Catalogue FAQ's

How do I access the Library catalogue?

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Mobile

 How do I access the Library catalogue?

  • Access the catalogue here

 How do I search the catalogue only (and exclude online resources from the Library's databases)?

  • Click onto "search options" under the search box on the home page of the catalogue (Ebsco Discovery page) and select the box "catalogue only". Then enter your search terms into the search box.
  • Or, once you have done your search, "Refine your Results" by selecting the "catalogue only" box on the left hand side of your results screen.

 How do I search for a book by a particular author?

  • Click on the radio button for ‘author’ on the front page of the Library catalogue.
  • Type in the full name of the author in any order eg Ann Rickard, Lee Child. Avoid using initials unless the author is commonly referred to in this way eg C K Stead, D H Lawrence.
  • If you want only physical items in the library, click ‘catalogue only’ on the left pane. The catalogue option will usually sort author search results into date order with the latest at the top.
  • To sort the results in other ways click on the heading ‘date descending sort’ or ‘relevance sort’ depending on your previous search limits.

 How do I get a list of DVD's in the Library collection?

  • If you want a list of ALL the DVDs in our collection type DVD In the search box then at the search result page click catalogue only to narrow down to physical items in our collection only.
  • To restrict it further, scroll down to the list of popular keywords at the foot of the left hand column and click on the desired subject heading, eg DVD TV series, television, comedies etc

 How do I find a particular TV series on DVD in the Library collection?

  • In the keyword search box, type in DVD AND….the name of the series you’re after; eg Bewitched, Dad’s Army etc.

 How do I find talking books in the Library collection?

  • Click the radio button for title search on the front page of the Library catalogue then type in a particular title you would like and press enter.
  • Once the results appear scroll down to ‘material type’ and choose audio if it appears (you may have to click ‘show more’ to find it).
  • Or, to restrict it to audio, scroll to the popular keywords on the left and look for talking books or audiobooks. Click on this heading to update the list of search results

 How do I find CD's by a particular artist?

  • Type in a singer/composer as an Author search. Under ‘Popular keywords’ click on ‘compact disc.’
  • Or,  put the artist’s name AND compact disc in a keyword search. Always write compact disc in full NOT CD.eg Leonard Cohen AND compact disc

 Can I limit my search to Stoke (or Nightingale, or Elma Turner Library) only?

  • Yes. From the search results scroll down to find a Library Branch heading on the left. Please note this heading will only appear if there are items held at more than one of the libraries. Click on this heading and choose the library and click update. An updated list of results will display.

 How do I find out if the Library has a title on order?

  • The libraries on order titles do not currently appear on the public catalogue. Contact the library or ask a staff member and we will check for you

 How can I find out if an item is available for loan, or when it is due back, and where it is?

  • On your result list you will see a box below each record giving you information about where the item is.
  • If the item is available, you will see the shelf location in green (eg first 3 letters of author's surname for fiction and call no. for non-fiction) and the library location in black.
  • If the item is on loan, the words "on loan" replace the shelf location (in green). You can "request this item" (click on the blue link).
  • If there is more than one copy of the title, you will either see "on loan - multiple locations" or "check availability - multiple locations"
  • For more information about where these titles are, or when they are due back, click onto the word "multiple locations" or onto the title of the item, to see the full record and holdings information. 

 How do I sort my results to find the most recent titles first?

  • To sort your result list by date, change the "relevance sort" option on the blue bar above your result list, to "date descending". You will then see the newest titles at the top of the list.

 How do I reserve a Library item?

  • From the results of your search choose an item to reserve by clicking on ‘request this item’. This will link to another page where the heading ‘Place hold’ displays. Click this.
  • Enter your 14 digit Library barcode and PIN number. Change the pickup location if desired. There is also an option here to suspend the hold if you will be away on holiday or know you will be absent for a period of time.
  • Click the ‘place hold’ tab. To check the Holds (or reserves) on your account, click ‘My account’ then ‘review my account’.

 How do I find out where I am in the queue for a title I have reserved?

  • Click on the ‘My account’ tab on the upper left of the catalogue page. Click on ‘Review my account’. Enter all the numbers of your library card plus your PIN number.
  • Click ‘display user information’. Click ‘Holds’ and a list of your current holds appear showing your position in the queue for each item. You will not see a position if the item is on order.

 How do I find out what I have out on loan, and when those items are due back?

  • Click on the ‘My account’ tab on the upper left of the catalogue page. Click on ‘Review my account’. Enter all the numbers of your library card plus your PIN number.
  • To display the items you have on loan, click onto "checkouts". The due date will be listed beside the item.

 How do I create lists using the library catalogue?

Option 1 - An Ebsco account to save search results -  including full text articles, items you have read or wish to read and more.

  • At the catalogue home page, click on ‘Login to Ebsco’. Set up a personal account with a user name and password (it doesn’t need to be the same as your library account).
  • To add items to a list click on ‘add to folder’ beneath the search result. To look at your saved searches, click on the Folder icon in the top right of the screen. These results may be emailed, printed or saved to your computer or accessed from any computer once they are saved as long as you log in.

Option 2. - My account list - for saving searches and keeping lists of physical items owned the Library only to either view, print, email or create booklists.

  • Click on ‘My Library account’ from the catalogue home page in the top left of the screen.
  • Click Search/Home to search the catalogue.
  • Tick the ‘keep’ checkbox next to the items you wish to save into a list
  • Scroll up and click on ‘kept’ - the list will appear. Select these and click either ‘view’ or ‘save’ to print or email.
  • If you want to keep a record of your searches and create permanent lists attached to your Library account, log in with your library barcode and PIN number then do the following:
  • Click on search/home to bring up a search box. Click on Permanent Lists
  • In the text box labelled ‘new list’ type in a name for your list then click ‘make list active’. This will save the LIST title in the current lists dropdown box above.
  • Search for items you wish to save into this list by clicking on search/home. When you find the items you want – save them into a list by clicking +my list.
  • Go to your ‘permanent lists’ and check the saved titles to save into the list selected from the current lists dropdown on the right and click ‘make list active’

 How do I access an application of the catalogue for mobile devices?

  • From the web browser on your phone or mobile device go to m.nelsonpubliclibraries.co.nz
  • Or, to download the app directly to your mobile device,  download "Library Anywhere" in your I-Tunes or Android shop (see instructions here)