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The Library Catalogue
What is the Library catalogue?
The Library Catalogue can be used to find all print and online collections in the University Library. It includes the Riccarton Library, the Scottish Borders Campus Library and the IPE Library on the Orkney Campus. If the item you are interested in not held in the Library on your campus, you may recall it for delivery to your own Library.
In addition the Catalogue also contains details of books held in the BP Library in the Institute of Petroleum Engineering (IPE) on the Edinburgh campus. Non-IPE members may consult these items, but must first contact the IPE Library
How do I access the Catalogue?
- There are dedicated PCs in both Edinburgh Campus and Scottish Borders Campus Libraries giving access to the catalogue. In addition, any PC with internet access can access the catalogue at http://hw.lib.ed.ac.uk/
You can use the Catalogue to:
N.B. You cannot use the Library Catalogue to find journal articles on a topic, there are other resources to help you with this.
How to find a book
Finding a specific book
If you know the book/s you are looking for, in most cases you will know the author/s (or editor/s) names and at least some of the title of the book. You can then do a quick KEYWORD search e.g.:
- 'Learning mathematics' by Anthony
Orton, type [orton learning]
- 'Mastering the dynamics of innovation' by James M. Utterback, type [utterback innovation] (or just Utterback as it is not a common name)
Finding books on general subject area
If you are not looking for a specific book you will not have the author/title details, instead you will know the general topic you are looking for, therefore you can:
Do a Keyword search
- To find books on management accountancy, do a Keyword search for [management account?] - using the truncation symbol (?) to include all words beginning with account - accountancy, accounts, accounting etc.
Do a class number search
- Because books on the same topic are shelved together, you can either browse the shelves at the appropriate class. number or do a class. number search in the Catalogue
Finding the book on the shelves
To find the book in the Library you need to know the location, the status and the class. number:
- The status tells you whether or not the item is available
- Books which are available are shown as being Not on Loan
- Books which are on loan show the date when the book is due to be returned
- Books which have been ordered for the Library, but not yet received from the supplier are shown as being On Order
- Books which are waiting to be collected by someone are shown as being On Hold
- Books which have recently been returned and not yet re-shelved are shown as being Returned
- The location tells you which Library the item is held. If it is not in your 'local' Library, it can be recalled.
- The class. number tells you where to find the item on the
shelf
- First the books are grouped together by number and then
within that number by a 3-letter code:
- 100s come before 200s, come before 300s
- 152 comes before 153
- 153.5 comes before 153.6
- 153.5 ABC comes before 153.5 DEF
- First the books are grouped together by number and then
within that number by a 3-letter code:
All books in Riccarton Library are shelved on Level 3 with the exception of books in the Dictionaries Room (Level 1) and Quick Reference and Three Hour Loan sections (Level 2).
Use the floor plans, the indicators on the ends of shelves and other signs to identify the shelves where your books are kept; then look for the exact class number in the numerical sequence. Within each class number, books are arranged by the 3 letter code.
You can place a reservation for any book which is on loan, or which you cannot find on the shelves. You will be informed when it is available for you to borrow.
Find the book online
When doing a keyword search, the results list will give you all of our holdings of that title i.e. all editions (if there is more than one) and all formats (e.g. if we have the book in print and electronically). If the book is available electronically the catalogue record will give you the link to access that book and give details of any access restrictions.
If you wish to limit your search to only eBooks use a keyword search for [keyword ebook].
How to find journals
You can find whether we have a particular journal in stock, by searching for the title of the journal in the Other Searches option.
- To find journals starting with a word e.g. ECONOMICS, use Journal title - A-Z list.
- To find journal titles containing a word e.g. ECONOMICS, use Journal Title - single word or phrase
The display will show you whether we have an electronic or print subscription, and when our subscription started (and finished, if appropriate).
If we have an electronic subscription, the display will provide a link to the journal's home page, and will give information about how to get access from off-campus (if available).
If we have a print subscription, the display will show which Library the journal is kept in, and will also show the most recent issues received. Take a note of the title given in the Catalogue, and the corresponding class number of the journal (Riccarton Library only). In the Riccarton Library journals are arranged on the shelves by class numbers, and then alphabetically by title within these class numbers. At the Scottish Borders Campus Library journals are arranged alphabetically by title on the Ground Floor of the Library (current issues) and on the First Floor (back issues).
If you cannot find the journal part or volume on the shelves, please go to the Service Desk. The staff will check whether it is on loan; if so, they will reserve it for you and inform you when it is returned. If it is not on loan, they will search for it in the Library and inform you when it is available for consultation.
How to find Heriot-Watt theses in the catalogue
If you know the author and/or title of a thesis, search for it in exactly the same way as you would a book.
