1. Basic Search
2. Ordering books through the catalog

What does the Online catalog contain?
The on-line catalog provides access to the Library's collection of approximately 35,000 books, periodicals and audio-visual titles. These resources may be used to find information for assignments or general interest. You can also access materials from the Metro-Boston Library Network (MBLN) from this portal.

Where can I access the Online catalog?
To search the Library's online catalog, from the main library page, choose the Electronic Resources option and then choose Online Catalog. This can be done at any Library computer, any other computer on the RCC campus, or from your home computer by reaching the Library's web page at http://www.rcc.mass.edu/lib

There are several Search options: (Tabs on top of navigation bar)

1. Basic
2. Advanced
3. Audiovisual
4. Reserves

Basic: Basic search lets you search your library's catalog by a author, title, or keyword.

To do a Basic search:

1. Click the Search tab.
2. Choose the search index you want to use from the Search drop-down menu.
3. Enter the search term that you want to use in the Search field.
4. Click Go

Tip: You can also search for items using a "wildcard" symbol or a truncation symbol. This is useful if you do not know the exact term for which you want to search. (For example, you may not know how to spell an author's name.)

The wildcard symbol represents a group of unknown characters in addition to those in your search criteria. You use the asterisk ( * ) for the wildcard. (For example, if you enter "man*" for an Author Keyword search, Information Portal displays titles by authors named "Mansen," "Mandell," "Manhattan," and so forth.)

The truncation symbol represents a single character in addition to those in your search criteria. You use the question mark ( ? ) for truncation. (For example, if you enter "man?" for an Author Keyword search, Information Portal displays titles by authors named "Man," "Mang," "Mann," "Mans," and so forth.)

To search for an item:
1. Type a Title / Keyword or Author that describes the item you want to find.
2. Select one of the pull-down Search For options and press the GO key to start your search

Title Keyword(s): Omit leading articles a, an, the.

Keyword: Search by word or phrase

Author: Search by Last Name, First Name or Author/Name keyword

Omit leading articles a, an, the.

Subject Keyword: Look for items on a topic. To look for items about a person, enter last name first.

Series Keyword: Search by series name.

ISBN/ISSN: Search by book or periodical number.

For example, we can search for books about nursing by typing the word "pediatric nursing" in the Search For Field using the Title Keyword option. See Fig. 1.

Fig. 1.

Fig. 2.

Notice that each entry shows the following information:

	Location
	Collection (where it is in the library)
	Call Number
	Type (loan period)
	Status

Where it is:

Look at entry #1 in Fig. 2 above: "Oversize." This means that RCC Library owns 1 copy of the book and it is available to be taken out because it is on shelf in the Oversize collection.

Here is a list of the different Locations in the Library, where they are and the circulation rules for each:

If someone has checked out a book, its Copy Availability Status will say: "Due" with an estimate of when the book will be back based on the due date of the book.

If you wish to place a hold on a book which is being use, inquire at the Circulation Desk or do it online by clicking the "Hold this for me" Icon at the bottom right of the item screen.

From the screen shown in Fig. 2, you may get more information about a book by clicking on title of the book or the "Show details" to the right. Fig. 3 shows the Full Details screen for record #1 on the screen in Fig. 2.

Fig. 3.

The Full Details screen shows the complete catalog record for a book including subject headings. Sometimes a picture of the cover, a summary and a book review are also included.

Other types of searches:

How to order books through the MBLN network:

1. Search for book in the online catalog. (remember, the catalog defaults to just items RCC owns, if you want to search the whole MBLN network, click on the"MBLN Online catalog" located on the top left of the web page or select "limit by" and click on "all locations" in the pull down menu on the results page).
2. Click on "Hold this for me" button in lower right corner. Fig. 4
3. Enter Library barcode number and Pin#. Fig. 5
4. Request confirmation screen is shown. Here you can view the queue position ( place in line for item) and a pull down menu shows all the locations you can have the book delivered to, RCC is the default location. Fig. 6
5. The items that you ordered, if available, should be sent out in a couple of days. You should plan on ordering item at least a week before you need them.
   

Fig. 4.

Fig. 5

Fig. 6