Online Catalog Help
Frequently Asked Questions
About the Catalog
How do I log in to the catalog?
What is my PIN?
I forgot my PIN. What should I do?
Searching the Catalog
What does the library catalog include?
Basic Searching
Should I use Alphabetical or Keyword Searching?
Tips for Author Searches
Tips for Title Searches
Tips for Subject Searches
Tips for Audio/Video Searches
Tips for Magazine Searches
Tips for Song/Poem/Story Searches
Limiting Searches
Locating an Item
I can't believe you don't have the title I want--it's a bestseller!
If I can't find what I want in the library catalog, what should I do?
Placing Holds
How do I place holds?
How many holds can I place at once?
How can I cancel a hold I have placed?
How long will it take to get something I've placed a hold on?
Can I pick up my holds at any library branch?
Can the library notify me by e-mail when my holds are available?
Can the library notify me by text message when my holds are available?
If I'm not allowed to place a hold, what can I do?
Your Library Account
How do I see when my items are due or if I owe any overdue fines?
How can I renew materials online?
About the Catalog
How do I log in to the catalog?
To log in to the catalog, enter your library card number – without spaces – and PIN number. If you log in before searching, you will be able to place holds and check your account without re-typing your library card number for each task. When you are done, be sure to log out to protect the confidentiality of your library account. If you do not have a library card or just want to do a quick search without logging in, you can search the catalog anonymously using our Search Catalog box at the top of the page.
What is my PIN?
A PIN is a Personal Identification Number that provides additional confidentiality for your library account. You must type in your PIN to place holds or view your library account. All library users must create their own PIN upon their first online access.
I forgot my PIN.
Visit www.ocln.org and see the link at the top of the page for changing your PIN or having a reminder email sent to you. If you any problems or questions, please visit the Circulation Desk.
Searching the Catalog
What does the library catalog include?
The electronic catalog lists all materials owned by the 28 member libraries of the Old Colony Library Network, including books, CDs, videos, DVDs, books on tape and CD, large print books, foreign language materials, magazines, CD-ROMS, and more.
Basic Searching
Type your terms in the Search For box and select the type of search you want to conduct: a Keyword search finds records containing the words you typed, while an Alphabetical search creates an alphabetical list of authors, titles or subjects (a Keyword search is the default, and the most common). Select the library you want to search, or choose ALL to search all 28 libraries in OCLN; selecting Hingham will search only the Hingham Library collection. If you need the item today, you may want to limit your search to Hingham. Select the category you want to search:
Words or Phrase includes all searchable parts of a record, including publisher or content notes
Author includes author, illustrator, editor, performer, actor, etc
Title includes title, subtitle and alternate title, if present
Subject includes all subject terms assigned to a record
Titles will generally appear with the newest titles first.
Should I use Alphabetical or Keyword Searching?
When you know the exact title or the beginning of the title, or at least the author's last name and first initial, you could try Alphabetical. When you are looking for a specific work and know some of the words in the title but not the exact title, or you are looking for a specific work and know the author's last name and what it is about, try Keyword. This is also useful when you know the last names of two or more authors or editors of a work, when you are looking for a topic but don't know an exact subject heading, or when you are trying to find a broad list of titles on any given topic. To ensure the most accurate search, always include the word "and" between keywords. You can also use the terms "or" and "not" if they apply.
Tips for Author Searches
An author can include an actor in a movie, a performer on a musical recording, an illustrator of a book, etc. If you are sure of the author's name and its exact spelling, type the name in the Search For box click the Author button. If you are not sure of the exact spelling of the author's last name, type the name in the Search For box, last name first, and choose an Alphabetical search before clicking the Author button. You will see an alphabetical list of names closest to the name you typed. If you find no exact match, you can browse nearby names for similar spellings.
Tips for Title Searches
If you can only remember certain words in the title, type the words in the Search For box – omitting common words like "the," "is," and "for" – and select Title. This search will bring you to a list of records with those words in their titles. If you are sure of the exact title, type the first few words in the Search For box, choose an Alphabetical search, then select Title. You will see an alphabetical list of titles closest to the one you entered.
Tips for Subject Searches
Type your terms in the Search For box, being as specific as possible (a search for United States History will bring up over 22,000 records), then select Words or Phrase. You can also click on Subject, but your terms may not match the official Library of Congress Subject Headings. A Subject search is often more productive if you choose an Alphabetical search.
Tips for Audio/Video Searches
Open the drop-down Format menu below the Search For box and choose the appropriate format. To search for specific authors, titles or subjects within a selected format, follow the above tips for Author, Title and Subject searches. To find DVDs only, start with a Videos & DVD search, then type "DVD and" a keyword or words in the search box. For example, "DVD and harry potter" will find a list of Harry Potter movies on DVD only. To find VHS only, type "VHS and" a keyword or words in the Keyword search box. A Cassettes and CDs search will show all audio-books as well as all music holdings.
Tips for Magazine Searches
For pre-2003 magazine issues, if you are sure of the title of the magazine, type the title in the Search For box followed by the word "magazine." Select an Alphabetical search, then click Title. This search will show your title within an alphabetical list of magazines, sorted alphabetically by owning Library. For post-2003 magazines, type the title in the Search For box, select a Keyword search, then click Periodical Title. This will bring up records with your keyword(s) in the title. Click on a title to view all holdings OCLN.
