The Web Catalog for the Mid-York Library System offers access to the holdings of the public libraries in Herkimer, Madison, and Oneida Counties. It can be searched by title, author, subject heading or keyword. It includes books and video and audio recordings. Here are some hints for finding what you want.

In entering information for a search, remember less is often better than more. The object is to enter just enough information to obtain a manageable hit list. The less information you enter, the less likely you are to make an error in spelling, typing, or word order that keep s you from finding what you want.

Concentrate on the most unique information and the information you are most confident about.

If you get unusual results, try again with variations. For example if you do an author search under Shakespere and get no hits, consider the possibility you misspelled it. Try Shakespeare or a title search under Romeo and Juliet.

Subject searches are tricky because libraries use a controlled vocabulary to assign subject headings. This is a powerful tool to organize and retrieve material but such headings are not always intuitive. Keyword searches can help identify subject headings.

Key words can often be used to limit searches in useful ways. Juvenile will help locate materials for children. Fiction combined with a subject will often find novels and/or picture books that can be used to expand background about a subject.

Searches can be limited by material so if you are looking for a video, use the drop down menu to select film/video.

Sometimes what you need is just a call number. If you are in the library and want to know what is available on the shelf about a subject you can do a key word or subject search and then browse the shelves.

Once you obtain a call number, you can use it to do a search to see what other books are available on the same subject.

Hit lists can be lsorted by various factors listed on a drop down menu but if you get a very long hit list you may want to refine your search before you sort it especially if your connection is slow. Probably the most useful sorting criteria is date since the most recent material may be the most useful.

If you don't find what you want, ask the Librarian. If they can't help you locate it, they can ask Mid-York.

When asking a librarian for help it helps to offer as much information as possible. If you can't locate the material you want, request it anyway. It may be available via interlibrary loan or it may be purchased to fill your request.

If you are looking for information on a subject rather than just a particular book, consider indicating that you will accept a substitute.

Prepared by
Diana R. Norton
Library Services Consultant
Mid-York Library System