Lawrence V.
Johnson Library
Resources for Distance Learners
GIL Library Catalog
Access GIL Library Catalog on the Internet at http://gil.spsu.edu.
Use GIL to locate books and other materials owned by the Johnson Library. Each record in GIL represents one item owned by the library. Items may consist of books, periodicals, art works, databases, electronic media, or audiovisual materials.
- Records for periodicals represent the periodical as a whole, not individual articles from the periodical.
- Databases are accessed online, via the Internet. Most of the online databases to which the library subscribes are accessible only from computers on the SPSU campus.
- Electronic media consists of diskettes and CD-ROMs, many of which come with books and are entered on the same record as the books they accompany.
- Audiovisual materials include CD-ROMs, videocassettes, and laser discs. Most A-V materials in the Johnson Library deal with fine art or Asian culture and are not available for loan outside the library.
Searching GIL
From the search menu on GIL's opening screen, click a search option:
Basic Search: Allows subject searching by keywords anywhere in the catalog records, by authors and titles of books, and subject searching by subject headings.
- Keyword Search: There are several types of keyword search. "Keyword Anywhere" searches for the terms you enter in the whole catalog record; "Keyword (Title/Subject)" searches only in titles and subject headings. Relevance ranking is available with all keyword searches to sort the results according to a relevance algorithm. To search by keywords, enter words or phrases in the search window.
- Use quotes to search for phrases: "world wide web."
- Use + to mark essential terms: +explorer.
- Use * to mark important terms: *internet.
- Use ? to truncate: browser?.
- Use ! to exclude terms: !microcomputer.
- Title Search: Enter the first few words of the title.
- Omit "the," "a," "an" and similar words in foreign languages when they appear as the first word of the title. You must include them when they are after the first word.
- Author Search: Enter the author's name, last name first.
- You may enter the author's full first name or first initial (truncation is automatic). If you get no results using an author's full first name, try again with only the initial.
- Subject Search: Enter the Library of Congress subject heading.
- If you don't know the subject headings to use, try a keyword search first, then examine the subject headings assigned to relevant records retrieved.
- Clicking a subject heading link in a record performs a subject heading search.
More Search Options: Allows searching for words or phrases in specific parts of the record and allows you to combine terms with Boolean operators.
- Link similar concepts with OR to make a broader search. Combining terms with OR retrieves all records which have one term OR the other. For example, HOUSES OR HOMES.
- Link different concepts with AND for a narrower search which retrieves fewer records. Combining terms with AND retrieves all records which include all of the terms specified. For example, ENGINEERING AND COMPUTERS.
- Exclude terms from your search by using NOT, which retrieves records containing one term but NOT the other. For example, COMPUTERS NOT MICROCOMPUTERS.
Your Account Information
Allows you to see what books you have checked out, what fines you owe, or to request library materials and check the status of your requests. You may also renew books online and obtain passwords for accessing GALILEO and EBSCO Online. Access GIL and enter your library barcode or social secutiry number and your last name and click the "login" button. If you do not have a barcode, ask at the Circulation Desk next time you are on campus or send e-mail to one of the library contacts.
- To renew books, check the box beside the ones you wish to renew and click "Renew." Wait to be sure that your renewal request is confirmed; if another user or the library staff has requested the book, you must return it immediately.
- To obtain passwords for GALILEO and EBSCO Online or to request materials, click the "Request" button at the top of the page.
This page is updated by Steven Vincent.
Last update:May 25, 2005
Southern Polytechnic State University, 1100 S. Marietta Parkway, Marietta, GA 30060-2896
