ONLINE PUBLIC ACCESS CATALOG also known as OPAC
Welcome to these Help pages.
These pages are designed to assist you in navigating and searching the catalog collection.
Results of any search can be viewed using the Multi-language Translator and converting the screen text to any language within the list of language options. When you want to change the language back to the original; look for the Translator Banner and select the "X" or the "Show Original" button to reset.
This library catalog will reset and clear the search screen when left idle for 10 minutes.
The Search page provides straightforward and easy to use search features.
Patrons can search the bibliographic database and find specific information online. The "First Search Results" facility also apprises the user about the availability of each item for circulation, including current status of individual copies of a title.
Many result descriptions can be underline; this represents a hyperlink and by clicking on the description the search will expand even further.
1. BEGIN BUY SELECTING A COLLECTION
Your library may have more then one location known as a Collection to list items contained within the library.
Searches can be conducted against any one specific Collection or the All Collections.
The scope of the Search By searches include:
2. SEARCH BY:
Search types can include standard methods of:
Title
Author
Subject
Genre
Keyword or Key Phrase
Additional Search services may be listed within the drop down menu.
Plus, as another search Option there is an EASY SEARCH button to allow for a more simplified search.
And More
The library may also offer Special Service programs, this would be accessible through the Button Options on the Catalog Main Page
3. CHOOSE A SEARCH TYPE
CONTAINS
Contains when used with your typed search term will search for this term within your chosen Search By selection.
EXACTLY LIKE
Exactly Like when used with your typed search term will search for this exact term within your chosen Search By selection.
STARTS WITH
Starts With when used with your typed search term will search for this exact term within your chosen Search By selection.
ENDS WITH
Ends With when used with your typed search term will search the last word term within your chosen Search By selection.
4. ENTER SEARCH INFORMATION HERE
Enter your search term in the description field
5. SORT BY
TITLE
CALLNO or Call Number
AUTHOR
When selected organizes the search results by what was selected
Searching by Keyword
Almost all fields within the records are indexed in the Keyword index. This makes the Keyword search very powerful.
To search by keyword:
1. Click on the Search by drop down arrow and select the description with Keyword .
2. Choose a Search Type make a Selection from the drop down menu.
3. Type-in your Search Information; Simply enter the full word that you are looking for, such as "cat".
4. Select the order for any displayed results or accept the Sort by default value shown.
5. Select the Search button located below the Sort by entry area.
4. Any record description in the collection with the word or a word containing "cat" will be displayed in a “First Search Page Results". If no records are found, the page will be blank and display “No Matches Found For” you can search again by changing your search choices.
It doesn't matter if the letters are in upper or lower case. Records with the word "CAT" and "cat" will both be found even if you enter the characters "CaT".
Right-hand Truncation Searching
The Keyword search above was looking for an exact match for the word "cat." It would not have found records with the word "cats" or "catting." To find all records with word that begin-in the letters "cat" simply enter a "?" at the end of the words like this "cat?". That will force a right-hand truncation search and the program will find all records that have words that start with "cat".
Searching by Title, Genre, Author, or Subject
Searching by Keyword is very powerful but can result in an unwanted number of 'bad hits'. If you specifically know what you are looking for, sometimes searching by Title, Author or Subject is a wiser choice.
To Search by Title, Genre, Author, or Subject
Searching Information like Genre, Author and Subject has been simplified through the use of Search Buttons within the Main Catalog Page. Quick and easy to use, pick from a displayed list, to change the list position to a new word type in a term or letter or a partial word in the description field and push the Enter Key.
Select a specific Collection or Search All Collections from the appropriate Drop-down menu.
Select the Search By proper index choices from the Drop-down menus and choose Title, Genre, Author, Subject, etc.
Select your Search Type
Enter the search term like "Twain, Mark" for an Author search
Select Sort By; the order you would want the results displayed
Select the Search Button.
Unlike keyword searching there are no "Boolean" operators when searching by Title, Genre, Author or Subject. However, right-hand truncation is automatically turned on. This means that you do not have to enter the full search term to get good results The search term "Twain, M" will probably get the same results as "Twain, Mark". Punctuation is also ignored, so "Twain Mark" will also work when searching the author index.
