Instructions

Example:     Words in Title: Peter Rabbit
Example:     Author: Shakespeare

You may need to scroll through the search results to find the item you are looking for, as they are displayed in order of date publshed, with the most recent titles at the top.

If you would like to see a list of items by a particular author click on the Search tab and choose the Starts With... tab. Enter the author's name (last name first). The search will return an alphabetical listing of names. Click on the author's name from this list.

Example:     Author (last name, first name): Potter, B

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View the Results
For each matching title, iPac displays specific information such as the item's title, author, publisher, publication date, call number, and status.

Ten results are displayed on the page. To view the more titles, click Next at the bottom of the page to see the next ten results.

To view more information about a particular item on the list, click on the title or More info/copies. The catalog will display the item details.

If only one matching title is found, the detailed item information is displayed.

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Item Details
Item details include the availability of the item, a brief summary, table of contents, reviews and links to more items by the same author or related subjects within the library.

Items owned by the Amherst Town Library will display the call number and status.

If an item is available at another GMILCS library, iPac displays the Other Locations button. Clicking on this button will provide the location, call number, and status of the title. You may use your Amherst library card at these locations (according to the GMILCS Common Borrower Guidelines) to check materials out or you may request them to be shipped to the Amherst Town Library for pickup by clicking the Request Item button. If you would prefer to designate an alternate pickup location, locate the item in the GMILCS catalog and click the Request Item button. Select a pickup location from the drop down menu.

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Place a Hold
To reserve items that you would like to check out:

• From the Search Results or Item Details, click Request Item.
• Log in to your account using your library barcode and PIN number. What's this?
• Verfiy the item and enter any additional information in the Comment field. Click Request.
• iPac displays the message: Your request has been successfully placed.
• To return to the Online Catalog, click the Return to Searching.

If the requested item is currently checked in at the Amherst Town Library, the library staff will pull it from the shelves and hold it behind them main circulation desk for pickup. Please note: Requests will be checked daily. If you place requests and immediately come to the library, the items will likely still be on the shelf. Staff will be happy to assist you in locating them.

If the requested item is currently unavailable (i.e. on order, checked out, being repaired) the library staff will contact you by phone or email when the item becomes available to fill your request. In many instances, your request may be filled with a copy from another GMILCS library if it is available sooner than our copy.

The library will hold new fiction, fiction videos, and CDs for two days. The library will hold all other materials for five days.

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Changing the Status of Items on Hold
This is a handy feature for keeping one’s place in the request queue when one is away.

• Login to My Account and click on the Holds tab.
• Check off the empty box located to the left of each title for each title you wish to change the status.
• To change the status on all items on hold, check off the empty box directly below the Change Status tab.
• The status will change from Active to Suspended.

When you would like to return to the hold queue, check off the empty box located to the left of each title and click the Change Status tab. This will return the status to Active.

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To Cancel a Hold
Please follow the instructions for Changing the Status of Items on Hold and click on the Cancel Request tab.

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Specific Searches
More searching options are available by clicking on the Search tab.

• Starts With: This search brings you to an alphabetical listing of results, beginning with the search terms that you enter.
• Large Print: Limits results to only those titles available in large print.
• Video/DVD: Search for movies or documentaries by title, director, performers or subject.
• Audiobooks: Limits results to only those titles available on cassette or CD. Search by title, author/narrator or subject.
• Music: Search for musical recordings by artist, performer, song title or subject.
• Software: Look for children's computer software by title, author or subject.
• Advanced: This search allows you to search by multiple indexes or keywords and then refine your search by applying pre-defined limits. Advanced search also lets you sort results by specific criteria.

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Refine a Search
There are many ways to improve the quality of your search so you retrieve the most relevant results. The following options can be selected when you enter your query or after your search results are returned.

• Limit: Restrict search results to display only particular formats or locations.
• Sort: Change the order that search results are displayed to publication date, author, title, or media type.

