How to Query UCLA Film and Television Archive Holdings

MELVYL - University of California and California State Library at Sacramento

To access:

1. TELNET to MELVYL.UCOP.EDU
2. When asked for terminal type, enter VT1OO
3. Press RETURN when prompted to
4. When asked to select a database, press RETURN
5. Type SET LIBRARY UCLA
6. Type SET FORM VIDEO, FILM

To exit:

1. Type END or STOP.
2. Type LOGOFF.

Approximately 90,000 records for videos and films from the UCLA Film and Television Archive have been loaded into the MELVYL Catalog database. These records are included in the AT UCLA limit. Limit any search to AND FORM VIDEO, FILM, RECORDINGS to further identify these items. Type EXPLAIN FTV for more information.

When asked, choose the CAT database.

Sample searches (increasingly narrow):

FIND TW GONE WIND finds any title with those two words in it
FIND XT GONE WITH THE WIND finds any title with those four words in that order
FIND XT "GONE WITH THE WIND" finds any work by that exact title

In the MELVYL Catalog, the following command words can be used:

Begin a search for books or periodicals: FIND
Display FIND or SELECT search results: DISPLAY
Browse headings, e.g. subject headings: BROWSE, SELECT
Restrict search results to a library: AT
Add to or limit a previous search: AND, OR, AND NOT, LIMIT TO
See your previous search requests: SHOW HISTORY, REDO, BACKUP
Change or look at settings: SET, RESET, SHOW
Save or delete records or searches: SAVE, DELETE
Mail results to an electronic mailbox: MAIL
Have new items e-mailed automatically: UPDATE
Obtain help or an explanation: HELP, EXPLAIN
Find explanation of library abbreviations: FIND LOC
Send messages to the MELVYL system; COMMENT
Change databases, start or end a session: SET DB, START, END

For more information, type EXPLAIN followed by the command you want explained, e.g., EXPLAIN FIND. Type SHOW GLOSSARY to see a complete list of terms.

A basic search request consists of three parts in the following order:

FIND [index] [search terms] e.g., FIND TW SACRAMENTO TOMATO

The part that is missing from your command is the index name which tells the system the type of search you want. Please be sure that all three parts are included when you retype your command.

The main indexes that can be used with a FIND command are:

Keyword Indexes (search words in any order)

For books and periodicals:
PA Personal Author
TW Title Words
SU Subject
PE Periodicals
CA Corporate Author
UT Uniform Title
SE Series

Exact Indexes (search words in exact order)

XC Exact Corp. Author
XT Exact Title (main title)
XPE Exact
XS Exact Subject
XOT Exact other Titles
PE Title

For more information, type EXPLAIN followed by an index name, e.g., EXP XT. For other indexes, type EXPLAIN INDEXES.

The Archive provides on-site individual viewing access to many of the titles in its collection of motion pictures, television and news film.

STUDY COPY: VIEWING ON PREMISES ONLY. Study copies are available for viewing the day after a request is made.

RESEARCH COPY: VIEWING ON PREMISES ONLY. Research copies are available a minimum of five working days after a request is made. Some restrictions may apply.

ARCHIVAL COPY: Archival copies are not available for viewing. These copies have been either reserved for long-term preservation, or exist in a non-standard, unviewable format.

To make a viewing request, or for more information about the Archive, its collections and viewing services, please contact:

Archive Research and Study Center
46 Powell Library, 405 Hilgard Avenue
Los Angeles, CA 90024-1517
Phone: (310) 206-5388