WorldCat Local

What is WorldCat Local?

WorldCat Local is a new discovery tool which augments our Library catalogue -- Novanet. It searches Novanet and libraries worldwide in a single search. Your search results are sorted based on relevancy to your search terms and whether AST owns the material. It also allows you to request materials from other libraries by either Novanet Express or Interlibrary Loans.

 

In particular, WorldCat Local searches:

• Resources in the AST Library, including books, journals, DVDs, CDs, maps, theses, and more

• Materials in other academic libraries in Nova Scotia (Novanet)  and around the world.

• Millions of citations for articles included in the following sources:

  • Jstor, ArticleFirst, & British Library Serials -- articles from a wide range of journals in all subjects.
  • ERIC -- education.
  • MEDLINE --medicine and health.
  • GPO -- U.S. government publications.
  • More databases will be added as agreements are reached with data providers. In the meanwhile you can search for journal articles from our Library homepage or our research database page.

It currently does not search our top 4 EBSCOHost databases.

How do I use WorldCat Local?

• Use simple keywords as you would on a Web search site.

• Try using words from a title; the name of the author, artist or director; or words that describe the subject matter.

• To search an exact phrase, put quotation marks around your words (e.g. "social gospel").

• The truncation symbol is a question mark or an asterix. So, a search for environment? or environment* will find environment, environments, environmental, environmentalist, etc. See our advanced searching techniques.

• Limit your search by using the "Refine Your Search" features on the left side of the display window.

• Learn more about advanced searching techniques.

• OCLC has an instruction page on searching WorldCat.

 

How is it better than Novanet?

• WorldCat Local has a clearer, more user-friendly look.

• It is easier to limit your search to just books, DVD and so on. Just choose a format in in Advanced Search.

• Allows you to mark, save and email and view citations in selected formats, or export individual citations or lists to RefWorks.

• Contains user-contributed reviews, ratings and cover art for some items.

• Allows you to sign up for a free account to create personalized lists, bibliographies and to contribute reviews.

Does it have shortcomings ?

• It does not search Reserves Readings (use Novanet Reserves).

• It does not search any of our top 4 EBSCOHOst article databases. (See EBSCOHost databases ).

  • So far it only searches ArticleFirst, ERIC, Medline (PubMed), British Library Serials and GPO.
  • We are working on adding more to the list.

• It does not search materials that are "on order" or "in process" of being added to the library. Use Novanet instead.

• It does not search by certain unique fields such as call numbers. Use Novanet instead.

What if I don't find what I'm looking for in AST Library WorldCat Local?

• Try searching Novanet.

• Is it a reserved reading for one of your courses? Try searching Reserved Readings.

• Is it an article or essay? Try searching a research database.

• Ask a librarian.

 

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