Searching the library catalogue
No, you don't need to login to search the library catalogue. You will however need to identify yourself if you want to place a reservation or booking, make a request, or tag or review an item.
If you login before searching the Library Catalogue, the system will remember your details for the duration of your session and you will not need to enter your details again to use these services.
This function allows you to find records quickly. Enter a word or number of words, select the area you would like to search in, and click the OK button. If your search is successful, a page of records will be displayed showing brief details. Click on a title link to display full details including location and status details.
This function allows you to search for words in a specific title or series title. It also allows you to browse through titles that begin with certain words. Enter the words you would like to find, select the type of search then click the OK button. Select from the following types of searches:
- Keywords to find the words anywhere in the title
- Browse to find titles starting with the text you have entered
- Phrase to find titles with the words you have entered in a sequence
- Exact Match to find titles matching only the words you have entered
If your search is successful, a page of titles will be displayed. Click on a title to display the brief details of any items with this title.
This function allows you to search for words in an author's name. You can select to search all authors, only individuals, or only organisations. Enter the words you would like to find, select the type of search, and click the OK button. Select from the following types of searches:
- Keywords to find the words anywhere in the author's name
- Browse to find author names starting with the text you have entered. You can enter as much or as little of the name as you know. All names starting with the text you enter will be displayed.
If your search is successful, a page of names will be displayed. Click on a name to display the brief details of any items associated with this name.
This function allows you to search for words in a subject heading. It also allows you to browse through subjects that begin with specific text. Enter the words you would like to find, select the type of search, and click the OK button. Select from the following types of searches:
- Keywords to find the words anywhere in the subject heading
- Browse to find subjects starting with the text you have entered
- Phrase to find subjects with the words you have entered in a sequence
- Exact Match to find subjects matching only the words you have entered
If your search is successful, a page of subject headings will be displayed. Click on a subject heading to display the brief details of any items about this subject.
Allows you to perform more complicated searches. Type your search in the boxes on the search screen. You can enter several words in each box, and enter words in any number of boxes. Records will be found if all of the search terms you enter are in the same record.
You can do a very specific search if you know exactly what you are looking for, or you can do a broader search and then narrow down the list of records later using the Refine Set option. Enter words you would like to find in the search boxes, selecting options from the list boxes to search within specific guidelines. When you have entered your search terms or selected options from the list boxes, click the OK button at the bottom of the screen.
If your search is successful, a page of items will be displayed showing brief details for each item. Click on a title link to display the full details for the item.
In order to place a reservation, you will first need to log into your account. Then, you will need to perform a search using the Library Catalogue. As you browse through the records retrieved by your search, you can place a reservation for individual titles or for a set of titles.
To place a reservation, click on the title of the item you would like to reserve. The full details of the item will be displayed, along with the option to Place reservation. Click this link to confirm the details of your reservation, including the Pickup location and whether you would like the reservation to activate or expire at a specific date. Click continue to complete your reservation.
If you can't find the item you are looking for in our collection, we may be able to obtain it for you.
If you think the item you are looking for would be useful to have in the library, you can make a purchase request
An item for purchase must be:
• A book that is of interest to our East Sussex Library customers
• Produced by reputable publisher
• Published in the UK
• Under £25
• We do not purchase course books, textbooks, academic literature, school reading schemes
Suggest an item for purchase
We also have an Interlibrary loan (ILL) service.
ILLs are requested from other library authorities, universities or the British Library
• For research purposes
• Books that are out of print
• Academic works
• Have a non-refundable deposit of £2
• A further charge of £5 if it is a standard interlibrary loan
• A further charge of £13 if it is a British library or University loan.
• For more information visit the library charges page
Request an item on interlibrary loan
After performing a search in the Library Catalogue, you will notice that some records are displayed with a number of stars. This indicates that one or more reviews have been attached to the record displayed. The number of stars displayed is an average of the ratings given to this record by the reviewers.
Do the following to add your review to a record:
- Retrieve the record you want to add your review to and display in full display.
- Click on the link to Add a review. This will display a form for you to complete.
- Enter your borrower ID (the number on your library card) and password if you are not already logged in.
- Select the rating you would like to assign.
- Enter your comments. You can enter as much text as you like. Press Enter to start a new paragraph.
- Select the Continue button to submit your review. Your comments will be reviewed by library staff before being made available for general access to others.
You can also amend and delete existing reviews by accessing these records in My account. To access this section, login and click on your name where it is displayed in the top right-hand side of the screen. Please refer to the section on ratings and comments in the Account FAQs for more details on amending your reviews.