Talking Books for the Blind and Physically Handicapped

Search Instructions

You may only search one field at a time.
For example, do an author search, not an author and title search combined.

Author Search

• Type the author's last name, a comma, a space, and then the author's first name. For example: King, Stephen
  
• Press "Enter" or click the "Submit Query" button to initiate a search.
• Entering a last name only and searching will display a list of items by all authors with the same last name as well as authors whose last name begins with the last name entered. For example: Searching the last name "King" will also retrieve the name "Kingsley."

Title Search

• Omit the articles "a", "and", or "the" that might appear at the beginning of a title. For Example: The title "The Solitaire Mystery" would be entered as "Solitaire Mystery".
• Type the title and press "Enter" or click the "Submit Query" button.
• To do a keyword search for any word in any position in a title, simply type the word and press "Enter" or click the "Submit Query" button. For example: Searching for the word "wind" will retrieve "Gone with the Wind" and any other title with the word "wind" in it.

Annotation Search

• Enter keyword or phrase that may exactly match words in the annotation.

Narrator Search

• The Narrator Search is identical to the Author Search.
• Type the narrator's last name, a comma, a space, and then the narrator's first name. For example: Metz, Milton
• Press "Enter" or click the "Submit Query" button to initiate a search.
• Entering a last name only and searching will display a list of items by all narrators with the same last name as well as other narrators whose last name begins with the last name entered.
• For example: Searching the last name "Metz" will also retrieve the name "Metzler."

Title ID Search

• Each item in the catalog has a unique number assigned to it by the National Library Service. These numbers are listed in National Library Service publications. Searching with this number will retrieve the title linked to it. Simply enter the number and press "Enter" or click the "Submit Query" button.

Media ID

• There are three Media ID's.
  • DVS = Descriptive Videos
  • RC = Cassette sound recordings from the National Library Service
  • XC = Locally created cassette sound recordings

Search Results

• After performing a search, the results will display below the "Search Screen" form. Visual users scroll down to read results. Screen Reader users use your "read next screen" commands.
• The entire search result hit list will display in one uninterrupted file.
• To return to the search form, mouse users need only to scroll to the top of the file. Screen reader users may jump to the top of the file with "Control Home" and tab into the search form or use their screen reader command which places the cursor into the first form field. For example: Using JAWS the command "Control Insert + Home" would insert the cursor in the author field.

Requesting An Item

• At the end of each record, and near the top of the TBL Online Catalog Search Screen, is the link "Click here to request an item."  This link takes you to a form that enables you to request an item while you are online.  Otherwise, call the TBL Office at 574-1625 to make your request.

Clearing the Search Form

• Make sure all fields are cleared of extraneous data before initiating a new search.