Welcome to OPAC Help

You are currently using Atriuum's Online Public Access Catalog (OPAC), which allows you to search for items at your library, check the status of your patron account, and more.

The following sections provide some basic information about how to use OPAC Help as well as some useful instructions to get you started. You will find detailed steps in various locations throughout OPAC, but the brief instructions on this page can help you begin the process of reserving items, using Bookbags, and reviewing/rating items.

Help Basics

OPAC Help is a collection of topics related to specific features OPAC topics related to specific features in the online catalog. Help icons are placed on various pages so you can quickly find information that will assist you. Simply click the icons to view related instructions, definitions, and tips. Information in these Help topics is specific to the task at hand.

When you click the icons, a pop-up window opens, leaving your OPAC open in the background. You can click and drag the pop-up's title bar to move the Help window to a different area of the screen as needed. Within the Help topics, the names of buttons, links, fields, check boxes, and other elements are formatted in black bold, but the actual appearance of these elements within the online catalog depends on your library's OPAC Theme. When you are finished with the Help topic, click the X in the upper, right-hand corner to close the pop-up.

In addition to introducing OPAC Help, this welcome page also explains how to begin using features that require navigation within the online catalog. Help icons are included on related pages to assist you with the final actions of reserving items, setting up Bookbags, and more, but the instructions in the following sections are intended to help you navigate to those pages. First, we cover how to start the process of reserving items.

OPAC Features

Reserving Items

To reserve an item, you must find its record. Use any of the OPAC search tools to open a list of search results, and then click the item's title to open the record. Find the section called Location Information. You will see the Call Number and barcode for each copy of the item, along with its status (In, Out, On Reserve) and a [Reserve This Item] link. Click that link. You may be prompted to log on to your account if you have not done so already, and then a page will open asking you to confirm the reservation. Use the Help icons to guide you through this process.

Using Bookbags

There are two ways to use Bookbags.

• Without logging on to a patron account, you can put items in a temporary Bookbag. This might be helpful if you are doing research and would like to compile items that look useful while you search and then go locate the physical items in the library. Just remember, this list is temporary and will be removed after a period of inactivity.
• When you are logging on to your patron account, you can create as many named Bookbags as needed, publish Bookbags as Book Lists for public viewing if applicable, and more. These Bookbags will be saved so you can retrieve them at any time when you log on to OPAC.

To view a temporary or current Bookbag, click Bookbag in the OPAC Menu. To create or manage Bookbags tied to your account, click My Items in the OPAC Menu. Use the Help icons on those pages for further instructions.

Reviewing/Rating Items

Depending on your library's policies, you may be able to submit a star rating and/or a text review of items you have used. Use any of the OPAC search tools to open a list of search results, and then click an item's title to open its record. Click the Review button on the right side of the item information. A page opens where you may be able to assign a star rating and/or enter a text review for the item. Use the associated Help icon for more information.