Primo is the UCT Libraries' search tool that allows users to search the entire library collection, including physical and electronic resources, with a single search. It provides access to UCT's catalog, databases, ebooks, articles, and other materials. Users can sign in to Primo to save searches and items to their personal folders. Searches can be conducted by title, author, keyword, or subject, and results will show if items are available online or in the physical collection. Links are provided to access full text for electronic resources directly from the search results.

1. Primo
• PRIMO BASICS
• SEARCHING AND
ACCESSING
INFORMATION
SOURCES

2. Primo: basics
Primo
◦ One stop shop searching tool
◦ UCT Libraries collection
◦ physical collection (Library Catalogue)
◦ electronic resources: articles, e-books, e-newspapers,
thesis (OpenUCT), …  all databases
◦ Other Primo user institutions / libraries

3. Primo: basics …
Primo …
◦ Signing in to Primo provide
◦ Access to electronic resources
◦ Personal favourite folder for building
◦ Personal library for items of interest
◦ List of search statements and search histories
◦ My Library Card which allows you to manage your loan and
request activities

4. Primo: basics …
Access Primo from
UCT Libraries
page:
www.lib.uct.ac.za

5. Primo: basics …
Searching
panel
Information
panel

6. Primo: basics …
Filtering
options

7. Primo: basics …
Expand each
field for more
options

8. Primo: basics …
ExcludeInclude

9. Primo: basics …
Primo resource pool
UCT
>2,250 institutions
worldwide contribute
to Primo resource pool

10. Primo: basics …

11. Primo: Conducting search and accessing
Specific / known search: when part
of an item is known
Keyword / key phrase / topic search

12. Primo: Conducting search and accessing …
Browses: indexed list of UCT catalogue (Books and journal
titles)
Title: Ignore ‘a’, ‘an’ or ‘the’ if positioned at start of title
Author: surname, given name

13. Primo: Conducting search and accessing …
Practical exercise:
Find the following item and identify the type of resource
Title – The globalization and environment reader
Author – Peter Newell and J. Timmons Roberts

14. Primo:
Conducting
search and
accessing …
Primo: Simple search
For topic / keyword
search
You can specify where to search.
Search everything searches all.
Physical
collection

15. Primo:
Conducting
search …
Primo: Advanced
Search
For topic / keyword
search
More options to specify your search

16. Primo:
Conducting
search and
accessing …
Resource type
information:
• Journals
• Articles
• Book

17. Primo:
Conducting
search and
accessing …
Resource format
information:
• Electronic
resource =
‘Available Online’
• Physical items =
physical location

18. Links to direct access
to e-resources
Primo:
Conducting
search and
accessing …
Accessing electronic
resources
• have full text links
from access
providers

19. Shelf number
Primo:
Conducting
search and
accessing …
Physical items
location
• Branch library
• Shelf location
• Shelf number /
spine label = like
street number

20. Primo:
Conducting
search and
accessing …
Requesting for items
• not on the shelf or
• in branch library
Select Request link
and pick-up location
and submit. You will
be notified to collect

21. Primo:
Conducting
search and
accessing …
Electronic resources
can be identified the
‘Available Online’
designation

22. Links to directly
accessing the
content
Link to journal
profile page
Primo:
Conducting
search and
accessing …
Electronic resources
• Full text can be
obtained through
direct links

23. Article access
from more
than one
database links
Primo:
Conducting
search and
accessing …
Electronic resources

24. Multiple Versions
Primo:
Conducting
search and
accessing …
Multiple Versions
• Reflect editions of
an item

25. Thank You
For more information
Library guides: BIO1004F - Biological
Diversity or Biological Sciences
Library guide
For consultation & specific query: email
me at awot.gebregziabher@uct.ac.za
or use Ask a Librarian facility