Help
Here are some tips that might help answer any questions you have when using the online catalog or logging into your record. Other answers might be found on our FAQs page. If neither page has an answer, please email a Reference Librarian or call us, 259-3090 (ask for Reference).
| Your Library Account |
| PIN |
- The PIN is a Personal Identification Number that you choose. It can be any combination of numbers and letters. The only restriction is that it can't be more than 30 characters. It should be something that you'll easily remember.
- If the computer gives you the message "Invalid PIN" or you can't remember your PIN, please call us (259-3090, ask for Circulation) and we can erase your PIN. You will then have to log in to create a new PIN.
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| Reserving online |
- In order to reserve an item, you must be on the page in the catalog where the location, call #, and status are displayed. The "Request" button will be one of the blue buttons at the top of the screen.
- If the item that you need is on the shelf at the Jones Library, you can call us (259-3090 and ask for Reference), and we will pull the item and hold it for you.
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| Renewing online | Reasons why an item will not be renewed:
- The item is overdue longer than 1 week
- The item has been reserved by another patron
- Your library card registration has expired (Give us a call, 259-3090 ask for Circulation)
- The item has already been renewed once
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| Searching the Online Catalog |
| Author | Enter last name first, then first name. |
| Title | Start with the first word in the title, but leave out the initial article: A, An, or The. |
| Keyword | Enter one or more keywords or enter a phrase in quotes. |
| Subject | This is useful only if you know the exact Library of Congress Subject Heading. |
| Retrieving list of DVDs or Books-on-Tape | If you want a complete list of our items in a certain format, do this search:
- Choose Keyword Search
- Type in two asterisks (**) in the keyword box
- Below this box, you'll see an option for Material Type; Click on the down arrow next to this box
- Select the format you want, for example, Video (DVD) or Spoken (CD)
- Click on Submit button (the search may take a little longer)
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| Other Searches | Other types of searches include: ISBN, Journal title, and Dewey call number. |
Can't find
an item in
our catalog? | When the Jones Library doesn't own the item that you're looking for:
(Please note: It is important that you follow this order when requesting items. Shipping and record-keeping are much easier when done this way.)
- The next step would be to look in the Western Mass. Libraries Catalog
- If the item is not listed there, the next step is to try the Union Catalog
- If the item is not listed, try the Virtual Catalog next
- If you still cannot locate the item, contact the Reference librarian. We can try to get it from a library outside of Massachusetts. We charge $1, nonrefundable, for the service. This service does take longer; the average time for an item to arrive is 4 weeks.
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