Advanced Search : Positional Operators

The Positional Operators are same as the Boolean Operators, they tell the system to search words or phrases which appear anywhere in the catalogue record.  They can be used in Basic Search and Advanced Search.  The only difference is:-

Positional Operators :  All the search terms appear in the same field (e.g. all in title, all in author, all in notes, or all in subject)

Boolean Operators :  The search terms appear anywhere in the record

There are 4 operators (SAME, WITH, NEAR, ADJ) and their function is as follows:-

• SAME or WITH : only records containing both words within the same field will be retrieved.
• NEAR : only records with the words next to each other within the same field will be retrieved.
• ADJ : only records with the words adjacent to each other within the same field will be retrieved, and the order is the same as they were entered. 

Quick Search : Boolean Operators

The Boolean Operators provide broader search results and they are not restricted to Advanced Search.  You can use them in Quick Search as well.  They tell the system to search  records if the search terms appear anywhere in the record.

If you use more than one word to perform keyword searching without any operators, TAFECat uses the "AND" Boolean Operator by default.  For example, if you search under "fruits vegetables", the result is the same as for "fruits AND vegetables".

If you want to use the Boolean Operator (AND, OR, XOR, NOT) in Quick Search, insert the operator between the words to perform the search.

Advanced Search -- from the TAFE Library Catalogue

Advanced Search combines search elements to refine a search or limit a search. You can combine word or phrase, author, title, subject, series, and periodical title with operators and special punctuation to perform your search.

Operators allow you to focus your search by linking search terms and defining the relationship between them. They include the following types:

• Boolean Operators
• Positional Operators
• Relational Operators

Here’s how to combine search elements in Advanced Search using Boolean operators (AND, OR, XOR, NOT).

The following diagrams show which records will be considered when each of Boolean operators are used in a search:

fruit AND vegetables

fruit OR vegetables

fruit XOR vegetables

fruit NOT vegetables

Limit Search – from the TAFE Library Catalogue

When your Search Results list is too long, you may want to limit the search result.  Please refer to the following steps:-

• Click on “Limit Search” on the menu bar to go to Limit Search screen.

• There are many options you can use for your search:-
• Library:  select a Library to limit your search.
• Language: specify a Language in your search.
• Location: Select a Collection (shelving Location) in your search.
• Item category 1 & Item category 2:  specify a format, such as maps, eBook, DVD, eVideo, … etc.
• Match on: specify your search match on a particular part of a catalogue record, such as keywords only.
• Pubyear:  specify the publishing year.
• Sort by:  specify the sorting sequence of the search results.

Also, if you may want to combine the limit search elements into your search, click on the “Advanced Search” on the Quick searchscreen to switch to “Advanced search”screen.

My Lists (permanent bibliography list) – from the TAFE Library Catalogue

If you want to save your search results and make them into your reading list, there are 2 types of bibliographic lists for you to choose from – temporary list (Temp List) and permanent list (My Lists).  Both of them can be viewed, printed and e-mailed.

• The “Temp List” is retained only for the length of the current session, and only one list can be maintained in the session.  It will be removed when you close your session.
• The “My Lists” is retained in your account as long as you want, and you can create any number of lists for your study. 

If you want to create a permanent list, or to access your existing permanent lists, please refer to the following steps:-

• log into your account with your TAFECard barcode number and PIN no. (please check your PIN no. at the Library Information counter), you will find “My Lists” on the menu bar.

  

• Click on “My Lists” from the menu bar.  On the My Lists screen, you can:-
• Create new list
• Delete list
• Rename list name
• Change / activate any list
• Edit list contents
• View, email, and print the list.  There is a different level of detail to display for each record on the list.

Bibliography List -- TAFE Library Catalogue

On the Item details screen (see September 03, 2013 blog post), if you want to find:- 

• Other titles by the same author, 
• Other edition of the same title, or 
• Other titles for the same subject.

There are two ways to do this:- 

• Click on “New Search” from the menu bar to go back to the Quick Search screen, and then change the Search option to Author, Titles, or Subject. 
• Or, click on the Catalogue Record (A) to change the display format.

On the Catalogue Record screen, besides the title, author, publication, and pagination information, it also displays the subject term and added author (the co-author).  Click on the links (A) to retrieve other titles.  

Once the item is displayed on the Search Result list or Item Details screen, you are able to keep the item as part of your reading list (bibliography list) for your study.  Tick on the Temp List box (B) to add item to the list.  The Temp List can be printed or e-mailed to yourself or someone else, but when you close your session the list will be removed.  

Search Result List – TAFE Library Catalogue

When you use TAFECat (the library catalogue) to search, if the search term is available, a Search Result List is displayed.

The Search Result List contains information which includes:-

• Total titles of the search  (A)
• The title’s bibliographic details (title, author, publisher, publication year, pagination) (B)
• Type of material (C)
• Library holds the copy (D)
• If your library owns a copy, a tick will be displayed (E)

When you click on the title link, it will take you to the Item Details screen, where you can access the following information. 

• Call number (i.e. the location on the shelf) in each library (F)
• Status in each library (G)

If you want to use this item, go to the shelf and match the call number.

Quick Search – TAFE Library Catalogue

The TAFECat is not just a catalogue, you can do a lot of thing through it.  In TAFECat, you can access all types of information that your library has for you.

Input your search terms.   By default, the search option is set to “words or phrase” (A), which search all fields.  If you want to narrow your search into a particular field, such as title, author, or subject, click on the arrow, choose the field you want to look in, then click the "Search" button (B).  No matter what index you used, the search pattern is by keyword.  Search Results List will be displayed immediately.

If you prefer a browse list for your search result, click on “Browse search” (C).  Once the browse list displays, click any item to see the search results for that item.

Did you know? -- The TAFE Library Catalogue

• contains details of holdings for all TAFE NSW libraries
• can be searched from anywhere on the internet (http://tafecat.tafensw.edu.au/tafecat.html)
• shows you what is on loan and what is available on the shelves
• allows you to create a list of the titles relevant to your studies
• allows you to copy, edit, paste and save the list of titles
• allows you to email search results to your own personal accounts
• allows you to see your borrower record and item due dates through MyAccount
• pick up a brochure at the Library for further details
  

Did you know? - renewing library loans

You have many ways to renew your loaned items:-

• contact the Library in person
• contact the Library by phone
• 9643 4540 (Lidcombe)
• 9742 0430 (Chullora)


• renew online via the TAFE Catalogue
• please contact the Library for your Library Account PIN number
          (if the items are overdue or reserved, you may not be able to renew them)