You can find everything you need on MetSearch, but let’s start by looking for books. If you have a reading list to hand, this is where you start.
Go to MetSearch via the link above and SIGN-IN. This is the most important thing to remember whenever you use MetSearch, so that you always get full access to all our electronic resources.
If your search generates lots of results you can use the “Tweak my results” tool in MetSearch to filter your results. On the right of the screen, you can see the options available to you:
You can filter your results to show books from either campus using the Library option or select to limit the date range. Any filters you add to your search are then displayed above the "Tweak my results" column. If you wish to use the same filters for multiple searches, then you can lock your filter selection by clicking on Remember all filters. Don’t forget to Reset filters when you’re done.
Using the "Tweak my results" tool will reduce the number of results, making it easier to find resources.
PLEASE NOTE: “Expand My Results” will include search results from an index of resources that Cardiff Met potentially doesn’t have access to. Consequently, this feature of MetSearch is primarily for use when deepening your research into an area for your undergraduate dissertation, Masters or PhD, for example. All other undergraduate study will be catered for without the need to use this feature.
STAR TIP – Edition number or publication date- Keep an eye out for these when you are searching on MetSearch to ensure you get the right edition of a book.
The edition or publication date will be clear when you select one of your results:
Take a note of the SHELFMARK. This will allow you to find the print book in the library:
Shelfmark numbers relate to the subject of the book and the numbers run from 000 up to 999. The longer the number, the more specific the subject area of the book. For example, the book in the search above covers developmental psychology – a broad subject area – so has the number 155. However, a book investigating the psychology of children’s drawing is 155.413 as it is a more specific area of study.
The letters at the end of the number are the first 3 letters of the author or editor’s name e.g. 155 BUR. There can be a lot of titles at the same number making it tricky to locate the one you need. By including the three letters after the numbers, you can be sure to find the correct book.
If you are on campus use the shelfmark of the book you are looking for to locate it on the shelf, or ask one of the library staff to help find what you need.
STAR TIP – Browsing - Books on the shelf with the same number cover the same subject, so you can browse along the shelf when you are on campus. MetSearch also allows you to do this online. When you’ve selected a book from the search results, whether it is a physical book in the library or online, scroll down to the bottom of the page where you will find the “Browse” section. The books are ordered by shelfmark and there you can scroll across the thumbnails of the book covers as if browsing on the shelf. So, you can browse on campus or at home!
When you want to request a book, for example if the book you want is currently on loan or located at another campus, you can request it by scrolling down to 'Get it' and clicking on "Reserve @ Cardiff Met". This allows you to reserve the book you want.
Once you’ve clicked "Reserve @ Cardiff Met" you will be able to select which campus you want to collect your book from, regardless of whichever campus you are based at; for example, if you live on the Cyncoed campus but the book is at Llandaff, we will send it up to the Cyncoed library for you to collect if you request that.
You can also choose to have the book sent to your home address free of charge*, and this will come with a freepost address so you can post it back to us for free also. This service is available if you really can’t get onto campus to collect your book, for example if you are ill.
*PLEASE NOTE: The Postal delivery service is not available to Franchise students, Franchise staff and External Borrowers.
Before you leave the library don't forget to borrow the book using one of the self-service machines. You will need your MetCard to do this.
In addition to the numerous print books, we have even more ebooks!
Don't forget to SIGN IN to MetSearch so you don't miss out on the thousands of electronic resources we have available for you to use.
When you are searching for an ebook, use "Tweak your results" to filter to ebooks using "Availability = Online Access" and "Resource Type" filters.
PLEASE NOTE: “Expand My Results” will include search results from an index of resources that Cardiff Met potentially doesn’t have access to. Consequently, this feature of MetSearch is primarily for use when deepening your research into an area for your undergraduate dissertation, Masters or PhD, for example. All other undergraduate study will be catered for without the need to use this feature.
Clicking on the result you want takes you to a page where you can link to the full online access for that eBook:
For more information on how to download and save eBooks for offline access see our guide.
