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TCA College | Library – Finding Books and eBooks
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Online Catalog
• The Library Online Catalog is your tool to explore and locate library resources
• What’s in the Online Catalog?
1. Use the online catalog to find these information types owned by TCA College Library
Books
eBooks (online reading only)
Theses and Dissertations
Journals and Magazines (print format; titles only)
Pamphlets/Booklets
Christian Education Resources
AV Resources (CD, VCD, DVD)
Non-book Items (Chart, Map, Kit)
2. URL: https://opac.tca.edu.sg/
• Searching the Online Catalog
o Search by information type
Limit your search by information type, e.g., Books & E-Books, before or after
entering your search term. This will exclude other resources in different
format.
Basic Search Screen:
Advanced Search Screen:
Enter your search term here
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Select Books & eBooks to limit your search
Select an information type
TCA College | Library – Finding Books and eBooks
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Alternatively, you can limit the information type by using the options on the
right-hand column of the Result List. Click on “Book” or “E-Book” link(s).
o Search by field
Records in library databases are comprised of fields containing specific pieces
of bibliographic information. The online catalog allows you to search within
specific fields such as:
• Author
• Title
• Subject
• Series
• Contents
Limiting your search to a specific field can yield more precise results. For
instance, if you are looking for works about the book of the Bible, Matthew
instead of by an author named Matthew, it is more efficient to limit your
search to the Title or Subject field.
If you do not choose a specific field, the database usually reverts to a keyword
search where your search terms will be searched across all fields (author, title,
subject, series, contents and other note fields of a catalog record).
Enter your search term here
Select a specific Field
to limit your search
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Below is an item’s detailed record in the online catalog that shows the
different fields.
Some guidelines when searching by fields:
Author
Search by author to find works by:
• Individual (personal) authors – editors, translators, artists and the like.
• Corporate authors – government bodies, organizations, conferences,
educational institutions and the like.
Tips:
• Enter the author’s last name first. Example: Collins, Gerald
• To find works about a person or a corporate body, enter the name as
a subject search.
Title
Search by title when you know the exact or some of the words in the main or
variant title of a work.
• A title search ignores the order in which you enter your search terms.
• A title search returns all records containing titles that include all of
your search terms. For example, a title search for “behavioral
counseling” returns titles like:
- Using behavioral methods in pastoral counseling
- Marital counseling: a biblical, behavioral, cognitive approach
- Cognitive behavioral counseling in action
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Tips:
• Initial articles such as “the” or “a” are ignored by the system. You do
not need to include them in your search term.
• Some titles may be located under variant (for example, American
English) spelling. If you cannot find a title under one spelling of a
word, then try another. Example: counseling or counselling
• If numbers are part of the title, enter the number as a search term. If
you spelt out a number as a word, the system returns only titles that
have the number spelt out as a word. For example, a title search for
“2 Corinthians” returns:
- 2 Corinthians
- 2nd Corinthians
- Second Corinthians
But a title search for “Second Corinthians” excludes the first 2 titles.
Subject
Subject refers to the main topic discussed in a resource. Libraries use a list of
standard words or phrases when assigning a subject term. This list is also
known as subject headings – pre-defined “controlled vocabulary” words to
describe the content of each item, for instance, Library of Congress Subject
Headings (LCSH).
Search by subject to find relevant items on the same topic.
• A subject search returns all records containing subject headings that
include all of your search terms. For example, a subject search for
“Ethics” includes works about:
- Ethics
- Christian ethics
- Social ethics
But a subject search for “Christian ethics” excludes the 1st and 3rd
subject terms.
Tips:
• If you are not sure of an exact subject heading, you can start your
search by All Fields then limit your search by Subject using the options
on the right column of the Result List.
• From the item’s detailed record, you can click a hyperlinked subject
term to return a list of titles on the same topic.
• American spelling is used in the LCSH:
- behavior not behaviour
- organization not organisation
- theater not theatre
Series
Search by series to find works under a series title. You can enter the exact or
part of a series title.
