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TSL 3251 - Applied Linguistics for ESL (Del Prado)

Using Primo

Primo is the name of the UCF libraries' online catalog. The key access point is located in the center of the UCF Libraries’ homepage. Primo provides access to books, e-books, videos, journals, documents, and other resources owned by the UCF Libraries. For an overview of how to start searching Primo, let's watch this short video:

 

Introduction: People often ask if you can search our subject databases in Primo. The answer is yes, but not all. For more comprehensive database searches, it’s recommended that you access those databases individually and use Primo primarily as a catalog search for books, media, course reserves, and other material owned by the UCF Libraries.

Basic Searching (0:27): Covers the most basic aspects of Primo searching such as using the main search bar and limiting your results by format and type of material you want such as books, articles, and videos.

Search Filters (0:56): Once you run a simple search, you’ll be taken to a results page where you have more search options and filters to help you refine your results by criteria such as date, language, and subject. You can use these filters to both include and exclude criteria to meet your needs. One important tool is the Subject Filter, which will break your search into more refined subcategories.

My Account (1:45): You can use the My Account feature to save books or articles you want to come back to, manage material you have checked out, and request items we don’t have.

Primo Search Tools (2:07): This part of the video covers some useful tools to help you manage your research. These appear in the tool bar next to each record that shows what you can do with that item. Options include pinning it to save it for later as well as a list of other sources that cite that book or article, sources cited within that item, a citation template, a permalink, email options, and more.

Everything vs. UCF Library Catalog: One important point not covered in the videos is that, when you run a Primo search, the default setting is "Everything" rather than the UCF Library Catalog. This means your search will display items that UCF does not own but you can request through Resource Sharing & Document Delivery. This is a good service that we highly recommend, but it's also a source of confusion when users don't realize we won't have everything in their results unless they select the UCF Library Catalog at the top of the page.

Using the everything option is a fast and easy way to expand your search beyond what is owned by UCF, which will make your literature review more comprehensive. Any item not owned by UCF can be requested in this way.

The Automatic Retrieval Center (ARC)

As we discussed in class, many books and other materials owned by the library are located in the Automatic Retrieval Center, otherwise known as the ARC. The ARC is the building directly behind the library. This collection is not browsable, so you will need to use the "Request Item" feature in Primo to request books form the ARC. You can identify those books by looking for the word ARC in the call number:

Screenshot from Primo showing where the ARC is located.

Note that the third book in this list does not state ARC in the call number. This means that book is located in the general collection on the first floor of the library. Use the call number to guide to you to the section of the general collection where that book is located. Remember that each book has an individual call number located in the spine of the book so you can spot it when browsing the shelves.

Also note that the first floor of the library is the only floor that has the remaining collection that's not in the ARC with a few exceptions:

  • The Art collection is on the second floor.
  • Some new arrivals are on the second floor by the access services desk.
  • The remaining reference collection is on the third floor.
  • New print magazines and journals are in the third floor by the reference collection.
  • The Knight's Read collection, which is more popular/current titles, is on the third floor behind the reference collection.
  • Our graphic literature collection is in the cafe on the second floor.