Tips for Searching Toledo-Lucas County Public Library Card Catalog
Saving records
To save a single record
While viewing the record for the book that you want, click on the Request tab. Remember, at this point you will need your library card.
To save multiple records as you search
While viewing the record that you want to save, click on the icon for Save Records.
When you have completed your search, you can click on the icon for View Saved.
You can also add the item to your Book Cart when in the original list of items returned from your search.
At this point, you have a choice as to whether you want to:
View and Export your saved records
If you choose this option, you can either email or save the list. You do not need your library card to export your saved records.
View and Request your saved records
If you choose this option, you can place your request just as you do with a single item. Remember, at this point you will need your library card.
To get a more complete book description
You can get a summary for a particular book by clicking on Additional Information or Book Information. The Other Resources tab may provide additional reviews.
To get ideas for book suggestions and reviews
Don't have a current book in mind? Try browsing through the "Reading Lists" under the Library Collection button
Other tabs
When looking at the record of a particular book, you will see tabs labeled More Details, Links to Similar Items, and Full Record. You can use these tabs to get a summary of the book or link to books that have similar subject matter.
Research Databases
You will find the Research Databases under the button called "Research and Reference". You will need to enter your barcode and PIN number to access any of the Library's databases from home. Your barcode can be found on your library card, and the default PIN in for your account will be the last four digits of your phone number that the Library has on file. Some of these sites are only accessible from computers located within a Toledo-Lucas County Public Library, while others may be only available to registered Library Card holders.
If you've checked the TLCPL catalog (and you should, because it's your best source) but didn't find what you needed, you now have access to Search Ohio. Search Ohio is your connection to over seven million items through a consortium of Ohio public libraries. Search Ohio partners are: Toledo-Lucas County, Warren-Trumbull County Public Library, Youngstown-Mahoning County, Cuyahoga County and Westerville.
* You can find audiobooks, ebooks, video, and music you can download under Downloadables (Other Resources tab when in Classic Catalog; Books & Information on TLCPL home page)
Keyword Searching
Keyword Searching is a way to search an index or database by searching for particular words in titles, names, subject headings, abstracts and any other information available in publication records. This kind of searching allows you to combine keywords by using the Boolean operators AND, OR and NOT. Keyword searching is more flexible than subject searching because it allows the searcher to select his or her own words or phrases for the search. Keyword searching is a more powerful way to search the library catalog. It permits the use of adjacency, truncation, proximity, operators and field limits to home in on precisely the items you need.
Taken from Library Research Glossary- University of Carolina Libraries