Catalog Help

LIBRARY CATALOG HELP

Searching in iBistro
Basic Searching
How and When to Use Alphabetical Searching
How and When to Use Keyword Searching
Tips for Author Searches
Tips for Title Searches
Tips for Subject Searches
Tips for Audio/Video/Large Print Searches
Tips for Magazine Searches
Tips for Song/Poem/Story Searches

Working with Search Results
Limiting Searches
Locating an Item
Placing Holds

Accessing Your Account
My Account/Change My PIN
Checkouts
Select Items to Renew
Holds

Searching in iBistro
Using the iBistro library catalog, you can search for books, videos, audios and other library materials in the 28 member libraries of the Old Colony Library Network.

Basic Searching

Type your search terms in the Search For box.
Select the type of search you want to conduct.
- Keyword finds records containing the words you typed.
- Alphabetical brings you to an alphabetical list of authors, titles or subjects (punctuation is relevant and affects search results)
Select the location where you want to search.
- Choosing ALL allows you to search all 27 libraries in the OCLN network.
- Quincy - All Locations will limit your search to all Quincy library locations.
- Quincy - Thomas Crane will search only the Main Library collection. You can also limit your search to another Quincy branch location. If you need the item today, you may want to limit your search to Quincy locations.
Select the category in which you want to search.
- Words or Phrase includes all searchable parts of a record, including author, title, subject, publisher, and summary or content notes, if present.
- Author includes author, illustrator, editor, performer, actor, etc.
- Title includes title, subtitle and alternate title, if present.
- Subject includes all subject terms assigned to a record.

How and When to Use Alphabetical Searching

Use when you know the exact title or the beginning of the title.
Use when you know at least the author's last name and first initial.
Use when you know an exact Library of Congress subject heading and want to find works on that topic.

How and When to Use Keyword Searching

Use when you are looking for a specific work and know main words in the title but not the exact title.
Use when you are looking for a specific work and know the author's last name and what it is about.
Use when you know the last names of two or more authors or editors of a work.
Use when you are looking for a topic but don't know an exact subject heading.
When you need more precise searching with keywords, switch to Advanced Search.

Tips for Author Searches
An author can include an actor in a movie, a performer on a musical recording, an illustrator of a book, etc.

If you are sure of the author's name and its exact spelling:

Type the name of the author in the Search For box, in any order.
Leave the circle next to Keyword highlighted.
Select Author.

If you are not sure of the exact spelling of the author's last name:

Type the name of the author in the Search For box, last name first.
Click in the circle next to Alphabetical.
Select Author.
You will see an alphabetical list of author's names, closest to the name you typed in. If you find no exact match, you can browse nearby names for similar spellings.

Tips for Title Searches

If you are sure of the exact title:

Type the first few words of the title in the Search For box.
Click in the circle next to Alphabetical.
Select Title.
You will see an alphabetical list of titles closest to the title you typed in. Click on a title to view a list of matching items.

If you can only remember certain words in the title:

Type words from the title in the Search For box. Try to avoid common words like "the," "is," and "for."
Leave the circle next to Keyword highlighted.
Select Title.
This search will bring you to a list of records with those words in their titles.

Tips for Subject Searches

Keyword Searching:

Type the words of your topic in the Search For box.
- Be as specific as possible. A search for United States History will bring up too many records.
- Use many words to narrowly define your search.
Leave the circle next to Keyword highlighted.
Select Words or Phrase.
- It may be tempting to click on Subject, but you should only do this if you are certain of the terms used in official Library of Congress Subject Headings.
This search will bring you to a list of titles with all of your keywords together in any one field of the record.

Tips for Audio/Video/Large Print Searches

Select the format you prefer from the top of the search screen (Audio Cassette & Compact Disc; Books on Tape & Compact Disc; Video Cassette & DVD; or Large Print Materials).
To find DVDs only, 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, 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.
A Books on Tape & Compact Disc search alone will not find all recorded books in the catalog; to find all books on cassette, try an Audio Cassette & Compact Disc search as well.
ALL libraries will be searched unless you select a particular location.
To browse the list of titles in a particular format, do not enter any search terms--just click on Search. This will give you a list of all the titles available within the selected format, either in the entire network or in the library location you have picked. Titles will appear generally with the newest titles first.
To search for specific authors, titles or subjects within a selected format, following the above tips for Author, Title and Subject searches.

