Sign In requirements are set by your library. Sign In may be requested in a variety of ways.
It can be enforced upon startup of a new Web OPAC session or when accessing patron specific
functions such as My Account, My Searches,
My Titles, and for placing Holds.
Once authenticated, you will be able to access all functions during the same session
without further logins.
Note: User names and passwords are maintained by your library along with
your other patron circulation information.
This option is available only if defined by your library. To change the database,
click on the 'Switch Database' link. Select the desired database and click on
the 'Switch' button.
The menu bar provides quick access to Web OPAC functions. The available options are determined by your
library. Therefore, your menu bar may not contain all of the options listed below.
Start:
Return to your library's opening Web OPAC screen.
Search:
Display the Search Menu for: Simple Search, Browse Search, Power Search, My Searches, and Cross Library Search.
Lists:
Display the Lists menu for: My Titles, New Titles, Special Titles
My Account:
Display the following patron specific options: My Profile, Checkouts, Charges, Holds,
Messages, Password
Browse Search allows you to search by a specific category such as 'Author', 'Title', 'Subject',
etc. Search results appear in alphabetical order beginning with the nearest field matching the
information you entered.
Power Search gives you the advantage of combining different categories such as 'Author'
AND 'Title' OR 'Subject' enabling you to search multiple terms simultaneously.
Type in the term(s) you want to search for: Enter a single keyword, multiple keywords or a phrase
(a text string with quotation marks).
Click on the “GO” button to launch the search. Click on "Start Over" to clear all fields and resume
your search.
Search Tip:
Click on the "Show Search Options" link to Limit Your Search to specific parameters
such as: Search Method (Match all keywords, Match Any Keyword, Synonyms); Display Results (number of records
per page), Limit Search (Format, Location, Language, etc). Find Linked Media (images, sound, etc), and or
Publication Year.
Select an index from the pick list (Author, title, Subject, etc).
Type a keyword or phrase to reposition the browse list accordingly.
Click on the “GO” button to launch the search. Click on "Start Over" to clear
all fields and resume your search.
Note: The Browse option generates a list of entries arranged in alphabetical order
by the selected browse index. Every list consists of many pages containing at least
10 entries each.
Select an index from the pick list (Keyword, Author, title, Subject, etc).
Type in the term(s) you want to search for: Enter a single keyword, multiple
keywords or a phrase (a text string with quotation marks).
Select the operator to use between the search terms entered (AND/OR/AND NOT)
Click on the “GO” button to launch the search. Click on "Start Over" to clear all
fields and resume your search.
Search Tip:
Click on the "Show Search Options" link to Limit Your Search to
specific parameters such as: Display Results (number of records per page), Limit Search
(Format, Location, Language, etc). Find Linked Media (images, sound, etc), and or
Publication Year.
Search for records containing a keyword anywhere in the record.
Search type: Word(s)
Criteria: The Internet
Search for records containing all keywords in a specific record field.
Search type: Series
Criteria: Prentice Hall
Retrieve records where either search may be applicable.
Search type: Word(s)
Criteria: The Internet
OR Search type: Series
Criteria: Prentice Hall
Retrieve only records where both searches are applicable.
Search type: Word(s)
Criteria: The Internet
AND Search type: Series
Criteria: Prentice Hall
Perform complex searches.
Search type: Word(s)
Criteria: The Internet
AND Search type: Series
Criteria: Prentice Hall
OR Search type: Author
Criteria: Kehoe Limit by: [Media] Book; [Location] Main Branch Publication Year: 2000-2002
There are many ways in which you can limit your search. Each of the search options
is accessible by clicking on the ‘More Search Options’
link located in the search screen.
In Simple Search you can set parameters for your search based on a Search Method.
The differences between the methods involve how the system handles the keywords
entered for the search. To determine which search method is right for you, read on:
Use the
Match ALL Keywords (AND)
option if you wish to have the system:
Narrow the search to include only records with keyword 1 AND keyword 2
AND keyword 3, etc. in the specified field.
Use the
Match ANY Keywords (OR)
option if you wish to have the system:
Expand the search to include any record with either keyword 1 OR keyword
2 OR keyword 3, etc. in the specified field.
Use the
Exact Phrase
search option if you wish to have the system:
Search for fields exactly matching the text string entered (including punctuation).
Exact matching include both the singular and plural form of each keyword entered within the quote marks.
Use the
Spelling Variations
option if you wish to have the system:
Find similarly spelled words for each keyword entered.
(Example: If academy is entered in the Search field, the system retrieves
records containing academy and similarly spelled words such as academe,
academic, academies, etc.)
Use the Synonyms option if you wish to have the system:
Find words with the exact meaning as a given word (Example: bag, arrest,
capture, seize, nail)
Use the Related Words option if you wish to have
the system:
Find words with similar meaning as a given word (Example: trap, snare)
Use the Weakly Related Words option if you wish to
have the system:
Find words with a slight resemblance (Example: clutch, snatch)
By default the system will display 10 records per page. You can select a different number from
the 'display results' pick list found under 'Search Options'. You may choose from the
following: 10, 15, 20, 25 records per page.
Limit options are determined by your library. Limits are used to restrict searches by one or
more search types. The following limit types may be available for selection:
Format
Media
Language
Location
Collection
Example: If Title=war is entered in the Search field and searches are restricted
to videos in English (Media=Video AND Language=English), the system retrieves
only those with "war" in the Title field, "Video" in the Media
Type field, and "English" as the language code.
One or more years can be entered to narrow the search according to the record
item's Year field. Only records that match at least one of the years are retrieved.
Leaving the Year field blank retrieves records regardless of year.
Allows you to Search for linked media (images, sounds, documents, etc) containing the
keyword entered.
Example: If academy is entered in the Search field and the ‘Linked
Media’ option is enabled, a record with an image entitled, "West Point
Military Academy" is retrieved even if the word "academy" is contained
in no other field in the record.
From the resulting list of titles, you can do the following:
To view a single record: Click on a title to immediately view the
related record information.
To view multiple records: Use the check boxes to the left of each
title list. Then click ‘view’.
The selected records display in a record detail window with separate record and
copy information tabs. Links are available to expand information. Scroll buttons
are available to move through the selected record set.
Additional options to Save, Print, or Email the selected titles are also available.
When the Print option is selected, the information is sent to your screen before your
Print dialog box displays.
Note: This option is available only if your library has patron-specific functions
enabled.
Click on the Hold icon to place your name on the related hold list. If the Hold icon is
selected from the Record tab, the hold is placed on all items for the title. If the Hold icon
is available at the item level (the option must be enabled by your library), the hold is
placed on the specific item.
When hold placement is complete, the system reports your position on the hold list.
My title lists are created, saved, and made available according to the name under which you
signed in. Click on a saved list to display the list of saved records.
Note: Use Lists / My Searches if you wish to execute previously saved searches.
To save a title list:
Perform a search. When the resulting title lists displays, click in the check box
of each title to be saved in the title list.
Click on the Save button.
Enter the file name for the list, a description if desired, and click on the Save button.
The search is now saved under "My Titles" according to the name under which you signed in.
Displays item information and charges for overdue items and any other item for which you owe a fine or fee.
The type of fee, or ID number for overdue items, displays along with the charge, a description of the charge,
and the date the item was due/returned.
Displays item information for titles (any ID number) or items which you have placed a hold. Hold status,
record detail, and the ability to cancel a hold are available in this option.
