Basic ALEPH (Library Online Catalog)

Anne Bardolph, Acquisitions Librarian

FSU College of Law LibraryFall 2006

Objectives

• Access the library online catalog.• Learn the basic search methods.• Request an item which is charged out.• Access an electronic journal.• View database lists.• Access Course Reserves.• View status of your library account.

ALEPH will tell you what resources are available in the library and the locations for those resources.

Like a mail order catalog, ALEPH tells you what

items are in stock and gives an item

number (call number)

Resources available in the library may be in print, electronic, or other forms of media.

A library’s online catalog is an electronic database containing the records of the materials in your

library.

Access ALEPH from the Law Library homepage www.law.fsu.edu/library

Or from the FSU Libraries’ homepage www.lib.fsu.edu

Accessing ALEPH off campusYou will need your FSU ID username and

password.

FSU Libraries

www.lib.fsu.edu

FSU Law Library

www.law.fsu.edu/library

Once you are in the library catalog, you will see two Basic Search options in the Full Catalog: Keyword and Browse.

A Keyword search in Basic mode looks for words:

anywhere in the record, or

somewhere in the author, title, or subject fields

Enter term or phrase.

Select search field from drop-down list.

The default is “Keyword Anywhere”

Use Browse searching in Basic mode for locating a specific known item.

Enter title, author’s last name, call number, or ISBN.

Choose search field from drop-down menu.

The default is “Title begins with.”

Type keywords.

Select field to search.

Search as a phrase?

Hit GO.

Sample keyword search

Results page will appear in a brief view format.

Sample keyword search

Type title in the “Title begins field” and click Go.

Select the title and click on it.

Sample browse search

To scroll through list, click Previous or Next page.

This is the Full View of the record

Notice the two Location lines. Click either one of them to see the holdings information.

On this screen you can see that there are four copies of this edition.

Two are available and two have been checked out.

You can request that a book be held for you when it is returned by clicking the Request link.

This is the Holdings screen.

Next, enter your ID information and click GO.

Then, enter the period of time you would be interested in the material.

Click GO.

Confirmation will follow.

Besides the search options of the Full Catalog, you can also search Journals/Serials. To access just click the link from the top menu choices.

Refer to this marker often to avoid searching in the wrong database.

Records for many journals have links to full text.

On the eJournals page type in the journal title to see what full text is available

Some journals are available from multiple sources. Choose one and click to connect.

Clicking on either COURSE RESERVES or CHANGE DATABASES brings up a page with links to electronic resources and course reserves

Here you can also choose to search just the Law Library Catalog

Databases A-Z is a list of all databases licensed by FSU. Clicking here brings you to the list.

Law School materials which have been put on Reserve for courses can be searched here

It’s best to search Course Reserves by Instructor or course number.

This search retrieved 3 items on Reserve for this Professor

Accessing Your Library Account

HOW? Click Sign-in OR Your Account

WHY?• View items checked out• Renew materials online• View or delete hold requests• Check personal account info

For help, click “search help” button or the icon.

The end!