The search portal unikat is a beta version, which means it's still in development. You can influence these works by giving us feedback.
At the moment unikat links to the library catalogue for the full record including ordering/reserving/my account. In the final version all these functions will be integrated in unikat.
Furthermore there are still a few inconvenience and shortcomings. We are working on improving the search engine and solving the problems so that unikat can replace the library catalogue at a later time.
Unfortunately with the present beta version you have to accept a workaround when you log in. Please, proceed as follows:
This workaround is necessary only temporarily and not a permanent solution. In the future a single sign on in unikat will be sufficient. We will inform you about the progress.
Click on „details“ in the results list, then on the link on the right "Place a request". In the new window everything is just as you know it, as you are now working in the library catalogue.
If you do not need this window anymore, you can safely close it (you should do so as otherwise too many windows accumulate during your search which can be irritating). Please make sure not to close the first, initial window accidently (see above: sign in) as this must remain open.
Searching in unikat is mostly intuitive, self explanatory and similar to a google search. New and different from the library catalogue are the ways of defining and refining the results. You can do this via the so called „facets“ ("Facetten") in the column on the left.
A restriction before submitting the search is not necessary yet possible by using the advanced search.
Topic/classifications
Please consider the following special feature when using the facets: as many records have been migrated from previous systems, it might happen that the first entry with the most hits in the facets „topic“ or „classifications“ says "Ohne Beschlagwortung" (without indexing) or "Ohne Klassifikation" (without classification). In these cases the restriction of the results via these facets is not useful, as to many, possibly relevant hits will not be displayed.
Search via call number
In case you do not know the author or the title of a book but its call number go to the advanced search. Choose “call number” from the dropdown menu and enter only the ongoing call number without a format e.g. 277452. If you know the number you can also enter a volume after the call number, simply separated by a blank. In case you get a large number of hits, as it is a call number collection with many single volumes, you can sort the results list (e.g. by title).
If bibliographic information is available, the simple search is more useful than the search via call number, as it is only meant for books where no bibliographic information is available.
Please use our feedback form to inform us about your positive or negative experience with unikat.