My Catalog

You may search the Library Catalog without logging in, but doing so personalizes your searching experience. Logging in to the Library Catalog allows you to view your patron record, renew checked-out items, and create and edit preferred searches.

Signing In

To sign in to the Library Catalog:

• Click on the My Catalog tab.
• Enter your username and password, which is the same username and password that you use for email and WebCT.
• You will see your patron record listing items you have checked out and your name and address on record.
• If you are unable to login using this email and password, contact the Library Access Services Desk at 617-521-2780.

Renewing Checked-Out Items

Once you are logged into My Catalog, you may renew items you have borrowed. To renew items:

• Log into My Catalog (directions).
• Select the materials you want to renew by checking the boxes in the RENEW column and then click the Renew Selected button.
• If you want to renew everything, click the Renew ALL button.
• If you cannot renew items, a message will appear on the screen. If you are successful, a new due date will appear in the STATUS column. Always check the STATUS column to ensure you have successfully renewed desired items.

Preferred Searches

If you have a favorite author or subject for which you often search when using the catalog, you can save the search with the click of a button. This will prevent you from having to key in the search each time and let you place holds on new materials quicker.

• Log into My Catalog (directions).
• Use the search bar on the My Catalog page to conduct the search you wish to save.
• Click the "Save as Preferred Search" button next to the search bar on the Results page
• Each time you login to My Catalog, you may re-run the saved search by clicking on the Preferred Searches link and choosing which Preferred Search you wish to run.

Search Techniques

Fields

Each part of the record for an item in the Library Catalog is called a field. For example, when creating a record for a book, we indicate the title, that is a field. We also indicate the author, that is another field. The Subjects assigned to describe what the book is about is another field. The following are searchable fields in the Simmons Library Catalog:

• Title: Books, videos, webpages, and every other item in the Library Catalog has a title. If you know what the item you want is called, search for it by name in the Title field. Note that the title for some items is not clear - such as books that are part of a series--or items may have different titles - such as magazines whose names have changed or are known by their abbreviations. In such cases, the items may have more than one title assigned so you can find it by searching any of the possible titles.



• Keyword: Search terms entered in a keyword field can appear in any field within a single item record. A search for Grisham and juror will find the book The Last Juror by John Grisham because the word Grisham appears in the Author/Creator field and the world juror appears in the Title field. Consider using Advanced Search Techniques for more precise searches. to make your keyword search more precise.



• Author/Creator: Someone is responsible for the creation of every item listed in the Library Catalog. This person is listed is the Author/Creator field. Books are often written by one or more people, and authorship is attributed to each of them. Search the Author/Creator field by the last name of any author of any book and you will find the records for their books. Production of some books, many journals, and most websites is attributed to organizations, such as the Historical Atlas of the United States, which can be found by searching for National Geographic in the Author/Creator field. The creation of movies is credited to directors, producers, screenwriters, actors, and sometimes even distribution companies. A selection of Author/Creator searches that will yield the film Pulp Fiction includes Thurma, Uma; Tarrantino, Quentin; Miramax Films, and Buena Vista Home Entertainment (Firm).



• Subject: Every item in the Library Catalog has been evaluated by a librarian to determine what the item is about. Librarians use a system of labels called The Library of Congress Subject Headings (LCSH) to describe what each item is about. If you find an item that is exactly what you are looking for, use the Subject Headings in a Subject field to find more items covering the same topic.



• LC Call Number: LC Call Numbers are based on the Subject Headings assigned to items and refer to the location of the book on the shelf.



• Non-LC Call Number: A few items are classified by a system other than the Library of Congress Subject Headings. These items, such as the Children’s Literature Collection, have call numbers that look different from the rest of the collection.



• ISSN/ISBN: Every book published is assigned an ISBN number, and every periodical an ISSN. These are unique numbers printed on the book, similar to barcodes on grocery items. If you know the ISBN or ISSN of an item you need, you can search in this field.



• Any Field: Similar to Keyword, searching in this field finds your words in any part of a single item record.



• Notes: This field allows librarians to add special comments about an item in the record. At Simmons, we often include chapter titles and authors in this section.



• Course: This field is only available on the Reserves search screen. Search course number or name. Example: PSYC-101 or Introduction to Psychology



• Instructor: This field in only available on the Reserves search screen. Search by instructor's last name. If a course has more than one instructor, it should be listed under each instructor's last name. Example: Stokes, Lynissa or Stokes

Reading Results

Extended Display

By clicking "extended display" following a search, more information will be displayed for each item. Information typically included in the extended display option are the location of the item, e.g. Books-Level 2, Reference; the call number, e.g. RJ506.S9 G63 2003; and the status of the item, e.g. available, request, date due.

