• The OPAC is the abbreviation of the Online Public Access Catalog, which is the online catalog for the collection of TMU libraries. You can input keywords, titles, authors, etc. to search for books, journals, audiovisual materials, and electronic materials. 
• There are various tabs in the OPAC that correspond to the object of search as the follows. 
  • Bib Search: TMU library collections, journals 
  • Other Univ.: University collections nationwide, journals 
  • Electronic Journal Search: Electronic journals available in TMU 
  • Cross Search: Collections in National Diet Library and Metropolitan Library; Collections available online. You can search for the items or materials by switching the suitable tabs. 

• To ensure a smooth experience using the OPAC, we recommend using the latest version of the following browsers.
• Windows:
  • Microsoft Edge
  • Mozilla Firefox
  • Google Chrome 
• Macintosh:
  • Safari 
• Smartphone browsers:
  • Google Chrome
  • Safari 
• The OPAC does not properly operate in the settings below. If applicable, a change of settings is needed. 
  • If Cookies are disabled
  • If referrer is disabled 

• “NDC” stands for Nippon Decimal Classification. It is adopted by many Japanese libraries including TMU library. This is a method of assigning numbers from 0 to 9 to each subject (theme) according to the content of the materials. These numbers for each subject are called classification codes. 
• "Call numbers" refer to the three-level symbols displayed on the spine labels of materials, with the first level representing the subject classification. Materials are arranged on the shelves in order of call numbers. In the OPAC, it is also possible to search for materials using these classification symbols or call numbers.

• Hese materials are held by laboratories in Minami Osawa campus. In principle, these materials are not available for use. 

• You can access TMU library website and enter the keyword about the desired material such as title, author, and field, and press “search” button in OPAC. Then, the related materials of TMU library will be displayed. 
• If you are having trouble with research or want to consult about it, online reference is available.

• The following reasons can be considered.  

1. The material is on loan. In search of the material in the OPAC, if the borrowing “status” is “on loan”, another user checked out the material. 
2. You are looking in the wrong place. Please check the 'Location' and 'Call Number' in the OPAC. 
3. It is being viewed by another user inside the library. Please wait for a while and then check the shelf again. 
4. Others: When you search in OPAC and the "Status" is "In Transit," it means the material is in the process of being delivered between campuses. When the "Status" is "Reserved Shelf," it means the material is being held at the circulation desk for the  
5. person who reserved it. In both cases, it is not on the shelf. 

• If you still cannot find it, please contact the circulation desk.

• There are the following possible methods: 

1. Request copies or books from institutions (other universities, etc.) that hold the materials. You can request copies of papers or borrow books from other institutions if the materials are not held by the TMU library. You can apply through My Library. 
2. Visit the institution (other universities, etc.) that holds the materials to view them. 
   If you want to use materials held by another institution's library, a letter of introduction is required. Apply for it from the issuance of the letter of introduction. Note that issuing the letter requires a procedure of inquiry with the other library, so apply with plenty of time in mind. 
3. Request purchase 
   You can submit a request for desired books for the library to acquire. Please apply through My Library. 
   *Note that for reasons such as selection criteria or budget, it may not be possible to purchase the requested books.

• With the integrated search of the Tokyo Metropolitan Library, it is possible to search the collections of public libraries throughout Tokyo all at once. > Tokyo Metropolitan Library.

• Materials displayed as "On Shelf" indicate that they are currently on the shelves of the library where you wish to pick them up. 
• For example, you cannot reserve materials that are on the shelves of the Central Library for pickup at the Central Library. Please take them from the shelves by yourself and complete the borrowing procedure. From My Library, you can make reservations only for two types of materials: "materials currently borrowed by other users" or "materials you request from another library."

There are two types of searches: keyword search and literal search. 

• In keyword search, you can search the materials that contain the entered search value as a word (= keyword). 
  In literal search, you can search the materials that contain the entered search value as mere characters (= literal). 
• In literal search, the following search methods can be specified: 
  [Exact match] Searches for materials that exactly match the entered search string. 
      Example input: end 
      Example hit: end END End 
  [Prefix match] Searches for materials that match the beginning of the entered search string. 
      Example input: end* 
      Example hit: ending 
  [Substring match] Searches for materials that match part of the entered search string. 
      Example input: *end* 
      Example hit: weekends 
  [Suffix match] Searches for materials that match the end of the entered search string. 
      Example input: *end 
      Example hit: weekend 

• The following search items are normally searched using keyword search.  
  To perform a literal search on the following keyword search items, please add "#" at the beginning of the search value. 
  • Title
  • Author name
  • Publisher
  • Subject
  • Keyword 

• The following search items are normally searched using literal search.
  • Year of publication
  • Classification
  • ISBN/ISSN
  • Country code of publication
  • Language code
  • NCID
  • Registration number (prefix match only)
  • Material ID (prefix match only)
  • Call number (prefix match only) 
• By using literal search, you can set search conditions in detail as follows: 
  [Search examples]
• Search for materials whose title contains the keyword "Japan" 
     Example input (Item: Search value) Title: Japan 
     Example hit: History of Japan, Japanese Folktales, America and Japan 
• Search for materials whose title is exactly "Japan" 
  　Example input (Item: Search value) Title: #Japan 
     Example hit: Japan 
• Search for materials whose title ends with "Japan" 
  　Example input (Item: Search value) Title: #*Japan 
  　Example hit: America and Japan, Rebirth of Japan, Japan 
• Search for materials published in the 1900s 
  　Example input (Item: Search value) Year of publication:19* 
  　Example hit: 1945 

• By searching electronic journals, you can search for electronic journals that are subscribed by Tokyo Metropolitan University.   
• As you cannot search by article titles, be sure to search by the title of the electronic journal.   
• With the cross-search, you can search collectively for books, journals, and article information held by libraries in Japan and overseas, as well as electronic journals subscribed by Tokyo Metropolitan University.

• A tag is a name granted when grouping multiple materials.  
• In tag search, you can search for materials with tags granted by the library and display them in a list.  
• Library users cannot register tags themselves.