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1. Introduction 

This chapter shows you how to perform basic search functions using Library•Solution PAC.  Library•Solution PAC is a public access catalog that utilizes your computer's Internet Web browser (such as Microsoft's Explorer or Netscape's Navigator).  If you are unfamiliar with the navigational features of your Web browser, consult the browser's Help before proceeding with instructions that follow. 

This chapter describes how to:

NOTE: Some of the features described here are optional and are noted as such.  A PAC Configuration editor allows the library system administrator to determine what features will be made available and how they will be displayed.  Your actual screens may be different than those shown in this chapter. 

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2. Elements of the Home Page 

If you are using the PAC in a library, the home page of your public access catalog should already be displayed (Figure 1).  (Your home page can be customized to include your library's name and logo, e-mail address, and other information.  Additional features can be modified by authorized library staff using the PAC Configuration program.) 

If you are using the PAC from outside the library's local network, security features may be in place that limit your access to certain types of databases.  For additional information on databases that can be searched remotely, contact a librarian. 


Home Page

Figure 1.  Library•Solution PAC sample library home page

From the home page,  you can use the following buttons to reach the features of the Public Access Catalog: 

YSM

Figure 2.  Sample YouSeeMore page

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3. Using the Patron Review Feature 

The Patron Review feature lets you examine the information in your patron file on the library automation system, review items, and determine the position of on-hold items on the Holds list. This password protected file includes notification/billing information and the status of holds, fines, checkouts, etc., for your account.  If the features have been enabled, you can also renew items from the Patron Review window, change your PIN, cancel pending holds, and view saved searches.  (If Circulation is configured to collect patron loan history and this feature is enabled in the PAC Configuration, you will also be able to view your loan history at this location.) 

To view your patron information, click the Patron Review button on the home page to reach the request form (Figure 3). 

Patron Request Form

Figure 3.  The patron request form

Enter the Patron ID number, press Tab, enter the PIN, and select the Submit Request button.  The Patron Information window (Figure 4) will appear.  If you have items checked out or on hold, they will be listed.  You may renew items from this window by clicking the appropriate boxes and clicking the Renew Checked Items button.  (If you do not have this information, check with the Circulation Desk.) 

Patron Review

Figure 4.  The Patron Information window

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The PAC has an optional feature that allows you to change your PIN number.  If the feature is enabled, a Change PIN button appears in the Patron Information window.  To change your PIN number, click this button to display the Change Patron Information window (Figure 5).  Enter your Current PIN and New PIN.  Then re-enter your new PIN and click the Submit Change button to complete the process. 


Change PIN No

Figure 5. The Change Patron Information window

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4. Finding Community Information 

The Community Information feature lets you search the library’s database of information related to local issues, events, and other resources in your area. 

To use this feature: click the Community Information button on the PAC home page to reach the Community Information window (Figure 6).  Type your search term(s) in the blank box on the left (for example, “hotlines”).  Then select a search category from the pulldown menu on the right and press Enter.  If more than one item related to your query is available, a results set will be displayed.  Click the results set and select an item from the list to view an individual Community Information record (Figure 7).  Use the Save to List and Review List buttons to create a bibliography of community information resources. 

 

9_05
Figure 6.  The Community Information window

  9_06

Figure 7.  A Community Information record

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5. Search Window Elements 

Selecting the Catalog button on the home page displays the Search Selection page (Figure 8).  From here you can: 

 

To perform a general search of the catalog, type anything in the search query box on the Search Selection page and click Search.  The results returned are usually based on searching the author, title, and subject categories in the catalog; your library may have selected different search criteria.  (Search results are interpreted in the following pages.) 


