Getting to know the Online Catalog Western Massachusetts Regional Library System Using the catalog Searching the catalog Finding items when they aren’t located at your local library Requesting items Checking your record Getting Help

What is WMRLS? Western Massachusetts Regional Library System is also known as WMRLS It is a part of C/WMARS: Central/Western Massachusetts Automated Resource Sharing, which is a “library consortium dedicated to efficient resource sharing and rapid access to information.” Libraries that are part of the Western Massachusetts consortium use the WMRLS catalog

Finding the catalog You can find the catalog using a computer terminal at your library You can find the catalog on your library website You can go directly to the WMRLS catalog at:

Searching the Catalog There are many ways to search the catalog: Keyword, Title, Author, Subject, Author/Title, Journal Title. You can also search by Advanced Search You can limit your search When searching by Subject, be aware that these are very specific Subject types that are created by the Library of Congress and are less flexible than Keywords

Selecting your search option To choose a search option, use the mouse to click on the tab for the type of search you want

Searching by Keyword When you open the catalog, it will always be set to search by keyword Keyword is a general search that is helpful if you don’t know the author or title of the item you are looking for If you want to search by another method, change your search option

Searching by Author, Title or Author/Title If you know the Author that you are looking for, select Author –Your search will be most successful if you enter the Authors last name first Example “Last, First” or “Cather, Willa” If you know the Title of an item, but not the Author, select Title If you know the Author and Title the “Author/Title” is a nice, quick way to find out whether your library has the specific item you are looking for

Limiting your search You may want to limit your search –When you have too many results –If you are looking for a specific type of item like a Audio Book, E-Book, Children’s Book, DVD, etc.

Limiting by “Fields” To limit your search, select the “Limit Search” button at the top of the screen You can limit by “fields” such as Author, Title, and LC Subject

Limiting by Type To limit by type select the “Material Type” from the menu

Other limits You can also limit by year of publication, either by a specific year or a range of years You can limit by language You can limit by where the item is located –You may want to pick the item up at a library other than your local library

Finding items outside of your local library If you can’t find items at your local library –You can check to see if they are at another library in WMRLS. You can do that by searching at a specific library You can do that by searching all Western Massachusetts Libraries

Searching a specific library In the box next to your search box, there is a drop down menu. You can select your library of choice there by choosing the drop down option

Searching All Western Massachusetts Libraries In the same drop down menu, there is an option to search “All Western MA Libraries” If a library in WMRLS has an item, you will get a list of items that match your search. Select the result that best matches your search The catalog will return a list of locations where the item is available

Getting the item you want You may request the item that you want directly through the online catalog If you prefer to get the item by going to the specific library where it is held, you can do so –You may want to call the library first to see if they are willing to hold it for you

Requesting an item You will need a library card with a barcode attached to it in order to request items online To request an item through the online system –Just click on the button that says “Request” next the item that you want –If there is only one location for the item, select the “Request” button at the top of the screen

Submitting your Request When you select the item for you want for Request, you will be asked to enter your Library Card Number and PIN –If you do not have a PIN you will need to go to your library to establish one.

Choosing a pick up location You can pick up the item wherever is convenient for you –You can select your local library –You can select another library

Finalizing your request Once you have selected a pick up location, click the “Submit” Button

Your request confirmation Once you have submitted your request, the system will give you a confirmation –The system will tell you that the request was successful and where the items is coming from

Getting a Library Card You can request a library card from any C/WMars Member Library You will be expected to provide a photo ID and documentation of your address, such as a piece of mail or a car registration, to prove your Massachusetts residency Because you are requesting a C/WMars library card, you do not need to be a resident of the town where you are requesting your card It’s very simple, it takes just a couple of minutes and it opens up a whole world of information

Checking your record online To check your record online, you will need your library card and your pin You can check the items you have out and when they are due You can check on your requests You can renew any items unless they are due that day, overdue, there are limits on the renewal or if someone else has requested the item You can check on any fines you might have

Managing your record Signing in Checking your items Checking your requests Renewing items Checking fines Canceling requests

Help from the online system You can find help within the catalog itself. When using the catalog, you will find a link to the help page in the upper right hand corner next to “LOGIN.”

Getting Help from Your Library If you are having trouble using the online catalog Please Let Us Help

Help from your library staff We are happy to help you learn more about the catalog or assist you with any problems you might be having Please ask a staff member for assistance We are here for you at the library, so stop in, call or at us

Survey Please feel free to fill out our survey Or try the catalog for yourself: