Searching the OPAC By Anna and Allie

What is the OPAC? OPAC stands for Online Public Access Catalog. It is a website where you can search for books and other things in the library. It is online, so you can search a book even when you’re not in the library! Our school’s OPAC is called Destiny Quest. We access it from our school’s library website.

How do you use the OPAC? Type a topic in the Search box. Then click “GO” and books will appear. Select a book and an info screen will pop up. On this screen, it shows: Info about the book, author and call number, IN or OUT symbol says if you can get it, format (book, magazine, etc.), and if it is fiction or non-fiction. Then, you can find the book using author and call number. You can also do a specific search (genre, series, format, etc.) or find websites on the topic.

What can you find in the OPAC?  Of course, books! It has books of all genres.  It has the top ten books and new books.  Magazines like American Girl or Ranger Rick  E-books for tablets and other devices  Books read aloud on CD’s  Videos  Eventually, there will be book recommendations

Fun Facts  The old OPAC was in a large wooden cabinet called a Card Library.  There’s a Visual Search that lets you click pictures like animals to find your book.  You can also do an advanced search by typing in the title of the book, series, author, etc. You can also narrow it down by the things you don’t want.

Works Cited  Destiny Quest OPAC, Internet, 5/15  Personal Interview with Mrs. Myers, 5/15