How to search the Library catalogue
A library catalogue is a register or list of all bibliographic items held by a library or network of libraries. It helps to organise and provide access to a Library’s collections. The Donald Robinson Library offers a comprehensive online catalogue of its resources, accessible from anywhere with an internet link and on any device configured for internet access. You will find the catalogue on the Library home page, https://www.library.moore.edu.au/. For the best browsing experience, we recommend Chrome or Microsoft Edge internet browsers.
1. Searching the full collection
There are various ways to locate material. To perform a search of the entire collection, open the Library home page. It should look something like this:
a. Entering your search terms
In the top menu bar (reproduced below), the default drop-down menu on the left shows “Everything” which includes all print and electronic items. This is the Search Limit menu. The second box from the left displays the Search Field menu. To search for items across all categories, retain the default settings.
The longest of the three white boxes is the Search Box where you enter your search terms. Click inside the box to begin typing your search terms. To delete search terms, click the “X” or use the backspace key. It is usually not necessary to include words such as “the” or “and” among your search terms.
Once you have typed your search terms, click the “SEARCH” button on the right side of the screen. In the example below, the catalogue is ready to search the entire catalogue for references to “Luther.”
A new page with three columns will appear. The search results are presented as a list in the centre column displaying summary information about the most relevant results. Blue text indicates a clickable link to further information or to the full text.
You may always return to the Library home page by clicking the Home Icon 
b. White and blue backgrounds
Search results with a white background refer to catalogue records drawn from Symphony, the Library’s own database. These point to items held in various formats including print books, ebooks, reference books, serials, pamphlets, theses, audio cassettes, compact discs, VHS videos, DVDs, microfilm, and microfiche. Search results display an item’s title, author, format, publication date, material type, call number, series (if any), availability (borrowing status), and number of copies held.
Search results with a blue background refer to catalogue records drawn from EBSCO Discovery Service (various external databases to which the Library subscribes). Some of these items will not be held by the Library but may be obtained in various ways. In some cases, license agreements limit the circulation of materials to certain classes of patron (e.g., currently enrolled students).
Some catalogue records, such as links to ebooks, may be held in both Library and EBSCO databases, in which case the search result will point to the same item.
Please ask staff for assistance if an item does not appear to be accessible in physical or electronic format.
c. Changing your search result preferences
The default setting for the display of search results is for interfiled “white” and “blue” items, as in the example on the previous page. The alternative setting displays search results in separate tabs rather than interfiled. To change from the default to the alternative setting, take the following steps.
At the top right of the Library home page, click on “My Account” and log in. A screen similar to the one below will appear. In the “Personal Information” section, click anywhere on the “Preferences” tab, and three drop-down menus will appear. The third menu allows you to change your EDS Display Mode from the “Library default setting” to the one labelled “Display EDS results in a separate tab.” Click the “Update” button to confirm the change.
This displays search results from Symphony (the Library’s database) in one tab called “Search Results,” and those from EBSCO databases in a separate “Database Search” tab. When you refresh your main screen or perform a new search, you will see the two options and be able to toggle between them. To return to the default setting, follow the process and select “Use library default setting.”
2. Refining your search to yield more specific results
Sometimes your search terms will be sufficiently precise that you will see a reference to the item you want displayed among the first few search results. But often this is not the case.
In the example above, the search yielded 1,041,830 results. The large number is due to the fact that a search of “Everything” scours all the Library’s available databases for results that accord with the search terms, including many items not held by the Library in print or ebook format. Such a search may also yields links to published reviews of the items you are searching for, which you may find distracting.
There are many ways to cull irrelevant results. These are explained below. You may find it helpful to experiment with several search “limiters” or “expanders” to obtain the best results.
a. Browsing options
The left-hand side of the Library home page (as it is in July 2023) has two sections. The top section contains links to Library website subpages and Guides. The bottom half provides links to a Boolean search tool, browsing by title or call number, the Ark Repository, and the Moore College website. The first two of these are search tools. The Ark is a large repository of digital material in various formats held by the Library.
Boolean Search enables you to search using words and symbols known as Boolean operators (e.g., AND, OR, NOT) along with keywords to limit, expand or define your search. Using AND narrows a search by combining terms. Using OR broadens a search to include results that contain either of the words you're looking for. Using NOT will narrow a search by exclusion. Placing quotation marks around a specific phrase will help you narrow results in order to find information containing that precise wording. Boolean Search uses the old catalogue interface (with current data) as the new catalogue uses a different method similar to that used by Google and other internet search engines.
