TinyCat for Patrons - wiki.librarything.com (original) (raw)

This is the Help page for patrons using TinyCat at their local, small library. The goal of this page is to give patrons an easy start guide for using TinyCat.

This Help page reviews the following topics:

• How to search for books in TinyCat
  • Using the Basic and Advanced Search methods
  • Using the Search Facets/Filters
• Sharing Items by Email / Starred List
• Navigating the Detail Pages (book pages)
• Managing your Patron Account (if Patron Accounts are enabled)
  • Understanding the difference between Simple and Full Circulation Patron Accounts
• How to use the Check out, Place hold, and/or Ask About This buttons in TinyCat

Searching

TinyCat was built to be very user-friendly, so using both the Basic and Advanced Search options (explained below) are pretty self explanatory. For more info on LibraryThing's search syntax, etc., check out the Help page for Search on LibraryThing.

Basic Search

Use the search bar on your library's homepage (or at the top of catalog pages) to search for any title, author, tag, subject, publication date, etc. If you have a scanner hooked up to the device you're searching from, you can scan-to-search a barcode on an item (such as an ISBN barcode on a book, or an internal barcode label that the library is using).

TinyCat will show all matches for your search, sorted by relevancy (by default). Use the sort drop-down menu, on the right of the page, to sort your searches by acquisition, title, publication date, author, or popularity.

Advanced Search

Links: YouTube tutorial

Advanced Search is found by clicking the carrot icon to the right of the Basic Search bar.

Search for any field, or fields, using boolean (AND/OR) logic. You can even limit your search by Collection, Language, and/or Media type.

Search Facets/Filters

Links: YouTube tutorial

If your library has enabled their search facets/filters, you will see them on the righthand side of your Search page/s. Click any search facet to hone your search; click the facet again to unselect it.

Email/Starred Lists

YouTube tutorial for Starred Lists | YouTube tutorial for Email Sharing | YouTube tutorial for Social Media Sharing

Underneath the cover images of items (on Search and Detail pages), your library can enable various sharing buttons. These buttons include social media, email, and starred lists. Click any of these buttons to share a specific item by social media, email, or add it to your starred list.

Adding items to your starred list will tally on the top right of your screen, with the yellow star, to the left of your library's name:

Click the star in the top-right of your TinyCat to reach your starred list. From here, you can edit, print, email, or clear your starred list. Great for research projects or reading lists!

Detail Pages (book pages)

Your library can completely customize their detail pages in their catalog, so any number of fields could be displayed for each item. Blue text includes a link to whatever that text is referencing:

For example, the following fields (if visible on your detail pages) can be clicked to view matching items for that field:

• Titles
• Authors
• Genres
• Subjects
• Series
• Awards
• Tags
• Collections
• Language
• Links to published "Media" reviews
• Recommendations (aka "Similar in this library" links)
• "More" links (to Amazon, LibraryThing, and/or MARC view for the record)

Patron Accounts

If you can see the "Check out" and/or "Place hold" buttons within your library's TinyCat, this means that your library has enabled self-checkout.

In order to check items out or place items on hold, you'll need to log in as a patron to the library. Patron accounts with your library will either be in "Simple Circulation" mode or "Full Circulation" mode. See below for how to log in and use each type of patron account for TinyCat.

Simple Circulation

Simple Circulation mode shares one password for all patrons in the system. This is typically used for high-trust environments (classroom libraries, etc.). After clicking the "Check out" and/or "Place hold" button on an item you're interested in, simply enter the password the library gave you in the "Hey! What's the password?" pop-up box.

Full Circulation

Full Circulation patron login

Hint: If you see a person icon at the top right of your screen, your library has enabled Full Circulation mode.

Full Circulation mode gives each patron their own login ID (barcode) and/or password.

• Login password If your library requires a password for you to log into your account (not just your patron barcode/ID), you need to get your password from the library admin/staff. They can generate a password for you from TinyCat's administrative side of the catalog.
• Patron Account Click the person icon at the top right of your screen to log in/view your Patron Account page.
  • My Borrowing Here, you will find all of your lending data, both current and historical. Your library may allow you to renew items—if so, you'll see a "Renew" button next to your currently checked out items. Renewals always start the date you request them, and last as long as your library's circulation period (e.g. 14 days).
  • Personal Information Here, you can view and (if your library allows) edit various fields within your Personal Information, for your library's records.
  • Sign out Click this to log out of your patron account when you're done (especially if you're using a public computer!).

Patron Actions (How to check out/place a hold)

The Check Out and/or Place Hold buttons will show up on Search pages and/or Detail pages.

If your library is using Simple Circulation, you'll need to select which patron each item is for (from the circulation pop-up provided), after you've logged into the system.

If your library is using Full Circulation, just log in with your patron barcode/password, and use the actions you want for each item as needed. If you're not using a personal computer/device to access your library's TinyCat, be sure to log out of your account when you're done!

Your library may also have an Ask About This button (which can be renamed). Follow the instructions your library gives you for this option, to inquire about/request an item.