Mass. Virtual Catalog Patron Tutorial

Log in to the Virtual Catalog through a link on your library’s catalog, or at http://mblc.state.ma.us/books/catalogs/vc/index.php.

Notes for using the Virtual Catalog:

· Use the buttons on the screen and in the left navigation bar to move around the site – do not use the “back” and “forward” buttons of your browser, this can result in a System Error. (If this happens you will have to log in to the Virtual Catalog again.)

· Make sure to click the Quit button on the left navigation bar to log off when you are done.

· If you have questions at any time, please contact your local library.

When you successfully log in, you will see the screen below. From this screen you can choose to Search/Request materials, or Review your Requests.

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To request new materials:

1. Click the green button for Searching/Requesting. A Search Menu will come up. Select whether you wish to search by Title/Author/Subject/ISBN. (Note: Not all of these searching options are available to all patrons, options vary by network.)

2. Type in your search terms.

3. Click Begin Searching.

4. A Combined Results screen will come up. This list shows how many “hits” each catalog returned for your search terms. Below the list of hits is a list of results. Look through this list to find the item you wish to request. If you do not see the item you want, click the New Search button in the left navigation panel to try new search terms.

5. You can click directly on the green Request button to the left of the desired title to request the item. Alternately, you can click on the title of an item in the list to see details. If this is the item you wish to request, click on the green Request button. If you wish to return to the list of results, click on the Return to search results button. Do not use your browser’s “back” button.

6. Once you have clicked the Request button, the Create Request screen will come up. Confirm your name (yes/no), select a Pickup Location, enter in a Need-by date, and confirm your email address for notification. (If you are interested in a specific volume or edition, please enter a note in the OPTIONAL field. Entering a note in this field may delay your request. If you have additional questions, please contact your local library for assistance.) When the form is complete, click Submit Request.

7. A confirmation screen will come up with the request number. This number is required by library staff should you have a question. If you wish to return to your search results, click the Search Results button from the left navigation panel.

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To review your requests:

1. Click the green button to Review your Requests.

2. A Patron Inquiry screen will come up. This screen will list all your requests, their IDs, and statuses.

3. For more information about a specific request, or the option to cancel, click the title of the request.