Frequently Asked Questions
Can material be sent to my home?
When you make a request through the Virtual Cata- Your Library’s Name log, you must designate a Library’s Street Address library pickup location. City, MA Zip Code You will be sent notifica- tion (usually via e-mail) Phone: xxx-xxx-xxxx The So & So when the material has ar- Fax: xxx-xxx-xxxx rived at the library you Email: [email protected] have selected. http://www.sailsinc.org/yourlibrary Library: Please contact your local library circulation department to find out its policy on this issue. Virtual Catalog
What about magazine articles? Currently you cannot find magazine listings in the Virtual Catalog. You can, however, use the Statewide Online databases: http://sailsinc.org/virtcatlogin.htm http://mblc.state.ma.us/books/magazine Please contact your library for further details.
Does it cost any money?
No libraries on the statewide Virtual Catalog charge for loans. The Virtual Catalog system is SAILS Library Network supported with state and federal funds. 547 West Grove Street What are the Checkout Policies? Suite 4 Middleboro, MA 02346 Generally, materials can be checked out for 28 Phone: 508-946-8600 days. Renewals are not allowed at this time. Fax: 508-946-8605 Email: [email protected] 3. You have the option to search by title, What is the Why use the author or ISBN. Here are some sample searches: Title Search: PERL 6 now Virtual Catalog? Virtual Catalog? Author Search: Walters, Scott (Use last name then first name) The Virtual Catalog searches through many When you’ve searched SAILS’ 4 million items ISBN search: 1590593952 4. Click the Start button. individual Massachusetts library catalogs for and still can’t find what you want. Take advan- books, CDs, audio or video and then informs 5. On the Combined Results screen click tage of this great service brought to you from you who owns it and whether it is on the the title link to see additional informa- tion and availability of the item. Click on shelf. You can then put in a re- the Massachusetts Board of Library Commis- Headings to change sort order. Pub quest for the item, to be deliv- sioners and an alliance of the Boston Library Date sorting will display newest items ered to your home library. Consortium and Massachusetts library net- first. The system will only sort one page works. at a time. Gain access to the following Note: if a SAILS member library catalogs: owns the item and it is available, • CLAMS, Cape Libraries Automated Materials you will not be allowed to request Sharing the item. • C/W MARS, Central/Western Massachusetts How do you 6. When you find an item you would like, Automated Resource Sharing click the Request button • FLO, Fenway Libraries Online Creating a Request • MBLN, Metro Boston Library Network use it? After you have clicked the Request button, (including the Boston Public Library) and the item is available for loan, fill out the • MLN, Minuteman Library Network If you can’t find what you’re looking for in iBistro, information as follows: • MVLC, Merrimack Valley Library Consortium you can click on the link to the virtual catalog, • NOBLE, North of Boston Library Exchange right from iBistro, or by going to http:// • Verify your name. • Select pickup location from the drop • OCLN, Old Colony Library Network www.sailsinc.org/virtcatlogin.htm • SAILS down box. 1. Select your pick-up library. • University of Massachusetts, Amherst • Only add a note if you need a specific 2. Enter your 14 digit barcode, from the back of volume, since this will slow down • University of Massachusetts, Boston your library card. your request. • University of Massachusetts, Dartmouth 3. Click the "Login!" button. • Enter your e-mail address if you wish • University of Massachusetts, Lowell to be notified by e-mail of the status
of your request.
Searching for an Item • Click the Submit Request button to
send your request. 1. Click the Search/Request button
* Catalogs are being added on an ongoing basis. 2. Type in the search term you would like to use for finding the item (capitalization and * Further information is available on the login screen punctuation are ignored).