Welcome to Media Search 101! Using the Online Public Access Catalog (OPAC)

1. Welcome to Media Search 101! Using the Online Public Access Catalog (OPAC)

2. What is OPAC? • OPAC (Online public access catalog) is the record system that is on the computer that lists all our books and other materials located in the media center!

3. Before we begin our Media Search,Let’s first do a quick review of library organization!

4. There are three main sections in our library: • Fiction * Nonfiction • Easy • Did you remember that books are put on the shelf using a call number?

5. What about the call number? • The call number helps us find a book! • It’s the white tag on the spine of the book. • If it has an “F” what section is it? • If it has an “E” what section is it? • If it has 551.4 (NF) where would you go?

6. The Dewey Decimal System is arranged by numbers starting from 000 to the 900’s. • 001 Generalities (Computers, newspapers, etc.) • 100’s Philosophy & Psychology • 200’s Religion • 300’s Social Sciences (community, politics, etc) • 400’s Language • 500’s Natural Science & Mathematics • 600’s Technology (Applied Science) • 700’s The Arts • 800’s Literature (poetry, drama, speeches, etc.) • 900’s Geography & History

7. You may also see these call numbers when we are looking for a book using the OPAC (Online Public Access Catalog) PB – paper back book The below items with a call number cannot be checked out by students.. They are for teachers! • BB – Big Book • SB – Story book –a book in a bag with a cassette that goes with it. • Set – box set of books in red/white box. • Equip – equipment • PRO – professional (teachers) • VID – video • KIT – box kit • Ref or R - reference book

8. So………knowing this information will help you when you start to look for a book!

9. So…how do I use the OPAC? First, you will need to click on the OPAC icon on the computer screen. This is the picture of the book with a magnifying glass on it.

10. When you click on the magnifying glass, this is what comes up!

11. Now you have to make a choice! You can find a book by using the “title”, “author” or a “subject” search.

12. Let’s look for the “Polar Express” You would type “Polar Express” into the blank search bar at the top of the screen.

14. Next, click on the “title” button and the title will come up.

15. Now, click the enter button and all the information on that book will come up.

16. My title search tells me more too! I can look at the title of the book, see the author, and on the far right side, I can see if the book is available to check out or not! It also tells me the call number so I know where to go look!

17. O.K. so what do you do if you only want to do a subject search? Say we want to find books about dogs… Type in “dogs” in the search bar and click the “Subject Button.

18. Click enter or click with the mouse to see all 18 book titles!

19. Author Search You would do the same for an author search… • Type in the last name of the author and click on “author”. • This will pull up all the books in the media center by this author.

21. Tidbit of information! • Don’t forget… • Any time you see a “red book” next to a title, you will need to click on the “enter” button on the keyboard to pull the record up so you can red the call number to locate it in the media center.

22. That’s It! • Now all you have to do is go find your book!