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Library Catalogue Searching Tips

The library catalogue

• The library catalogue has about 18 000 items. Full bibliographical details are available at the Library.

The keyword

• Can have any reasonable length. It can be absent in which case you can only browse from the start or end of a very large results set.
• Is not case sensitive, i.e. the keyword "rose" will find "ROSE", "Rose", "rose", etc.
• Is expected to be a complete word or phrase.
• Cannot include wild card characters.

Call numbers

• The Society uses a three-part classification scheme that produces a call number like AN1/19/143. In this example AN1 = Australia, New South Wales, Heraldry. The "19" means the sub-topic flags. "143" is order of the item on the shelf.
• See further for:
  • A fuller explanation of the classification scheme;
  • The geographical codes and main subjects;

A successful search

• Shows the author, title and call number.
• The results list is in alphabetical order according to the field you chose. Items without an author are to be found at the top of the page.
• The search engine seeks your keyword anywhere in the fields you nominated.
• By following the "[more]" link, you will see the full record.

Errors

• If you see an error in the catalogue please don't keep it to yourself -- please send an email to the Secretary quoting the call number and the error.