Searching the SEAL Virtual Union Catalog

Are you looking for materials not owned by your own library or members of your shared library circulation system? You can search the virtual union catalog (VUC) in SEAL – Southeastern Access to Libraries <http://seal.senylrc.org> for books, magazines and other materials located in many libraries in the southeastern region. The SEAL VUC gateway gives access from one search screen to more than forty catalogs including union catalogs for the public libraries of Mid-Hudson and Ramapo Catskill Library Systems, school libraries in Dutchess, Orange, Rockland, Sullivan and Ulster counties as well as individual library catalogs for SENYLRC academic, hospital and special member libraries.

Last fall, a new feature was added to the SEAL VUC that makes searching easier. Library catalogs in the VUC are now profiled into groups of similar type catalogs. A searcher can select a library catalog group such as academic, hospital, public, school or special libraries.

Profiles of library catalogs

The entire list of more than forty catalogs is also available, however this search can be more time consuming. The profile labeled “Participating in ILL System” is a grouping for use by libraries participating in the SEAL ILL System to help them identify other participating libraries. Library staff participating in the electronic interlibrary loan system can create their own profile.

Once a profile of catalogs is selected, the user may display the list of library catalogs or collections included in the profile by clicking on the Collections link. The Select All and Deselect All buttons allow the user to further choose the library catalogs to search.

Library catalog collections in a profile

Searching the VUC allows a user to place a “Simple” search which is a title phrase search. The Advanced search screen allows a searcher to combine fields such as author and title or search by an ISBN/ISSN.

More than two hundred libraries in the southeastern region are now participating in the SEAL ILL System. If your library would like to join, or if you have questions about searching the VUC, please contact Judy Fischetti at (845) 883-9065 or by email <Contact Judy>.

By Judy Fischetti, Member Services Librarian

Southeastern News Online is published bi-monthly by SENYLRC staff.