If you are looking for a specific known title, simply search by the Title index and type the first few words of the title.
If you are searching for an author, select the author index and enter at least the author's last name and perhaps a few letters of his or her first name.
If you are searching by Subject simply type the first few letters of the Subject or use the Subject button to list all the subjects available. Unless you know the subject authority list in at least general terms, it would difficult to do subject searching. You might want to stick with keyword searching since all the words in the subject index are also in the keyword index.
Viewing Search Results
Note: After performing any search, the system will display all records found in a list. The search Results will be displayed here you will find number of items found and the number of items being viewed on that specific page. Each record is represented will display with an icon, the Call Number, Full Title, Subjects, Author, Joint author, if appropriate Reading Program, Reading Level, Title Point Value or Target Audience. When a record contains hyper-links for additional record information this to is displayed.
Any description that is underlined will also act as a link and when clicked on will search to find like items throughout the library collection.
If no records are found, the page will be blank and display “No Matches Found For” you can search again.
If you find more record then can fit on a single page, there will be a Next link at the bottom of the page. These Next and Previous links allow you to scroll or page through your find set.
In many cases, the find list page is all you need to solve your requirements. At other times it might be necessary to read the entire catalog record. To display the record simply click on the title, which should be underlined. The Catalog Record Display page will appear.
Record Display
The title of the record is displayed near the top of the page in bold. The rest of the record is displayed in two columns. The column on the left names each field and the column on the right contains the data for the field. If appropriate, a Copies Information menu item will appear at the bottom of the page for each physical copy of the material. Click this menu to display the item number, physical location and status information.
Next and Previous links on the top left side of the page allow you to page through the find set, record by record, without returning to the list window. You can return to the list with the "Return to List" link.
Listing Records to the “See Tagged Books” List
Clicking on the “Tag This” X link can add a copy of the record to your Tag List. This is done to build a personal collection of records for later use, or for downloading into a local system.
Downloading (if available)records from the Tag List
To download records from the Tag List page:
1. Make sure you have added at lest one record to the Tag List.
2. Click on the “See Tagged Books” Tab.
3. Click on the "Download MARC" link.(This feature may not be active and not shown)
a. Select the Save-As command in the File menu.
b. Name and save the contents of the window into a local file.
4. Select the "Back" button in your Web Browser to return to the See Tagged Books page.
5. Clear the Tag List by using the "Empty Tag List" link.
Using Patron Hold/Reserve, Renewal and Account Inquiry Management
We are pleased to offer our Online Reserve, Renewal and Account capabilities through the Online Internet (OPAC) Library Catalog.
To use this service can be only accomplished if the library authorizes this service and assigns a PIN (Personal Identification Number)to your library account.
Speak to a library staff member about the service requirements..
- o Using this feature requires Login: enter your Borrower ID number and PIN number.
- o If you do not have a PIN number assigned to your library account contact your librarian.
- o Once your PIN is activated, you will be able to Reserve/Hold and Renew items as well as review your library account from this Library Catalog
To Place a Reserve/Hold. (for additional items repeat this process)
o Find the item you want to Reserve/Hold.
o Click on the visable Green TAG button,
o When you have completed selecting your items simply click on "View Tag List".
o Click the Reserve Now button.
o Click on the Account button to Review your Account.
o The items you have requested will be listed
o When reserving Items that are currently Checked out; are return you will be notified.
To Renew an Item
o Do to the nature of an Items status - Not all items can be renewed using this method.
o When renewal is possible a RED colored date will appear in the far right column.
o Clicking on this Red date will Renew the item to the new date.
o Items that cannot be renewed will not display a Red colored Date.
o If you have an issue with returning items please Contact the library by phone to avoid potential penalties.
o To close your Account - Logout - use the button to quit when done .
As a reminder when you have finished with your Account, simply click on Logout or Button or New Search at the top of the page to begin another search. This library catalog will reset and clear the search screen when left idle for 10 minutes.