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NEWCAT FAQ

What is NEWCAT?
What is the best way to search for things in NEWCAT?
What is Word searching?
How do I search NEWCAT for past exam papers?
How can I find out what journals (serials) the Library has?
What does Internet Access mean on the journal record?
How do I know if the Library has a particular issue of a journal that I need?
Can I search for journal articles in NEWCAT?
How do I get to the database page when I am in NEWCAT?
Can everything in NEWCAT be borrowed?
How do I renew my books?
Is the information in NEWCAT "up-to-date"?
Can I put a reservation on something that's out on loan?
Can I request items from other campus libraries?
What is BONUS+?
What is Short Loans?
How can I book Short Loan items?
How do I view or print items available in Short Loan online?
Can I use NEWCAT from home?

1. What is NEWCAT?

NEWCAT is the library catalogue of the University of Newcastle. It lists the entire collection of all the University of Newcastle Libraries (Auchmuty, Huxley, Central Coast and Conservatorium), including the Hunter Area Health Libraries, the James Fletcher Library and the Renwick College collections.

2. What is the best way to search for things in NEWCAT?

There is no single "best way" to search NEWCAT.
The most common ways of searching are by Words, Title, Author or Subject.

If you have been given a Reading List for your course, then the quickest to locate these books, etc. in the Library is to do a Title search. When doing a title search you must enter the title in the correct word order. Do not change the sequence of the words or use abbreviations.

3. What is Word searching?

This search allows you to search for words in the title, the contents notes, a summary, chapter headings, or subject fields in NEWCAT. It is a broad search, and you may find some records that are irrelevant to your search. A Words search can also be modified and limits applied.

To search for a phrase, type in the words of the phrase, and any records found will have the words that were typed in together, in that order.

To search for separate words, but in the one record you need to use the operators (links)… "and" .. "or" .. "and not". Look at the examples provided on the bottom of the Words search page as a guide to using operators.

To search for words close to each other, in any order, use the term "near" to link your search words

Truncation allows you to find all the words that start with your search term, even when they have different endings. One asterisk (*) will find up to another five letters, and 2 asterisks will find any endings. e.g. environment* will find environment, environments, environmental, environmentally.

Most items listed in NEWCAT may be borrowed, however some are not available for loan, such as items in the Reference collection. Check the status information of items you find. If it says NOT FOR LOAN then these items cannot be borrowed. For more detailed borrowing information please refer to the Borrowing web page.

4. How do I search NEWCAT for past exam papers?

Use the Short Loans option in NEWCAT to search for exam papers. Choose 'Course' from the short loans search menu and type in 'examination papers - subject name' or 'subject name - examination papers' eg. 'chemistry - examination papers'. If the exam is available online it will have the notation 'Electronic copy available'.
Please note that availability of past exam papers in the library is at the discretion of the lecturer/faculty.

5. How can I find out what journals (serials) the Library has?

Do a Journal Title search in NEWCAT. Type in the journal's full name, with all words in the title in exact order.

6. What does 'Internet Access' mean on the journal record?

If you are accessing the journal record in the web version of NEWCAT, this means that at least some articles from this journal are available online. Simply click on link provided in the record to go to either the online journal itself, or to a database that includes full text articles from that journal. (Note: You may also see 'Internet Access" when using a database that includes Library Holdings information. You will need to note down or print the details of the journal article, and then search for the journal title in NEWCAT to find the link to the online journal.)

7. How do I know if the Libary has a particular issue of the journal that I need?

Check the Lib. has field in the journal's record. This will tell you where the journal is located, and the years that the Library holds. If there is a date followed by a dash, then the Library has a current subscription to this title. When there are two dates separated by a dash, this usually indicates that the Library has stopped buying this title. However, the journal may still be available online. eg.

Lib. Has:	AUCH S153.405/1 : Vol. 1-v. 43, no. 4 : 1970-Dec. 2001
	INTERNET ACCESS
	Click on the following to: View full text articles from 1996+ in Idealibrary

This tells us that at the Auchmuty Library, holds a print copy of the journal from 1970-Dec. 2001, but it is still available online.

8. Can I search for journal articles in NEWCAT?

No - unless you are searching for journal articles that are on reading lists, and have been placed in Short Loans.
Otherwise, to find journal articles on a particular topic you will need to search one of the Library's journal databases .

9. How do I get to the database page when I am in NEWCAT?

Click on Databases from the blue navigation bar at the top of the page.

10. Can everything in NEWCAT be borrowed?

11. How do I renew my books?

You can renew items you have on loan by phone, via the catalogue, or in person at the Loans Desk. See Renewing your Loans for more information.

12. Is the information in NEWCAT "up-to-date"?

As soon as any information is added to or changed in NEWCAT, it is visible immediately. For example, as soon as a copy of a book goes out on loan, the STATUS information changes from "IN LIBRARY" to the due date.

13. Can I put a reservation on something that's out on loan?

Yes. If you want to borrow something that is currently on loan to someone else, you can put a hold on it. You will then be notified via email when the item is returned, and it will be held (for a maximum of 5 days) for you to come and collect. See How to Place a Hold for more information.

14. Can I request items from other campus libraries?

Yes. Except for items from the hospital libraries, you can request items that are held at one of our other campuses to be sent to the campus library of your choice. See Requesting Books from Other Campuses for more information.

15. What is BONUS+?

BONUS+ is a resource-sharing project that enables the lending of selected library material among the staff and students of the University of Newcastle, as well as Deakin University, Melbourne University, University of Ballarat, University of Technology, Sydney and Victoria University.
See BONUS+ FAQ for further information.

16. What is Short Loans?

Short Loans is a collection where high demand materials, particularly for undergraduate courses, are kept. You can photocopy and use the items in the Short Loans Collection Room without borrowing them. If you wish to borrow, the items are borrowed for 2 hours only.
Some material can be borrowed overnight - it may be collected half an hour before the Library closes, and must be returned within half an hour of the Library's opening the next day.
Many Short Loans items are available electronically via Short Loans Online.

17. Can I book Short Loan items?

Yes. See Short Loans Bookings for further information, and instructions.

18. How do I view or print items available in Short Loans online?

Some Short Loan items are available online. The record will begin with: View or Print: Title of article. Click on the title, type in your name and student number, then click on submit. An Adobe pdf image of the full article will be displayed. You can print this article by clicking on the print icon on the Adobe Acrobat reader toolbar. See the Short Loans Online FAQ.

19. Can I use NEWCAT from home?

Yes. Anyone with internet access can search NEWCAT from home.