Research 101: How to Use InfoLocate

Call Number Browse

Call Number Browse retrieves items by the unique identification numbers that represent the items in the library database. 

Three types of call numbers are found in the library database. KF Modified call numbers (e.g. KF 185 .S4 T87 1993), Library of Congress (LC) call numbers (e.g. RA 412.5 .C36 C367 2003), and local call numbers (e.g. rpts can).

Search Strategies

• Complete or partial call numbers may be entered. If a search for a known number does not produce satisfactory results, try entering only the first part of the call number. Always include at least one numeric character in the search term. Searches with partial call numbers that lack numeric characters may not bring you to a point in the browse list that is close to the subject of interest. Instead of searching under K or KF try KF 589.
• Searches are automatically truncated; do not use the question mark (?) for truncation.

Use this search when the call number is partially known, use Advanced search when the call number is completely known.

Subject Browse

Subject Browse retrieves items by subject using authorized subject headings (a standardized set of consistently used words or phrases) in the subject fields. Any proper name may be used as a subject heading. Search limits are not available with this search.

Search Strategies

• Omit initial articles (a, an, the, la, le, l', les, etc.) in any language.
• Always omit initial punctuation. Omit intervening apostrophes, commas, periods, and most other punctuation. Retain hyphens and internal commas or periods.
• Searches are automatically truncated and retrieve the records beginning with the words, word roots, or phrases entered.

If you know the "authorized" form of the subject heading:

• •  Enter search words or phrases in the Search box, omitting most punctuation:

remedies law ontario

dickson brian

If you do not know the "authorized" form of the subject heading:

• • Enter a word, or the beginning of a word, that describes your topic:

tax will return tax assessment, tax evasion, tax planning, tax shelters,
taxation, taxation law and legislation, etc.

• • Review the search results and identify subjects that are relevant to your topic.
  • Select a heading in order to view a titles list for that subject.

Author Browse

Author Browse retrieves items by the names of authors, editors, translators, or other people associated with a title. An author may be an individual or an organization, institution, government body, or conference. Search limits are not available with this search.

Use this search if you are looking for items by a specific person or group. If you are looking for items about someone or about a government body, company, or organization, use the Subject Browse search option.

• Omit initial articles (a, an, the, la, le, l', les, etc.) in any language.
• Always omit initial punctuation. Omit intervening apostrophes, commas, periods, and most other punctuation. Retain hyphens and internal commas or periods.
• Searches are automatically truncated and retrieve catalogue records beginning with the words, word roots, or phrases entered.

Individual author

• Enter the author's last name followed by the first name or initial:

sopinka john      fridman g

• If you are unsure of the spelling of the last name, enter as much as you know:

Group authors (government bodies, organizations, conferences)

• As with individual authors, search enough of the name to distinguish it:

law society of Ontario

• In most instances, department is abbreviated to dept; search using both forms to ensure that all relevant records are retrieved.
• Search hierarchical names in full descending order:

canada dept of justice research section

• Search both acronyms and full names to retrieve all relevant catalogue records:

crtc and canadian radio-television and telecommunications commission

• Proceedings of conferences, meetings, CPD programs, etc. can be found by searching the full name of the conference (omit the year or number of the conference):

advocacy conference not 3rd annual advocacy conference