EDS Call Number Searching - Let's Learn EDS!
Channel: Amedeo DeCara
Date: 2022-02-03

This video will help you learn how to perform call number searches in EDS. Transcript available below the time stamps!

00:00 Introduction
01:00 How to Do a Call Number Search
01:57 Support

Let’s Learn EDS!: Call Number Searching

Call number searching is one of the best-hidden secrets of EDS (Ebsco Discovery Service). 

While EDS is less tailored to this type of searching than the Aleph OPAC, it can still be very helpful for...

Locating a title in the collection.  

Finding additional editions & copies of a book or entries in a series

Comparing record formatting across the consortium.

And finding rare books or lists of library materials by subject.

“Cool. So how do I do it? I don’t see any search options that make this possible!”

You’re right! There isn’t a handy visual element to click that you’re just missing.

Here’s how it works…

Start by typing NU into the search box, then a space, then the call number you’re looking for.

(Note that you’ll need to use truncation, aka “wildcard searching,” aka “the trick with the asterisk” if you aren’t typing in the full number!)

Next, you’ll want to limit your search to the Five College Library Catalog.

Finally, if you only want results from your institution, you’ll want to limit your location.

(You may need to select more than one location to get everything from your institution!)

And voila! This isn’t something anyone is likely to stumble upon by accident, but it’s fast and easy!

If you have any questions, please feel free to reach out to one of our volunteer troubleshooters…

Kelly Dagan - Amherst
kdagan@amherst.edu

Jen Bolmarcich - Hampshire
jbolmarcich@hampshire.edu

Amedeo DeCara - Mount Holyoke
adecara@mtholyoke.edu

Sika Berger - Smith
sberger@smith.edu

Jaime Taylor - UMass
jaimetaylor@umass.edu

Many thanks to the Five College Library Committees that contributed time and ideas to this project:

   -User Experience
   -Innovative Learning
   -Discovery
   -And our volunteers

Last updated February 3, 2022.