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Online Catalogue
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) and their answers are listed alphabetically by topic.
We hope to save your time and efforts by answering these common questions. Let us know if your query cannot be answered.
Online Catalogue
Overview
Recommended Web Browser and Ancillary software
Search Results
How to Place Hold (i.e. Make Reservation or Recalls) Using the Online Catalogue
My Library Account
How to Renew Loans
Overview
The Li Ka Shing Library On-line Public Access Catalogue (OPAC) is a web interface based on CARLweb.
It offers two modules: (1) Online Catalogue and (2) My Library Account.
You use [Online Catalogue] to browse or search for the library collections.
You use [My Library Account] to view your library account details, such as loans, reservations 
, charges (e.g. fines) and others.
The [Online Catalogue] is proxied to allow SMU persons to access e-resources remotely (i.e. from off-campus). The e-resources are licensed for use by SMU users only. Users will use their SMU username and password for authentication.
Recommended Web Browser and Ancillary software
This OPAC was designed to be accessible by various browsers.
However, some browsers may not support all of the features used here, and could result in error messages, formatting problems, or reduced functionality. You should access this OPAC with any of these minimal configurations:
- Netscape 3.n or higher
- Internet Explorer 3.n or higher
HOW TO SEARCH
Basic Search
Click here to access the Online Catalogue
Enter a search statement and click the [Search] button
The Boolean operator "AND" is automatically inserted between keywords to retrieve hits with all the keywords
You can limit search to author, title or subject by choosing one of the options from the pull-down menu
You can limit search by language and media type by choosing one of the options from the pull-down menus
Click on [Review search history] to view all searches conducted in one session
Click on [New search] to start afresh
Click on [Exit] to close the session
Click on [My library account] to see your library account details
Click on [Library Home Page] to return to library website
Click on [SMU Home Page] to go to SMU website
Advanced Search
Click on [Limit Your Search] at bottom of page to do an advanced search
You can do a combination search with author/name and keyword
You can limit search by language and media type by choosing one of the options from the pull-down menus
You can limit search by date
Note: Please do not limit search by branch as the library currently does not have 'Closed Stacks' and 'THIS TITLE IS ON ORDER' branches.
SEARCH TIPS
Combined Word and Material Type searching
Combined Author and Word searching
Authors or names can be combined with title or subjects in a single search
Type //n followed by the name, then a / followed by words from the title or subject
Example:
//nLee Kuan Yew/Singapore Story
//nKotler/Marketing
Combined Author and Word searching
Authors/names or words can be combined with material type in a single search
Type //w or //n followed by the word(s) or name(s), then a q followed by the material type
Examples:
//w marketing qperiodical
//w information management qperiodical
List of material types:
Use: |
For: CD-ROMs Sound Discs Periodicals, Annals, Annual reports DVD, VC, VCD |
Truncation
Use an asterisk * with part of a word, subject, name to expand the search
Example: psych* will return psychology, psychological, psychometric and more
(Note: Truncation can also be used for other search engines such as Google. Click here to see more search tips.)
SEARCH RESULTS
You can click on the hyperlinked title to view the full record
You can click on [Display checked records] to view all the full records
You can click on [Add check records] or [Add all records] to add to the Personal List Manager
You view the personal list to email (maximum of 50 records in one email) or save the records.
Additional Links
You can click on the hyperlinks in the Author, Subjects or other fields
This initiates a browsing list of results indexed with that specific field
You can sort this browsing list by author, title, call number or date
| [blank] | Lending | Level 4 |
| AC | Audio Cassette | Level 2, CR Section |
| CD | CD-ROM | Level 2, CR Section |
| CR | Course Reserve |
Level 2, CR Section |
| CSA | Lifestyle Collection | Level 2, Collaborative Study Area |
| CTL | Centre for Teaching and Learning Collection | Level 5 (Access is restricted to Faculty and Staff only) |
| DK | Diskette | Level 2, CR Section |
| R | Reference | Level 3 |
| R AR |
Annual Report (Reference) |
Level 3 |
| R BP | Bound Periodical (Reference) | Level 3 |
| R CD | CD-ROM (Reference) | Level 2, CR Section |
| R CP | Current Periodical (Reference) | Level 3 |
| R VC | Video Cassette (Reference) | Level 2, CR Section |
| SpC | Special Collection | Level 5 (Access is restricted to Faculty and Staff only) |
| VC | Video Cassette | Level 2, CR Section |
| Not on Loan On Loan In Transit In Process Missing Not Inventoried Trace Withdrawn |
Not borrowed, i.e. available on shelf Borrowed Item on delivery to the library Item being processed at the supplier/vendor site User lost the item Missing Item cannot be found on the shelf Item no longer in the library |
How to Place Holds (i.e. Make Reservations or Recalls) Using the Online Catalogue
-
Note:
- Only lending materials which are already on loan can be reserved or recalled. Course Reserve and Reference materials cannot be reserved or recalled even though they are on loan.
- The user will be notified by email when items are ready for pick-up. It will be kept 5 working days after which the item will be returned to shelve on the 6th working day.
- The user cannot place holds if his/her library privilege is suspended. Library privilege is suspended when:
- overdue materials are not returned or renewed,
- fines are not settled or
- user received disciplinary action(s).
- All materials on hold are to be collected from the Customer Service Centre.
-
Steps:
- Use the [Online Catalogue] to search for item
- Click on [Place hold(s)]
- Enter your NRIC, FIN or membership number and click [Enter]
- Enter the first name that appears in your NRIC, FIN or membership card and click [Enter]. For Visiting Faculty, please enter "visiting".
- Check against 'Library' as the pick-up branch and click on [Place reservation/recall]
- You will receive a "Hold Placed" confirmation
- You will be notified by email when item is ready for pick-up
My Library Account
-
Steps:
- Enter your NRIC, FIN or membership number and click [Enter]
- Enter the first name that appears in your NRIC, FIN or membership card and click [Enter]. For Visiting Faculty, please enter "visiting".
How to Renew Loans
-
Note:
- Loans which are reserved by other users cannot be renewed.
- The user cannot renew loans if his/her library privilege is suspended. Library privilege is suspended when: (1) overdue materials are not returned or renewed, (2) fines are not settled or (3) user received disciplinary action(s).
-
Steps:
- Use [My Library account] the access your library account details.
- Enter your NRIC, FIN or membership number and click [Enter]
- Enter the first name that appears in your NRIC, FIN or membership card and click [Enter]. For Visiting Faculty, please enter "visiting".
- Click on [Renew all items] or click on the [On Loan] hyperlink
- Check against the item(s) you want to renew and click on [Renew selected items]
- You will receive confirmation on the new due date.
