Library Catalog Help

Your library may have their information available to view from the catalog.

Choose Library Information in the top-right area of your screen to find information about the library, such as location (address), phone number, hours of operation, etc.

Choose Select Language in the top-right area of your screen to change the language.

Choose Enable Accessibility Mode in the top-right area of your screen to enable accessibility mode on the catalog.

If your library has enabled this option, you can send requests and track those requests in My Account.

To send a request

1. Log in to your library account.

2. Do one of the following:

   • On a desktop computer, choose Send a Request in the top-right area of your screen.
   • On a mobile device , tap the Menu button and choose Send a Request.
3. Select the type of request you want to make.
4. Fill out the form, then choose Submit.

The Select an Action drop down menu is found on the search results page, on an item's detail display, and in My Lists. From the search results, select the checkbox next to the item or items for the action you want to make. For example, if you want to place a hold on two items at the same time, select the checkboxes for each item, choose the Select an Action drop-down list, and choose Place Hold.

Depending on your library's configuration, you will see these options in the Select an Action drop-down list:

• Place Hold(s): This option lets you place a hold on a selected item.
• Add to My Lists: This option lets you save selected items to a list.
• Email: This option lets you email item information.
• Text It To Me: This option lets you text item information to a cell phone.
• Print: This option lets you print item information.

The following options appear only in the Select an Action list on the My Lists page:

• Delete Selected: This option lets you delete selected titles from a list within My Lists.
• Move: This option lets you move selected titles from one list to another within My Lists.
• Copy: This option lets you copy selected titles from one list to another within My Lists.

You can use the Fields drop-down list to limit your search to a particular field (for example, Title, Author, or Subject). If you want to search all fields, leave All Fields selected.

You can use the Limits drop-down list to limit your search to a specific location or database (for example, the Library of Congress). If you do not want to use this feature, leave Everything selected.

You can create more specific searches so that you receive results that are more tailored to your needs by choosing Advanced Search on the search bar.

With an advanced search, you can search exact phrases or exclude terms from your search. For example, if you wanted to do a search on potters but did not want results for "Harry Potter," you could search the term "potter" and enter "Harry" in the unwanted terms box.

You can also apply any combination of limits on your search with Additional limits, including format type, language, location, fields, availability, and targets.

Once you have set up your search with the terms and limits you want, choose Advanced Search to get your search results.

After you have received the results of a search, you can use the Sort By drop-down list to sort the results by publication date (ascending or descending), title, or author. The most relevant results are then sorted by that option.

You can choose Only Show Library Results to limit your search results to the items that are available directly at your library.

You can choose Only Show Available to limit your search to items that are available for checkout. When this option is selected, the label for the button changes to Include Unavailable and you can choose it again to include items that are not available for checkout.

Search facets help limit the results of your search by filtering the results by specific characteristics, such as author, media format (books, DVDs, musics, and so forth), or publishing date, to name a few. On a desktop computer, you can find facets under Limit Search Results on the left side of the page. On a mobile device, the facets are located in a slide menu that can be opened by choosing Filter Results on the search results page. Facets are listed by category, such as Author, Format, Item Type, Electronic Format, and so forth. Here are some ways you can use facets to refine your search:

• Select a facet. Choosing a facet narrows the search to a specific characteristic of the works in the library. For example, if you choose Books, your search results will only include items that are books.

• Select multiple facets. Each time you choose a facet, the search results update. Choosing an additional facet narrows the search even further. For example, if you choose Books and then choose a specific author, your search results will only include books by that author.

• Include or exclude facets. Each of the facet boxes includes an Include and Exclude button. Select the checkbox next to one or more facets, then choose Include or Exclude. Include is like choosing a facet, except you can select multiple facets at once. Exclude lets you leave specific values out of a search. For example, if you want to search for "potter" but don't want to include books by J. K. Rowling, you can filter out those books by excluding the "Rowling, J. K." Author facet.

• Experiment. Facets let you be very flexible with search results. Try using the different facets and see what results you get.

Use the More or Fewer options to expose or hide facets within a field incrementally. You can also use the View All option to open all of the facets in a separate window.

The Publication Date facet has two views: Graph and Date. You can toggle between the two. The Date view works just like any other facet. The Graph view, however, has some other options:

• Use the sliders to create a date range (for example, 1971-1990). Then select whether you want to include or exclude that date range in your search results.
• Enter a date range in the text box (for example, "1971"-"1990"). If you want the date range to have no end (up to the current date), leave the second text box blank (for example, "1971" - ). Likewise, if you want the date range to go back as far as it can go, leave the first text box blank (for example, - "1971"). Select whether you want to include or exclude that date range in your search results.

