USING THE LIBRARY PATRON CATALOG

Part 1 Easy Search

Easy to find… Just look for the RAINBOW 5 on your desktop!

MAIN WINDOW This is the default main window. This is the default main window. You can search using Keywords, Titles, Authors, or Subjects. You can search using Keywords, Titles, Authors, or Subjects. You can CLEAR the screen to begin a new search You can CLEAR the screen to begin a new search You can BROWSE when you don’t know what you want. You can BROWSE when you don’t know what you want. For HELP hit F-1 For HELP hit F-1

Library Catalog In the space provided type in the KEYWORD, SUBJECT, AUTHOR, or TITLE you are looking for. In the space provided type in the KEYWORD, SUBJECT, AUTHOR, or TITLE you are looking for. The default setting is for a KEYWORD search – this is the easiest way to find what you are looking for. The default setting is for a KEYWORD search – this is the easiest way to find what you are looking for.

How to Keyword search We will search using the keyword DOGS We will search using the keyword DOGS Click on SEARCH or press Enter on the keyboard Click on SEARCH or press Enter on the keyboard

Materials Found This is the “Materials Found” page. This is the “Materials Found” page. Call numbers Call numbers Titles Titles Author names. Author names. Number of copies – if the first number is 0 all copies are already checked out. Number of copies – if the first number is 0 all copies are already checked out.

GENERALIZE YOUR SEARCH! If your search is TOO SPECIFIC – you will severely limit the number of materials you find If your search is TOO SPECIFIC – you will severely limit the number of materials you find For example we will search “Little Dogs” For example we will search “Little Dogs” We only find items instead of 294 when using “dogs” We only find TWO items instead of 294 when using “dogs”

Sorting! It is important to sort your materials to make it easier to find what you want It is important to sort your materials to make it easier to find what you want Items are not in any order when first searched – YOU can decide how to sort them to best suit your needs. Items are not in any order when first searched – YOU can decide how to sort them to best suit your needs. By Call number By Title By Author

Sorting by Call Number Notice the button Call Number at the top is selected. Notice the button Call Number at the top is selected. This sort allows us to group FICTION and NON-FICTION titles together. This sort allows us to group FICTION and NON-FICTION titles together. Notice the bar along the side of our list. This tells us we need to move down to see all titles available Notice the bar along the side of our list. This tells us we need to move down to see all titles available

Sort by Title Notice the button TITLE is selected. Notice the button TITLE is selected. This sort works best if you are looking for specific titles! This sort works best if you are looking for specific titles!

Sorting by AUTHOR Here the AUTHOR button is selected. Here the AUTHOR button is selected. This sort works best for locating books by specific authors. This sort works best for locating books by specific authors. Note: some materials do not have authors!! Note: some materials do not have authors!!

Browsing This is a BROWSE screen. This appears for three reasons: 1) The library does not have the item you requested 2) You have misspelled the item you are looking for and the computer is asking if any of these items are what you want 3) You have clicked on “Browse” You can select one of these options or cancel this screen

I found what I want – now what? To locate the title you want you will need to know two very important things 1. What is the call number of the item you want? 2. Are there any copies available of the title you want?

Write it down! Beside each computer you will find paper & pencil Beside each computer you will find paper & pencil Write down your entire call number Write down your entire call number Look for this type of information:

Happy Reading!! Learning to use the library catalog will help you find the materials you need, when you need them, even if the librarian or aide is busy with someone else! Learning to use the library catalog will help you find the materials you need, when you need them, even if the librarian or aide is busy with someone else! But remember… someone will always try to help you find what you want so you can keep reading!! But remember… someone will always try to help you find what you want so you can keep reading!!

To return to the Library homepage please click the BACK button arrow in the top left of your screen To return to the Library homepage please click the BACK button arrow in the top left of your screen