How to Access CONSULS

Using any web browser, access Buley Library's home page.

Select CONSULS on the library home page. CONSULS is an acronym for the Connecticut State University Library System and provides the holdings of the four state universities - Central (C), Eastern (E), Southern (S), and Western (W), and the Connecticut State Library (SL).

Searching CONSULS
CONSULS can be searched by author, subject, title, keyword, author/title, journal title, by call number (Library of Congress, Dewey, and Government Document). It can also be searched by publisher number (ISBN and ISSN) .

Select search method and enter search terms in the box provided. The number of entries found and a list of titles will be displayed.

Clicking on Extended Display on the top or bottom of the screen displays location, year of publication, and availibility of the item.

Any search can be limited to language, location, material type, year of publication, and country of publication.

Subject Search uses the Library of Congress Subject Headings. In the result screen the search can be adjusted by clicking on the Limit/Sort button to choose limits.

Keyword Search looks for the word or words in titles, subjects, and notes. Limiters are provided on the search screen. Keyword search results can be sorted by date, relevance or in alphabetical order.

Author Search finds author, editor, composer, etc. The last name should be entered first.

Truncation

An Asterisk (*) retrieves variant forms of a word.
Example: librar* will retrieve library, libraries, librarian, librarians, and librarianship.

Operators

Use And to combine search terms to narrow the search and make it more focused.
Example: humans and cloning.

Use Or to broaden the search and obtain more records.
Example: humans or animals.

Use And Not to exclude terms not required in the search.
Example: humans and not animals.

Use parentheses to nest words and capture as much about the subject as possible.
Example: disease and (humans or animals) will look for articles that relate to diseases in humans or animals.

Displaying Records
When a search is executed, results will appear in a list.

Select the desired link by clicking on a blue title on the result screen.
The location, call number, and status of the item will be displayed

The Library of Congress call number system contains letter or number combinations appropriate for the subject. Books with call numbers A-N are on the main floor. Books with call numbers P-Z are on the second floor.

Marking Records

Click on the box form next to each item on the result list.

(a check mark will appear. To unmark, click the box a second time.)
After marking desired items, click the Save marked records button at the bottom of the screen.

NOTE: Marked records must be saved for each page or they will be lost.

Viewing Marked Records

Click View/Export Marked Records to view all the marked records.

From the following screen, choose the format of the result list. Full display provides the full bibliographic record, or Brief display provides only the titles and imprints.

Emailing Records
Using the options provided in the Send list to: box, select Email . Enter your full email address in the space provided and click submit .

Printing Records
Individual records can be printed using the browser print function.
To print marked records

Select Screen from the options in the Send list to box.
The list of marked records will appear .
Click Submit The records with the selected format will be displayed and will be ready for printing.

Note: All printouts made by students while at Buley are picked up at the printer area on the main floor of Buley Library.

Requesting Items from Another CSU Library.
To request a circulating item from another CSU library, bring up the full item record on the screen.

Select Request Book .
Patrons enter their social security number, and a PIN (personal identification number) in the forms provided on screen.

Select SCSU Circulation Desk from the pickup location menu. Then
Click on Submit above information.

You will be notified when the book arrives.

PIN
A PIN is created by the individual patron and it should be a minimum of 5 characters. A PIN can contain letters, numbers, or a combination of both. Note: It is important to make a note of your PIN. For problems with a PIN, please contact the Circulation staff. 203 392-5756

Searching for Journal Titles

On the CONSULS menu page, select Journal Title .
Enter the name of the desired journal and press Enter .
If no matches are found , the CSU libraries do not have the journal.
If a list of journal titles appears, select the appropriate title from the list.

Use the scroll bar to view the holdings of all the libraries in the system. Scroll down until the holdings for SCSU appear. The volumes we have will be displayed as will the format in which they are available. A search for the journal Social Problems indicates that we have the bound journals from 1977/78 to the present.
We also have the journal on microfilm from 1956-1977. All journals irrespective of format are located on the ground floor.

Searching Encyclopedia Entries
When available, links to entries in Encyclopedia Britannica Online can be selected. After entering a search term, click the encyclopedia button to view entries to Britannica.

For further assistance, please contact a Reference Librarian at 1-203 392-5732

Winnie Shyam
Librarian, Head of Reference

ABOUT BULEY