OPAC stands for:Online Public Access Catalog

Look for this icon on the computer desktop.

Double-click on it to open.OPAC

Library Catalog

When OPAC first opens up you will find a screen that looks like this. Type in your title, author, subject or keywordin the white text box and select the icon that fits your search.

When doing research, it is best to use the “Keyword” or “Power” selections.

“Power” is a keyword Boolean search option.

You should have compiled a list of keywords before you start your research.

I would like to read a book about dogs for a research paper. I typed the word “dogs” in the text box and selected “Keyword.” This is the list that comes up. (To go back a screenat any time press the “ESC” key on the computer keyboard.)

The small icon of a book means this title is a book. There are pictures of CD’s,maps, microphones, videos, newspapers,etc., each listing a type of material in the library.

This is the Title column.

This is the Authorcolumn.

This is theYear ofpublication.

This is the Call Number.It tells you where tofind the book in the library. All non-fictionbooks have Dewey numbers,all fiction books are markedas “FIC” and the author’slast name.

The last column is labeled “Status.”This will have either an “Out,” meaning the book is checked out, or “In,” meaning the book is onthe shelf.

You can move from title to titleby using the arrow bars on the right side of the screen. The small arrow bar on the top and bottom will move the blue line (cursor) up and down one title at a time. The large arrow bar will move the the screen up or downone page at a time.

This screen is called the first page of cataloging. It gives you a lot of information, but you will need more if you are doing research.From this page you can either double-click on the blue line to find more in-formation on the book, or click on the “Select” button in the lower right corner of the screen...

This is the second page of cataloging.the word “dogs” is highlighted becausethat is where the catalog found the key-word we asked it to search for.This page provides you with a lot of additional information.

This page will give you your bibliographicinformation (Title, Author, Publisher andDate, and Number of Pages.) It will alsotell you the edition if needed.

In the “Notes” section you may find a summary of what the book is about.

Subject headings are very importantin doing research. They are excellentways to narrow or broaden yourresearch and to find all the books onyour topic. The call number is listed in the upperright hand side of the screen and thelower left part of this screen.

On this page anything highlighted inblue is a direct link to another partof the catalog.I would like to narrow my search toonly fiction books about dogs. By double-clicking on the subject heading“Dogs – Fiction” the catalog will take me to a list of all of the books the library has that are fiction books about dogs.

This screen tells me that there are57 fiction books about dogs in the library. To find out what the titlesare double-click on the blue line orclick on “Select” in the lower leftcorner.

This is the list of titles of fictionbooks about dogs. Notice thatthey are not all books. For research I would always look at the second page of cataloging and select the books I would like to look at. I can do that bycreating a “Bookbag”

To create a Bookbag highlight thetitle you want and click on the “Addto Bookbag” button in the lowerleft hand corner, or…

Click on the “Add to Bookbag”button on the right of thesecond page of cataloging.

After you have viewed all of the titles you are interested in andhave added them to your Bookbag, select the “Bookbag” iconat the top and this pop-up window will appear with all of thebooks you are going to look for.

You can even name your Bookbag. I will call this one“Books about Dogs.” Once I have all of the titles in myBookbag and have named it, I can print it out.

This is what a Bookbag printout looks like. It has all of yourbibliographic information on it, the call number, as well as the summary of your book. It will help keep your research in order. Make notes on this page, mark off the titles that don’t work, and use the information to make the bibliography for your paper.Be smart doing your research; use a Bookbag!

In the Accelerated Reader program you can find out what books areavailable in your reading level by selecting the “AR”icon and filling out the information on this pop-upwindow.

The AR pages will give you the readinglevel and the points value of each ofthe AR books. Remember, just becausethey are listed as AR books we do notnecessarily have a test for them. Alwayscheck the spine of the book to see if it has anAR sticker. If it does, it has a test.

You have now learned how to use the library’sOPAC!

If you have any questions about the program after you have completed this lessonPlease ask Mrs. Gale, the Librarian.

References

• Bowen, Shirley. "How to use OPAC." WHS Lion's Library, 21 Oct. 2008. Web. 20 Nov. 2009. <http://www.whslibrary.com/howtouseopac.htm>.