Item Record

Click on the title of an item from the initial results screen to see a more detailed item record. Complete item records include the following information:

• Author/Alternative Author - This section lists the person or people responsible for creating the item. Alternative authors may be organizations associated with the primary author, associate editors, or, in the case of films, actors, directors, producers, or distrubutors.
• Title/Series Title - This section refers to the name of the item. If the individual item is also part of a series with a name, the series title may be listed here.
• Imprint - The imprint field denotes the publication information for a particular item. It includes the place of publication, publishing company, and year of publication.
• Location - This section of the record refers to the physical, or virtual, space where the item actually lives. There are many collections within Beatley Library, as well as the SOM Library on Commonwealth Avenue, the Career Resources Library, and the online library collections.
• Call Number - This section of the record refers to the individual location within the collections where the item resides. Call numbers are devised based upon the subject area that is covered by the item. Most call numbers are based on the Library of Congress Classification Schedule. Click here for more information on Library of Congress Call Numbers.
• Status - This section of the record indicates if and how the item is available for use. There are many types of status possibilities for items you will find in the catalog:
  • Available - indicates if the item is on the shelf and available to be checked out.
  • Request - the item is offsite (storage, SOM, CRL) and must be requested through the online catalog.
  • Due mm/dd/yyyy - the item has been checked out by another user and is due on the date indicated. You may place a hold on it if you would like to be the next to check it out.
  • Lost & Billed - the item has been lost and is not available.
  • In Mending - the Library still owns this book, but it was damaged and is in the process of being repaired. See a Reference librarian about accessing items with this status.
  • New Book Shelf - means that the item is located on the New Book Shelf, located on Level 1 of the Beatley Library.
  • In Cataloging or In Processing - the book is in the Library but has not been completely processed and is not available on the shelf. See a Reference librarian about accessing items with this status.
• Notes - Often in a record, there will be a field denoted "notes." The information included here is one more way you can help decide if the item will be useful for your research or not. The type of information here varies and can be as simple as whether or not there are illustrations, or whether or not the book has an index and table of contents.
• Subject - This section of the record indicates the Subject Heading or Headings assigned to the item and indicates the topic of the book. Subject words or phrases in the library catalog are assigned based on Library of Congress Subject Headings. Click here for more information on Library of Congress Subject Headings.

Managing Results

Once you have run a search and the catalog has generated a list of results, there are several ways you can manage those results.

Modifying Searches

If you wish to modify - or change - your search (by adding keywords, setting date or location limits, etc.) elect the "Modify Search" tab, make your changes, and then click "Search."

Limiting Search Results To Available Items

To only see items that are actually available to check out from Beatley Library, the CRL, or the SOM:

• Select the "Modify" tab; check the box next to "Limit Search to Available Items", then click "Search."
• Or, if you are looking at the record for an individual item, simply check the box next to "Limit Search to Available Items" located directly beneath the search box, then click "Search." Your search will be re-run, and only items available to be checked out will appear in the results.

Requesting Items

Materials are located in several places across the Simmons campus: in the Beatley Library, the Career Resources Library, and at the School of Management. To request that certain materials be sent between these locations or to GSLIS West, look for the red "Request" tab. Not all records will have a "Request" tab, because Reference Books, Media, and Periodicals cannot be requested. Look for the "Request" tab when you are viewing the full record of an item.

• To Request a Single Item:
  • Once you select the "Request" tab, type in your username and password.
  • Choose a pick up location (either Beatley Circulation, the School of Management, or GSLIS West).
  • Enter a Need-By date to indicate when you will need the book (this cannot be guaranteed).

To Request Items as a Group:
• If you want to request multiple items at once, follow the instructions for marking, saving, and viewing saved items .
• When you "View Saved," you have two options: "Export Saved," or "Request." Click "Request."
• Enter your username and password.
• Select a pick-up location.
• At the bottom of the page select either "Request All," or check the items you wish to request.
• Click on "Request Selected."

Marking Items

Browse your results and decide which ones are relevant to your project. As you are looking at the results list, mark the items that interest you by clicking the check-box next to each item, in the column called "Save." You can mark as many items as you wish. If you are looking at the item's full record, simply click the "Save Item" tab at the top of the item record.