Tips for Magazine Searches
Beginning with calendar year 2003, magazine titles will display differently in the library catalog. The older records (prior to 2003) will gradually be phased out, but in the meantime, there are two different ways to search for magazines.

For pre-2003 magazine issues

If you are sure of the exact title of the magazine:

In the Search For box, type the title of the magazine, followed by the word "magazine." For example, type "psychology today magazine."
Click in the circle next to Alphabetical.
Select Title.
This search will bring up your title within an alphabetical list of magazine titles, sorted alphabetically by owning town. Click on a title to view a list of matching items.

For 2003+ magazine issues

In the Search For box, type the title of the magazine.
Click in the circle next to Keyword.
Select Periodical Title.
This search will bring up journal records with your keyword(s) in the title. Click on a title to view holdings in all OCLN libraries.

To place a hold on a particular magazine issue

After clicking on Display Full Details to see the magazine you want, click on the Hold (with image of hand) button.
Choose the library where you would like to pick up the item.
Click on Place Hold.

Tips for Song/Poem/Story Searches
If you are looking for a particular song, poem or short story that may be contained in a larger collection, you can use a keyword search.

Type words from the song/poem/story title in the Search For box. Try to avoid common words like "the," "is," and "for."
Leave the circle next to Keyword highlighted.
Select Words or Phrase.
This search will bring you to a list of records with those words together in at least one field of the record.

Working with Search Results

Limiting Searches
If you come up with too many search results, you can refine your search by clicking on the Limit Search button.

Use item Material Type to limit to a particular format, such as video, audio or book.
Use Age Range to limit your search results to juvenile, young adult or adult materials.
You can choose a year of publication (2001) or a range of years (1999-2001) in the pubyear box.
Other options are to limit materials to ones written in a particular language and to sort your results by author, title or relevance, rather than from new to old.

Locating an Item
After finding a title, click on the Display Full Details to view the record for the item.

You will see the Item Information screen, which includes information about the location and availability of copies.
If you see the message Item not found at your Library or Found no matches in any library, try searching ALL locations to find material owned by all OCLN libraries.
If Quincy does not own the item or all Quincy copies are in use, you may be able to place a hold.

Refining your Search
At the Full Details screen of a title, most text that is blue is hyperlinked to other related records in the catalog. For example, if you click on the Items With the Same Author link on the left side of the screen, you will find other titles by this author. You can also select the Catalog Record screen to see a list of subject terms; if you click on a subject term, you will find other titles with the same subject.

Placing Holds
If an item is owned by another library or is "checked/charged out" at this time, you may place a hold on it. New materials, including videos and DVDs, are often available for holds only at the owning library. If you see the designation "NO HOLDS" or "LOCAL HOLDS," you may not be able to place a hold.

If you have not logged in to the catalog already, you will have to log in now by typing your entire library barcode number, without spaces, and your PIN. Your PIN will be ocln unless and until you choose a new PIN known only to you.
After clicking on Display Full Details to see the record of the item, click on the Hold (with image of hand) button on the left side of the screen.
Choose the library where you would like to pick up the item. Do not choose a location that begins with the letter "z" (for example, "zOCLN Central Site").
Click on Place Hold.

If an item is on the shelf at a Quincy location and you plan to pick up the item there, we recommend that you do not place a hold on it from home or office. It is better to just go pick up the item. You can also call the library first; if possible, library staff will check the shelf and hold the item at the circulation desk for you.

Accessing Your Account
You can access information about your library account by clicking on the Manage My Account button. To use any feature of Manage My Account, you must have your library card number and PIN. Everyone will start with ocln as his or her PIN.

My Account/Change My PIN
At the top of the Manage My Account screen, you will see the current total of items checked out and on hold and a link to Change My PIN. User PIN Change allows you to change your PIN from ocln to one only known to you. We encourage you to change your PIN for greater confidentiality.

Checkouts
The Checkouts list shows you which items are checked out to your account, when they are due back, and any charges you owe the library.

Select Items to Renew
Selects Items to Renew allows you to renew materials you have checked out, if renewals are available for those items.

Holds
Holds shows you a list of all the items you have on reserve, whether or not they are currently available for pickup and where. You may also cancel holds on this list.