titles, notes, abstracts, summaries, descriptions, and subjects. Keywords can also be names of people and places that are the subjects of a library resource or a listing in a directory.
You may enter words in upper or lower case, and if you use multiple words, you may enter them in any order.
Search results can contain a range of items related to your search keyword(s):
Phrase Searching
A phrase search uses quotation marks to allow an exact match to the phrase searched.
Examples:
If you type: |
Results are returned for: |
|---|---|
near east |
the words near and east |
“near east” |
the exact phrase “near east” |
Byzantine near east |
the word byzantine directly before or after the word east |
“Byzantine near east” |
the exact phrase “byzantine near east” |
Wildcards
Wildcards are special characters used to represent additional characters in a search term. They are useful when you are unsure of spelling, when there are alternate spellings, or when you only know part of a term.
Pound sign (#). The pound sign, also called a number sign or hash mark, represents a single character.
Example:
If you type: |
Results are returned for: |
|---|---|
wom#n |
the words woman and women |
Question mark (?). The question mark represents any number of additional characters. Include a number if you know the maximum number of characters the wildcard will replace. For example, fine?2 retrieves records that contain the word fine, plus up to two other characters, such as finer, finest.
Truncation
Truncation allows you to search for a term and its variations by entering a minimum of the first three letters of the term followed by a question mark symbol (?) or an asterisk (*). For example, securit? or securit* retrieves records that contain security, securities, securitization, etc.
Boolean operators
Boolean operators are supported as follows:
Operator |
Description |
A search for... | Will return results... |
|---|---|---|---|
plus sign + |
This is the default search operator. WorldCat searching uses +, which tries to find all of the words typed in the search box. Note: Any search for terms without an operator will return items with all the words. |
guns germs steel |
with all of the words entered in the search box: |
OR (uppercase only) | symbol |
The use of OR, or the | symbol, will search for either of the words listed in the search box. |
Paris OR fashion |
for any of the words entered in the search box: |
minus sign - |
The minus sign will exclude terms from your search. |
Paris - fashion | for Paris but not fashion: |
quotation marks “ “ |
To search for an exact phrase, the search terms should be enclosed in quotation marks. |
“The Grapes of Wrath” |
where all words are located directly next to each other in the search results |
parentheses ( ) |
Use parentheses to create more precise searches. | dog (walking OR feeding OR grooming) | dog walking OR dog feeding OR dog grooming |
How do I find out if an item is available?
To check availability, click on any item after a search. The Detailed Record screen appears.
Note: Availability information may take a moment.
For more information, see How do I request an item or place a hold?
How do I print or e-mail records?
You may print a record simply by clicking the Print link. Your printer's dialog box will appear.
You may e-mail an item's WorldCat record to one or more individuals:
| Step | Action |
Result |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Click the E-mail link at the top of the Detailed Record screen. | The E-mail dialog box appears. |
| 2 | Enter one or more e-mail addresses (separated by commas) in the e-mail field. | |
| 3 | Optional. Edit these fields: Your name |
|
| 4 | Type the word(s) shown in the image. | |
| 5 | Click the Send e-mail button. | The dialog box closes. An e-mail message with a link to the record will be sent to the selected recipient(s). |
Requesting an Item
How do I request an item or place a hold?
On the Search Results screen, relevant items that your library owns are listed first. Actual item availability is listed on the Detailed Record screen. The item’s availability status will be listed on the Detailed Record screen, along with other information such as location and due date.
Borrow or obtain a copy
This section allows you to look up libraries that own the item. Depending on your library's subscription, individual library holdings appear first (if applicable), followed by any group holdings and then libraries worldwide. Under Worldwide libraries, you may enter a zip code in the box provided to narrow your results by your location.
Worldwide libraries include a Library info link to the library's profile page. The profile page includes information about the library, such as location and contact information, links to the library’s website, catalog and virtual reference. Some listings may display a link to the library's online Ask a Librarian service. Select a library-name link to visit that library's online catalog for more information about the item.
Get in the library (if available)
If this option is available to you, you may place an item on hold (Place Hold) or request an item (Request Item) through your institution, depending on how the library has chosen to set this up.
To request an item or place a hold:
Step |
Action |
Result |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Click the Request Item or Place Hold button. Note: You may be prompted for an ID and password, and/or be asked to pay a fee. |
The library’s catalog will respond with a Hold Verification or Request page. |
| 2 | Enter your information. | |
| 3 | Click the Submit button. | A confirmation window appears. |
| 4 | Close the confirmation window. |
You can also check availability at libraries within the library's group.
To get the item from the library group:
Step |
Action |
Result |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Click the plus sign next to the group list. | The list expands to show all libraries in the group that own the item. |
| 2 | Click check availability for this item next to a library's name. | Availability information is displayed for that institution. |
| 3 | Click Request Item, if that option is available. | A confirmation window appears. |
Requesting an item through Interlibrary Loan (if available)
Listings of all libraries in your area may not be listed. Your local library may not be a WorldCat member library, or may not own the particular item. Your library may, however, participate in a resource sharing program. This permits the item to be borrowed from another library.
If the item is not available at your library, a button allowing the interlibrary loan will appear. Click the button to go to your library’s interlibrary loan request page, where you will be asked to provide a username and/or password to request the item.
Requesting an Article/Journal/Magazine
Click on a result after a search. If no URL to an electronic version of this article is found, a button displays to search your library’s subscriptions to provide online access to the article. If full-text is available, direct links to the article are provided. Your library may have a number of article databases available for your use. Consult your library website or librarian for more information.
Note: There are multiple ways to access electronic resources. Options and button names may vary. Citations for articles are included from any article databases for which your library has a subscription. Links may be provided to articles available in full-text or print from your library. You may be asked to provide a username and/or password to access the item.
How do I buy an item?
If your library has enabled the purchase option, Buy it links will appear at the bottom of the Get this item section.
You may click links to available suppliers such as Amazon.com or Barnes & Noble, where you can decide whether you would like to buy the item.
Clicking the link will take you to suppliers such as Amazon.com where you can decide whether you would like to buy the item.