Browsing by call number highlights items with the same or similar call numbers as the item you entered in the search box, and allows you to locate books or other material “nearby” as though it were located on a physical shelf. Browsing by title allows you to locate books or other material “nearby” alphabetically. There are various search limiting menus within each of these tools to help you to further narrow your search. These browsing options use the old catalogue interface but display current data.
b. Search Limit options
In the Search Limit box (to the right of the home page icon, where the default search indicates “Everything”), click the down arrow and select one of the following options to limit your search parameters:
Library Search limits a search to the Library’s own catalogue of physical items and ebooks. Enter search terms and click the “Search” button, and new search results appear. Use the drop-down menus on the left to further limit these results by author, format, language, publication date, subject, collection, location, and serial/journal. In the “Publication Date” category, you may hover the cursor over the graph bars to reveal the year ranges of items in search results.
Database Search limits a search to results from the EBSCO Discovery Service rather than the Library’s own database. Use the drop-down menus on the right (“Expanders,” “Limiters,” published date, source type and other options) to further narrow your search and find material most relevant to your needs.
Library Website Search searches text of accessible Library web pages.
c. Search Field options
In the Search Field box on the top menu bar (where the default search is “All Fields”), click the down arrow to select “Author,” “Subject,” “ISBN,” “Series,” “Serial/Journal” or other options.
In the example on the left, to check whether the Library holds issues of the Barnabas Aid journal, limit your search to “Library Search” and select “Serial/Journal” as your search field, then type the journal name in the search box.
The search result below shows information about Library holdings of Barnabas Aid (including a note that describes the purpose of the Barnabas Fund), where to locate recent volumes, and other information.
Click on the blue “Locate It” button to see a plan of the Library with a red pin identifying the approximate location of your selected item. In this case, the journal is located on the Lower Ground Floor near the Carillon Avenue windows. On the map, you can zoom in and out, and move the frame by holding the cursor down and scrolling. To print a map, click the print icon at the top right of the map page.
Click the “Request Item” button on the right to request items stored off-site. You will need to enter your Library username and password to log in to this service. For many journal article requests, you will need to choose the volume number or range that you require from a drop-down menu.
Click the “MARC view” button on the right to view full cataloguing data.
Click the “Cite this title” button to open a new WorldCat web page with further information on the item.
Narrowing a search in these ways delivers notably different search results. It also reduces the number of search results, often culling an unmanageable list of thousands of results to a few hundred or fewer.
d. Limit Library results
At the top of the left-hand column of a search results page, above the list of drop-down menus, you will find two additional buttons.
Click “Only Show Library Results” when using the default “Everything” search to limit a search to Library resources. This delivers the same search results as you would receive by selecting “Library Search” in the Search Limit drop-down menu. If you have already selected this search limit, the option will not appear.
Click “Only Show Available” to limit a search to items currently available for borrowing. Items may be unavailable because they are currently on loan, missing, in cataloguing (that is, being prepared by Library staff for circulation), or on order.
e. Sorting by publication date
At the top right of the centre panel of a search results page, you will see a “Sort By” drop-down menu. Choose from the options to revise the order in which search results are displayed.
If you have retained the search limit option “Everything,” the options available will be as shown in the figure on the left.
If you have selected the search limit option “Library Search,” you may also search results according to “Title” (alphabetically), or “Author” (alphabetical by surname).
Click “Relevance” to list search results according to the priorities set by the search algorithm. This is the default option for all searches.
Click “Publication Date (Descending)” to display search results with the most recent dates at the top.
Click “Publication Date (Ascending)” to reorder search results with the oldest dates at the top.
Please disregard any slight irregularities in sorted search results which are caused by anomalies in the data on which the catalogue tool relies.
f. Using advanced search
To access this feature, click on the words “Advanced Search” in white text on the right-hand side of the main menu bar, then a form will appear.
In the form fields you may type a range of search terms, exclude unwanted terms, and apply limiters for format type, language, title, author, and subject. The “Format Type” limiter has a drop-down menu with 24 formats from which to choose. The “Language” menu includes a very large range of languages, many of which are not represented in the Library’s collections. The Library location menu currently has only one option, “Moore Theological College Library,” at 1 King St, Newtown, Sydney.
You may also limit advanced searches to “Library Search,” “Database Search,” or “Library Website Search.”
