Finding Items in the AIMS Library Catalogue

Accessing the Library Catalogue:

There are multiple ways to access the library catalogue.

Direct Link:

The direct link to the library catalogue is http://www.aims.gov.au/docs/publications/library-catalogue.html. You can bookmark this link for ease of access. 

Through AIMScape:

Go to Research Click Information Services Type your search term into the catalogue search box and press enter.

Through aims.gov.au:

Go to the aims.gov.au home page.   Scroll down and click Library Catalogue in the Quick Links bar on the right hand side of the screen.

Through this Library Blog:

 Go to the Library Blog Click Library Catalogue under Important Links in the right hand sidebar.

 

Using the Library Catalogue:

When you first open the catalogue it will look like this:

In the blue bar at the top of the catalogue you will see four options: Power, Basic, History, and AIMS Publications. For the purpose of this tutorial, we will focus on the first two options – Power and Basic. These are your two different types of search.

Basic Search:

1. Type your search term into the search box 
2. If you want to change the area in which the catalogue searches for your search term, click the drop down menu to the left of the search box and select the appropriate option.

     3.  Once you have made your search, the catalogue will return a list of items that match your

          search terms. Simply click the title of the item you are looking for to open its information
          page.

Power Search:

With the Power Search form, you can set multiple search terms in different areas. The same basic principles apply as with the Basic Search. 

1. Type your search terms into the search boxes. 
2. Select the drop down menu to the left to confine your search for that particular term to that area. For example, 'Jennings' in Author Keyword would find only items with an author called Jennings.
3. At the end of each search box there is another drop down menu, allowing you to select how the search terms relate with each other. (AND, OR, NOT, XOR)
4. You can also limit the results, by selecting from the Limits menu, and sort how your results will be displayed by selecting from the Sort drop down menu.
5. Click the red arrow to complete your search.

Locating an item on the shelf:

Once you have found your item in the catalogue, you can then locate the item in the library. 

1. Check which collection the item is in – this item is in the Books collection, which means it will be located on the ground floor of the library. 
2. Check the call number of the item and make note of it.
3. Check the status of the item. If the item is In Stock then you should then be able to find it on the shelves using the call number.

Collection: 

• Books – Can be found on the first floor of the library
• Periodicals – Can be found on the second floor of the library
• Reference – Can be found in the first shelves (closest to the library office) on the first floor of the library
• Closed Stacks – Contact the Librarian

Status:

• In stock – should be on the shelves
• Missing – library copy is missing
• On loan – check the due date – if the date has passed, contact the library.

Call number ranges for each shelf are written on the ends of the shelves.

Checking out an item:

1. Once you have located your item in the library, you will need to bring it to the Self Checkout Machine just outside of the Library Office on the First Floor. You will need to enter your library barcode into the machine and then you should be able to check the item out by scanning the barcode on the top of the first page of the book. 
2. Alternatively, you can bring the book into the Library Office to have it checked out to you by Information Services staff. 

If you have any questions on the above or need further assistance, contact the library.