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What is
the Library's Online Catalog?
An Online
Catalog is the Library's catalog in the form of an electronic
database. Long gone are the days of the old card catalogs.
Everything is now easily accessible and searchable via any computer
with internet access. You can also access your personal
library account, place holds, and renew checked out items all
through the Online Catalog.
Searching
How do
I access WCPL's Online Catalog?
Visit our
website at
http://www.wellscolibrary.org. Each page of our site has a
search box titled "Find books, movies, music and more!" which will
search our Online Catalog. It is that easy!
How do
I begin searching the Online Catalog?
Simply
type a word or phrase in the search box provided on our website.
When you press the Go button a search through our Online Catalog
begins. Your search will search all words throughout the item
record resulting in many hits. If using our Enhanced searching
you can narrow your search results with
the options on the right side of the page. Once you find what
you are looking for click on the item title. In the item
record click Check Availability/Request Item which will open
a new window (or tab depending on the internet browser) showing the
item availability.
How do
I limit my search to a specific type of item (book, magazine,
movie)?
Searching
for a specific type of item has never been easier with our Enhanced
searching. If, for
example, I would like an instructional video on how to use a
computer I might begin my search by typing "how to use a computer"
in the search box provided on our website This will
bring up many results. On the right side of the page there are
options to limit my search results. Because I am only looking
for videos relevant to my search I will select Video Disk.
My hit list now only shows items available on Video Disk (DVD).
How do
I see a list of new items?
Click on
the
New Items link under the search box provided on our website.
Does my
search have to be spelled correctly?
No!
Enhanced searching uses "fuzzy search" technology which will bring
up information likely to be relevant to what you are looking for.
How do
I place a hold on an item?
Using
Enhanced searching, once you
find what you are looking for click on the item title. In the
item record click Request Item under the Holds column.
Enter your User ID (library card number),
PIN, and select the library where you would like to pickup the item
then click the Place Hold button.
Tip:
If you are placing holds on several items log in to the Online Catalog
first by using the traditional catalog search. You will remain logged in until you
log out, or your session times out. This way you will not have
to enter your login information for each item you are placing on hold.
How do I search for a series?
With
Enhanced searching, if you know the series name simply do a search
for that series. For example, to search for books in the Left
Behind series I would type "Left Behind series" as my search term.
How do
I know what book is next in a series?
The
What's
Next?: Books In Series™ database of the Kent District Library
is a database of series fiction. This is a great place to
start to get a list of books in a series.
My Account
How do I
access my account?
To access
your account you must log in to the Online Catalog.
To do this you will need your library card number and your PIN.
Once you are logged in you can review your account to see items you
currently have checked out and any outstanding bills, change your
PIN, change your address, renew currently checked out items and
remove favorites from your favorites list.
What is
a PIN?
PIN is an
acronym for Personal Identification Number. Very simply
speaking it is your password. You may have received your PIN
when you got your library card. If you do not know your PIN a
staff member at the Checkout Desk will be happy to give it to you.
We are unable to provide PINs over the phone.
How do I change my PIN?
Log in to
the online catalog and go to My Account. Click on
User PIN
Change. Type your PIN then enter, and re-enter, your new PIN.
How do I renew
my checked out items online?
Log in to
the online catalog and go to My Account. Click on
Renew My
Materials. Select the items to be renewed by placing a
checkmark next to each item and click Renew Selected Items. If
you would like to renew all of your checked out items select the
Renew all radio button and click Renew Selected Items. Items
that have holds cannot be renewed. Art prints, entertainment
videos and magazines also cannot be renewed.
How do I change my address?
Log in to
the online catalog and go to My Account. Click on
Change My Address. After you have filled in all the
information click on the Send button. A staff member
will receive the request and make the necessary changes to your
account.
How can I view my bills?
Log in to
the online catalog and go to My Account. Click on
Review My Account. Any outstanding bills will be
displayed on the Account Summary tab.
How can I view items checked out?
Log in to
the online catalog and go to My Account. Click on
Review My Account. Click the Checkouts tab.
A list of currently checked out items will be displayed along with
the due date for each item and estimated fines where applicable.
How do I view
items I have on hold?
Log in to
the online catalog and go to My Account. Click on
Review My Account. Click the Holds tab. A
list of your holds will be displayed.
How do
I cancel a hold I have on an item?
Log in to
the online catalog and go to My Account. Click on
Review My Account. Click the Holds tab. A
list of your holds will be displayed. Place a checkmark by the
hold you would like to cancel then press the Cancel selected
holds button.
What are Favorites?
You can
mark your favorite authors or subjects within our Online Catalog.
Then when new items by your favorite authors or subjects come into
the library you will receive an email notification. This will
only work if the library has your email address. If you would
like to give the library your email address to receive these
notifications fill out a Change My Address form and include
your email address.
How do
I add Favorites?
Log in to
the online catalog then search for an item of interest and click
the Details button. Under the Keep button on the
right hand side select either Tell me when new materials by this
author are available or Tell me when new materials on these
topics are available.
How do I remove Favorites?
Log in to
the online catalog and go to My Account. Click
Remove Favorites. Please a checkmark by the favorites you
would like to remove and click Remove Selected Authors/Subjects.
Request Material
Can I request items to be ordered?
Yes.
If there is an item you would like that we do not have in our
collection you can request that we either order the item or get the
item for you from another library (Interlibrary Loan). To make
this request via the Online Catalog log
in and click Request Material. Select either
Interlibrary Loan or Recommend to Order. Be sure to
include as much information about the item as possible so our staff
is able to successfully fill your request.
Note:
There is a $1 charge per Interlibrary Loan request.
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