Finding all Heriot-Watt theses
If you want to see all the theses which the Library has, use the Other Searches option, and search for THESES as the Class number.
To find theses by award, first click the Search Limits button. Select Theses Collection from the Location list and click the Set Limits button. Then use the Basic Search and search for Ph D or MBA or M Sc (note the spacing must be as indicated)
First click the Search Limits button. Select Theses Collection from the Location list and click the Set Limits button. Then use the Basic Search option and search for keywords(s) describing your subject.
If you wish to see a list of all theses presented in a particular School please ask at the Service Desk, where there is a printed list of theses. There is no way at present to search the catalogue to list theses by School.
Search hints
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How to place a reservation for a book
You can use the catalogue to reserve books which are on loan to other readers, which have been ordered for the Library but not yet received from the supplier, or which are currently on the New Books display. You can also use the catalogue to reserve books in the Riccarton, Martindale or Orkney Libraries and have them sent to your "home" library for you to consult.
Note that if you reserve a book which is shown in the catalogue as being "Not on Loan", other readers can borrow it if they find it first.
- First look up the book in the catalogue and go to the screen with the list of individual copies. Click on the Request button and log in if you have not done so already.
- If the request can not be placed for any reason you will get a message saying so. Otherwise you will be asked to click OK to continue with your request.
- You can choose to have the first available copy or one particular copy or volume, the library you want to collect
it from, and how long you want the request to be kept open.
- When you have made your choices, fill in your barcode again, and click on Submit Request. Please note that although there is a Comments box, many requests are handled automatically, so any comments may never be seen!
If necessary we will recall the book from the person who has borrowed it. We can fill most book reservations within a week of the request. When the item is returned to the Library, you will be sent an email message to tell you that is ready for collection. You can also check yourself to see if you have any items awaiting collection.
You may also use the catalogue to cancel your reservations.
If you need any help with reserving books, please ask at the Service Desk.
How to check your Library Record
You can manage your own library account by clicking on the My Account button.
- Enter your barcode, your PIN and your surname to login.
All readers start with the same PIN - 12345. We strongly advise you to change it straight away by clicking on the Change PIN button.
- Under Personal Information you will see your name and address (term address for students) as recorded on our system. Let us know if it is not correct.
- The MyBookbag button allows you to see the records
of any books you saved when you searched the catalogue, and to print out or email it to yourself.
- The Saved Searches button allows you view, change or delete
the steps in any search which you saved when you searched
the catalogue.
- Patron Blocks shows any blocks on your borrower record.
- Items on Loan shows what books you have on loan, with the
option to renew them where this is possible.
- Request Information shows what book requests you have at present, including any available for collection
(you an also cancel reservations which you no longer
need).
-
Fines and Fees shows any unpaid fines or other charges on your borrower record
How to check and/or renew items on loan
The catalogue allows you to check which books you have on loan, and to renew them.
Access the catalogue at http://hw.lib.ed.ac.uk. Click on the My Account button, then Login to your record by entering your barcode, PIN and surname. Scroll down the page to the list of books on loan to you. Click in the box(es) next to the book(s) you wish to renew, then click on Renew Items. If it is possible to renew the book, this will be confirmed and the new date will be displayed. If it is not possible to renew the book, you will get a message at the top of the screen and the original due date will apply.
You can renew Standard loans, Week loans and barcoded journal volumes through the catalogue; 3 Hour loans and non-barcoded items can only be renewed by the Service Desk staff. If you renew a book after it's overdue, a fine will be due and will be added to your Library record; you will be required to pay it when you next borrow or return a book.
You may renew a book through the catalogue as often as you need to during the academic year. However, the Library inspects all books on loan once a year as part of the annual stocktaking process. The self-renewal function is suspended during this time, and you will therefore be required to bring any books on loan into the Library for renewal at the end of the academic year as follows:
| Standard Loans | Week Loans | |
| Staff | during Easter vacation &
Week 1 of Exam/Assessment period |
during Week 4 of Exam/Assessment period |
| PhD students | during Easter vacation &
Week 1 of Exam/Assessment period |
during Week 4 of Exam/Assessment period |
| Masters & Diploma students | during Weeks 3 - 4 of
Exam/Assessment period |
during Week 4 of Exam/Assessment period |
| Undergraduates | during Weeks 3 - 4
Exam/Assessment period |
during Week 4 of Exam/Assessment period |
You cannot renew a book through the catalogue if:
- you have been suspended from borrowing because you have seriously overdue books
- you have unpaid fines of more than £5.00
- another reader has reserved the book
In these cases, please take the book to the Service Desk,
where the staff will assist you.