Riverland Books (MnPALS) Help

Use MnPALS to locate books, videos, CDs, DVDs, electronic books, selected Internet resources, and numerous other kinds of information in the Riverland Libraries. From the Riverland Library Home Page (http://www.riverland.edu/library), click Riverland Books

An online tutorial is available at http://www.pals.msus.edu/aleph/opac/home.html.   This tutorial will help you get started with basic searching techniques. Scroll down the screen to begin.

Riverland Libraries search options in the drop down box under Library to search.  

Definitions:

Albert Lea Catalog = books, videos, etc in Albert Lea     

Austin Catalog = books, videos, etc. in Austin

DVD, Videos & Audios= all videos, audio books in both Albert Lea and Austin

Journals = magazines, newspapers and journals in both Albert Lea and Austin

Ebooks & Websites = Links to Ebooks (NetLibrary) and internet resource for Albert Lea and Austin

Equipment=all equipment available for use in Albert Lea and Austin

To SEARCH:

1. A good place to start a search is the Keyword Search in the Basic Search window. Select the desired search method. Click in the Search For: text box and type in a word or phrase. Be as specific as you can to start your search. For instance, use multicultural education rather than education.
2. Search as Words returns that match all the words typed. The words will not necessarily be adjacent to one another. The search above will locate items with multicultural and education and elementary.   The search assumes ýandý if more than one term is used.
3. To truncate search items, use! for letter (wom!n) or *(asterisk) for word endings (child*) or word beginnings (*phobia).
4. Use Boolean operators and, or, not to narrow or expand your search.
5. Click Go and wait for search results.
6. Starting a new search or return to a previous search:

• Click Basic Search at any time to begin a new search.
• Click Current Searches to see previous searches in the current session.
• Click to select the search you want to return to, and then click View.

1. Searching for items in specific Riverland Library collections:

• On the Basic Search screen, under Library to search, use the drop down menu to select the desired collections. See definitions of collections at the top of this page.
• Then complete your search. Notice that you will be searching only the selected collection.
• To return to the catalog, select basic search, on the screen.

TO DISPLAY SEARCH RESULTS

1. Results List will display in alphabetical order by year. To display results by Author (alphabetical by last name) or Title (alphabetical); click on the desired column heading.
2. To display an individual record on the Results List, click on the title or item number to see the full record. Search terms often appear in bold.
3. Availability informs you if an item is on the shelves. From the individual record, click on the Location/Available link. Check date under Due Date to see if item is checked out or on the shelf, you will probably need to scroll down to see this information.
4. Request is used to place a hold on a book only when it is already checked out. Click the Request link and fill in your User Id/Barcode (14-digit barcode number on back of your picture ID) and Verification or Password (last name unless you have changed it).

TO REFINE (LIMIT) SEARCH RESULTS

• If search yields too many or too few results refine or limit your search. From the options just above the Results List, click Refine.
• At next screen, select the desired Boolean operator (and narrows the search results, or broadens the search results.)
• Use Anywhere in Record to add another search term to narrow or broaden the search.
• Click Go and wait for refines search results.

TO LOCATE AN ITEM IN THE RIVERLAND LIBRARIES

Location Austin:

Upper Level                   2nd floor of the library

Reference                      1st floor of the library     

Videos                          1st floor of the library

Audio Books                 1st floor of the library

Periodicals                    1st floor of the library most recent

                                    Journals and magazines over two years old are stored on 2nd floor of the library

Austin Call numbers: Read a Library of Congress call number alphabetically and then numerically (example: E185.6 .A45). After the decimal (dot), numerals are read as decimal numbers.

Location Albert Lea:

Reference                     1st floor of the library

Videos                          1st floor of the library

Audio Books                 1st floor of the library

Periodicals                    1st floor of the library                             

Albert Lea Call numbers: Read a Dewey Decimal call number numerically like dollars and cents.

TO PRINT RECORDS

1. Display an individual record as desired, click, File on the browser menu bar, select Print and follow directions to print.

To perform the following, you must be logged into Your Borrowing Record

TO EMAIL OR SAVE THE SEARCH RESULTS

Email:

From the Results List, click the selection box for any items you wish to email to yourself.

Click Save/Mail and follow directions to complete the form.

Select Citation for the bibliographic information (author, title, publisher, date, place of publication, call number).

To email, include your entire Netmail email address (firstname.lastname@riverlandstudent.cc.mn.us) and click Go.

Your email message will arrive from MnPALS Library System with the subject you supply.

The Save option is not operable.