LSCI 100

USING THE PLS ONLINE CATALOG

The Peninsula Library System (PLS), which is made up of all the public (city and county) libraries in San Mateo County in addition to the three community college libraries (Skyline, CSM and Canada), has an online catalog which lists all of the books, audio and video materials and other materials available in all of the libraries in the System. A basic “Quick PLS Catalog Search” box for searching this catalog is available on the left side of the Skyline Library homepage.  (A new window will open, but this page will still be accessible by clicking on the tab for this page at the bottom of your screen).

Using Skyline Library’s “Quick PLS Catalog Search” Box

To search for books on a subject or topic only in Skyline College Library:

  • Click in the “Quick PLS Catalog Search” box on the left side of the Skyline Library homepage.
  • Type search words (keep your search words broad) in the search box.
  • Then click the Go button to display a list of titles of books that matched your search word(s).
  • A new window will open and the search results will show books and other materials in Skyline Library.
  • Click on the title of a book you are interested in to display the full description for that book.
  • Look under Location (on lower half of the page) and find the listing for Skyline College Circulating Collection.*
  • Look under Call No. for the Skyline listing and copy down the complete call number. 
  • Look for the book on the Circulating Collection shelves by the call number.  Ask a librarian for help, if needed.
  • To return to the list of results for your search, click the “Return to List” button at the top of the page
  • To return to the Skyline Library home page, close the catalog window (click the X in the upper right corner.)

*  The “Circulating Collection” is the main set of shelves on the right side as you enter the library.
   Other book locations in Skyline Library are:

·         “Reserves”: shelved at the front desk

·         “Reference”: shelved in lower shelves behind the Reference desk

·         “Oversize”: shelved at the right end of the Reference shelves

·         “New Fiction”: shelved in a small book case directly in front of the library entrance


To search for books on a subject or topic in all libraries in the PLS system:

  • Using the “Quick PLS Catalog Search” on the Skyline Library homepage, change the selection on the pull-down menu below the search box from: “Search Skyline Library” to: “Search all PLS libraries”
  • Type search words (keep your search words broad) in the search box & click Go.
  • A new window will open and the search results will show books and other materials in all libraries in the PLS system.



To order books from other libraries:

Books from other libraries may be ordered to be sent to Skyline (or any other library) by clicking on the yellow Hold button on the top of the “full record” for any book. (A library card is required to make the request and $.75 is charged when picking up the book.)



To find useful additional information about a book, including reviews, summaries or tables of contents:

  • Click on “Reviews and more” on the right side of the “full record” page.
  • Click on any of the choices for more information, which may include: “Summary”, “Reviews”, “Contents” or more.



To find other books on related subjects:

Once you find a book on a subject you are interested in, you can find other books on the same subject(s) by clicking on the subject heading(s) listed near the bottom of the “full record”.  When you click on a subject link, an alphabetical list of subject headings, including the subject you chose, will be displayed.  Click on any subject from the list to display all the books and other materials on that subject in all PLS libraries.



To limit your search to specific types of materials (e.g. CDs or DVDs), specific languages or specific libraries:

  • From the search results page, click on the “Modify Search” button at the top of the page.
  • The “Advanced Search” screen will be displayed with your current search words
  • Scroll down and select from any of the limits on the various pull-down menus: “Location” (library), “Material Type” (e.g. books, CDs, DVDs, videos) and/or “Language”
  • Click the Submit button

 

 



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last revised: 10-29-07 by Eric Brenner, Skyline College, San Bruno, CA
These materials may be used for educational purposes if you inform and credit the author and cite the source as: LSCI 100: Introduction to Information Online Research. All commercial rights are reserved. Send comments or suggestions to: Eric Brenner at: brenner@smccd.net.