Library staff know how frustrating it is to be unable to physically browse the library shelves for new books, DVDs, and audio right now. But here are two ways to browse them virtually.
The first is in our online catalog. When you’re in the catalog, click on the library’s logo at the top. You’ll see two carousels for New Books and New Videos in the middle, and you’ll see all of our New Item Lists on the right hand side. Click on any list and sort by Title, Author, or any other filter. Place a hold by clicking “Place Hold,” enter your library Barcode or Username, and your Password/PIN (probably the last four numbers of your primary phone number), click “Log In,” then “Submit Request.” That’s it!
The second is by setting up a Saved Search by email. Set up a search to be notified weekly or monthly when new books, new DVDs, new mysteries, new science fiction, new poetry, new picture books, or more, are added to our catalog. You can even specify certain authors. For example, I like to know when new Adult Fiction DVDs are added to the catalog; that way I won’t miss any of the new movies the Library gets. Here’s how:
To get started, I go to the Library’s catalog at https://catalog.sjlib.org/polaris/default.aspx, and click on “Keyword” under the blue “SEARCH” tab. In the box for “Keyword search,” I type an asterisk (*). That’s a wild card to bring back everything in that field. In the “Search by” field I use the dropdown arrow to choose “Title”. Then I “Limit by” DVD in the same way, and click the Magnifying Glass to start the search.
I’m not quite done yet. I now have a list of ALL of the DVDs the Library owns -- adult, young adult and children’s, fiction and nonfiction. Now to apply some expert tips!
I click on the blue “More Search Options” underneath the search boxes. Under the “Collections” heading I choose “Adult Fiction DVD.” I can choose more than one collection if, say, I want Young Adult Fiction DVDs, too, by holding down the control key and clicking on all the collections I want to include. Under “Publication Dates” I use this method to select 2020 (or multiple years). Then I click the “Set Search Options” button at the bottom.
My search runs. I get 72 items. Woohoo! Now I have a list of all the Adult Fiction DVDs from 2020 that the Library owns. But how can I find out about new ones that are added after today, without going through the whole search process again?
Here’s the Magic!
On the top right-hand side of my results page, I now click on the blue button that says “Save Search.” If I’m not already logged in to my library account, I’ll be asked to do that at this point, then I see my search criteria in the middle of the page.
I’ll call this search “2020 Adult Fiction DVDs” in the “Search name” field, or simply “New Movies.” My email is automatically filled in if it’s in my library account. I uncheck the box if I don’t want to get an email when there are no results from a weekly or monthly search.
Then I choose how often I want my search to run -- weekly or monthly, then choose the “Number of times to run”. I choose 100 Weekly searches. Then I click “Save Search” and I’m done!
Here is what a results email may look like:
The title is a link I can click in my email that takes me to the catalog entry for the item where I can place a hold. I may see zero titles or twenty, depending on how many items that match my search criteria were added that week or month.
Never miss another new book by your favorite author, anything on Orca whales, new biographies, romances, holiday books, or new graphic novels. You pick what you want to get, and the information is delivered to your email.
If you need help setting up Saved Searches, call and ask a staff member for assistance -- Tuesdays, Thursdays, Fridays or Saturdays, from 11am to 2pm. We’re happy to help! Then pick up your holds Curbside after you get a notice that they’re ready.
See you online and outside at the Library!
Here’s a teaser of some new books on our shelves right now. Go ahead and place your holds!
Laurie Orton
Library Director
Discover Life's Possibilities 1010 Guard St Friday Harbor, Washington 98250 (360) 378-2798 www.sjlib.org