Tips for Song/Poem/Story Searches
If you are looking for a particular song, poem or short story that may be contained in a larger collection, use a keyword search. Type words from the song/poem/story title in the Search For box and click Words or Phrase. Omit common words like "the," "is," and "for." This will bring you a list of records with those words together in at least one field of the record. Keep in mind that not all items have a detailed catalog record, so seek out the Reference Librarian for assistance if you do not find the piece you are looking for.
Limiting Searches
If you come up with too many search results, refine your search by clicking on the Limit Search button. You can then limit your search to a particular format; use Age Range to limit your search results to juvenile, young adult or adult materials; choose a year of publication or a range of years (1999-2001) in the pubyear box; or simply add another keyword to your original search terms.
Locating an Item
After finding an item, click on the title to view its record. The Item Information screen includes information about the location and availability of copies. If you see the message Item not found at your Library, try searching ALL locations to find material owned by all OCLN libraries. If Hingham does not own the item or all Hingham copies are in use, you may be able to place a hold. To expand your search, click on the Catalog Record tab to view the detailed record, and you can select one of the blue hyperlinks to find other related records in the catalog. For example, if you click on the blue Subject Term link, you will find other titles sharing that subject.
I can't believe you don't have the title I want--it's a bestseller! What should I do?
If you have searched the catalog and see a bestseller or other new item owned by other OCLN libraries and not by Hingham, it could be that our copy is on order and just hasn't appeared in the catalog. Library staff can put you on the reserve list and a hold will be placed when the title is put into the catalog.
If the title I want is not in the library catalog, what should I do?
If you have searched the catalog and get a message that states 'found no matches in any library', make sure you are searching ALL libraries and not just Hingham. If the material you are looking for is definitely not in any OCLN library, it may be available outside the network via the Virtual Catalog or Interlibrary Loan. You can search for an item and request it directly in the Virtual Catalog by choosing that option, or submit an Interlibrary Loan request online or in person.
Placing Holds
How do I place holds?
If an item is owned by another library or is "checked out" at this time, you may place a hold on it. New materials in all formats are often available for holds only at the owning library. If you see the designation "NO HOLDS" or "LOCAL HOLDS," you may not be able to place a hold. To place a hold, click on the Hold icon (with the image of a hand), on the left side of any item listing. Enter your library card number, without spaces, your PIN, and your location for pickup. Click on Place Hold. If an item is on the shelf at Hingham and you would like to pick up the item in the next few hours, we recommend that you call the library first. If possible, library staff will check the shelf and hold the item at the circulation desk for you. You may carry up to 20 holds at a time.
How can I cancel a hold I have placed?
To cancel a hold, select Manage My Account, enter your library card number and PIN, then choose the Holds view. Beneath the list of items you have checked out, you will see a list of items you have on hold. Select the checkbox next to the title in question and then click the Cancel selected holds button.
How long will it take to get something I've placed a hold on?
If the material is on the shelf at the owning library and there are no holds ahead of you, it will typically arrive with 2-4 business days. If the material is checked out to another user and/or there are other holds ahead of you, there's no way to accurately predict how long it will take.
Can I pick up my holds at any library branch?
When you place an item on hold, a default pickup location displays. This location is either the library you are in, or the library associated with your card if you're working online. If you want to pick up your holds at a different location, choose the library from the alphabetical drop-down menu. You can pick up holds at any OCLN location.
Can the library notify me by e-mail when my holds are available?
Yes. Register your e-mail address at the circulation desk (781-741-1405), and the library will send you e-mail notification when the items arrive or if you have overdue materials. Use this option only if you check your e-mail regularly. If your e-mail address changes, be sure to notify the library.
Can the library notify me by text message when my holds are available?
Yes. Login to your account and click on the “Set Text Message Alerts” button and complete the form. After completing the
form you will recieve a confirmation message on your phone. Text message alerts are meant to supplement, not replace other forms of notification so you will still continue to recieve notices via e-mail or phone call. For more information on this new service please visit our FAQs.
If I'm not allowed to place a hold, what can I do?
Usually when a hold is not allowed it is because the material is new and the owning library has restricted its use, usually for six months. You will see the designation LOCAL HOLDS or NO HOLDS in the copy information section of the title record. If Hingham does not own a copy, you can come to or call the library (781-741-1405); library staff may be able to request the item or place a hold on your behalf. You can also call or travel to a library that owns the title and place a hold there, or wait until the material becomes available for network-wide holds in a few months. Sometimes a hold is blocked when the material is a Reference item or on reserve for the owning library's users (typically, only at Massasoit Community College or Eastern Nazarene College). We recommend you travel to the nearest owning library to consult the material there, or the Reference Department may be able to arrange to have material photocopied supplied via fax or mail.
Your Library Account
How do I see when my items are due or if I owe any overdue fines?
When you are in the catalog, select Manage My Account from the top banner and then enter your library card number (User ID) and PIN to access your account. Select Checkouts or Holds to view either section. Be sure to Logout when finished.
How can I renew materials online?
To renew materials, select Manage My Account while in the catalog, then enter your library card number and PIN to access your account. Choose the Checkouts option and select the checkbox next to each title, or click All, before clicking the Renew Selected Items button. Not all items can be renewed, and there is a limit on how many times an item can be renewed. Contact the Circulation Desk for questions on specific titles.
