New York State Library

Quick Guide to Searching Excelsior, 

New York State Library Catalog

Introduction

Navigating the Screens

Searching the Catalog

Search Tips and Shortcuts

Advanced Search Techniques

View/Print/Save/Email

Historic Documents Inventory (HDI)


Introduction

Excelsior is a SIRSI Unicorn system, designed to be the starting place for access to material in the New York State Library and the New York State Archives. Library collections include major holdings in law, medicine, the social sciences, education, American and New York State history and culture, certain pure sciences, and technology. Information resources include books, journals, computer files, manuscripts, government documents, newspapers, microforms, and research aids such as abstracting, indexing and looseleaf services.

Excelsior also contains information about more than 55,000 cubic feet of State government and archival records, including paper files, photographs, audio and video materials, and electronic records, available at the New York State Archives.

The Historical Documents Inventory (HDI) is also a part of Excelsior. These records are the electronic equivalent of the print county guides in the State Library's reference collection entitled "Guide to historical resources in _xxx_ County" published by Cornell University. For retrieval information see the HDI section of this guide.

Records may be searched separately for the following:

Please be aware that not all records are online. The following is a list of the types of materials that will not be found in this catalog:

Volume records do not appear for unbound volumes of journals. Try requesting year/volumes not shown. You may see NONE for copies or call number in a record. Most likely, the item is in our collection and it can be requested. Ask a librarian for help locating any of these items, or any other material not located in the catalog.

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Navigating the Screens

At the top and bottom of the screen are command choices called BUTTONS. To select a button, click with the mouse. Be sure to use the GO BACK, BACK, or FORWARD buttons to move from screen to screen, rather than using the browser's buttons. Here is a list of the buttons you will encounter:

BACKWARD   Moves backward through a list of search results or through the screens of a multi-screen record.

EXIT    Returns to the New York State Library/State Archives Online Catalog opening screen.

FORWARD   Moves forward through a list of search results or through the screens of a multi-screen record.

GO BACK    Moves back one step in a search. Use it, when available, to avoid error messages.

HELP  Provides information about the screen being viewed and the options available on that screen.

JUMP    Use to move forward or backward to a particular record number.

NEW SEARCH    Returns to the beginning screen for the operation being performed. From a search results screen, 
                it returns to the screen where the search terms were typed.

PRINT CAPTURE   Use this option to print marked results, or download.

REQUEST   When this button appears, use it to request materials electronically.

TOP   Returns to the top of the current screen.

VIEW    Select to view from a list of records. This button is located to the left of the record.


In addition, you will also see these buttons at the top and bottom of every page:

      CATALOG        Brings you back to the Search screen.

      INFO. DESK      Gives information on library hours, travel directions, and library, manuscripts, and
                          state archives information.
     
     YOUR RECORDS    Tells you if you have any books checked out, fines, holds, or messages from the State Library.

     EBOOKS    Use to access the eBooks collection. For more information, click here.


Searching the Catalog

Return to Table of Contents

Search Tips and Shortcuts

Return to Table of Contents

Advanced Search Techniques

Return to Table of Contents

View/Print/Save/Email

Historical Documents Inventory

The Historical Documents Inventory (HDI) was a project undertaken by Cornell University in 1976, and completed in 1993. Therefore in some cases the information may be 20 years old.

These records are the electronic equivalent of the print county guides in the reference collection entitled "Guide to historical resources in _xxx_ County" published by Cornell University. The print county guides are still available for purchase from the State Archives . The guides include either repository descriptions or summaries of the holdings of particular repositories.

Some HDI items are in the New York State Library, but an HDI location code cannot be used for retrieval. Records or items in the New York State Library's collection will have a State Library call number, not an HDI location code. To eliminate the HDI records, select the New York State Library. However, this will exclude the State Archives and Manuscripts and Special Collections records which may be pertinent to your search.

Selecting a library from:

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If you do not find a specific item,
we welcome inquiries.
On-site visitors should ask a librarian for help.
Web visitors can leave a question .


The State Education Department / The University of the State of New York
New York State Library
Cultural Education Center
Empire State Plaza
Albany, New York 12230


Go to the New York State Library Home Page .
Go to NYS Library On-Line Services .


Last modified on March 6, 2003/rh

Last reviewed on March 5, 2003/rh

Comments to nyslweb@mail.nysed.gov
URL: http://www.nysl.nysed.gov/faq/wcguide.htm