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FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
About the Library Catalog
Getting Into the Catalog
How do I log in to the catalog?
What is my PIN?
I forgot my PIN. What should I do?
Searching the Classic Catalog
What does the library catalog include?
Is there a way to see a list of DVDs, CDs
or audiobooks that the library owns?
Is there a way to limit a search to just
DVDs or just videos?
I can't believe you don't have the title
I want--it's a bestseller!
I can't believe you don't have the title
I want--it's a classic!
If I can't find what I want in the library
catalog, what should I do?
Placing Holds
How do I place holds?
How many holds can I place at once?
How can I cancel a hold I have placed?
How long will it take to get something I've
placed a hold on?
Can I pick up my holds at any library branch?
Can the library notify me by e-mail when
my holds are available?
If I'm not allowed to place a hold, what
can I do?
Your Library Record
Can I find out the due dates on my borrowed
items or if I owe any overdue fines?
How can I renew materials online?
How do I log in to the catalog?
To log into the catalog, type the entire barcode number on your Old Colony Library
Network library card; it must be typed in without spaces. If you log in to the catalog
before searching, you will be able to place holds and check your library account
without re-typing your library card number for each task. When you are done, be sure to log out to protect the confidentiality of your library
account. If you do not have a library card or just want to do a quick search, you can search the catalog anonymously without logging in.
What is my PIN?
A PIN is a Personal Identification Number that provides additional confidentiality
for your library account. You must type in your PIN to place holds or view your
library account. All library users start out with the same PIN of ocln.
We encourage you to change your PIN to one known only to you for greater confidentiality.
I forgot my PIN. What should I do?
If you have changed your PIN from ocln to one known
only to you and have forgotten it, bring photo identification
or your library card to the library and request the staff
to look up your PIN for you. You can also do this by phone
with your library card number (617-376-1301).
What does the library catalog include?
The online library catalog lists all the materials
owned by the 28 member libraries of the Old Colony Library
Network, including books, CDs, videos, DVDs, books on tape
and CD, large print books, foreign language materials, magazines,
CD-ROMS, and more.
Is there a way to see what DVDs, CDs or audiobooks the
library owns?
To see a list of DVDs & CDs (Classic Catalog):
At the catalog seach screen, select Video Cassette
& DVD from the top (dark blue) search bar. At the
next screen, you may select a particular library or leave
the setting as it is, searching ALL OCLN libraries. Without
putting in any search terms, just click on Search.
This will give you a list of all the videocassettes &
DVDs available in the network or in the library you have picked.
They will appear generally with the newest titles first.
To see a list of musical recordings on CD & cassette (Classic Catalog):
At the catalog seach screen, select Audio Cassette &
Compact Disc from the top (dark blue) search bar. At
the next screen, you may select a particular library or leave
the setting as it is, searching ALL OCLN libraries. Without
putting in any search terms, just click on Search.
This will give you a list of all the cassettes & CDs available
in the network or in the library you have picked. They will
appear generally with the newest titles first.
To see a list of audiobooks (Classic Catalog):
At the catalog seach screen, select Books on Tape &
Compact Disc from the top (dark blue) search bar. At
the next screen, you may select a particular library or leave
the setting as it is, searching ALL OCLN libraries. Without
putting in any search terms, just click on Search.
This will give you a list of all the audiobooks on cassette
& CD available in the network or in the library you have
picked. They will appear generally with the newest titles
first.
Is there a way to limit a search to just DVDs or just videos?
To find DVDs only (Classic Catalog), start with a Video
Cassette & DVD search. Then type "DVD"
AND a keyword or words in the Keyword search box.
For example, "DVD and Harry Potter" will find a
list of Harry Potter movies on DVD only.
To find VHS videos only (Classic Catalog), start with a Video
Cassette & DVD search. Then type "VHS"
AND a keyword or words in the Keyword search box.
For example, "VHS and yoga" will find a list of
yoga videos.
Remember, you must type the word "and" between the
format word (DVD or VHS) and your other keywords, AND you
must select a Keyword search (not Title
or Cast Member).
I can't believe you don't have the title I want--it's a bestseller! What should I do?
If you have searched the catalog and see a bestseller or other new item owned by other OCLN libraries and not by Quincy, it could be that our copy is on order and just doesn't appear yet in the catalog. Library staff can put you on the reserve list and a hold will be placed when the title is put into the catalog.
I can't believe you don't have the title I want--it's a classic! What should I do?
If you have searched the catalog and get a message like "found no matches in
any library," check to make sure you are searching ALL libraries and not
just a Quincy location.
If the title I want is not in the library catalog, what should I do?
If the material you are looking for is not in the catalog (at any OCLN library location), it may be available from a library outside the Old Colony Library Network via the Massachusetts Virtual Catalog or via Interlibrary Loan. You can search for an item and request it directly in the Virtual Catalog or you can submit an Interlibrary Loan request online or in person at any Quincy library location. See Interlibrary Loan Borrowing Service for more details about the library's Interlibrary Loan service.
How do I place holds?
If an item is owned by another library or checked/charged out, you may be able
to place a hold on it. See Placing
Holds for details.
How many holds can I place at once?
You may place up to 15 holds.
How can I cancel a hold I have placed?
To cancel a hold, log in to the catalog with your library
card number and PIN and select Manage
My Account. Beneath the list of items you have checked
out, you will see a list of items you have on hold. Click
in the Cancel box next to each title you want to
cancel and then click on Cancel selected holds.
How long will it take to get something I've placed a hold on?
If the material is on the shelf at the owning library and there are no holds ahead of you, it should arrive within a week. If the material is checked out to another user and/or there are other holds ahead of you, there's no way to accurately predict how long it will take.
Can I pick up my holds at any library branch?
Whenever you place a hold on an item, a default pickup location displays. If
you want to pick up your holds at a different location, click on the down arrow
to the right of the pickup location and select another location from the list.
You can pick up holds at any Quincy location or at any other OCLN library location.
Do not select a location that begins with the letter "z" (for example, "zOCLN
Central Site").
Can the library notify me by e-mail when my holds are
available?
Yes. Register your e-mail address at the circulation desk
(617-376-1301) and the library will send you e-mail notification
when the items you placed on hold arrive or if you have overdue
materials. Use this option only if you check your e-mail regularly.
If your e-mail address changes, be sure to notify the library.
If I'm not allowed to place a hold, what can I do?
Usually when a hold is not allowed it is because the material
is new and the owning library has restricted its use, usually
for six months. You will see the designation LOCAL HOLDS
or NO HOLDS in the copy information section of the
title record. If Quincy does not own a copy, you can come
to or call the library (617-376-1301); library staff may
be able to request the item or place a hold on your behalf.
You can also travel to a library that owns the title and place
a hold there, or wait until the material becomes available
for network-wide holds in a few months.
Sometimes a hold is blocked when the material is for reference
only in the owning library or on reserve for the owning library's
users (typically, at Massasoit Community College or Eastern
Nazarene College). We recommend that you travel to the nearest
owning library to consult the material there. If a lookup
and some photocopied pages would be sufficient, contact the
Reference Department
and library staff can arrange to have the material checked
and photocopies supplied via fax or mail.
Can I find out the due dates on my borrowed items or if I owe any overdue fines?
When you are logged in to the catalog, select Manage My Account
to view items you have checked out and any fines due. You
will need your library card number (User
ID) and your PIN to log in. Be sure
to log out completely when finished.
How can I renew materials online?
To renew materials, log in to the catalog with your library card number and PIN and select Manage
My Account. Click in the checkboxes next
to each title you want to renew and then click on Renew Selected Items.
More Library Catalog Help
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