Viewpoint hints and tips
Searching the catalogue
The opening page has a quick search option for author and title. However, if you do not get the result you expect, try using the keyword search instead.
If you choose any of the search options from the left-hand menu you will have a choice of searching a particular branch or using the default ‘all branches’.
It is also possible to search by media, such as, books and recorded music.
If you cannot find what you are looking for you can submit a request by using the requests for items not in the catalogue form or by contacting your local library.
Keyword search
Keyword search is the most effective type of search as you don’t have to know the exact title.
It will give you broader results than title and author. It covers author, title, subject
and related information. If you use the keyword search to look for writers, you may get a
list of items about them as well as the books they’ve written.
In the ‘search for’ box enter the keyword or group of keywords you wish to search for. The maximum number of keywords is 4.
For example: fly fish trout.
Press the search button or enter key to begin your search.
ISBN search
The International Standard Book Number or ISBN is the product identifier used by publishers, booksellers and libraries. The ISBN identifies the publisher as well as the specific title, edition and format. It can be a 10 or 13 digit number.
For more information about ISBN’s visit the ISBN International organisation frequently asked questions page
An ISBN search should only be used as a search option when you want an exact match for a book. Every edition of a book is given a new ISBN number. For example:
If you searched using the following ISBN number: 00273646621 you would get one result: The Principles of Marketing 3rd European edition by P. Kotler
Using keywords you would find 7 matches including the information that there is a 4th edition.
Advanced search
The advanced search provides additional options for searching the catalogue by either class or subject.
It also offers the opportunity to limit the results to children’s books only or by language, as well as the usual options of by library and media.
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Class and genre search
One of the options in the advanced search is the ability to search by class, which can be the subject number of a non-fiction book (Dewey Decimal *1) or the genre of a fiction book, audio book, cd, dvd or game.
To search for a non-fiction book by class
In the first box on the advanced search page select class from the drop down menu, type the subject number you wish to search for in the space provided adjacent to the drop down menu. Click search or press return.
For example: 658 (General Management and Business books)
NOTE: entering 658 will bring you back results for all books found between 658 – 658.99
To search for fiction and audio books by genre
If you are only interested in searching for items in a particular fiction genre, it is possible to limit your search to do this.
Select class from the drop down menu, type the abbreviated genre name for instance CRI if you are interested in crime. Click search or hit return or you can limit to hardback or paperback by choosing from the media box. To search for audio books select audio book on cd or spoken word from the media box.
The abbreviations are as follows:
To search for a CD
Enter the following under class to search for CDs by genre
To search for a DVD
Enter the following under class to search for DVDs or Videos by genre
To Search for Games
Enter the following under class to search for games such as Wii, Nintendo, Xbox and Playstation 3
TIP Searching by class without selecting further limits will bring back a large number of results. Limit the search further either by library or media.
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Subject searching
This is useful to use if you don’t know the subject number. For example entering ‘Business’ into the subject search box will bring back the following headings:
Business Forecasting
Business Management
Business Mathematics
Business Methods
Business: Small firms: management
Business studies: Law: Great Britain
Save this search
This option enables you to keep a record of your searches so that you can easily carry them out again another time. It will save the search and not the results, so if new titles have been added they will be included next time you carry out the search.
For example if you like reading crime books in large print, you can use the advanced search option to search by class (CRI) and media (large print hardback and large print paperback). You can then use the ‘Save this Search’ boxes at the top of the results screen. Type in a ‘QuickName’ e.g. Large Print Crime and type in a description for example, large print hardback and paperback crime.
Next time you want to carry out the same search just access ‘Your saved searches’ from the left-hand menu or use the ‘Saved Searches’ box on the right-hand side of the screen (a maximum of 5 individual searches will show here)
The ‘Save this Search’ option is available on all types of search except ISBN.
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Making a reservation
To reserve an item you will need:
A West Sussex Library card (the borrower number is the number underneath the barcode).
Personal Identification Number (PIN *2)
Find the title you want by using the catalogue links, then click on Reserve Now, enter your borrower number and PIN, a new screen will open.
Choose your method of notification and collection branch.
Scroll down the screen and tick the box next to the items you wish to reserve. Click on either Reserve All or Reserve Selected.
You can reserve up 20 items at once
You cannot reserve titles, which are for use in the library only. If a title cannot be reserved you will see the words, 'not for loan' or ' no items available'.
If you are not entitled to borrow a particular format, for example, children may not borrow certain DVDs, the reservation will not be placed.
There may be a charge to reserve titles. Please see the list of current charges.
You will be informed by phone or email when the title is ready for collection from your chosen library.
If the book title is NOT on our catalogue you can submit a request by using the book title
request form.
If you would like to obtain a copy of a periodical article, please use the periodical request form.
Suggestions can be made for any CDs, audio books on cassette or CD, Playaways,
DVDs, Blu-Ray and console games, which are not in our stock.
To do this please use the
audio visual suggestion form.
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Creating a wishlist
If you are interested in a title but don’t want to reserve it straightaway, you can add it to your wishlist, which you can come back to another time.
Adding to your wishlist
Carry out a search, and add your chosen title(s) to your basket. When you are finished, click on the reserve now button, you will then have an option to add them to your wish list.
When you select ‘Transfer to wishlist’ the item will disappear from the current screen, to see the item click on ‘View your wishlist.’
To reserve an item from ‘Your wishlist’ click on more details. This will take you to the library catalogue record. Once there follow the instructions above for ‘Making a reservation’.
NOTE: Items will stay in your wishlist until you remove them. They will not be removed because you have reserved that particular item.
Adding a review
To add a review about a particular book, you can search in the catalogue or find it by using ‘Your Loans History’ from the left-hand menu, click on the title to see more details. At the bottom of the screen click on ‘Add a review’. You will need to be signed in to do this.
Once you have done this you will see a page containing any other reviews of this book and a section for you to fill in with your review. You have a choice whether or not to include your name.
NOTE: Please be aware that your review will not appear immediately. We reserve the right to remove any offensive text
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*1 Dewey Decimal System
The Dewey System for classifying and searching for books was designed by Melvil Dewey in 1873 and first published in 1876. The DDC is published by OCLC Online Computer Library Centre.
The system is based on numbers. Each broad subject area is allocated a number between one and ten as follows:
The 10 main classes
If you were interested in finding travel books for New York State you would look at section 917.47. This is broken down as follows:
*2 Personal Identification Number (PIN)
When you join the library you will be given a membership card and you will be issued with a personal identification number (PIN).
You can change your PIN at anytime by using the ‘Your Personal Details’ option from the left hand menu.
If you have forgotten your PIN you will need to visit a West Sussex library with some proof of name and address.
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