Introduction to UPCat
This project is funded (in part) with a Library Services and
Technology grant from the Institute of Museum and Library
Services administered by the Library of Michigan
What IS UPCat?
• Searchable collection of 85+ libraries
• Contains 680,000+ unique titles
• Contains book covers, reviews, book
excerpts, and more
• Gateway to selected web resources and
MeL
• Kids’ Catalog
How Do I Access UPCat?
• Go to the Peter White Public Library
homepage at http://www.pwpl.info
• Under Quick Links, click on the Online
Catalog
Searching in UPCat
• Users can search by Author, Title,
Keywords, Periodical Title, or Series
• Users can search ONLY their library or
ALL 85+ Libraries
• Libraries participating in PII (patron
initiated ILL) can place requests for
materials at other libraries.
Login ONCE to
place multiple
holds
Root Menu Bar
Navigation Bar
The
Navigation
bar changes
depending
on your
options as
you are
searching the
catalog.
The root menu bar
always appears at the
top of the screen in
the online catalog.
Search Type
Search Terms
Search
Library
Search Indexes
Sample Search: Browse Author
Example of Browse Search Results
Number of titles with that title
or author heading
Browseable list of
authors
Link to titles by clicking an
author’s name
Search Results
Search
results for
Barbara
Kingsolver
Icons indicating
format of the item
Enhanced content
and Reader Reviews
Working with Search Results
Click Details
to access
additional
information
and content
Click to Place a Hold or
Request for this item.
Add to a list for emailing or
printing. Coming soon –
users will be able to create
“persistent” lists that can
remain on the system.
Access Enhanced Content
and Reviews
Details Screen
Link to Enhanced
Content
Link to Reader
Reviews
Links to related titles
Call Number and item info
A Look Inside – Enhanced Content
Catalog Record Tab
Reader Reviews
Add your own review
Read reviews
from others
Sample Search: Global Warming
ALL Libraries and Title Keyword
Search Results – Global Warming
Detailed Info with
Enhanced Content
Book Review and TOC
Placing a Hold
Click the Place Hold
Button
Place Hold Screen Enter your
barcode or
ALT ID and
PIN number.
If you don’t
know your PIN
number, or
you’d like an
ALTID, see
your librarian.
Suspension
dates can be
added to
save your
place in the
hold queue.
Books by Mail Pilot
NOTE: In the future,
there will be an
additional option to have
the item MAILED to your
home for those patrons
participating in a Books
by Mail Pilot Project. Be
watching for additional
information.
Hold Confirmation Screen
My Account
Login to your account to view and/or manage
current checkouts, bills, and holds.
Enter your Barcode or Alt ID
and PIN Number
Click to Display Your Information
View Current Checkouts, Bills, and Holds
View, Cancel, or Suspend Holds
Additonal Options on the
Search/Home Page
Search for
audiobooks
to be played
on your
computer,
burn to CD,
or transfer to
an iPod or
other portable
device.
Advanced
Search
Option
Search MeLCat for
additional titles not
found in UPCat.
Reading Lists, Bestsellers,
and Special Collections
Power Search
Call Number
Searching is also
available
The Power Search
allows you to create
more complex
searches using AND,
OR and NOT
Use the Power
Search to create
more complex
searches using
AND, OR and NOT
Recommended Reading and Best
Seller Lists
Kids’ Library
Select another item
from the graphical
menu to complete
Submenu for “Spooky
your search.
Search Results – from Kids’ Catalog
Item Details for Kids’ Catalog Search
Call Number and
shelving location of item
Links to related items and ability to browse
“nearby items on shelf.”
Nearby Items on Shelf –
aka Call Number Search
Find it Fast!
Find it Fast is
a graphical
search menu
for adults.
Lexile Level Searching
• The online catalog includes a search by
reading level.
• The Lexile Measure is a number indicating
the reading demand of the text in terms of
semantic difficulty (word frequency) and
syntactic complexity (sentence length). The
Lexile scale ranges from below 200 for
beginning-reader material to above 1700 for
advanced text.
Lexile Chart
• You can learn more about how to equate
Lexile scores to reading levels by reading
MetaMetrics' FAQ on the subject at
http://www.lexile.com.
AR and Lexile Search
Sample of Lexile Search
Search Results from Lexile Search
“Kept” List Option
They are placed
on a “Kept” List
A “Keep”
button is
available to
select items
for emailing or
printing.
Working with a Kept List
Kept Items can be
printed/emailed in a
variety of formats
Bibliography
Brief Format
Other Features in UPCat
Participating libraries can link to MeLCat, a resource
sharing system for all of Michigan, or download audio books
from OverDrive. New libraries can be added to either
service on a regular basis.
Web Resources
• Librarians selected links to reference
and other useful resources for patrons.
Web Resources –
World Wide Web Links
Contact Us
Use this option
to send a
question or
comment to the
library.
Questions?