How to Search
A user can search the Online Catalog whether he or she is logged in as a user or not.
If the user is logged in, he or she will be able view his or her records from all Western Massachusetts as well as individual libraries.
If the user is not logged in, he or she will not be able to save searches
Patrons must have a library card from a C/W MARS member library, to be able to access his/her account in the database. If the patron already has a member library card, he/she can log in to view his/her library records online. The patron will be able to view currently checked out items, unpaid fines and bills, and pending holds etc.
How to Log in
Visit http://wmars.cwmars.org/patroninfo
- Returning members should be logged in
- Type in library card number
- Type in personal identification number (PIN).
- Click “submit”
- First time users
- Type in library card number
- Leave the PIN field blank
- Click “submit”
- A screen will come up for you to register
- Type in a pin number (use something that you will remember)
- Re-enter the same pin number
- Click “submit
- You should get a message that reads: “You are logged in to WMARS/ all locations as: your last name, first name”
Forget your pin?
If the user forgets his or her PIN, he/she should report it to the library circulation desk. The librarian will delete the PIN field. The user can then go in and create a new PIN. Be ready to provide appropriate identification, to the librarian before he / she deletes the PIN.
Types of searches
Keyword
Type keywords or search for a complete phrase by enclosing it in quotation marks ("your search words")
Example: “Binge drinking”
Example: students and alcohol
Author
Type author’s last name before first name
Example: White, Mary
Example: Shakespeare
Title
Type all that you know about the exact title. Begin with the first word, and click search
Example: Computers for dummies
Example: the fighting temptations
Author and Title
Type in author’s name, and text from the title (includes words from the title, contents notes, and summary notes)
Journal Title
Type as much as you know about the exact journal title. Note the search will indicate all types of serials, not just journals and magazines. This search will not retrieve journal articles.
Other Searches
Library of Congress Subject
Enter terms from LC Subject Heading in order of phrase. (Not recommended, use Keyword search instead)
Library of Congress Children’s Subject
Enter terms from LC Children Heading in order of phrase. (Not recommended, use Keyword search instead)
Library of Congress Call Number
Type as much of the LC library call number. A space must be included before the date
Example: PS 324 .B47 1998
Government Document Number
Type the government document number. Spacing, Capitalization and Punctuation is important
Example: D 1.2 :Ed 8
How to view your record
- Log in and click on “Search the catalog”
- Click “Patron record”
- Click one of the options (example: View outstanding requests/holds)
How to Place a Hold
- If you are NOT logged in:
- Search for your item
- Choose the item
- At Item record Click “request”, at the bottom of the page
- Type in your Library Card Number, Personal Identification Number, and choose the location where you will pickup the material.
- Click “submit”
- You will now receive a confirmation screen
- If you are logged in
- Search for your item
- Choose the item
- At Item record Click “request”, at the bottom of the page
- Choose the location, where you will pickup the material
- Click “submit”
- You will now receive a confirmation screen
How to Save Records
- Search for your item
- At search screen Check box next to the items that you want to save
- Click “save marked records”
- Click “view saved records” to see the item(s) that are saved
- View Format
- Full display – shows the item location and citations
- Brief display – shows citations
- Type your e-mail address in the “e-mail field “ and send it to yourself
- Click Screen to view the items on the full screen
- You can print this
How to remove Records
A. Click “clear save records” to remove saved records
B. Check the box next to item
or
C. Click removed marked record from list
How to renew Books Online
- At the Library Catalog search screen
- Click “Login”
- Type library card number (no spaces)
- Type pin
- Click “Submit”
- At patron screen
- Click link for “….Items currently checked out”
- Choose item to renew & click the checkbox next to it.
- Click “Renew selected items”
- New due date will show under “Status”.
- If finished – click “Logout”
NOTE: If all items are to be renewed, you may click on the “Renew all” button. |
