Guide to Using iBistro
This is your guide to the many features found in iBistro, the new online catalog search page at the Plainfield | Guilford Township Public Library. iBistro can help make searching easy and efficient, as well as provide you with a range of services beyond the walls of your library. iBistro also gives you information about a book that you could not get from a library catalog before, such as a picture of the cover, reviews, a summary and perhaps even a table of contents.
Let's get started. If you finish this short guide and have more questions, please see the staff in the Adult/Young Adult Services area for help.
Searching
Searching starts by typing the word or phrase that you are looking for in the data well (the blank box) in the middle of the screen. To the left of the data well is a box which says "words or phrase." This is the most comprehensive search you can perform. If you click on the arrow next to this box, you will see other search options you can use. However, each of these search types are more narrow than the default of "words or phrase." The "words or phrase" search also includes author searches.
Sample searches: dogs, Stephen King, civil war generals
After typing in your word or phrase, click on the search button to the right of the data well.
Results
The search results list is a list of all the items that are relevant to your search word or phrase. If you searched for books by Stephen King, you will see a list of his works. The information for each item appears in a box. This will include information such as where the book is located, whether or not it is checked out and how long you will have to wait if you want to place a hold on the book. If we have a picture of the book's cover, this will appear beside the information box. Icons also will appear if we have a summary, reviews or table of contents for the book. Click on each icon to see the pertinent information.
If the book is checked out you will see an icon to use for placing a hold on the material. You will need your library card number plus a PIN (personal ID number) in order to place holds.
If you click on the box which says "Full Details" you will see all of the above information plus any additional cataloging information for the book in question.
Fun Things
On the main search page you will also see other boxes with information in them.
" What Others Are Reading" is a list of titles, authors and subjects that have had the highest demand in the last three months.
" Best Sellers Lists" are taken from the weekly lists compiled by well-known review sources. If the library does not own a title on the list, you may link directly to the Barnes & Noble web site for purchasing information by clicking on the "Buy Now" icon.
" Hot Sites" are web sites which have been selected by Library HQ, a service which seeks out useful and interesting web sites. These sites have been evaluated for content.
" Recommended Reading Lists" include lists of books receiving awards and honors. Included are titles from Oprah's Book Club. Again, you may purchase any titles we don't own.
Personalizing Your iBistro Page
With your library card number and a PIN, you can use iBistro to notify you when we receive materials by authors or on subjects that you are interested in. The PIN is a 4-digit number that you choose. If you do not already have a PIN, visit the Circulation Desk to update your record to include one.
Once you have the necessary numbers, you may log in to your own personal iBistro page. This page will look very similar to the regular iBistro page with a couple of exceptions. First, it contains a box which shows you what authors and subjects you have looked at lately. This is an option that you may turn off if you wish.
The other feature is the ability to tell iBistro to alert you to new items in the future. For instance, if you are looking at Stephen King books, you may click on the box at the right of the screen which says "Tell me when new materials by this author are available." Another option is the box which says "Tell me when new materials on these topics are available." You will be notified when the library catalogs new items in these categories.