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Using the Palo Alto Library Catalog on the web
By John Horan
Let’s acquaint ourselves with some of the features of the internet/web
Library Web Pages. We will look at the process of searching and requesting a
book via the web. (We are using the MS Internet Explorer browser for this
example.)
The URL (web address) for the Library Catalog is:
webcat.cityofpaloalto.org.
Enter the URL into the 3rd row on your web browser which is labeled ‘address’
on the left side. This will invoke a web page showing on the upper left corner
‘LIBRARY City of Palo Alto Library Web Site’.
Basic SearchClick BASIC SEARCH (dark blue line) This will invoke a web page entitled Basic
Search.
On the line starting with ‘search’ on the left side we see 'ANY WORD's'.
(Clicking on the down arrow shows other search options such as author, title,
etc.).
In the next input box to the right we enter ‘Camus, Albert’ then we click GO. It returns 43 titles.
We scroll down to item number 3, "Camus, a collection of critical essays". We
click ‘Request Item’ on the right side of the page.
A web page appears that asks us to Enter Library Card Number and the last 4
digits of the Phone Number. After we enter this information we click on LOGIN.
A web page appears entitled: Request Confirmation Dialogue Box. It informs
us: Your hold queue position is: 1 You will be notified when this title is
available by: e-mail. Select a location to pick up the material (Main Library,
Mitchell Park etc.). Your request for this title will be effective until:
04/02/2006
Click REQUEST to confirm the hold. Then we click ‘Return to Searching’ or
‘Logout’. Let’s choose ‘Return to Searching’ and see the 43 titles we saw
before. If we click on a title a web page will appear showing information about
the book, which library it is in and if it is available.
Limiting a search to a specific language
Let’s assume that we want only works of Camus that are written in the french
language.
(If you have lost the page showing Camus’ 43 titles follow the above search
process again.)
To the right of the word SEARCH, we see ‘LIMIT BY’. We click the small down
arrow on the right side of the input box that contains the word ‘select’. We see
a drop down list of limiting options. We select ITEMS IN FRENCH, then we click
GO. It returns 4 items. We click the title of L'Etranger, then we click the
REQUEST ITEM button.
We may also use POWER SEARCH which is also found in the dark blue line on top
of the Library search page.
Power Search
Here we can search Mo View, Santa Clara and Peninsula (San Mateo County) as well
as Palo Alto Libraries. We can also limit the search by language as above, by
specific library in Palo Alto (Mitchell Park, Children's Library), by Media
(DVD, Audio) by Format (Audio Books on CD Adult Fiction, Audio Books on Tape
Adult Non Fiction) and by New Shelves (Children's Non Fiction etc).
NOTE THAT WHEN I INCLUDED THE LIMIT ‘ITEM IN FRENCH’ IT DID NOT SUPPORT
SEARCHING the Mo View, Santa Clara or Peninsula libraries.
Review My Account
(The light blue line)
Again we enter library card number and phone number. Here we can review Items Out with the option to renew, Hold Requests, Fines and
Messages.
We will receive courtesy notices via email informing us that titles will soon
be due and giving us the option of renewing on line.
The processes described above are applicable to CDs, Talking Books, Videos
and DVDs. | |