• A series title search ignores the order in which you enter your search
terms.
• A series title search returns all records containing titles that include all
of your search terms.
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Tips:
• From the item’s detailed record, click a hyperlinked series title to
limit your search to that specific series title.
Contents
Search by contents to search the table of contents of a work.
• Not all catalog records include a Contents field.
• If you’re looking for a table of contents for a work the library doesn’t
have, or if there’s no table of contents to view in the library catalog
record, there are a few places to check:
- WorldCat Discovery
- Google Books
- Amazon
- Publisher’s websites
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Finding Books
• Use the online catalog to find books owned by TCA College Library. The book collection is
strong in biblical studies, doctrinal theology, practical theology, leadership, psychology,
counseling and related disciplines.
• Library of Congress Classification System
1. Books in the Library are classified according to the Library of Congress (LC)
Classification System. In this alphanumeric system, the subject of the book is of
primary importance. Consequently, books on the same subjects are close together on
the shelves.
2. Memorizing the entire system is not necessary but understanding it will help you find
books more effectively.
3. Broad categories (Class/Subject) are indicated by a single letter of the Roman
alphabet, with major subdivisions (subclass/sub-topics) indicated by a second letter,
and narrower subdivisions by decimal numbers and further alphabetic notation.
4. Below are the common categories or classes used in TCA College Library:
B
PHILOSOPHY, PSYCHOLOGY, RELIGION
BF
Psychology
BR
Christianity
BS
The Bible
BT
Doctrinal Theology
BV
Practical Theology
H
SOCIAL SCIENCES
HD
Management (57.7)
HM
Leadership (1261)
P
LANGUAGE AND LITERATURE
PA
Greek
PJ
Hebrew
R
MEDICINE
RC
Internal Medicine (i.e., Psychiatry)
• Call Numbers
1. Each book is given a call number which indicates its subject matter and relative
position on the shelf.
2. The call number is usually affixed on the lower spine of the book.
3. Elements of a Call Number
Example 1:
Horton, Michael Scott. (2002) A better way: rediscovering the drama of God-centered
worship. Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Books, 2002.
B
Broad Categories (Class)
: PHILOSOPHY, PSYCHOLOGY, RELIGION
BV
Major Subdivision (Subclass)
: Worship
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Narrower Subdivision
: Public Worship
.H68
Cutter Number
: Initial letter of the author’s name or book title
2002
Publication/Copyright Year
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Example 2:
Greenberg, Leslie S. (2011) Emotion-focused therapy. Washington, DC: American
Psychological Association, 2011.
R
Broad Categories (Class)
: MEDICINE
RC
Major Subdivision (Subclass)
: Internal Medicine
489
Narrower Subdivision
: Psychotherapy
.F62
: Focused expressive psychotherapy
G737
Cutter Number
: Initial letter of the author’s name or book title
2002
Publication/Copyright Year
4. Reading Call Numbers
LC Call Numbers are read one line at a time.
The first line contains one, two or three letters. These letters are read
alphabetically.
B
before
BS
before
BV
The second line is made of a number that may have one or more digits. This
line is read numerically.
BS
500
before
BS
2315
before
BS
2785
The second line may also contain a decimal component. Consequently…
BS
2785.3
before
BS
2785.52
before
BS
2785.53
The third line consists of a single letter and then a sequence of numbers.
Items are placed in alphabetical order by the letter, then numerically
according to the sequence of numbers.
However, all numbers in this line are treated as if they were preceded by a
decimal. And so…
BS
2785.53
.D5
before
BS
2785.53
.H8
before
BS
2785.53
.H812
before
BS
2785.53
.H84
The final lines may include dates, volume indicators, issue numbers, copy
numbers and other annotations.
These annotations follow in alphabetical or numerical order following the
main call number.
BS
500
.G85
1986
c.2
before
BS
500
.M57
2006
before
BS
500
.R4813
2010
v.4
before
BS
500
.R4813
W66
1982
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5. Locating Books in the Library
From the Hit List view of the online catalog Result List, click Show Availability.
