RASCAL Help
Please click on the section headers below for help in those specific areas.
Assistance
Questions about specific research collections or related information should be directed to the relevant institution. Contact details for all institutions participating in RASCAL are given with each description.
News about special collections and RASCAL available at www.rascal.ac.uk or www.rascal.ie
Search
Searches are not case sensitive.
A quick search may be performed using the Search tab located on the left hand side menu of the RASCAL home page, it will search the RASCAL database only. This is a simple keyword search..
A simple keyword search will search against information in the title, collection description, collector, biography, media type fields of each collection level description record.
Alternatively, you may browse collections in a particular institution by clicking on the Institution tab on the sidebar on any page.
Select an institution by clicking on it. A list of collections available in the institution you selected will be displayed with a very brief description. Clicking on a collection title will bring up a detailed collection description with links to associated information including location and contact details.
Advanced Search
Using advanced search makes it possible to combine a number of search terms using Boolean operators (AND, OR, NOT), limit your search further by specifying particular fields or taking advantage of the proximity search function (near 5, near 10, near 15).
The search boxes must be completed in order.
Leaving the first search box blank will result in a failed search.
If a search term is entered into box 1 and another search term is entered into box 3 leaving box 2 empty, a search will be completed on search terms entered in box 1 only.
Boolean Search
It is possible to combine search terms using the following Boolean operators AND, OR and NOT in the Advanced Search option.
Field Search
It is possible to specify particular fields to be searched and combine these Boolean or Proximity search limiters in the Advanced Search option.
Phrase Search
You may enter multiple terms in the search box in Advanced Search if you wish to execute a phrase search, use a word string or even a proper name e.g. edward bunting.
Proximity Search
It is possible to combine search terms using the near 5, near 10 or near 15 options in Advanced Search to find keywords situated within a specified distance of each other and in any order.
Search within a particular Institution
Using the Advanced Search option it is possible devise a search and limit it to a specific institution by typing the location name into a search box.
Stemming
Please note that the search engine uses stemming which means that you will get a match for all words with the same stem. For example, when searching for "selection" you will find "selected" and "selecting".
Wildcard Search
The * character represents alternative elements of a search term e.g.
Abc* will return results which start with abc and include abc
*abe will return results which end with abc and include abc
*abc* will return results with abc in the search term
Browse
It is possible to Browse through a range of collections using preselected headings, namely institution type, medium, subject or geographic area.
Institution Type Browse
Select the Browse option from the menu bar running across the top of the RASCAL screen
Click on the institution type option
When you select an institution heading relevant descriptions will display in brief, clicking on a description title will display a more detailed collection description and associated information.
Subject Browse
Select the Browse option from the menu bar running across the top of the RASCAL screen
Click on the subjects option
When you select a subject heading relevant descriptions will display in brief, clicking on a description title will display a more detailed collection description and associated information.
Media Type Browse
Select the Browse option from the menu bar running across the top of the RASCAL screen
Click on the media type option
When you select a medium relevant descriptions will display in brief, clicking on a description title will display a more detailed collection description and associated information.
Geographic Area Browse
Select the Browse option from the menu bar running across the top of the RASCAL screen
Click on the geographic area option
When you select a geographic area heading relevant descriptions will display in brief, clicking on a description title will display a more detailed collection description and associated information.
Browse by Institution
By clicking the institution button on the menu on the left hand side of the page you may select an institution. A list of collections associated with the institution selected will be displayed along with access conditions, times and location details. The Browse by Institution option is always available, not just on the home page.
Only institutions participating in RASCAL are listed.
Please note that all the institutions currently participating in RASCAL may not yet have collection descriptions available.
Content
Content in RASCAL is based on the descriptions relating to collections submitted by the institutions participating in this scheme. Institutions may submit an unlimited number of collection descriptions. It is hoped that collection descriptions in RASCAL will help address the problem of “hidden collections” and ensure information for research and teaching is more accessible to a wider audience than has been the case to date. Access to resources described in RASCAL is managed by the holding institution. Researchers should contact relevant institutions directly for further information.
RASCAL
RASCAL is a resource discovery tool. The RASCAL database aims to make research and special collections that are currently available in Ireland more accessible to researchers regardless of their location. Collection level descriptions aim to provide sufficient information and contact details to enable a researcher to determine if a particular resource is relevant to their research interest. The collections described are multi-disciplinary and include many formats from traditional velum manuscripts through to born digital information. Through RASCAL a researcher may identify special collections of music, literature, politics, science and history throughout the island of Ireland and contact the relevant curating institution for further detail or to arrange a visit for personal consultation. New collection descriptions are added regularly.