There are many varieties of numeric retrieval that can be done using the online catalog. Three of the more popular are ISBN searching, ISSN searching, and searching by call number. In order to begin a numeric search, go into the file menu and select Numeric. You will then be presented with a list of options. The three most used selections are ISBN searching, ISSN searching, and Call Number searching.
The ISBN is the international standard book number, a unique number given to each book that is published. This can be used to identify the book in the online catalog. Be forewarned, however, that any item with an incomplete record in the catalog will probably not be accessible via an ISBN search. If you are looking for a journal, use the ISSN search instead. To begin, select the ISBN option from the Numeric menu.
In the text box, type in the ISBN of the book for which you are searching. Do NOT use hyphens or spaces! Simply type the number as one long string.
If a book with the ISBN that you have entered is located in the catalog, the system will retrieve the record for that book. If no records are retrieved, it does not necessarily mean that the book is not in the system; the book could have a short record or a record lacking the ISBN. In such a case, it is usually wise to attempt a more general search, such as a keyword search. Once you have located the record for the book, use the ctrl-N command to scroll past the UIUC Additional Information and UIUC Acquisitions information to the list of libraries. Select the line number of the library in which you are interested and press ENTER.
When you have retrieved the holdings information for the library in which you are interested, it will give you information about how many copies of the book are held at this library and whether or not they are available. Noncirculating items must be used in the library, available items may be checked out, and charged items have already been checked out by someone else. If an item is charged, you can find out when it is due back by selecting the line number of the charged item and pressing ENTER.
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The ISSN is the International Standard Serial Number, a unique identifier for journals and other serial publications. Be forewarned that not all of the journals that are in the online catalog have complete records. Therefore, if an item is not retrieved by an ISSN search, it may still be in the collection. To perform an ISSN search, select the ISSN option from the Numeric menu and press ENTER.
This will bring up a text box into which you can type the four digit ISSN. The number should be written, with a hyphen, in the following way: XXXX-XXXX
The system will then retrieve a list of items that have the ISSN that you specified. Select the item in which you are interested by typing its line number, and press ENTER. This will retrieve the record for your item. If there is a single item, the system will immediately bring up the record for the item. Using the ctrl-N command, scroll past the UIUC Acquisitions and UIUC Additional Information holdings to the holdings of the libraries. Select the line number for your library of choice, and press ENTER. This will bring up the holdings information for that library.
Once you have selected the library, you can find out if the issue that you want is there. Volume numbers are arranged in reverse chronological order. Press ctrl-N until you have gotten to the volume and year of the volume of interest. Note that only bound volumes are included in the online catalog. If your volume is more recent than the last entry, it is possible that the volume has not yet been bound. If the library does not hold your volume, use the Backup command to return to the list of libraries, select another library, and begin again. All journals are noncirculating; you must use them in the library.
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If you have the call number of a book and you want to locate its record, use the Call Number selection in the Numeric menu. Select Call Number, and press ENTER.
Enter the call number in the text box provided using punctuation but no spaces. The system will use right-hand truncation, so, it will call up all records that begin with the number that you specified. If you have difficulty locating your call number, try entering fewer digits.
The system will then present you with a list of call numbers that begin with the digits entered. Select the item that matches the one for which you are searching, and press ENTER. This will bring up the record of the item.
When you have retrieved the record, use the ctrl-N command to scroll past the UIUC Acquisitions and the UIUC Additional Information to get to the library holdings. Select the holding of the library in which you are interested, and press ENTER.
The library information will tell you whether the item is available to be checked out, whether it is noncirculating, in which case you need to use it in the library, or whether it is charged. A charged item has already been checked out by someone else.
