Kid's Zone

Sample Keyword Search

Point your cursor to the text entry box. It will turn into a character that looks like an "I"
Click your left mouse button. A blinking black line will tell you that you are ready to enter text.
Type into the text box a word or phrase for the title, author or subject in which you are interested. Keyword searches work best when you type in one word that describes what you want. If you feel sure that you need to use more than one word to describe your what you want, consider doing a Power Search.
Point your cursor (shaped like a white arrow pointing up and to the left) at the "Keyword" (or "Power") icon on the button bar.
Click your left mouse button to start the search.

The catalog will find all items that mention your keyword(s) and then display a Keyword Search title list screen like the one below. The lines on the Keyword Search screen are called "short title" listings, because they give only brief information about the book or other item you are searching for. If the catalog cannot find any items that mention all of your keywords, it will automatically do a subject search and display a list of subject terms from which you may choose.

What if you wanted to read "Curious George," the last title on the list above? Would you go right to the Juvenile Easy Fiction section in the Children's Library to get it? You may notice that the word in the column headed "Status" says OUT. This means the book is not in the library at this time but is checked out to someone. You can find out more about this book, including when it is due back in the library by going to the next step below.
Point your cursor at the title in which you are interested (the cursor will change from an arrow to a little hand with a pointing finger.
Next, a Title Information Screen like the one below will be displayed. On this screen is displayed more information about the item found by your search. Each of the pieces of information on this screen that is displayed in color and underlined is a link. That means you may point your mouse at it and click to start a new search based on that piece of information (for example, if you wanted to see more fiction books about Monkeys, you could click your mouse on the phrase Monkeys -- Fiction in the first SUBJECT line).
If you know that you want to see "Curious George" when it is returned to the library, you may click the button with your mouse. You will first see instructions for filling out a hold request. Further down the page you will see the hold request form below.
Fill in the form completely and then click on the "Send" button. Your hold request will be sent to library staff and you will be called when the item becomes available. If, for some reason, the item is lost or will be unavailable for a long time, library staff will get in touch with you.
If you are not sure you want the book held for you when it becomes available, but you would like to know when it is due back in the library, you can find out by clicking on the button on the Title Information Screen. After clicking on the Show Copies button, you will see a screen like the one below.
The Copies screen tells you that the library's single copy of Curious George is Checked Out and is due back on 5/21/2001. If the library owned more copies of this title, they would be shown here. This screen also gives you the chance to go Back (upper left corner button) or to place a Hold (upper right corner button).