The online catalog is a powerful tool that will help you locate all types of information quickly and easily. You can access 6 million items from almost 200 libraries right at your fingertips! The catalog is web-based and is available from any computer with an internet connection. Here's how to get started...
TO SEARCH THE LIBRARY CATALOG:
Type a word or words in the white box and click on the “Search” button.
- You can search all words in the library catalog, or pull down the arrow and change your selection to search by author, title, subject, series or periodical (magazine), etc.
- You can search just what your library owns, or choose all libraries that participate in the PrairieCat consortium.
- IT IS RECOMMENDED that you log in on the catalog homepage using your library barcode number and PIN (the default PIN is the last four digits of your barcode number; this can be changed when you are logged in). This will make placing holds and reviewing your account much easier. Remember to log out when you are finished.
ADDITIONAL FEATURES ON THE CATALOG HOMEPAGE:
- Click on Advanced Search to search by author, title, or other options. Click on Go Back to return to a basic search.
- Use the tabs across the top of the page to access your library account (My Account), conduct an advanced search (Advanced Search), browse by subject (Find It Fast!), browse chldren's materials (Kids' Library), or access several library catalogs and useful links (Knowledge Portal).
- Click on Search Hints for tips on conducting searches.
ONCE YOU HAVE PERFORMED A SEARCH:
You will see a “Results List.” This list is sorted with the most recent publications being listed first.
- Click on the title (blue) for more information about a specific title that interests you. You can also do this by clicking the More Info button on the right side of each item record
- Check the Add Item box to create a list of items. By choosing Kept from the list of options in the tan toolbar, you can create customized lists for printing.
- If a record has an icon of a sun, clicking the icon will take you to the Children's Literature Comprehensive Database and show you a review of the item.
- Click the Place Hold button to place an item on reserve in your name (you will be prompted to log in if you didn't do so on the catalog homepage).
- Other options include returning to your original search (Go Back), looking up help topics (Help), conducting a new search (New Search), narrowing your search by title, author, etc. (Limit Search), moving forward or backward through the results list (Previous and Next; can also click the individual page numbers at the top of the results list), looking up more information by cross-referencing the search results with shared authors or subjects (X-Ref), or logging out of the catalog (Logout).
- If your search is wide enough to yield multiple search results, you will see a column on the right side of the screen. You can click on any of the blue topics to narrow your search by items cataloged within that topic.
ONCE YOU HAVE SELECTED A TITLE:
Click on the title or More Info for more specific information about the item. The detailed record will display. The default screen displays author, title, and publication details as well as the location of the item at the library so you can locate it on the shelf if it is currently available.
- You can view a summary and Publishers Weekly review of the item by clicking A Look Inside
- To view a table of contents, song tracks, poems or other works within an anthology, and the like, click Catalog Record for full details.
- Click on Place Hold to place a hold on the item.
- Click on Find more by this author, Find more on these topics, or Nearby items on shelf to view related items
- Click on Change Display to modify how the catalog records' fields are displayed
- If the item you are interested in is an e-resource (e-book or downloadable audiobook), use the chain link icon to connect to it online. “[Electronic Resource]” will be next to the title.
TO RENEW AN ITEM:
Log in to My Account. Click on Renew My Materials and enter your library card number and PIN.
- The default setting is to Renew Selected Items. You may change it to Renew All if needed.
- Select the items to be renewed by checking the box next to each title.
- Click Renew Selected Items at the bottom of the page.
- You will be notified how many items were successfully renewed along with brief information about the items
- If an item cannot be renewed online, please call the library at (815) 942-6880.
TO CHANGE YOUR PIN:
The default PIN is the last 4 numbers of your library card. To change it to another PIN:
- Log in to My Account.
- Click on User PIN Change.
- You will be prompted to enter your library card number, your current PIN, and the new PIN twice.
- Click on Change PIN.
- We strongly recommend that you register your email address in My Account if you change your PIN. Staff does not have access to anyone’s PIN, especially if it has been changed, but a PIN is easily emailed to you through the catalog if you forget what yours is.
IF YOU FORGET YOUR PIN:
With an email address on file:
- Log in to My Account.
- Click on Send PIN.
- Enter your 14-digit library card number (without spaces) and click “Submit.”
Without an email address on file:
- Try using the last four digits of your library card number (the default PIN).
- If the default PIN does not work, please contact library staff at (815) 942-6880. They will help you reset your PIN.
IN MY ACCOUNT YOU CAN ALSO:
- Review your account--what's checked out and what's on hold, what (if anything) is overdue, how much you owe in fines, etc.
- Register your email address--this is strongly recommended as it makes retrieving your PIN easier
- Send PIN--you may have your PIN emailed to you if you've registered your email address
If you have any questions or need further assistance, please call the library at (815) 942-6880.
