Getting started with Searching the Union Catalogue.

The Union Catalogue is a centralised and comprehensive database of resources for Print Disabled students at third level in Ireland. You use the search form to search the Union Catalogue for resources in all Irish Institutions or narrow your search to those resources held by your Institution only.

How to use the Search Form.

1. Insert Search Terms.

The first line of the form allows you to search by:

Next you simply type in your search terms in the textfield provided.

2. Build up your search by Adding Criteria (Optional).

You have the option to 'build up' or refine your search further by choosing to add more search criteria. Pressing the And / Or button will add a new line / level to the search - repeating the fields above.

At each level of the search you have the option to combine it with the previous level using either And or Or.

For example:
You could choose to search 'Any keyword: Ulysses' AND 'Author:James Joyce' will return only records relating to Joyce's Ulysses.
However choosing to search 'Any keyword: Ulysses' OR 'Author: James Joyce' will return records relating to both Ulysses and other works by Joyce.

Levels of a search can be removed by pressing the Remove button with appears at each additional level of the search.

3. Use Filters to Narrow Your Search.

Having selected your search terms you can choose to filter the results.
Filter options are:

  1. Return titles from a particular institution.
    You may wish to filter results to those held by your own institution by selecting this from dropdown menu. Alternatively, you can choose to leave this filter on the default setting of 'All Institutions' which will search for resources across all institutions in Ireland.
  2. Return titles on the following subjects.
    You can also narrow your search by selecting, one or more, subject areas. To select multiple subjects hold down the CTRL and ...?
    Subjects are grouped under the following headings:
    • 000 Computer science, information & general works
    • 100 Philosophy & psychology
    • 200 Religion
    • 300 Social sciences
    • 400 Language
    • 500 Science
    • 600 Technology
    • 700 Arts & recreation
    • 800 Literature
    • 900 History & geography
  3. Return titles in the following media.
    You can select / deselect from the following media (all media types are selected initially checked).
    • Tactile - Braille
    • Electronic Text
    • Audio - CD
    • Audio - Cassette
    • Large Print

4. Submit Your Search.

Having input your search terms and selected any filter options you can now submit your search. Read about how search results are returned.

Do you think this help page could be improved?
Please email your feedback to feedback@textaccess.ahead.ie.

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