Using the Online Catalog

Tabs 

Click on the Search Tab to find an item in the catalog.  Click on the My Account Tab to manage items you have out and to view your personal information.

Subtabs       

The subtabs will change depending on which tab you have selected.  These are the different search options that you can select. 

Your Account     

Click on these buttons to Login to the catalog and add items that you want to remember for later.

Index and Search Box

The Index is for selecting the category you would like to search by (i.e. Author, Title Browse) using the drop down arrow and highlighting which index you would like to use.  The Search Box is where you type what you are looking for.

Searching

The catalog has three different types of searches all of which are under the Search tab.  They are Basic, Advanced, and Combined. 

Doing a Basic Search

A Basic search is a Keyword search.  Simply type what you wish to search for into the Search box and then press Enter or click on the GO button.  The Keyword search will search for Authors, Titles and Subjects.  This search is very broad and should get you the most number of results.

To get a more specific index, simply click on the down arrow in the Search Index box and then highlight your choice.  Then enter your words in the search box.  Press enter of click the GO button.

Doing an advanced search

An advanced search is more complicated but will get you more precise results.

Here you can use Boolean operators (and, or, not, xor) to get specific results.  In the above example the index on top has been switched from the default KEYWORD(S) search to the AUTHOR Keyword Search.  The next index has been changed to SERIES.  Through this search you will find all of the items written by David Eddings in the Tamuli series.  There are up to four fields that can be utilized.  When you are finished entering you search click on the GO button.

Placing a Hold

A hold can either be placed from the Results list or from the item screen by clicking on the Place Hold button.  

Once the button is clicked you will be prompted to log in if you have not already logged in. 

You will then be asked to confirm your Hold.  Click on the Confirm Hold button to place a hold on the item.

If you want to continue searching, click on Return to searching button.  If you are finished click on the Logout and Return button.

Doing a Combined Search

A combined search is different from an Advanced Search in that no Boolean operators are used.  You simply enter information into which fields you want to use and click the Go button.  Not all fields have to be used in order for this search to yield results.

Notice in the above example that the Title and Author fields have nothing placed in them.  You only need to use those fields that will benefit your search.

History

By clicking on the history subtab you can see all of the searches you have done today in iPAC.
You are told which type of search you did and the search can be redone or altered by clicking on that search’s Edit link.

Viewing Results

At the bottom of any results lists you can also enter the numbers of which titles you want to add to your list Mylist so that you can reference it later.

Below the Mylist field you will notice a place to enter your email address.  You can email the items that you have added to your list in a variety of formats which can be selected by simply clicking on the appropriate button (HTML, MLA, etc.).

Selecting an item from any results list

After you have executed your search you will receive a results list.  You can select a title by either clicking on the title or on the picture of the book if one exists.

Once you have selected an item from the results list, information about that title will appear and some new options will also appear.

Under the center Copy/Holding Information bar is where the item is located, the call number, and its status.  You can place a hold from here by clicking on the place hold button.

Best Sellers

By clicking on the Best Sellers subtab you can view many lists showing you a variety best selling books divided into categories.  Simply click on the name of the list and that list’s results list will appear.

Your Account

You can login to your iPAC account by clicking on the Login button in the upper right corner of the screen.  You will then be prompted for your barcode and the last 4 digits of your phone number.  Click the Login button after you have entered all of the appropriate information.  You will know of the login was successful because in the upper right side of the corner it should say “Welcome <your name>”.

Once you have logged in you can click on the My Account Tab.  The My Account screen you will see some new subtabs that you can click on.

The default screen that opens is the summary view which gives you a synopsis of everything that is going on with your Checked Out and Renewals library account.  For more detail click on one of the other subtabs.

Click on the Checked Out subtab, you can renew items by clicking on the empty box at the very left side of the item from your Checked Out item list.  Once you have checked the items you want to renew, click on the Renew Button.  You can only renew items that are not on hold for others.  You can also organize the items by due date by clicking on the Due Date header.

Hold Status

To see if you have any holds waiting for you click on the holds subtab.  The items you have waiting for you will be under the “Requested Items Waiting for Pickup” column, while those holds that you are still waiting for will be under the “Requested Items Not Yet Available” column.  You can cancel a request by clicking on the box on the left side next to the item and then clicking on the Cancel Request button.

Fines

To View you fines click on the Fines/Blocks subtab.  Any items that you have overdue are listed here and any holds that you have cancelled as well.

Update Card

Lastly, you can make sure you address is current by clicking on the Profile subtab.  You can also change your email address here.  If you address is not current you can click on the Request Change button and the librarian will change it the next time you check out a book.