Using Catalyst: Browse or Search?
Arthur Lakes Library
Colorado School of Mines
1400 Illinois Street
Golden, Colorado 80401
Phone: (303) 273-3911
Fax: (303) 273-3199
http://www.mines.edu/library

HIGHLIGHTS

  • A Browse for information allows you to view your search results, as well as those records that come before and after your results. If you wish to view information related to your search, or if you are unsure of an author's name or an item's exact call number, a Browse is most effective.
  • A Search for information allows you to view only the data for which you searched. If you are looking for a known title or a known author, for example, a Search is most efficient.
Special Topic: Browse or Search
Click to enlarge Follow These Steps
cathome.jpg (246217 bytes) Catalyst gives you the ability to browse or search the catalog.  Browsing is useful, for example, if you are uncertain of an author's name or item's call number.  In these cases, Catalyst will allow you to "browse" a list of "headings". 

Searching retrieves a set number of headings that match your query.

The Browse feature is available for Author Browse and Call Number Browse searches on the Basic Search screen.

NOTE: You are not allowed to Set Limits when browsing by Author or Call Number.
browse1.jpg (99992 bytes) To perform an Author Browse: 

Select the Basic Search screen. Then highlight Author Browse in the Search by: drop-down menu.

Type in the Search for: box the author's name (e.g., einstein al)

Click Search
browse2.jpg (185184 bytes) The results page will show "Displaying 1 through 10 of 10 entries" (or 25, 50, or 100, depending on the display default you've chosen).  

This is misleading because there are actually more than 25 entries for you to scroll through. If you click on the Previous or Next arrows, you will find that you are browsing all authors.

Once you find the author you want, click on the name and you will be taken to the items associated with that author.
browse3.jpg (100789 bytes)

Browsing by call number works the same way:

Select the Basic Search screen. Then highlight Call Number Browse in the Search by: drop-down menu.

Type in the Search for: box the call number (e.g., he 2751)

Click Search

NOTE: Use a period in the call number if one appears in the classification part of the number (e.g., f 1053.2). 

If more than one letter/number combination appears after the classification part of the number, you must leave a space before the second letter (e.g., z 695.1 g43 g46 1994).

browse4.jpg (286635 bytes) The results page will place you in the Catalyst call number index.  

By browsing you can find other items in the Library that are closely related to the call number/topic that you're searching for.  It is just like browsing the library "stacks"!  You'll see everything listed as it would be physically on the shelf.
browse5.jpg (101071 bytes)

Unlike Browse, a Catalyst Search retrieves a set number of results. Searching is available for Keyword, Title, Subject, Journal Title, Gov. Pub. Call Number,  etc. searches, and can be used as an alternative to the Author and Call Number browses mentioned above

If you are unsure of the title or journal title (or any other piece of information you're searching for) try the Custom Search tab and make use of the screen's truncation ("wildcard") function to find your items.