Any facets you have applied will appear in the Narrowed by section. Facets you have included in search results will have a plus (+) sign; facets you have excluded will have a minus (-) sign. Choose Remove to remove an individual facet, or remove all facets by choosing Clear all.

You can request that a hold be placed on an item that is checked out so you can check it out once it becomes available. To place a hold, use the Place Hold button or the Select an Action drop-down list from the search results page or from the detail display for the item. You can manage your holds from the My Account page, but you cannot place a hold from My Account. To place a hold in person at your library, please see a librarian.

To place a hold

1. Perform a search for the item or items you want.

2. Do one of the following:

   • From the Search Results page or the Title Details page, find the item you want to place on hold and choose Place Hold.
   • From the Search Results page, use the checkboxes to select multiple items and choose Place Hold(s) from the Select an Action drop-down list. This option may not be available on mobile screens.

   Note: If you are not logged in to your library account, choosing the Place Hold option prompts you to log in.

3. From the window that displays, select the pickup library from the drop-down list.

4. Choose Place Hold.

   A message displays that tells you whether or not the hold was successfully placed.

Some of your search results may return eBooks. You can easily download them from your search results by choosing Download.

A window will display and ask you to select an eBook reader or format. Select the reader or format you want, and the eBook will begin to download.

If you use RSS, you can choose the RSS icon to save any of your searches as an RSS feed. This way, you can see updated results of your specified searches through your RSS reader. To take advantage of RSS feeds, you must have an RSS enabled browser or an RSS reader.

If your library uses this feature, you can choose Buy It Now to purchase an item. When you purchase an item this way, your library receives a portion of the purchase price.

My Account lets you view your checkouts, holds, and any fines you may have. You can also view your personal information, change your PIN or password and set up your preferences.

Go to the My Account page by choosing My Account from the upper-right corner of the header. If you are not already logged in, the system will prompt you to log in before you can access the My Account page.

If you have forgotten your PIN or password, use the Forgot my PIN or Forgot my Password link on the login screen to reset your PIN or password or contact your library for instructions on how you can be assigned a new PIN or password.

If you know your PIN or password but would like to change it, you can go to the Change Pin or Change Password section of My Account to change your PIN or password.

If you know your PIN or password but would like to change it, you can go to the Change Pin or Change Password section of My Account to change your PIN or password.

To change your PIN or Password

1. Log in to your library account.
2. Choose My Account in the top-right area of your screen.
3. Open the Personal Information tab, then open the Change PIN or Change Password section.
4. Enter your current PIN or password and your desired new PIN or password, then choose Update.

Your library may allow you to edit your own personal information online. If not, please talk to a librarian.

To edit personal information

1. Log in to your library account.

2. Do one of the following:

   • On a desktop computer, choose My Account in the top-right area of your screen.
   • On a mobile device, tap the Menu button and choose My Account.
3. Choose Edit.
4. Select the field you want to update and enter the updated information.
5. Choose Save.

Your library may allow you to set up text (SMS) notifications online. If not, please ask a librarian if your library allows text notifications.

If you have a phone that can receive text messages, you can use the SMS Notifications section under My Account to enter the phone number and select which notifications you want to receive. Choose Add New to define a new phone and select the notifications you want to receive. You can subscribe to the following notifications:

• Bill Notice—Lets you receive notifications about fines and fees.

• Overdue Notice—Lets you receive notifications about items that may be coming due or have passed the due date.
• Hold Pickup Notice—Lets you receive notification regarding items that you have placed on hold.
• Manual Message—Lets you receive message written to you by a librarian. These may be in response to a communication you have sent to the library.
• User Announcements—Lets you receive general messages sent by the library.

If your library allows it, you can change your personal preferences in the Personal information section of My Account. If not, please talk to a librarian at your library.

To edit personal preferences

1. Log in to your library account.

2. Do one of the following:

   • On a desktop computer, choose My Account in the top-right area of your screen.
   • On a mobile device, tap the Menu button and choose My Account.
3. Open the Personal Information tab, then open the Preferences section.
4. Adjust your preferences the way you want, then choose Update.

You can view your Digital Checkouts, Library Checkouts, and Checkout History in the Checkouts tab in My Account.

You can view your checkouts under the Checkouts tab in My Account.

If your library allows you to renew items online, you can do so from the Checkouts tab in My Account. Certain items may not be renewable online for a number of reasons. Items that cannot be renewed are clearly marked with a description as to why that particular item is not renewable.

To renew items online

1. Log in to your library account.

2. Do one of the following:

   • On a desktop computer, choose My Account in the top-right area of your screen.
   • On a mobile device, tap the Menu button and choose My Account.
3. Open the Checkouts tab, then open the Library Checkouts section.
4. Select the item or items you want to renew or use the Select All option to select all your current checkouts.
5. Choose Renew.

