What is this new Library Catalog?
It is a new, intuitive way to explore our library collections. Similar to search engines like Google, everything can be searched with a single toolbar. No longer do you have to define whether the search is for a keyword or a title!
Is the old Library Catalog still available?
Yes. The old catalog can be found under “Library Links,” at the bottom of the screen and it is called the “Classic Catalog.”
Is the content different in the new Catalog?
Yes, there is more content included. When you click “Catalog” in the top left of the screen, you see results from the Classic Catalog - like books and videos. When you click “Digital Collections,” you see digitized materials from our Special Collections. When you click “Articles,” you see journal and newspaper articles from our databases that were not in the Classic Catalog.
What do all the categories on the left side of the screen do?
Those options are called search “facets” - which are similar to the drop-down menu limits in the Classic Catalog.
How do I narrow my search results?
Search results can be narrowed by using the faceted limits on the left side of the screen. Some facets include the availability of the item, the library location it is found at, the publication date, and language, among others. The more facets you select, the more specific and narrow in scope the results become.
How do I find a book by a famous author, not about him?
Enter the author's name and run a search. Then look for the “Found In” facet limit on the left side of the screen. Selecting the “author” facet will limit your search results to materials written by that author. Selecting the “subject” facet will limit your results to materials about that author.
What are Community Tags?
Community Tags can be useful when traditional subject headings do not cover a concept that might be valuable to the library community. By adding tags, you can aid other users in finding items. For instance, one student could tag all books on a suggested reading list with the name of a class, then other students in the class would be able to find that same list if they search for the class name. If your search terms match against tags, “Community Tags” will appear as a facet to select under the “Found In” heading.
How do I search for articles only?
Search results default first to the “Catalog” collection. To search for only articles, select the “Articles” link at the top left corner of the screen. Or, you can also switch over to the Articles collection by selecting “Articles” as a “Format” facet. Also, when looking at results from the “Catalog” collection, you'll see a preview of the top 3 article results.
What should I do if I get a message that I'm not allowed to access articles?
Make sure you are viewing articles from the institution (SJSU or SJPL) that you belong to. Right under the Library Catalog logo, you'll see "View" with the choices of "University Library" and "Public Library". You can switch between article results for the two institutions using these links (you cannot view both simultaneously). Public Library card holders only have access to "Public Library" articles. SJSU students and faculty who have set up a library PIN number have access to the "University Library" articles and can also access the "Public Library" articles if they have a library card. Anyone may visit King Library in person to access articles from either institution.
I saved articles on the SJSU "Find Articles" page. Where did they go?
Any articles that you previously saved on the SJSU "Find Articles" page are still available. From the SJSU Library Home Page, go to "Articles & Databases" under the Quick Links on the right. Then, "Log-in" under My Account on the top right to see your previously saved articles.
What is the difference between Related Searches and the Tag facet in the left hand column?
The terms found under both of these will look very similar. Choosing a term under Related Searches will run a whole new search based on the term selected. Choosing a term under Tag limits your current results to only items that have that word within their record.
Is there a subject browse available?
No, but you can limit your search to specific subjects under the “Found In” facet and the “Related Searches” allows you to search similar subject headings.
Is there an advanced search option?
Yes, there is a link to the advanced search right beneath the search box.
Does the new Library Catalog work on all devices?
At this time, it does not work on Kindle devices that are web-enabled. On Kindle Fire, you need to turn off the "accelerate page loading" option on it's default browser (Silk) in order for the new Library Catalog to work.
Is there a mobile version?
Yes. Just access the Library Catalog from a mobile device or point your browser to http://discover.sjlibrary.org/iii/mobile/?lang=eng.