Take note of the Collection and Call Number to find an item in the Library.
The following information types are located on the mezzanine level:
• Books with call number that starts with C-Z
• Christian Education Resource
• Pamphlet/Booklet
To identify an item’s information type, click on the item’s hyperlinked title to
view its detailed record.
Detailed Record:
Top
Information type
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Finding eBooks
• You can use the online catalog to find eBooks owned by the library.
1. Enter your search term in the search box
2. Limit your search by information type: Books & E-Books
3. Click EBSCO eBooks Collection link to read the e-book online
Result List:
Enter your search term here
Click EBSCO eBook Collection link
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Select Books & eBooks
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• You can also search and access eBooks directly from EBSCOhost website.
1. To access:
URL : https://search.ebscohost.com/
Please email the Library or call (65) 63047665 for the login credentials.
2. From the Basic Search screen, click All Databases.
3. Deselect all databases except eBook Collection (EBSCOhost).
4. Click the Select button.
Select eBook Collection (EBSCOhost)
Click All Databases
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5. Enter your search terms in the search box.
On the results list screen, select an eBook to read by click the Access Options button and
select a full text option from the menu – PDF or EPUB. If only one full text option is available,
the Access Now button will display that.
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eBook Viewer
Toolbar options at the top of the viewer:
Bookmark/Save ( )
Cite ( )
Share ( )
Print ( )
Details – Click to view the Detail information for the eBook title, including
Availability & Permissions which displays the number of copies available, the
number of pages that can be printed or saved, whether copy/paste
functionality is allowed, and whether the eBook can be downloaded to read
offline.
Table of Contents – click to view the Table of Contents for the eBook title
you are reading in the right column. From here, you can click to download a
chapter of the eBook.
Search Withing – click to search for terms within the eBook.
Note: Saved items in the Dashboard are not saved beyond your current session.
Toolbar options at the bottom of the viewer:
Page/Chapter Navigation – Click the page navigation arrows to move up or
down one page at a time or enter a page number in the field provided and
press the Enter key.
Zoom In – Click the icon to zoom in on the page.
Zoom Out – Click the icon to zoom out on the page.
Fit Page to Viewport – Click the icon to fit the entire page into the viewport.
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Please note!
o All eBooks are available as full-text documents. Click the Full Text link to read an
eBook online.
o Access to most eBooks is limited to one user at a time, but a few books allow
simultaneous access.
o An “eBook is in use” message will be displayed when you try to view an eBook that is
being read by another user.
o An eBook will automatically be available for the next user after 30 minutes of
inactivity.
o You are allowed to save, print or email a limited number of eBook pages but not an
entire eBook.
o You are encouraged to promptly save, print or email the needed section of the eBook
and exit from the viewer. This will allow others to have access to it. You can “exit”
from the eBook viewer by clicking Back at the top-left corner of the screen.
o Access to eBooks is governed by Copyright Law and license agreement.
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Other Information Types and Collections
• The library collection consists of different types of resources under various collections.
• Information type refers to the physical form of a resource such as book, thesis, CD, DVD,
journal and pamphlet.
• Collection gives the library section where an item is found like General Collection, Reference
Collection and Periodicals Collection.
• Below is a full list of the different information types with their corresponding collection in the
library.
Information Type
Collection
Library Section/Space
Book
General Collection
(White-color call number)
Reference Collection
(Green-color call number)
Course Reserve
Special Loan
New Arrivals
Textbook Collection
Books with call number that
starts with A-B: Main
C-Z: Mezzanine
Main
Library Counter
Library Counter
Display Area
Display Area
Thesis and Dissertation
Theses and Dissertations Collection
Display Area
CD/CD-ROM/VCD/DVD
Chart/Map
Multimedia Collection
Mezzanine
Christian Education
Resources
Pamphlet/Booklet
General Collection
Mezzanine
Journals / Magazines
Periodicals Collection
Current issues: Display Area
Back Issues (Bound): Mezzanine
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