Help Center

• Searching
• Advanced Keyword Search Tips
• Saving your searches
• Renewals
• Fee Payment
• My Lists
• Reading History
• Freeze a Hold or Reactivate a Hold
• My Record Feeds

Searching

Type the keyword you want to find. For example:

• design
• bleachers grisham

Search Tips

Wildcards	Words may be right-hand truncated using an asterisk ('*') in place of other characters. The '*' wildcard may also be embedded in a search string. You may use '?' to replace a single character anywhere within a word. Examples : environment* polic*, wom?n
Boolean Operators	Use "and" or "or" to specify multiple words in any field, any order. Use "and not" to exclude words. Example : stocks and bonds Example : (alaska or canada) and (adventure and not vacation)
Field limits	A field limit causes the system to search only the specified field for the specified word(s).
Grouping	Keyword search results are usually grouped by relevance to bring the most likely titles to the top of the list. Each group represents a similar level of relevance and results are sorted within the group by date or title. To get an ungrouped result set, use boolean operators to form a complex query.

Back to top

Advanced Keyword Search Tips

Multiple Words

When searching multiple words the system will automatically supply the Boolean "and" operator between each word; multiple words entered for the search will all occur somewhere in the retrieved records though not necessarily in the order entered. Both examples on the right will retrieve the same results.

Phrase Searches

Search for complete phrases by enclosing them in quotation marks. Words enclosed in double quotes will appear together in all results exactly as typed.

Wildcards

*   Matches any number of non-space characters, starting at the specified position in the word. For example, "comput*" will match all words that begin with "comput" (e.g., "computer", "computation", etc.).
The '*' wildcard may also be embedded in a search string.

?   You may use a question mark ('?') to replace a single character anywhere within a word.

Boolean Operators

Use AND or OR to specify multiple words in any field, any order. Use AND NOT to exclude words. Select the operator you wish to use from the selection list on the Advanced Search form.

Field Limits

Field limits may be specified by selecting a field limit from the selection list. These limits appear before the word or phrase to be searched. A field limit causes the system to search only the specified field for the specified word(s).

Field Limits and their meanings:

• Author: Search only author fields
• Title: Search only title fields
• Subject: Search only subject fields
• Note: Search only note fields

Grouping

Keyword search results are usually grouped by relevance to bring the most likely titles to the top of the list. Each group represents a similar level of relevance and results are sorted within the group by date or title. To get an ungrouped result set, use boolean operators to form a complex query.

 Most relevant titles 

 Highly relevant titles 

 Very relevant titles 

 Relevant titles 

 Other relevant titles 

Back to top

Saving your searches

If you have a favorite author or subject for which you often search when using the catalog, you can save the search with the click of a button. This will prevent you from having to key in the search each time and let you place reserves on new materials quicker.

How to:

1. Log in to My Account.
2. Click on the "New Search" button.
3. Search for your favorite author, subject, title, etc. or create an advanced keyword search including limits to material type, language, publication year, etc..
4. When your results are displayed, click the button marked "Save as preferred search".
5. The next time that you log in to My Account, you can click the "Preferred Searches" button to see a list of your saved searches.
6. Click on the search link associated with any of the preferred search terms in the list to quickly execute your search.
7. You can be alerted of new materials added to the library collection which match your searches. Just check the "Mark for Email" box and be sure that your patron record information includes your current email address.

Back to top

Renewals

Library cardholders may renew their own materials online. All material may be renewed except for materials with reserves and materials on which you owe fines.

How to:

1. Log in to My Account.
2. If not the default view click the "Items currently checked out" link to view the materials you have checked out.
3. Select the materials you want to renew by checking the boxes in the RENEW column and then click the Renew Selected button. If you want to renew everything, click the Renew ALL button.
4. If you cannot renew items, a message will appear on the screen. If you are successful, a new due date will appear in the "STATUS" column. Always check the STATUS column for information on the success or failure of your renewal.

Back to top

Fee Payment

You can now pay any fine over $2 online using your Visa or MasterCard.

Here is how to get started:

1. Log into MY Account.
2. Select the amount in unpaid fines and bills.
3. Select "PAY ONLINE".
4. Select the fines that you wish to pay, complete all of the relevant information and click submit.
5. A confirmation page will appear next. You can print a copy of your receipt at this time and/or click OK. If you have a valid email address, receipt of payment will be sent to the address you entered in step 4.

Back to top

My Lists

My Lists is a feature of your library account. Save subject lists and add titles to the list anytime you are logged in. Multiple lists may be made. The system will ask you to which list you would like to add the title. Your account will show all lists. You may delete your lists at any time.

Back to top

Reading History

Reading History is an opt-in feature of your account. If you opt-in, your Reading History will begin when you check out your next items. You may export your Reading History, download to your computer or delete all or part of your list. Opt-out at any time.

Back to top

Freeze a Hold or Reactivate a Hold

To freeze a request(hold)

• Click on My Account and enter your name and barcode.
• Click on the link to "Requests (holds)."
• Check the box in the Freeze column for the hold (far right).
• Click the "Update List" button.
• Click “Yes” on the prompt screen to verify the request to freeze.
• Your account will refresh the display of requests. If the request satisfies the conditions allowing a freeze, the display will show the frozen request. If the request does not satisfy the conditions allowed to freeze, the display will show the following error message in the Freeze column:
• “This hold cannot be frozen”.
• If freezing a hold is NOT allowed, you will see no checkbox available.
Reasons why a Freeze request may not be allowed:
• In Transit
• On Hold Shelf
• Hold is next in line to be filled
• This hold is too old (255 days)
• Hold list has fewer than the number of available items

To reactivate a request (hold):

• View your requests (holds)
• Uncheck the box in the Freeze column for the request.
• Click the "Update List" button.

Back to top

My Records Feeds

You can use the My Record Feeds to subscribe an RSS feed of patron-specific information, for example, indicating that materials are ready for pickup or are due soon. The Classic Catalog displays the information feed using a complex and unique identifier to ensure only the patron will view the relevant feed.

To use My Record Feeds, you must log into My Account and then click the My Record Feeds link. You can then subscribe to a My Record feed in any of the following ways:

• Using the Live Bookmark feature of a browser or other RSS feed reader.
• Manually adding a Live Bookmark to the browser or other RSS feed reader.
• Coping the URL from the link in the record and using it to subscribe using your RSS feed reader.

To view My Record Feeds:

1. Subscribe to My Record feeds using a feed reader (which can be part of a portal browser, email client, or as a standalone program).
2. Launches the feed reader and the feed reader requests the latest version of the patron's My Record Feed.
3. The system generates a feed and sends it to the URL for the patron record
4. Views the feed in a feed reader. The feed contains a title and a link. For example: Materials ready for pickup on hold shelf
5. Clicks the link in the feed.
6. If you're not currently logged-in to a My Accout session in the browser, the system displays a Login screen requiring you to verify before accessing the your record.

Back to top