Search - Request Materials - Policies - Library Committee - Donations - Contact Librarian

SOIC Library Catalog ... Help!

1. Why are the Call Numbers not like any I've seen before?
2. What does the "Search" box search and how can I use it?
3. Why do I see very few articles in the Library Catalog?
4. Are there abstracts available for items in the Library Catalog?
5. Why did I get results that don't show my search terms?
6. I can't find it in the catalog, but I know it has to be there!!

1. Why are the Call Numbers not like any I've seen before?
The SOIC Library call numbers are simple, sequential numbers, rather than Dewey or LC numbers for several reasons:

1. Assigning Dewey or LC numbers can be somewhat complicated, especially for people not training in cataloging. They can also be complicated to use when shelving an item. Because the position of Librarian is voluntary and the volunteer may not be trained in cataloging, it is essential that the systems in place to maintain the library be as "librarian-friendly" as possible, leaving the Librarian time to focus on other tasks such as expansion of the library.

2. Assigning Dewey or LC numbers requires the purchase of cataloging tools, often in the form of yearly subscriptions that can be costly. Monies that might be spent on these tools can be spent on expanding the collection.

3. If the library is ever taken over by a larger institutional library, having the library cataloged in either Dewey or LC will only ensure a 50% chance of it matching the new host library's system. Besides this, while in many cases the call numbers assigned in one library often match the call numbers assigned for the same item in another library, this is not always true. Call numbers are NOT unique identification numbers for an item (ISBN numbers are unique numbers), and would have to be checked for each item upon admittance into the new host library system. And this is all *if* the library is ever taken over by a larger library.

4. The numbers are very simple to use, both for patrons and the librarian. User who are not familiar with traditional call number schemes may find them confusing to use. The SOIC call numbers are short and simple.

2. What does the "Search" box search and how can I use it?
The "search" box searches the following fields:
- Author
- Title
- Call Number
- Abstract (see Question #4 for more information about this)

Multiple terms entered into the box are searched as a phrase.
e.g. typing "inkwell society" will NOT search for "inkwell" and "society" as separate terms, but will search them exactly as they appear together.

3. Why do I see very few articles in the Library Catalog?
Libraries do not technically own "articles" -- they own magazines that hold articles. Library catalogs list items the library holds, such as magazines. To search articles, you must usually consult a separate list, created by someone else such as an article indexing company, or an independently created bibliography. In the case of the SOIC, there are a few bibliographies dedicated to inkwells, and the newest edition of the SOIC Bibliography that abstracts the entire SOIC collection, plus other items not owned by the Library, plus articles, is scheduled to be released in 2007.

The reason why you do see a few articles in the Library Catalog is because some clipped articles from magazines have been submitted to the library. Because these articles are originals, and not photocopies, and the library does not otherwise own the entire magazine they have been clipped from, they have been included in the collection as "owned". However, these will be removed from the Library Catalog list as the SOIC obtains each of the original magazines the articles appeared in, and at that point you will be able to access the articles through use of a bibliography and the Library Catalog.

4. Are there abstracts available for items in the Library Catalog?
Abstracts are not typically shown in library catalogs, and as such are not available in the SOIC Library Catalog. They are usually, however, available in bibliographies. The newest edition of the SOIC Bibliography that abstracts the entire SOIC collection, plus other items not owned by the Library, plus articles, is scheduled to be released in 2007. Also, as a bonus for SOIC Library users, the search feature DOES search the abstract, and as such, you receive hits that are more detailed than they otherwise would be.

5. Why did I get results that don't show my search terms?
The search box you entered your terms into searches 4 fields, but only 3 of which you see in your results. The 4th field is the object abstract. Your term may have been found in the abstract, but because abstracts are not available as part of the Library Catalog, they are not displayed. Abstracts for all the SOIC Library items are included in the 2nd edition of the SOIC Bibliography, scheduled to be released in 2007.

6. I can't find it in the catalog, but I know it has to be there!!

• Try other search terms from the title or author's name, or smaller components of the term.
  For example, try "Write" rather than "Write-on".
• The database will not search on apostrophe's, so leave them off.
  For example, search for "Miller" rather than "Miller's".