SSELP Help Desk 

Here you'll find a menu with questions, maybe your question is in it: CAVEAT: Pull down menu not yet functioning - we're still expanding our knowledge in this field!

SSELP includes local holding information of Chinese periodicals and serials of about 540 institutes (university libraries, institute libraries, non-government institutions) with about 10 000 titles and more than 30 000 local holding statements. The number of German institutions is quite high due to the implementation of EDoCS with about 512 institutes alone.

-->What is SSELP good for?

A database like SSELP is specialised for the use of Sinologists throughout Europe (at least). Here sinologists can find out which libraries have which numbers of a certain periodical he/she is looking for. Due to continuing inclusion of other libraries' data these information will increase by the time. A second aspect is providing other institutes with bibliographical data. Further information on the both two questions see "What is SSELP?"

--> How can I get into the database?

You need an internet browser like Netscape or Internet Explorer. One way is to look for the homepage of the Sinological Institute at the University of Heidelberg, go to Academic Associations.. , got to EACS, then choose SSELP database. Quite a long way to go, so the URL to type in into your browser's "Location"-window is: http://sun.sino.uni-heidelberg.de/sselp.
You'll reach the first page of SSELP that allows to choose different pages, including "Web Access to SSELP Catalogue ". Use the catalogue preferably via the WWW. Telnet access has been closed down. Click onto "Web access..." and there you are.

--> What is Index Search?
 
Index search allows you to enter the database via it's different indexes, like titles, corporate body names, personal names etc. One of the most common searches is the search via "Title". Function of different indexes is given below in detail in the order as they follow in the pull-down menu. Every index entry that has been entered in the record in CJK-characters can also be retrieved in CJK-characters. Then you'll need a Chinese program (Twinbridge or Union Way) running. Since not all participants have Chinese characters entered, it may prove not as effective as the Pinyin search. After retrieving the record, should you miss information not being displayed, go down to "choose a different display", then check the "tagged display" version. Not all info contained in the record is being displayed, this would make the screen explode.

3: Title

Don't get confused the Index 3 is at the top. It's the most common search feature and so I decided to put it first.
Via the title index you can search for
  a. the full title
  b. words that might occur in the title (building "words" allowed parts to be indexed separately)
  c. Former and later titles
  d. Parallel titles

1. Personal names

Even though there are rarely personal names given some publishers' or editors' names can be important to know. As far as they could be retrieved and were entered into the record, they are also indexed. Chinese names have no comma between last and first names. (At least they shouldn't).

2. Corporate bodies+meetings

Find editorial boards etc. here. Not publishers! (Index 6)

4. Place+title+year

The search term you can enter here is the place name ONLY. Then you'll get a list of place names plus the titles published there and the year of publishing (as far as they are given in the original entry). So you could find out about what periodical was published in this and this place and when.
This is a trial feature and I am very interested in your opinion whether it's a good idea to have sth like this or if it should be modified or maybe kicked out completely.

5. ISSN/ISBN/Kanhao

ISSN (International Standard Serials Number) appear with Chinese periodicals since about 1987. Some periodicals can have ISBN (International Standard Book Number) if the edition is a reprint or the single issues are published in book form.
Kanhao: Almost all Chinese language periodicals except some old ones have a "kanhao". It looks like this: "CNxx-xxxx" and should be entered like this.

6. Publisher

The most recent publisher of a periodical. If there was a change of the publisher this is given in a separate notes field. This note field is normally displayed when you have retrieved the entry. If not, try "choose a different display" and check the "tagged display".
 
8. Institutes

Here you can see which institutes' holdings are included. At the moment the number of entries for the institutes if more than 50 is only indicated by ">50" due to internal system resource reasons.  This index is also a trial feature and here I'd be also very pleased if there was any response whether something like that is needed or should be modified, etc.

10. Shelfmark

This index is more interesting for institutes' members looking for their own shelfmarks. Please note: Only shelfmarks that were included or could be identified in the original entries are included here. So only a few institutions' shelfmarks can be retrieved.
 

---> What is Combined Search?

Combined Search allows you to combine an institute's name + whatever is given in the fields below, or either any of the fields below.
This part is a place of further experimenting for the time being and so might be out of order sometimes or might respond with "There's no match for your search term". A little patience and I can offer this function as well. Thank you.