Using WorldCat for Reading and Research

What should I know when using WorldCat?

When you enter WorldCat, you are leaving Emory's library catalogue.
You are accessing 11 databases with records contributed from 45,000 libraries around the world.
It is a subscription available only to those affiliated with Emory.
Check out Open WorldCat at www.worldcat.org to search libraries after Emory.

If you are looking for a specific title or author not found in Emory system, or
If you want to ensure you are referencing the most recent edition of a publication, or
If you are wanting to conduct wide-ranging review of field/topic/question, perhaps to see if you are missing something.

Select the "Searching" tab. There are three levels of searching, basic, advanced and expert.

Basic Search: you can fill in as many or as few fields as you desire; each field limits the others by default with “and.” You can select your desired database from here also. (See reverse for more information on databases).
Advanced Search: you can change the combination of search fields to “AND,” “OR,” “NOT,” and you can select language, number of libraries, media type and library location.
Note: In the advanced and expert searches, each grey box is combined using "AND," except when you are given the option to use "NOT" or "OR" in a drop down menu or when you type it in.
Expert Search: you can do everything from the previous two search types, but here you can use Boolean terms. See reverse for a listing of terms.

Emory icon means Emory University owns the item. Otherwise, click on item.
From "Detailed Record" tab, click on "Libraries worldwide that own item."
The first level of results will be libraries in your region.
Click, display all libraries to find all libraries that have registered this item on WorldCat.
Click on the particular library to display their catalogue record.

Click the box beside each record you want to save, then click on the "Marked Records" tab.
To save these records, click "Save Marked Record(s)" link. From the next page you will be able to create folders and manage your saved records.
To export these records to End Note, click the black "Export" icon. (See handout for additional instructions)

To save entire searches, click on the "Searching" tab, then on the "Previous Searches" tab. Click the "Save" link beside the searches you would like to save. Log in to your account, or create one if you have not done so already.
To combine searches, click the box beside each search you would like to combine, enter any keyword you would like to look for in this combined search, then select the method of combining: "AND," "OR" or "NOT."

Select the "Databases" tab. There are four ways to select the desired database.

"List All Databases" tab will give a short (unhelpful) description of each database. Click on the hyperlink and that database will be selected for you.
"List Databases by Topic" will group the 11 databases by categories. Again, click on the link and that database will be automatically selected.
"Suggest Best" tab allows you to enter your search terms and see how many results are in each database.
"Searching" tab, allows you to select your desired database from the drop-down menu.

Default search assumes an AND between each word
Keyword searches do not search the author field, but otherwise will find the words in any field
Use double quotes for phrase searches
Truncation: use an asterisk to find alternate endings (methodis*)
Plurals:
- Use a plus sign to search for single and plural forms (Methodist+)
- Only works for plural form adding –s or –es endings
- Otherwise, use Boolean OR (leaf OR leaves)
Wildcards
- Use a number sign to represent a single character (wom#n)
- Use a question mark for 1-9 additional characters (col?r for color or colonizer)
- Use question mark and number for definite characters (col?1r for color and colour, but not colonizer)