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How Do I Use The Catalog?

Confused about the TIPCat Online Catalog? Wish it could do nifty tricks? Just want a better way to work with it? Try using some of the walkthrough tutorials below.

Please note that you must be in the catalog to make these tips work. Just being on this web site doesn't count.

  • Explore the catalog through the New York Times Bestsellers, Oprah's list and many others.
  • Use the online catalog to find out which books are on the shelf right next to the really good one you just found.
  • Ever notice that when doing a search, you get an error when you try to go back to your results list? Here's why and how to avoid it.
  • General Keyword is the default search mode. Try these tricks to make General Keyword be more specific than finding ten times what you were looking for.
  • Is it a bibliographic tool, a way to reserve items, or just one big pile of confusion? Seven ways to make My List a very effective resource.
  • Probably the number one source of problems using the catalog. If you don't know how to make it work, you're not alone. Here's a step-by-step guide to renewing your items without ever picking up the phone or leaving your computer chair.
  • If you've ever wondered why there's an option to request each individual listing of an item, as well as an option to request "First Available," here's your answer...and why the innocent choice could cost you weeks of waiting for a hot item.
  • It's why you use the catalog: to see if we own something and if it's not where you are, to get it sent where you are. The step-by-step walkthrough on making item requests.
  • Do you have items on request and you're about to leave on vacation? Or perhaps you just have far too many items on request to read at once - and you know they always come in at the same time... Learn how to suspend your requests without losing your place in the queue.
  • It's an advanced search technique. You can use them in most search engines and databases, and you can use them in our catalog; wildcards are characters that allow you to guess at spellings and multiple combinations of word endings. Check it out.
  • Want to log in? Renew your items? Place a request? Use the Internet at your library? Use the licensed resources remotely? Then you'll need your PIN. See what all your PIN can do.