The Library Catalogue and a number of printed indexes are used to locate materials held in print while a range of online databases are used to identify titles in e-format. Often a combination of these tools need to be used to find all the relevant materials. To begin:
Author: Official bodies distributing their publication are usually identified as the author so this field is searched for the organisation relevant to your research
Title: If you know which publication you are looking for, search this field with the exact title. If you don't have the exact title, use the Keyword field
Publisher: Official bodies often publish their own work although commercial publishers are also used. If you know the publisher related to your research topic, use this field
Subject: This field can be used to find materials about or authored by an official body
Classification: The Library uses an in house classification system for official publications. Titles are classified by author. If you know the classification of the official body, using this field will present a list of its publications
Keyword: Use this field when you are unsure of the publication details or wish to use a combination of the above fields
Journal: Where the official body's output is produced in the form of a series of papers, use this field to search for the series title
The broad classifications for the print collection are:
JZ Great Britain
JZN Northern Ireland
JZP Republic of Ireland
JZR Council of Europe
JZT OECD
JZU United Nations and agencies
JZW Canada
JY European Union
A range of print indexes and catalogues are available at the Enquiry Desk on Floor 2 of the McClay Library. These help identfiy all papers produced by an official body and some are listed by subject.
Indexes are of particular relevance to searching the historic parliamentary papers. Often a combination of print and online indexes work best.