Some items cannot be returned and simply expire at the end of their checkout period. The Checkouts tab in My Account shows the expiration date next to the digital title.

You can request that a hold be placed on an item that is checked out so you can check it out once it becomes available. To place a hold, use the Place Hold button or the Select an Action drop-down list from the search results page or from the detail display for the item. You can manage your holds from the My Account page, but you cannot place a hold from My Account. To place a hold in person at your library, please see a librarian.

To place a hold

1. Perform a search for the item or items you want.

2. Do one of the following:

   • From the Search Results page or the Title Details page, find the item you want to place on hold and choose Place Hold.
   • From the Search Results page, use the checkboxes to select multiple items and choose Place Hold(s) from the Select an Action drop-down list. This option may not be available on mobile screens.

   Note: If you are not logged in to your library account, choosing the Place Hold option prompts you to log in.

3. From the window that displays, select the pickup library from the drop-down list.

4. Choose Place Hold.

   A message displays that tells you whether or not the hold was successfully placed.

You can view your current holds from the Holds tab in My Account. The Holds tab can have up to three sections: Library Holds, Digital Holds, and Group Holds.

If you have any holds that are available for pickup, an alert icon displays in the Holds section in My Account. If you have email notifications set up with your library, they will send an email notifying you that your item is ready for pickup.

You can manage your holds from the Holds tab in My Account, or by talking to a librarian at your library.

To cancel or suspend a hold

1. Log in to your library account.

2. Do one of the following:

   • On a desktop computer, choose the My Account option in the top-right area of your screen.
   • On a mobile device, tap the Menu button and choose My Account.
3. Open the Checkouts tab, then open the Digital Holds or Library Holds section.
4. Select the hold or holds you want to cancel or suspend, or choose the Select All option to select all current holds.
5. Choose Suspend Hold(s) or Cancel Hold(s).

You can manage your holds in the Holds section of the My Account tab, or by talking to a librarian at your library.

To edit the pickup location for a hold

1. Log in to your library account.

2. Do one of the following:

   • On a desktop computer, choose My Account in the top-right area of your screen.
   • On a mobile device, tap the Menu button and choose My Account.
3. Open the Checkouts tab, then open the Library Holds section.
4. Select the hold or holds whose pickup location you want to edit, or choose the Select All option to select all current holds.
5. Choose Edit Pickup Location(s).
6. From the window that displays, use the drop-down list to choose the new pickup location.
7. Choose Change.

You can view your current fines from the Current Fines/Blocks section in the Fines tab in My Account.

If your library allows you to pay fines online, you can pay fines from the Fines tab in My Account. You can also pay fines in person at your library.

To pay your fine online

1. Log in to your library account.

2. Do one of the following:

   • On a desktop computer, choose My Account in the top-right area of your screen.
   • On a mobile device, tap the Menu button and choose My Account.
3. Open the Fines tab, then open the Current Fines/Blocks section.

4. Select the fines you want to pay or choose Select All to select all current fines.

5. Do one of the following:

   • If you have a library credit on your account, choose Apply Credit.
   • Choose Make a Payment.
6. Fill out your payment information in the window that appears.

7. Choose Submit.

   Note: Your library may require you to accept their Terms and Conditions before you can make the payment.

When you find items while searching that you want to keep and organize, you can save them to My Lists. You can create and customize your lists, and you can print or email your lists. From My Lists, you can also place holds on items.

You can add items to your My Lists by choosing the Add to My Lists option on the Select an Action drop-down list from either a search results page or an item's detail display.

If you are logged in to the system, you will be prompted to select which of your lists you want to save items to.

If you are not already logged in to the system, any items you add to My Lists will be sent to a Temporary List. To access lists that you've previously saved to My Lists, you need to log in.

If you are logged in to the system, you can move items into other lists, or you can save the entire list. In essence, you will be creating a new list out of the items in your Temporary List.

If you are not logged in, the list of titles will be cleared after your session has expired (about 10 minutes with no activity in the browser). You can log in after you have placed items in your Temporary List to move them to one of your saved lists.

To save your Temporary List, select Save Temporary List from the Select An Action drop-down list. A window will open and ask you to name the new list. Enter the name and choose Save to save the list or Cancel to go back. If you log out without saving the list, the Temporary List will be cleared.

Your Temporary List and your saved lists are listed in the left-side window under the Lists heading. Choose a list to view its contents.

To arrange your saved lists, do one of the following:

• Use the () icon to drag and drop your lists in the order you want them to appear.
• Use the Arrange By drop-down list to arrange your lists alphabetically (ascending or descending), or by the time they were created (most recent first or oldest first).

To create a new list, choose Add List. A window will open and prompt you to name your new list. Enter the name and choose Create to create the new list or Cancel to go back.

To delete lists, select the lists you want to remove and then choose Delete Lists.