Primo: The UCF Libraries Catalog
Primo Search is the default tab on the Libraries' homepage that allows researchers to locate books, multimedia (e.g., DVDs, CDs, streaming videos), journal titles, and other materials owned by the UCF Libraries.
Simple Search:
- To locate UCF materials only, change on the drop-down menu labeled "Available Now: Online and On Shelf," to "Library Catalog."
- "Everything in Primo" searches the statewide catalog for all Florida publicly-supported university and college libraries (e.g., University of Florida, Florida International University).
- Primo is not recommended as a tool for locating journal articles, as it encompasses roughly only 50% of the UCF Libraries' journal databases; instead, use a subject-specific database to identify journal articles on a topic.
- Use keywords or any words to search for topics. Try using two or three of the most significant words from the topic for which you are searching. A keyword search will find all occurrences of a word in a library catalog or a database. What follows are some examples of keyword searches:
- music wom#n [finds: music AND woman or women, occurrences of all words]
- child* [finds: child, child's, children, children's]
- music theory [finds: both words, with "and" implied between words]
- "music theory" [finds: phrase; must enclose with quotations]
- city OR cities [finds: either word – must type OR in uppercase]
- city NOT cities [finds: city only – must type NOT in uppercase]
Advanced Search:
- To locate UCF materials only, choose the radio button labeled "UCF Library Catalog."
- Allows specification of Title, Author/Creator, Subject, ISBN, ISSN, and Call Number fields which are not available in Simple Search.
- Limiters or filters also may be used, such as Material Type and/or Language to further refine the search. The Material Type filter is especially useful for locating scores, video/film, sound recordings, and government documents.
- Subject searching requires use of Library of Congress Subject Headings. The following headings suggest the range of topics that may be pursued:
- Ability – Testing
- Achievement tests
- Aptitude – Tests
- Cognition – Testing
- Criterion-referenced tests
- Curriculum-based assessment
- Educational assessment
- Educational surveys
- Educational tests and measurements
- Examinations – Design and construction
- Examinations – Validity
- Intelligence tests
- Mathematical ability – Testing
- Neuropsychological tests
- Nonverbal intelligence tests
- Norm-referenced tests
- Occupational aptitude tests
- Personality tests
- Personality tests for children
- Psychological tests
- Psychometrics
- Reading – Ability testing
- Scaling (Social sciences)
- Test bias
- Variability (Psychometrics)
ARC: Automated Retrieval Center
Over 80% of the UCF Libraries materials (e.g., books, DVDs, Blu-rays) have been transferred into the Automatic Retrieval Center, or ARC for short. The ARC is located behind the Hitt Library and it is not accessible to patrons. All materials in this guide that have been designated "Main Library ARC General Collection" are in the ARC. Therefore, materials located in the ARC need to be requested. Here's an overview of how that process works.
Note in the examples that every title says "Available at UCF ARC Main..." To initiate a request, click on the title look for the "Sign in to see request options" on the record page. For example:
Note that the item is in place and available to be requested by clicking the sign in option where you'll enter your NID and your NID password. Once you do that, you'll be directed to a page to complete your request:
The final step is to select a pickup location from the menu:
Then submit the request. Requests placed during hours of operation are generally filled in 15-20 minutes. You'll receive an email notification once your book is ready and it will be held at the location you selected for one week.
For more information about the ARC, see this guide, which includes a video of the ARC in action.
Other Catalogs of Interest
https://books.google.com
Searchable by keyword for the full text of some books, magazines, and newspapers.
The merged catalogs of libraries around the world, making it the world’s largest and richest database of bibliographic information. You can request items not owned by UCF via inter-library loan.