Search Selection Page

Figure 8.  The Search Selection page

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6. Viewing the Simple Search Process 

Understanding the options available in the simple search process (the Search option) will help you plan your search strategy and obtain consistent search results.  In general, when you perform a simple search you: 

a. Enter the term(s) to be searched in the appropriate box (Figure 9a);  

b. Select the field to be searched (authors, titles, subjects, notes, publisher, or series) (Figure 9b); 

c. Select the search type (begin with, contain, closely match, stem from, or sound like) (Figure 9c).  (For more information on search types, see the Search Types section that follows.) 

d. Limit the search by date, language, format, place, collection, and/or branch if necessary by using the Set Limits button (Figure 9d).  (Limiting by location can be enabled or disabled through the PAC Configuration module.) 

e. Click the Search button to launch the query and display a list of matches (Figure 9e).  Note: The PAC has an optional feature that lets you sort search results by various criteria (such as Title, Author, Publication Date, Availability, and Material Type.)  If this feature is available from this PAC, select the radio button beside one of these criteria (or highlight the desired feature on the drop-down menu) to automatically resort the list.  An optional drop-down list on the left side of the screen lets you set the “save list” options: saved checked items to a list, save all items to a list, or uncheck all selections. 

f. Select an item on the list of matches to display the item record (Figure 9f).  (In some cases, you will need to select from a second results list before an individual record is displayed.) 

If the feature is enabled at your library, you can save your search by clicking the Save Search button on the toolbar.  When the Search Saver window is displayed (Figure 10), enter the appropriate information and click the Save button.  The saved searches can be retrieved through the Patron Review feature. 

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Simple Search a

Figure 9a.  Enter search term(s) 

  Simple Search b

Figure 9b.  Select field to be searched 

Simple Search c

Figure 9c.  Select type of search to be performed 

  Simple Search d

Figure 9d. Limit search by date, language, format, place, collection and/or branch if needed. 

Simple Search e

Figure 9e. Click the Search button to display a list of matches 

  Simple Search f

Figure 9f. Select an item on the list of matches to display a record

Search Saver

Figure 10. The Search Saver window

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Search Types 

The results of your search may vary widely depending on the type of search you select. 

Example: A search for titles that begin with Shakespeare retrieves only items with this word at the start of the title field.  Only include leading articles (A, An, The) in your search that are an essential part of the title, e.g. A is for Apple.

Examples: a search for cat looks for cat, cats, calc, and case; a search for apply looks for apply, apple, applied, and April; a search for read looks for read, lead, and real.  Search results are organized alphabetically (not by relevance) according to the search type used, and unexpected results may occur. 

Examples: a search for scream looks for scream, screaming, and screamed; a search for guitars looks for guitars and guitar; a search for sing looks for sing, sang, and sung

NOTE: The PAC can be configured to perform the other types of searches listed above when the designated search type fails to yield results.  (Staff can also set the order in which search  types are used .)  For example, if a "contains" search for "Shakespeare" does not produce results, the system can continue the same word search using the "begin with," "closely match," ‘exactly match," "stem from," and "sound like" search types. 

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If you start a Browse or Begins with search with the articles A, AN, or THE (e.g., A to Zoo), these articles are included in the search query.  Other types of queries ignore these articles when searching. 

The Home and Help buttons are available throughout the search process: the first returning you to the PAC home page, and the second providing access to online Help page.  (The Search, Browse, and Combination Search buttons are also available and are described later.)  Notice that some of the text on various pages is underlined, indicating that additional information is linked to selected text.  If you wish to look at the screen previously displayed during your search, select the Back button on your web browser. 

Search History 

After you have searched the PAC, a History button appears at the top of the page.  You can click the button to review previous searches and search results.  Only searches that used the Search or Browse features are recorded.  (Search histories are erased when you click the Home button or when the PAC is automatically reset after being inactive.) 

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7. Performing Author Searches 

Library•Solution PAC lets you search your catalog's author, title, subject, notes, series, and publisher indexes separately or in combination.  The following examples illustrate the variety of results obtained from a search of William Shakespeare using the single Search feature. 

To search for works written by William Shakespeare: