Using the Catalog

Catalog Tips | Viewing your Account | Holds (Reserves) | Renewing Items

Tips for Using the Catalog

• While the start page of the catalog allows you to view your account by entering your library card number and PIN, it is not necessary to enter any numbers to search the catalog.
• When searching for titles beginning with a, an or the, skip the a, an or the and begin searching with the next word.
• Ampersands (&) do not act the same way as the word and. A title with an ampersand will skip over the & as if it's not there. (For example, i.e. apples & oranges would be found in a list as apples oranges.) If you don't find your title typing it with the ampersand, it's worth trying it again spelling out the word and.
• A hyphen between two words puts a title in an alphabetical list as if they're combined into one word. A space between them treats them as two words. Again, it's worth trying a title both ways if you don't find what you're searching for the first time. (For an example, fat-free and fat free bring you to two different places in a "Start of title" search.)

Viewing your Account

• You can view your own account and see a list of materials you have checked out and their due dates; any titles you have placed on hold; and if you owe any money. You can also cancel holds that haven't yet been filled and renew items you have checked out.
• You enter your account from the start page of the catalog by entering your library card number and PIN, or from within the catalog by clicking on Your Account at the top of the screen and entering the numbers. (Your PIN is usually the last 4 digits of your telephone number. If you've tried that and it doesn't work, check with the Circulation Department at 929-7080, Option 3).

Placing and Canceling Holds

• You can have items held for you or sent from another library in our system, by placing a hold (reserve) through the catalog. In most cases, you'll click on the Place Hold button above the list of holdings for that title. You'll then need to enter your library card number and PIN. (Your PIN is usually the last 4 digits of your telephone number.) You'll be asked where you want to pick up the item, with the library you logged in as the default. Finally, press the Submit Hold button and you'll get a verification that your reserve has been successfully submitted or a warning that it failed. When a copy becomes available for you, you'll be notified by e-mail or US mail, depending on which option you have in your registration record.
• Place Hold is usually the best way to place a hold and will put you line for the next available copy, but if you need a specific copy, such as the March issue of a magazine or part 2 of a 3-part set, click instead on "Place hold on a specific issue or volume." After you enter your library card number and PIN and select a pick-up location, you'll be asked to check the box for the specific copy (or copies) you need. Holds placed this way need to be processed by library staff, so will not be immediatedly retrieved or appear right away in your account.
• The most popular items, such as bestsellers and DVD feature films, are often limited to holds from patrons of the owning library. (You'll see an indication such as "for Oshkosh holds only.") You could go to one of those libraries and check the item out if it's on the shelf, but you may not place a hold on it through the catalog. Most libraries do not loan Reference Books, so there will not be a hold-able copy of many reference works.
• You can place holds on On-Order items as soon as any library has ordered a title. But note that if your library doesn't order it and all libraries that do make their copies local holds, it may not be possible to fill your hold.
• To cancel a hold, go into your account. Enter a check in the box of any title in your list of holds that you no longer wish to have held for you, then click on the Cancel Selected Holds button. To cancel all your holds, click straight on the Cancel All Holds button without selecting titles.

Renewing Items

• You can renew your checked-out items yourself. Items may be renewed for one additional circulation period (21 days for 21-day items, 7 days for 7-day items) if there is no one waiting for them.
• To do that, go into your account. In your list of checked-out items, check the box in front of the title(s) you wish to renew and then click on "Renew selected items" button. (If there's no box to check, you've already renewed the title and cannot renew it again.)
• You'll then either see the new due date(s) or get a message that the title(s) could not be renewed. The most common reason for not being able to renew an item is that another patron has placed a hold on it.