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Email Search Results
This option is available at the bottom of each page of search results.

• Select the format in which you would like the information to appear by clicking the appropriate radio button.
• Indiate the number of items you would like to send.
• Enter the subject of the e-mail in the Subject field.
• Enter the e-mail address to where you want to send the information.
• Click Send.

The iPac sends the search results to the e-mail address you specified.

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Using My List
My List is a feature that lets you create a temporary list of items from your search results. Each time you add an item to My List, iPac displays the number of items in the current list next to the My List icon. You may add as many items as you want to My List.  

To view the current My List, click the My List icon on the Toolbar. The iPac displays all the items in the current My List. If you have not added any items to My List, Information Portal displays the message "No items in list."

To save a list for future reference, simply Login to your user account. The iPac saves the items to your own permanent list.


To create multiple lists:

• Log in to your user account.
• View My List.
• Mark the boxes next to the items in the current list that you want to save to a new list.
• Choose New List from the Move To drop-down menu and click Go.
• Enter a name for the new list in the field and click OK.

To view a saved list:

• Log in to your user account.
• Click the My List icon on the Toolbar.
• Information Portal displays all the items in the current My List.
• Choose the saved list you want to view from the Other Lists drop-down menu and click Go.

To move items to a saved list:

• View the current My List or the saved list with the items you want to move.
• Mark the box next to the items you want to move. Or, if you want to move all of the items in the list, mark the box to the left of the Title column.
• Choose the saved list to which you want to move the items from the Move To drop-down menu.
• Click Go.

Information Portal moves each item you selected to the saved list you chose.

To e-mail a list:

• View the current My List or the saved list you want to e-mail.
• Click the Email this List link at the bottom of the list.
• Information Portal displays the Email My List page.
• Mark the format in which you would like the list to appear.
• Enter the subject of the e-mail message in the Subject field.
• Enter the e-mail address to where you want to send the list in the Email to field.
• Click Send.

Information Portal sends a copy of the list to the e-mail address you specified.


To remove items from your current list or from a saved list:

• View the current My List or the saved list from which you want to remove an item.
• Information Portal displays the items in the list.
• Mark the box next to each item that you want to remove from the list. Or, if you want to remove all the items from the list at once, mark the box to the left of the Title column.
• Click Remove.

Information Portal removes the items from the List. As you remove items from your current list, Information Portal displays the number of items remaining in the list next to the My List icon on the Toolbar.

(Note: If you add a title to My List and decide that you do not want it, you may remove it immediately. On the item detail page where you just added the item, click Remove. Information Portal removes the item from My List.)

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Access My Account
To access your library account online click on the My Account tab or Login at the top of the page.

You will be prompted to enter your library card barcode number and PIN number. (Click here if you don't know your barcode or PIN number.) Click Login or press Enter on the keyboard.

The Account Overview page will be displayed. This screen shows the number of items you currently have Checked Out and on Request, number of Blocks/Fines, and your Profile.

For complete account information click on one of the tabs:

• Checked Out: Titles you have checked out or overdue.
• Holds: Titles you have requested and those ready to be picked up.
• Fines/Blocks: List of fines for overdue or lost materials. Notice of card expiration or change of address.
• Personal Information: Current contact information held by the library. Please click on Request Change if the information is incorrect. Upadate your email address or change your PIN number.

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How to Renew Items
To renew materials that you currently have checked out you need to login to My Account.

• Click on the Checked Out tab.
• Check off the empty box located to the left of each title for each title you wish to renew.
• Click the Renew button located above or below the list of items checked out.
• To renew all your items, check off the box located directly below the Renew button. Click the Renew button above or below the list of items checked out.
• Renewal will only be denied if the item has already been renewed twice, or if it is on hold for another patron.

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Logging Out
Click the Log Out button at the top of the page.
(Reminder: You must save My List before logging out if you would like to revist it at a future point.)

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