OPAC: Understanding Brother Martins Online Card Catalog

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OPAC Understanding Brother Martins Online
Card Catalog
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Location

• The Brother Martin Online Public Access Catalog
  (OPAC) is available to all users of the Brother
  Martin Network.
• Look for the OPAC icon on your desktop or
• Pull up the program menu and look for OPAC or
  Follett ? OPAC
• Note that two computers in the Library serve as
  OPAC only stations

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Search Strategies

• In the ENTER SEARCH TERM box, type a single
  search term, then click on the KEYWORD button
• OPAC is not case sensitive
• OPAC can search only for the words you enter so
  you must spell properly.
• Search individuals using last name, first name
  Ex. Lincoln, Abraham
• Wildcard symbol is ? It can replace any single
  letter
  Ex. wom?n searches woman and women
• Truncation symbol is
  Ex. teen searches
  teen, teens, teenage and teenager
  

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• After each search request, a selection list
  appears with the closest match highlighted
• View the Title, Author, Call Number and Status
  (indicates if the item is IN or checked OUT)
• Double-click on any item in the list for the full
  record of bibliographic information, subject
  headings and notes
• Click on any hyperlink (underlined) in the record
  to find more related information
• Click PREVIOUS or NEXT to view the record above
  or below the viewed record

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Power Searching

• Frequently a keyword search will result in
  numerous titles or hits. Make your search more
  specific by using multiple terms. Click on the
  magnifying glass icon labeled POWER.
• Now you may use up to three lines to enter search
  terms, combing these terms with the words and
  or not.
• Example
• World War II and Pacific but not Europe
• Click DATE to sort any list of titles list will
  be reordered so most recent books list first

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Distinguishing Icons

• The red book icon indicates you have located a
  book
• A newspaper icon indicates a serial, something
  published periodically like pamphlets or SIRS
  Binder articles
• An arrow indicates realia, an object or
  equipment rather than a print work
• A cassette indicates a video

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Using Your Bookbag

• As you locate items in the OPAC you think may
  help your research, highlight the title and click
  ADD TO BOOKBAG
• Once you have perused the records, click BOOKBAG
  on the toolbar. A list of titles and the call
  number for each will appear on screen. Click
  PRINT and take this list to the shelves to locate
  the materials.
• Bookbag lists will be deleted when you exit the
  OPAC unless you specifically save it to your T\
  space.

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