New Search Interface

Discovery Search will be replacing UMA WorldCat as our main search interface July 1, 2017. Currently it is the second option in the search dropdown. Give it a try today!

What do you do if a UMass E-Book is Not Functioning?

If someone clicks on "UMass:Connect to the title" to access an e-book and it brings you to a page that reads, Document Unavailable or does not come up.  Please write down the name of the book and author.  I can then let the people who deal with the catalog know so they can fix it.

Mt. Holyoke Patron Driven Acquisitions

Mount Holyoke College is starting patron driven acquisitions.  This means that instead of ordering books they think students may want, they wait until the students actually request the item. They are anticipating this will take 48 hours to get the item.  So if you are helping someone and they see "MH Order on Request" in the catalog, they CAN request that item.  I am thinking with the addition of the item having to come here, it may take 3-4 days for the item to get here.  

If you have any questions just let me know!

New and Improved(?)

Now when you use the "Request Item" feature in the 5-College Catalog you will see this...

Now students can either use their barcode on their ID or use their Net ID and Password.  To use their Net ID they just need to choose the Login via UMass-Amherst.  Either way they will still need to logoff!

What is going on when we look up a book but there's no where to click for call numbers and availability? No library location is listed?

It is hard to diagnose without seeing the actual example you saw. In the future try to let me know the title of what you were looking up so that I can see what you see. But if there is something odd I would just send them to the LC Desk downstairs. The librarians are very familiar with the catalog and should be able to help explain the catalog.

Had trouble finding a course book for French 230/240? Note: Searched "Basic Search of UM Reserves."

I would make sure that you are selecting the right option on the left after using the "Search Course Reserves" option from the library home page or while using the "Reserves" tab. If you are doing this and still can't find it send them to the LC Desk on the LL. Depending on the time of year it may be so busy that the book is not on Reserves yet. It is also possible that the teacher did not put it on Reserves. Any time you have a question about Reserves just send them to the LC Desk, they will be able to help them better.

Can a Smith student renew their Smith books here at the W.E.B. Du Bois Library?

They can renew on line by choosing the option of "My Accounts" on the front page, then click on the "Login" next to "My Account (Five College Libraries Borrowing). From there they can renew the books they have out.

How do I narrow the catalog search down to just movies/dvds?

In the Library Catalog click on the "Advanced" tab. Then under the "Format" heading you can change it to DVDs, Videos, Films and Slides. To narrow it further to only UMass movies/DVDs under the Location heading choose the UM location with the term Media in it.

Is there anyway to limit a computer search for just juvenile books?

I checked and you can not limit your catalog search to just juvenile books. People can browse the Juvenile Collection as they are all located in the same place on the 21st Floor. They are located in ranges, 58-60

What should I do if a student can not find a book upstairs in the stacks?

The first thing you always want to do is look up the book and check to see if it is on Reserve. One of the most common mistakes patrons make is getting the call number but not noticing the location. So they go upstairs for a book that may be on Reserve for example. Also make sure that the book is not out, patrons sometimes do not check the status of the book.

If the book should be there and is showing that it is "available" in the catalog then call the Stack Management at 5-3796. If someone is not available to go upstairs then put a "Request" on the book. This way someone will search for the book and then place it on the hold shelf for that person.

How can you help a student who wants to know where the book is located in the Reserve Department?

Start at the Library home page and click on the tab that reads "view your course reserves" located on the left of the page. From the next page click on the "Search For Course Reserves" option in  red. From there you can search by Instructor, Course Number, Course Name, Department, Title begins with, Author or Call number. The student will need to know the answer to one of these questions to locate the item.
There are also PC's downstairs for the students to search Reserves for themselves.