The Library catalogue includes all material in the satellite libraries located at Moore College’s residential campuses at Croydon and Parramatta. Items at these locations are identified in the location information in full catalogue records.
g. Select an action menu
At the top of the centre panel in search results, beside the “Sort By” drop-down menu, you will find another drop-down menu labelled “Select an Action.” This enables you to perform four actions:
“Add to My Lists” Set up lists by clicking “My Lists” in the “Welcome” ribbon at the top of the Library catalogue home page. On the left-hand side of the screen, you will see two small “ring binder” icons: click on the left-hand icon to add a new list.
In the box, name your list and click “Create.” Your list will appear, along with any others you may have, in the left-hand column. Tick the small white square on the left of each list item to select it for editing, arranging, or deletion. To delete a list, select it and click on the right-hand “ring binder” icon above it.
Click on the “Select an Action” menu to copy, save, delete text, email, move, print, or request an item. Click on the “Arrange By” menu to sort lists by name or date added (ascending or descending). Click on “Temporary List” to create a temporary or unnamed list.
“Email” Select one or more search results by ticking the small white box to the left of the search result information (or tick the “Select All” option at the top of the search results), then select “Email” from the drop-down menu. Type your email address into the next box, then click “Send Email.”
“Print” Select one or more search results by ticking the small white box to the left of the search result information (or tick the “Select All” option at the top of the search results), then select “Print” from the drop-down menu. Right-click on your mouse (or trackpad equivalent), select “Print” and follow the usual options you use for selecting printers and printing.
“Request Item(s)” Select one search result by ticking the small white box to the left of the search result information, then select “Request Item(s).” The next box displays the selected title and its pickup location (always Moore Theological College Library). Click on “Request Item(s).” If you have requested a volume of a serial, you may need to select a volume number or date range before clicking the final request button.
3. Frequently asked questions
How do I search for a specific title?
To search for a specific title or phrase, add quotation marks to the required text to direct the catalogue to search for the precise syntax. For example, to find Luther’s The Bondage of the Will, your search term might be: luther “bondage of the will”. Search terms do not require capital letters or punctuation.
How do I find the shelf location of a book?
To find the shelf location of an item, click on the blue text of the item’s title in the Library catalogue. This displays the Dewey Decimal Number and other information. You may need to scroll down to view all of the data. At the bottom of the full description, there will be an indication of the number of copies of the item available, its (Dewey) Call Number, copy number, material type, and current status. You may find it helpful to write down the call number (and perhaps the title and/or author’s surname) before proceeding to the shelf location. Alternatively, take a photo of the call number on the screen with your smartphone.
Why can’t I find an item that should be in the Library?
If you can’t find an item, please ask Library staff for assistance. Items may be unavailable because they are:
• in use by another patron in the Library but not formally borrowed
• on the sorting shelves on Ground Floor or Lower Ground Floor
• on a Library trolley about to be placed back on its shelf
• shelved in a wrong location
• awaiting repair or replacement
• missing
May I recommend items for purchase?
Yes! You may recommend books and other items for purchase by the Library by filling in this form: https://library.moore.edu.au/client/en_GB/default/?rm=REQUEST+TO+PUR0%7C%7C%7C1%7C%7C%7C1%7C%7C%7Ctrue&dt=list
Tom, our academic liaison librarian, will assess your request and endeavor to reply promptly.
Where may I find extra help with my research enquiries?
If you have trouble searching for items in the Library catalogue, our experienced Library staff are ready to help. The Library Service Desk is staffed during public opening hours (8.30am – 4.15pm weekdays), and we have several specialist staff who will be happy to respond to your research enquiries and offer advice on all technical aspects of academic study and research. The Service Desk is located on the Ground Floor in the Library, adjacent to the security gates and main entrance.
Library staff frequently walk through the Library, and you should feel free to ask for advice or assistance if you see them. Library staff are also contactable by email at service.desk@moore.edu.au and by telephone on 02 9577 9895.
How many holds do I have?
To view the status of your checkouts, overdue items, holds, fines and payment history, click on “My Account” at the top right of the Library home page, and log in. Click on the relevant menu.
What about inter-library loans?
Moore College students, faculty and staff may request inter-library loans from other libraries. This is a free service. Requests are filled at the discretion of the Research Support Officer.
To make a request, email docdel@moore.edu.au and provide full details of the item you need. Requests for inter-library loans and items requiring purchase from book vendors may take four weeks or more to arrive.