Search tips

This section explains the basics of searching. For search troubleshooting, visit help.

A) How to perform a Simple search
B) Reviewing search results
C) Save your search
D) How to get a complete copy of a resource
E) Using Booleans and search operators
F) How to perform a Detailed search
G) What do the field descriptions mean?

A) How to perform a Simple search

The 'simple search' page is the home page for the http://www.rolibrary.com internet site. Go to this page (click on the address in the previous sentence) and follow the instructions below.

The simple search has three search options. These can be used alone or in combination.

Option 1: Search by keyword

Searches the database for the keywords you specify; including title, author, publisher, keyword, abstract etc. The simple search looks through all data Fields for your search terms. It is a good starting point if you don’t know the exact title of the resource you are looking for.

Resources are catalogued using standard keywords. If you're not sure of suitable keywords, refer to the Recyled Organics Dictionary & Thesaurus. Open the 'Recycled Organics Dictionary & Thesaurus' by clicking on the menu bar on the left hand side of your screen.

Be sure to follow these basic search rules and protocol:

• Spell keywords correctly
• Use standard keywords from the Recycled Organics Dictionary and Thesaurus
• Do not use commas between keywords, use a single space between keywords.

• The search function is not case sensitive (i.e. does not distinguish between upper and lower case).
• The search function will return results for derived terms. Eg. the keyword ‘compost’ will return words such as composts, composting, compostable etc.
• The search function does not recognise ‘wildcards’, or text substitutes such as * and #.
• The Simple search does responds to the Booleans (AND, OR and NOT).
• The search engine will not search for a group of words in a set order, even if you place them in commas: e.g. “a b c d”.
• Refine your search by entering multiple keywords, each separated by a space. This will return records that contain both keywords. You can further refine your search by using Booleans and search operators (such as AND, OR and NOT).

Option 2: Search by availability of information resource

You can choose to search the entire catalogue, or only those entries for which the entire resource is immediately available on-line.

Option 3: Search by type of information resource

You choose the type of publication: 'Reports & guidelines', 'Product Marketing' (this includes information sheets, posters, presentations, software and videos), 'Papers & thesis' (this includes conference papers), 'Product Specifications'. The default option searches 'All' types of publications.

Search database

When you have entered your search terms and settings, click on the 'Search Database' button and wait for your search results.

B) Reviewing search results

Your search will return a page of 'Summary Results' in response to your search query. This gives the title of the publication and the date of publication only, in alphabetical order.

To view complete details for the publications of interest, follow these steps:

Step 1. Select the records of interest from the Summary Results. Tick the check box on the left hand side of the title. Or click on the “Select All” button at the bottom of the list.

Step 2. Now click the 'Get Results' button at the bottom of the page. This will take you to a Detailed Results page containing all the catalogue information for the publication/s you have selected.

If you cannot find the resource you are looking for, or have retrieved too many or too few results, go to help for advice.

C) Save your search

When you have retrieved your Detailed Results, you can save the results and follow them up later.

Select the 'Save your search' button from the menu bar on the left hand side of the page and select the save location (e.g. the desktop of your computer).

Results are saved in a text file (with the ending “.txt”), with basic formatting. To open the file with this formatting, open your word processing program (e.g. MS word) and open the text file.

D) How to get a complete copy of the resource

The www.rolibrary.com is a database of catalogue summaries which describe the actual resources. It links directly to complete copies of information resources where possible. However, publishers and contributors have the final choice regarding how resources are made available to www.rolibrary.com users.

Option 1: Get the resource on-line immediately

If the publication is available on-line, the 'Source-Online' Field in the Detailed Results provides an internet link. Click on this blue link to access the on-line document. It may be possible to save the document to your desktop (e.g. using your right mouse button).

If the publication is not available on-line, it may still be available from the publisher, in digital form. The 'Rights' Field provides details of conditions of availability (i.e. cost).

Option 2: Contact the Publisher directly to get a copy.

Contact details are given for the Publisher (or holder) of the complete copy. Email, phone or write to the publisher directly to obtain a copy.

E) Using Booleans and search operators

Booleans can be used in between search terms when doing a Simple Search. They will not work for Detailed searches at www.rolibrary.com

Type Booleans between the keyword terms, separated by a space.

• "AND" between keywords narrows a search by searching for records that contain both terms.
• "OR" broadens a search by finding records that contain either of the terms
• "NOT" narrows a search by excluding a term or terms.

e.g. to search for an exact title: ‘Best Practice Manual’ try: ‘best AND practice AND manual’

e.g. to search for resources about pathogen risks from biosolids and other sources, try: ‘pathogen OR biosolids’.

F) How to perform a Detailed search

A Detailed search allows you to select the criteria by which the search is conducted. For example, you can choose to search by author, publisher, title, ISBN, keyword etc.

The Detailed search has four search options that can be used alone or in combination. To undertake a detailed search, follow these steps:

Step 1. Click on the "Detailed Search" button on the left hand side menu bar from any page of http://www.rolibrary.com.

Step 2. Choose the criteria of your search from the drop-down list of Field Descriptions (or search criteria) on the left. If you are not sure which Field to select, visit this table that defines the Field Descriptions that are used in the www.rolibrary.com catalogue.

Note: you must choose a search criteria.

Step 3. For each Field you have chosen, type one or more associated search term/s into the corresponding search term field on the right.

Note: Search terms must come from a specified checklist for the following Fields: Type (format of the resource); Rights (degree of availability to the public); Scale (size of technology described); Waste Stream; Waste Composition.

You can search by a combination of search criteria by repeating Steps 2 and 3 for both items 1. and 2. In this case, results will include records that have both criteria (an “AND” search).

e.g. 1. Select ‘Publisher’: enter “NSW Agriculture” AND 2. Select ‘Keyword’: enter “Biosolids” to retrieve: publications about biosolids by NSW Agriculture.

Step 4. Select whether you'd like to search for on-line publications, or all publications.

Step 5. Select the type of publication you are after (e.g. reports and guidelines). 'Educational resources' includes pamphlets, software and videos; 'Papers & thesis' includes conference papers.

Step 6. Click on the 'Search Database' button to conduct a search of records.

The detailed search returns a page of 'Summary Results' that matches your search query from the database. Follow the steps above to review search results.

G) What do the field descriptions mean?

Each resource catalogued in www.rolibrary.com is described by Field Descriptions. They are also referred to as 'search criteria' here. These Field Descriptions are consistent with Australian Government Locator Service standards for databases.

The following table lists all the Field Descriptions used on this website and gives explanations and examples for each.