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Online Catalog Help

How to Connect

You connect to the NOS Rice Library Online Catalog through the Worldwide Web, so you can use the Catalog from any computer with an Internet connection.

You will not need a password. If you have any questions, see the Reference Desk.

  1. Signing on to the NOS Rice Library Online Catalog is pretty simple: Go to the Rice Library home page and click on the link entitled "Search the Rice Library Online Catalog", OR
  2. Go to the NOAA Central Library home page and click on the link entitled "NOAA LIBRARY CATALOG (NOAALINC)".

 

How to Find a Single Document by Author or Title

Oftentimes, you just want to get a single document and you know its author or the title of the document. In the Catalog, this function is called "Quick Search." It's pretty self-explanatory. If you'd like to try an example:

1. Click one of the radio buttons to choose a type of search.

Catalog Keyword returns records containing the word(s) entered.
Catalog Browse returns catalog headings beginning with the first word entered.

2. Enter the word(s) you wish to search in the "Search for" box. (Authors names should be entered last name first.)
3. Click on either the "Author" or "Title" button, depending on the search terms that you entered.

How to Broaden the Search to Include Additional NOAA Library Collections

If the document you are searching for is not available in the Rice Library collection, you may want to search the Catalog to determine if other NOAA Libraries have it so you can request an interlibrary loan. To broaden a search locate the "Quick Search" menu and:

1. Click one of the radio buttons to choose a type of search.

Catalog Keyword returns records containing the word(s) entered.
Catalog Browse returns catalog headings beginning with the first word entered.

2. Enter the word(s) you wish to search in the "Search for" box. (Authors names should be entered last name first.)
3. Using the drop-down list on the right, select either another library from the list to search their individual collection. Select "ALL" from the drop-down menu to search ALL of the NOAA Library.
4. Click on either the "Author" or "Title" button, depending on the search terms that you entered.

How to Find the Call Number of the Document

Once you have searched for a single document by author and/or title, you will want to find the Call Number of the document so you can physically locate the document in the Library. Once you have obtained your search record, scroll to the bottom of the record and under "Holdings" locate the NOS Rice Library, Beaufort, NC heading. Under the heading will be the Library of Congress (LC) call number, number of copies, type of material, and location of the material. If the document is available electronically, there will also be a listing for the "Virtual Library" along with URL links in the catalog record.

If you'd like to try an example:

1. Click on the Catalog Keyword radio button to choose the type of search.
2. Enter the following title in the "Search for" box: Population assessment of the scamp, Mycteroperca phenax, from the Southeastern United States
3. Click on "Title" button.
4. Scroll to the bottom of the record and see that NOS Rice Library, Beaufort, NC maintains 1 copy of this book and the call number is SH11 .U33 no.410. (This document is also available electronic through the Virtual Library.)

How to Check the Status of the Document

Once you have searched for a single document by author and/or title, you will want to check the status (location) of the document so you can physically review the document or check the document out from the Library. Once you have obtained your search record, scroll to the bottom of the record and locate the NOS Rice Library, Beaufort, NC heading. Under the heading be the Library of Congress (LC) call number, number of copies, type of material, and location of the material.

If you'd like to try an example:

1. Click on the Catalog Keyword radio button to choose the type of search.
2. Enter the following title in the "Search for" box: Population assessment of the scamp, Mycteroperca phenax, from the Southeastern United States
34. Click on "Title" button.
5. Scroll to the bottom of the record and see that NOS Rice Library, Beaufort, NC maintains 1 copy of this book and that it is located in the STACKS.

At any one time, a document may have one of the following locations: STACKS, BINDERY, CHECKED OUT, ILL, LOST, MISSING, RARE BOOK.

How to Search for Full Text Documents

Once you have searched for a single document by author and/or title, you will want to check to see if the document is available full text in electronic format so you can save or download a copy of the document. Once you have obtained your search record, the first line of the record will state Electronic access: Online version in PDF format.. Click on the linked words Online version in PDF format. and the document will open in another browser window.

Also if you scroll to the bottom of the record and locate the NOS Rice Library, Beaufort, NC heading. Under the heading be the Library of Congress (LC) call number (Online), type of material (Internet), and location of the material (Items found at an Internet address)..

If you'd like to try an example:

1. Click on the Catalog Keyword radio button to choose the type of search.
2. Enter the following title in the "Search for" box: Population assessment of the scamp, Mycteroperca phenax, from the Southeastern United States
3. Click on "Title" button.
4. Scroll to the bottom of the record and see that NOS Rice Library, Beaufort, NC maintains an online copy of this book with the following call number and location information: SH11 .U33 no.410 (Online) Internet Items found at an Internet address. (In addition, there will be a "Holdings" listing for the Virtual Library.)

How to Search for Special Collections

Sometimes you may want to view all the documents that are available in a Special Collection. Currently, the following Special Collections are available in the Catalog:

CoRIS (Coral Reef documents);
Digital Image;
Digital Video:
NOAA cruise report;
NOAA online documents; or
Restoration documents.

If you'd like to try an example:

1. Click on the Catalog Keyword radio button to choose the type of search.
2. Enter the name of the Special Collection in the "Search for" box: NOAA online documents
3. Click on "Everything" button.

How to Search for the Most Recently Arrived Journal Issues

Sometimes you may want to see if the most recent issue of a specific journal title has arrived in the Library. As an example:

1. Click on the Catalog Keyword radio button to choose the type of search.
2. Enter the journal name in the "Search for" box: Journal of Plankton Research
3. Click on "Title" button.
4. Click on the Catalog Record blue tab.
7. Scroll down through the record and locate the line that states "Recently arrived: BEAUFORT-- V. 27 NO. 1 JAN 2005;V. 26 NO. 11 NOV 2004;V. 26 NO. 12 DEC 2004;V. 26 NO. 10 OCT 2004;"

The four most recent volume numbers, issues numbers and dates will be listed in the catalog record.

How to Request an Interlibrary Loan

Sometimes you may find that you need a document that is held at another NOAA Library and wish to have an Interlibrary Loan.

Since the search result page in the Catalog is not a static page, you cannot right click on the mouse and "Send Page".

Instead, if you wish to send the record electronically, you will need to cut and paste the record into the body of an email and send it to the Librarian. Or you can print the record out from the Catalog, write your name and the date on it, and give the printout to the Librarian.