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Using the Catalog

The answers to these frequently asked questions may help you connect to the Library's web catalog.

What is required to access the web catalog?

To use the Library's web catalog, you need a computer with a "browser" that lets you search the Internet. Microsoft's Internet Explorer and Apple's Safari are examples of browsers.

I get a message that says "error connecting to server." Why can't I connect?

Our system may be down for maintenance. The catalog is available day and night except when the system is down for routine maintenance, upgrades or unforeseen reasons. Routine maintenance is performed Mondays between 2 a.m. and 4 a.m.

How do I log out of the catalog?

You don't need to log out unless you are looking at your library record. Every time you want to look at your library record or place a hold, you will be prompted for your barcode. If you are concerned about your privacy, there are several ways you can end your session:

Click on the Logout link on top right corner of your screen. Close the browser.
Wait for the session to "time out" after 5 minutes of inactivity.

Boolean Searching, Wildcards, Truncation, and Phrase Searches

Use truncation, wildcards, Boolean operators, and quotation marks with your search items to retrieve improved results.

Boolean Operators:

AND: Use AND between search terms to retrieve results in which both words are included.
OR: Use OR between search terms to retrieve results in which at least one of the words is included.
NOT: Use Not between search terms to retrieve results in which the word following NOT is not included.

Wildcards: Use an asterisk ( * ) at the end of a word to represent a group of unspecified letters. For example, use the term read* to search the catalog for “read,” “readers,” and “readers.”

Truncation: Use a question mark ( ? ) to represent a single character anywhere in a word. If you are unsure whether an author’s name is “Macomb” or “Macumb,” search for Mac?mb to locate his books. If you know that the last name of an author begins with “Mac” and is six letters total, add three question marks to signify that three letters are unknown. Searching for “Mac???” will retrieve a list of books by authors with the names “Mackin,” “MacNee,” and “Macomb.”

Phrase Searches: Use quotation marks around a set of terms that should be searched as a phrase. Otherwise, the catalog will retrieve results in which the search terms are separated by other words.

How Do I Know if an Item Is Available?

Click on the title of an item in the catalog to obtain its record. In the record, the column labeled, “Status” includes information about whether an item is available.

Items with the following statuses are typically available:

In: The item should be on the shelves.
Shelving: The item was returned recently and is either on the shelves or will soon be shelved.
Display Area: The item is in a book display and is usually available for checkout.
If an item is listed as being in one of the offices, or at one of the desks, ask a librarian about its availability.

Items with the following statuses are not presently available in the library, but you may place holds on them:

Out: The item is checked out.
In Transit: The item is being sent from one library to another.
Transit Request: The item is being sent to another library to fill a request.
Newly Acquired: A new library item has just arrived and has not been processed yet.
In Cataloging: A new library item is being processed and will be available soon.
On Order: The item has been ordered but has not arrived.
Reserve Shelf or Being Held: The item is on the reserve shelf on hold for a patron.

Items with the following statuses are not available in the library. Ask a librarian for assistance.

Trace: The item could not be found on the shelves.
Lost: The item has been overdue for over 6 weeks.
Missing: When an item’s status has been set to “Trace” for over 6 weeks, its status is changed to, “Missing.”
Unavailable: The item is no longer available.
Withdrawn: The item is no longer available.

View Your Library Account from Home

Information about your account can be accessed by logging on to our website. Select My Account from the blue sidebar under Quick Links. Library card and PIN required.

Click Account Summary for an overview of your account. For more in-depth information click the bold printed headings.
Click Item Out to view items checked out on your account and to renew items. This will also show due dates and number of renewals for each item.

-- To renew an item: check the box to the left of the title and click the renew button.

Click Holds to check if a requested item is now available to be checked out at the library.

-- To make a hold inactive, click the box to the left of the title and the change status button.
-- To cancel a hold, click the box to the left of the title and the Cancel Request button.

Click Fines and Account Messages to view any messages posted to your account or monies owed.

Click Profile to update your email address or change your PIN.

-- To update your email address, enter your new email address and click update.
-- To change your PIN, enter your old PIN; enter a new PIN twice for verification. Click update.
-- If your Personal Information is incorrect, click Request Change. A message will be entered in your account that an update is needed, and the next time you visit the library check with library staff at the check out desk about updating your personal information.