Try Our New Catalog
A new and improved catalog for simpler searching to discover your next great pick.
Visit your home library's website to try your home library's customized catalog. Log in to access all the features of the new catalog.
PrairieCat has a new and enhanced catalog. Use the new catalog to search for books, movies, and other library materials.
Log in to place holds, add favorites, create and share custom lists, save searches, view reading history, and manage your account.
Once you log in, availability at your home library will display first in the search results.
For more detailed help, visit the catalog help site.
New Catalog Home Page
The new catalog's home page is predominantly a search bar with tabs above that link to other sites such as your library's website.
Enter a keyword, title, author, or phrase to begin a search.
Select the Question Mark icon to view detailed catalog help.
Select the Home icon for library information.
Select the Bookmark icon to toggle between your saved Bookmarks and the Search Results page.
Select the Profile icon to log into your account with your library card number and pin.
Visit your home library's website to try your home library's customized catalog. Log in to access all the features of the new catalog.
Once you log in, availability at your home library will display first in the search results.
Search Results
Enter your search terms. The Search Results page displays resources that match your search criteria.
Sort Results
To see the resources that most closely match your search at the top of the list, sort by Relevancy (default).
To see the most recent resources by record creation at the top of the list, sort by Date: newest.
To see newly-acquired materials, sort by New Materials.
Format Rollup
The new catalog offers improved search results by rolling up all copies into one result. For example, physical books, large print books, audiobooks, e-books, and e-audiobooks are all displayed in one result with availability visible. Select the desired material type to find a copy.
Find a Volume or Edition
A volume is part of a larger collection, so for example, materials might be grouped by season or by year of publication. You can select from a list of volumes and issues.
Enter your search terms. The Search Results page displays resources that match your search criteria. To find a volume, do one of the following.
To Check Availability at Locations
Select a Library Location
A list of volumes or items that are available at the location you select is displayed in the Location drawer (menu).
Scroll through the Locations to browse the list.
To Place a Hold on a Volume
Select Place Hold
Log in with your library barcode number and pin.
Find the desired volume and select Place Hold.
4. Select Confirm Location to complete hold request.
Find Item Details
Enter your search terms. The Search Results page displays resources that match your search criteria.
To find detailed edition information such as a track list or publication details:
Select Edition Information
2. Select the carrot arrow to expand Edition Information to view Locations, Call Numbers, and Status of volumes
3. Select the Information icon under Details to view item details.
4. The Item Details window opens. Scroll to see details such as Table of Contents with the album track list.
Refine a Search
Enter your search terms. You can limit the search by selecting Author, Subject, or Title. Alternatively, leave the default search at All.
The Search Results page displays resources that match your search criteria.
You can refine a search to narrow the results. For example, materials published in the last 5 years and owned by a specific location.
Use the Refine Results panel to refine by:
Availability | At Library: Resource is available to be checked out. Online: Digital resource
Date
Format
Age Group
Persons
Subjects
Language
Locations | Tip: Use to limit to materials owned by your library
New Materials
To refine a search
Select the filters you would like to use. Then select Apply.
The filters that are applied now appear below the search bar. Select Reset Filters to clear the filters.
To lock these filters for your next searches, select the lock icon and hit enter.
To expand filters
If a filter section contains a large number of filters, you can expand the filter to see the options.
For example, for Locations, select All Locations.
The Locations window opens.
Search for the location you want to limit to. (Not all options display in the window.) Select Confirm.
Then select Apply on the Refine Results panel to save your selection.
Your filters that are applied will appear below the search bar.
Save a Search
You can save search criteria to your account so that you can run the search in the future to check for new items. You could use this feature to see if the library acquired a new book by an author you like or about a topic that interests you.
You can save up to 100 searches. Saved searches remain with your account until you delete them.
Log in with your library barcode number and pin to use this feature.
Enter your search terms. The Search Results page displays resources that match your search criteria.
Refine your search criteria using the Refine Results panel.
Select Save Search.
The Save Search window opens. Enter the name of your search.
Select Save Search.
Read-a-Likes and Recommendations
Select the name of a resource to view the Resource Page. The Resource Page provides more details about availability, location, format and more. It also provides related resources, recommendations, reader reviews, and more enriched content.
Enter your search terms.
Select the name of a resource to view the Resource Page.
3. Explore the Resources Page to find
Curated Library Lists
Other books in a series
Reading level | Tip: Select Browse by Reading Level to search by Lexile, Accelerated Reader, or Age/Grade Level
Reader reviews
Professional reviews
Awards
Suggested authors and titles
Book profiles
Author profiles
Excerpt previews
Ratings
Find an Item
Enter your search terms. The Search Results page displays resources that match your search criteria.
Select the Library Name to see the locations. This displays the call number, item location, and status.
Use the drop-down to select a different library location.
The call number displays on the main Search Results page when the item is On Shelf. Select Find a Copy to view other locations.
Place a Hold
You can request that a hold be put on library materials. This means that if the book, movie, or other available resource is on the shelf at another PrairieCat member library, it will be sent to the library of your choice to be picked up.
Enter your search terms. The Search Results page displays resources that match your search criteria.
Find the resource you would like to request.
Select Place Hold.
Log in with your library barcode number and pin if you are not signed in.
4. Select Confirm Location to confirm the pickup location. Change the location if needed.
(Optional) Select I don't need this item after, and enter the date that you no longer need the resource.
If the resource isn't fulfilled by the date you enter, the system removes the hold request.
5. A confirmation window opens after successfully placing the hold.
To check the status of your hold, go to the Holds tab on My Bookshelf.
You will receive a notification from your library when the hold is available to be picked up.
