Alumnae Library > Help > Help Guides > FirstSearch's "My Account"

How to Use FirstSearch's "My Account"

Information at Your Fingertips

A Guide for Survival in the Information Jungle

To Access "My Account" | Change Password| Add InterLibrary Loan | Check Items | Available Databases

"My Account" in OCLC FirstSearch

By logging into OCLC's "My Account" while searching the databases you may:

1. Track InterLibrary Loans that you have requested (see when an item has arrived at either the lending library or the Elms)
2. Renew books you have on InterLibrary Loan
3. Save search strategies

To Access "My Account"

1. At Library Website
2. Click "Electronic Databases"
3. Log in
4. Click on "WorldCat" or whichever FirstSearch Dabatase you wish to use
5. At main database screen -
6. Click "My Account" (located upper right-hand side of screen)
7. If you have not already registered for an account
8. Click "New User Registration" (located next to username & password)
9. At Registration Form
10. Fill out all fields with an asterisk. Filling in optional fields like phone and address are strongly suggested. The staff will use these fields as an alternative way of contacting you.
11. Usernames and passwords must be at least 8 characters/numbers
12. When finished filling out the form, click "Register"
13. You should see a message that says "You have been registered successfully" in green next to a white checkmark 
14. You should also see your name in the upper right hand corner of the screen (hello Jane Doe)

To Change Your Password

1. At Library Website
2. Click "Electronic Databases"
3. Log in
4. Click on "WorldCat" or whichever FirstSearch Dabatase you wish to use
5. At main database screen -
6. Click "My Account" (located upper right-hand side of screen)
7. Log in 
8. Click "My Account" again
9. At the "My Account" screen -
10. Scroll own to the section that starts "Change Your Password"
11. Type in your old password
12. Type in your new password
13. Retype your new password 
14. Click "Change Password"
15. You should see a message that says "Your password has been updated successfully" in green next to a white checkmark

To Add InterLibrary Loan to "My Account"

1. At Library Website
2. Click "Electronic Databases"
3. Log in
4. Click on "WorldCat" or whichever FirstSearch Dabatase you wish to use
5. At main database screen -
6. Click "My Account" (located upper right-hand side of screen)
7. Log in
8. Click "Searching" tab, if not already highlighted by default
9. Perform a search
10. Click on item record you want (if not owned by the Elms)
11. At individual item record -
12. Click "ILL" icon (upper left-hand corner)
13. ILL Form will appear - most of the fields should already be filled in using the information you inputted when you registered for "My Account"
14. You may add a comment or fill in other fields if you wish
15. Click "Submit"
16. Screen will go back to item record

To Check Items in "My Account"

1. At Library Website
2. Click "Electronic Databases"
3. Log in
4. Click on "WorldCat" or whichever FirstSearch Dabatase you wish to use
5. At main database screen -
6. Click "My Account" (located upper right-hand side of screen)
7. Log in
8. Click "Resource Sharing" tab button
9. You should see a list of items requested with the following listed:
   a. Description - including title, author, and publication information
   b. Pick-up location
   c. Status
   d. Cancel/Renew option
10. You may cancel or renew an item if a grey button is shown under this column

Note: When you have completed your transactions make sure to "Sign out." The link is located on the top right of the screen.

Available Databases

1. Applied Science and Technology Abstracts (ASTA)
2. Art Abstracts
3. ArticleFirst
4. ATLA Religion
5. The Bibliography of the History of Art
6. Clase and Periodica
7. Electronic Books (Ebooks)
8. Electronic Collections OnLine (ECO)
9. ERIC
10. General Science Abstracts
11. GPO (Government Publication Office)
12. International Bibliography of History of Science, Technology, and Medicine
13. Index to Legal Periodicals
14. Medline
15. PapersFirst
16. ProceedingsFirst
17. World Almanac
18. WorldCat
19. WorldCat Dissertations