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Searching

Type the keyword you want to find. For example:

  • design
  • bleachers grisham
Search Tips
Wildcards Words may be right-hand truncated using an asterisk ('*') in place of other characters. The '*' wildcard may also be embedded in a search string. You may use '?' to replace a single character anywhere within a word.
Example : environment*
Example :polic*
Example :wom?n
Common Words Common words, such as of or as are indexed and are searchable.
Example : Book of job
Example : History as evidence
Boolean Operators and - all terms must be found; narrows a search
Example : television and violence
or - any of the terms may be found; broadens a search
Example : "mass media" or television
and not - excludes the term(s)
Example : mexico and not "new mexico"
Nesting Surround terms with parentheses that are joined by or if you also have an and in the search. Nesting removes the relevancy ranking.
Example : ("mass media" or television) and violence
Proximity Operators The Boolean Operators are generally more useful in searching a library catalog, but there are operators you can use if you want to search for the words close to one another.
near specified words or phrases are within 10 words of each other
Example : women near islam
within # specify the maximum number of words that may appear between the words of phrases
Example : decision within 3 theory
To retrieve records with the words or phrases in a particular order use after or before.
Example : edgar after poe
Example : president before biography
Searching Operators as Words If you want to search an operator as a word, enclose it in quotation marks. If you want to search an operator as part of a phrase, enclose the phrase in quotation marks.
Example : "after school" programs
Example : "near east"
Example : "of mice and men" and criticism

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Advanced Keyword Search Tips

Multiple Words

When searching multiple words the system will automatically supply the Boolean "and" operator between each word; multiple words entered for the search will all occur somewhere in the retrieved records though not necessarily in the order entered. Both examples will retrieve the same results.

Examples

Using multiple words:
university science department
university and science and department

Phrase Searches

Search for complete phrases by enclosing them in quotation marks. Words enclosed in double quotes will appear together in all results exactly as typed.

Examples

A phrase Search:
"university of south carolina press"

Wildcards

*   Matches any number of non-space characters, starting at the specified position in the word. For example, "comput*" will match all words that begin with "comput" (e.g., "computer", "computation", etc.).
The '*' wildcard may also be embedded in a search string.

?   You may use a question mark ('?') to replace a single character anywhere within a word.

Examples

* Wildcard:
environment* polic*
comp*

? Wildcard:
wom?n

Boolean Operators

Use AND or OR to specify multiple words in any field, any order. Use AND NOT to exclude words. Select the operator you wish to use from the selection list on the Advanced Search form.

Examples

Using Boolean operators:
television and violence
"mass media" or television
mexico and not "new mexico"

Field Limits

Field limits may be specified by selecting a field limit from the selection list. These limits appear before the word or phrase to be searched. A field limit causes the system to search only the specified field for the specified word(s).

Field Limits and their meanings:

  • Author: Search only author fields
  • Title: Search only title fields
  • Subject: Search only subject fields
  • Note: Search only note fields

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Saving your searches

If you have a favorite author or subject for which you often search when using the catalog, you can save the search with the click of a button. This will prevent you from having to key in the search each time and let you place reserves on new materials quicker.

How to:

  1. Log in to your My Account.
  2. Click on the "New Search" button.
  3. Search for your favorite author, subject, title, etc. or create an advanced keyword search including limits to material type, language, publication year, etc..
  4. When your results are displayed, click the button marked "Save as preferred search".
  5. The next time that you log in to your My Account, you can click the "Preferred Searches" button to see a list of your saved searches.
  6. Click on the search link associated with any of the preferred search terms in the list to quickly execute your search.
  7. You can be alerted of new materials added to the library collection which match your searches. Just check the "Mark for Email" box and be sure that your patron record information includes your current email address.

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Renewals

Library cardholders may renew their own materials online. All material may be renewed except for materials with reserves and materials on which you owe fines.

How to:

  1. Log in to your My Account.
  2. If not the default view click the "Items currently checked out" link to view the materials you have checked out.
  3. Select the materials you want to renew by checking the boxes in the RENEW column and then click the Renew Selected button. If you want to renew everything, click the Renew ALL button.
  4. If you cannot renew items, a message will appear on the screen. If you are successful, a new due date will appear in the "STATUS" column. Always check the STATUS column for information on the success or failure of your renewal.

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PASCAL Delivers

What is PASCAL Delivers?

PASCAL Delivers is a rapid book delivery service for students, faculty, and staff at South Carolina colleges and universities. With PASCAL Delivers you can search library holdings of colleges and universities across the state of South Carolina.

PASCAL Delivers currently includes the holdings all the University of South Carolina libraries, Clemson University, Winthrop University, College of Charleston, Coastal Carolina University, and many more. Libraries are still being added to PASCAL Delivers. When complete, PASCAL Delivers will include the library holdings of all colleges and universities in the state.

How do I access PASCAL Delivers?

  1. Click on this button when you see it in the library catalog.  

    If you are looking at search results, your search will be repeated in the PASCAL Delivers catalog.

    If you are looking at a single item, you will be able to see which PASCAL Delivers libraries own that item.


    2. OR

  2. Search the PASCAL Delivers catalog directly at http://pascalcat.org.

When you request an item, you will be asked to identify your home institution from the drop down list and enter your last name and USC ID. You will be notified by email when your item arrives. Please note that the email will be sent to your official USC email address and that "Circulation Notices" will appear in the subject.

PASCAL FAQ

  • Loan period is up to 6 weeks with NO RENEWALS.
  • Delivery time is within 1 week.
  • PASCAL Delivers fines may be higher than those of your home library. If you have a question about PASCAL Delivers fines, contact your home library.

If a book is not available via PASCAL Delivers you may request the book via your campus' Interlibrary Loan service.

Questions about PASCAL Delivers?

Contact your library at:

USC Aiken
803-641-3504
Brigits@usca.edu


USC Beaufort North
843-521-4122
meflower@uscb.edu or MFMendoz@uscb.edu


USC Beaufort South
843-208-8022
hubble@uscb.edu


USC Columbia
803-777-3145
ecirc@mailbox.sc.edu


USC Lancaster
803-313-7060
LBHarris@mailbox.sc.edu


USC Salkehatchie East
843-549-6314 ext. 327
EMERWIN@mailbox.sc.edu


USC Salkehatchie West
803-584-3446 x152
johns943@mailbox.sc.edu


USC Sumter
803-938-3736
penderc@uscsumter.edu


USC Union & Union at Laurens
864-429-8728
usculib@mailbox.sc.edu


USC Upstate
843-503-5611
libcirc@uscupstate.edu

For more information, see the PASCAL Delivers homepage at http://pascalcat.org.

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