NOTE: You must save your marked items before you move to another page. See "Saving Marked Items".

Saving/Removing Marked Items

• From the results list, once you have check-marked the items you want to save, click the "Save Marked" tab. (Alternately, if you want to save every item on the page, you can click the "Save All" tab.)
  
  NOTE: You must save your marked items before you move to another page.
  
  
• To empty your "cart," simply select the "Clear Saved" tab.

Exporting Saved Items

There are multiple methods for exporting items: text message, Refworks, printing, saving, and emailing.

Texting Items

To send item records via text message:

• When you are viewing the full record of an item that you want to text message to yourself or someone else, click "Send via Text Message."
• This will prompt you to enter the cell phone number and select the provider.
• Choose which item(s) you want to send.
• Click "Send."

To text more than one record:

• Follow the instructions for marking, saving, and viewing saved items.
• Click "View Saved."
• You have two options: "Export Saved" or "Request." Click "Export Saved."
• In the left-hand column select "Full Display" (this is the default).
• In the right-hand column select "Screen."
• At this point you have the option to send each item via text message – you must send the items one at a time.

RefWorks

To export a single citation into your RefWorks database:

• When viewing the full record for an individual item, click on "Add to RefWorks."
• A new window will open; sign in using your RefWorks username and password, and the citation will be imported automatically.

To export multiple citations into your RefWorks account:

• Follow the instructions for marking, saving, and viewing saved items.
• When you are looking at "Your List of Saved Records," select "Export Saved."
• On the left, under "Format of List," check "Full Display."
• On the right, under "Send List To," check Local Disk.
• Click "Submit."
• Make sure that "Save to Disk" has been checked and that the document is being saved as a .txt (simple text) file.
• Click OK.
• In another window open RefWorks.
• Log in to your account.
• The left-most tab in the toolbar is called "References." Under References, choose "Import."
• Fill in the following fields as follows:
• Import Filter/Data Source: Innovative Interfaces INNOPAC
• Database: Simmons Library Catalog (Full Display)
• Next, click Browse to locate and attach the simple text document that you saved from the Catalog.
• Click "Import."

Printing

To print from the catalog:

• Follow the instructions for marking, saving, and viewing saved items.
• When you click "View Saved" you have two options: "Export Saved" or "Request." Click "Export Saved."
• In the left-hand column select either "Full Display" (default) or "Brief Display." In the right-hand column select "Screen."
• Use your browsers Print option or select File>Print from your browser's task bar.

Saving

To save items:

• Follow the instructions for marking, saving, and viewing saved items.
• When you click "View Saved" you have two options: "Export Saved" or "Request."
• Click "Export Saved."
• In the left-hand column choose your preferred format. In the right-hand column click "Local Disk."
• Click "Submit."

Emailing

To email items from the catalog:

• Follow the instructions for marking, saving, and viewing saved items.
• When you click "View Saved" you have two options: "Export Saved" or "Request."
• Click "Export Saved."
• In the left-hand column choose your preferred format. In the right-hand column click "Email."
• Enter the recipient's email address and click "Submit."

New Books

Viewing New Books

To browse the titles of new books:

• Select the "New Books" tab from the catalog's main page (click "Library Catalog" in the upper left-hand corner to return to the catalog's main page).
• Choose a category.
• To receive automatic updates when new books arrive, click here.

Setting up RSS for New Book Alerts

Click here to find links to RSS alerts for the new book lists.

Troubleshooting E-Reserves Access

Some users experience difficulty when trying to access the library e-reserves from off-campus. Specifically, in cases where students are using Internet Explorer on a Windows computer, they have been unable to access the library e-reserves when working in Simmons E-Learning from off-campus. A solution to this problem has been identified, and step-by-step instructions are below:

Step-By-Step Resolution

1. Open Internet Explorer
2. From the "Tools" drop down menu select "Internet Options...".
3. Select the "Privacy" tab.
4. Click the "Sites" button.
5. In the text box underneath "Address of Web site" type "library.simmons.edu".
6. After typing this, click the "Allow" button.
7. Next, click the "OK" button at the bottom of the pop-up window.
8. Click the "OK" button at the bottom of the next pop-up window.
9. Restart Internet Explorer for the changes to take effect.

• Contact Us
• |
• Hours
• |
• Help
• |
• Feedback
• |
• Suggest A Purchase