The Complete Guide to PamCat
Want to know how to request and renew library items in the
comfort of your own home? Or how to look up the latest library materials in a
specific subject category, such as new DVDs and Audiobooks on CDs? Do you want
to find a great book for your child's school report tomorrow? The PamCat
Guides can help! Just click on any of the links below to find out
more about PamCat.
(Adobe Reader is required to view the guides in PDF format. Visit
Adobe's web site to get your free reader.)
Note: The PamCat Guides have been updated to reflect the changes in the new release of PamCat.
PamCat Guide #1 - "PamCat
Basics" (PDF) or
(HTML)
PamCat Basics covers simple search techniques and an overview of PamCat.
PamCat Guide #2 - "My Account" (PDF)
or (HTML)
"My Account" describes how to log in and manage your account.
PamCat Guide #3 - "Holds" (PDF) or
(HTML)
"Holds" explains how to place and delete holds on books and other library
materials. It also covers Frequently asked questions about PamCat.
PamCat Guide #4 - "Advanced PamCat"
(PDF)
or (HTML)
"Advanced PamCat" covers how to use multiple search boxes and limiters when you
want to narrow a broad search.
PamCat Guide #5 - "Special Features" (PDF)
or (HTML)
"Special Features" covers New Arrivals, Other Library Catalogs (including local
colleges and universities), and Explore Subjects, a picture-based subject guide
for adults.
PamCat Guide #6 - "PamCat4Kids" (PDF)
or (HTML)
PamCat4Kids explains
Kids' Library, a special, picture-based subject guide just for children and
how to use Advanced Search for children's and teens' items.
The Pamunkey Regional Library also offers PamCat training
tailored to meet your needs. If you haven't used a library catalog in a while or
if you have specific research questions, our friendly staff can
schedule a one-on-one appointment so you can begin exploring PamCat's many
features.
The training is open to all library patrons with a valid library card. The
training sessions last about 30 minutes or less and are open to all ages and
experience levels. Even if you've never used a computer before, we will be
happy to show you how easy our new catalog is to use.
Please call or visit your local branch library or e-mail
ask@pamunkeylibrary.org for more information
about PamCat!
Pamunkey Regional Library's online catalog, PamCat,
has many features that provide access to library materials.
From the main search screen you can look up an item, login to your personal
PamCat account, go to an advanced search, link to library information, view the
New York Times bestseller list and
more.
To begin your PamCat session, login to your account. To find out more about your account, see
"My Account." Don’t forget to log out when you’re done!
Below the login box, the menu bar provides links to different searches, local and regional library catalogs, your account information and a new arrivals list.
Using the drop down menu in the gray search box, you can search for Everything, Author, Title, Subject, Series. Periodical title searching is not currently available, but if you want to search for magazines, use a title search.
The "Keyword" option finds records that contain the words entered. "Browse" finds links to names, titles and subject headings close to the words entered. "Exact" finds records that exactly match words in the order they are entered. Enter your search term and click the "Search" button. Please see PamCat Guide No. 4, "Advanced Search" for information on other searches available in PamCat.
When your results appear, several new options are available. Two of these options are "Keep" and "Place Hold." "Keep" creates a temporary list of selected items . Click "Keep" to add the title to your list. Click "Remove" if you don’t want the title. To see the list, click "Kept" on the menu bar.
Your list of "Kept" items will be in the window that opens. You can view or print your list. PamCat will retain your list until you complete a new search. The email option is currently unavailable.
To find out how to place a hold, please see "Holds."
PamCat is also capable of Boolean searching. Boolean searching tells the catalog to look for search terms in specific relationships using the words: AND, OR, NOT, WITH and NEAR. For example, searching for bears NOT Berenstain will give you items about bears but will not include the Berenstain Bears series.
Searching for Chicago WITH history will return items with historical aspects of Chicago. Searching for Virginia NEAR Williamsburg will return a variety of items related to Williamsburg, Virginia.
The AND and OR terms will either limit or expand your search results. For example, searching for Flowers OR Trees will give you an expanded list of items that include either of these words. Searching for Flowers AND Trees limits your search to only items that contain both words and will give you a smaller number of results.
If a title contains one of the Boolean terms, it is necessary to do a Keyword title search using quotations. For example, using "And Never Let Her Go" tells PamCat to search for the phrase, not individual words, and will give you the correct results.
Other items of interest on the main search screen are boxes that provide links to "What Others Are Reading," "Best Sellers," and "Recommended Reading."
Pamunkey Regional Library’s online catalog, PamCat, lets you conveniently manage your library account. You can find out when your library materials are due, change your account password, see if you owe fines, view the items you have on hold, and renew your materials.
To access "My Account" you’ll first need to log in. Your "library card #" is the number on the back of your library card. Your password is changeme until you change it. Always remember to logout when you’ve completed your session.
On the menu bar, click on "My Account" to access your information. Once in "My Account" you can use the features pictured below.
In "Review My Account," you can see a list of your "Holds," find your position on the holds list ("Holds Queue") for each title, and cancel holds for items that you no longer want.
Click on "Change Password" to choose an easy to remember password of 10 characters or less. If you forget your password, let a library staff member know and it will be reset.
Click on "Renew My Materials" to renew your items. You can renew some or all of them by clicking the appropriate button and box(es.)
PamCat remembers Authors and Subjects of items that you borrow in the "My Favorite Authors" and "My Favorite Subjects" sections of the main PamCat page.
If you prefer not to use this option, click on "My Profile," on the menu bar and click the check-marked box to delete the check and disable the feature. Items that you borrowed before disabling this feature will continue to be shown. To completely clear your profile list, click the "MORE" link under your Favorites, then click the "Modify" link at the bottom of the Favorites list page. You can either select Authors or Subjects to delete, or delete them all.
Pamunkey Regional Library’s online catalog, PamCat, makes it easy for you to place "holds" on books and other materials.
Please login to your PamCat account before placing holds.
After locating the title you wish to place on hold, click on "Details" to go the "Item information" screen. The "Place Hold" link is at the far left of the screen, above the "Keep" button. Click on this link to go to the holds screen.
On the "Hold" screen, using the drop down menu, select the branch library where you want to pick up your materials. When your information is entered correctly, click the "Place Hold" button. If you need to make a change to your pickup location, you can click the "Clear" button and start over.
Once your hold is placed, you will see your card and hold information screen. Click the "OK" link and you will return to the "Item information" page. Click the "Go Back" link to go to the "Search Results" page or choose another option from the menu bar above.
To see your place in the holds queue (list), please click on "My Account" on the menu bar. Click on "Review My Account," and scroll down to your holds list. Here you can also delete any of your holds by selecting the box next to the title, then clicking "Cancel selected holds."
Pamunkey Regional Library’s online catalog, PamCat, has a variety of ways to search for material. The Advanced Search feature, located on PamCat's main page in the main search box, allows you to search with multiple terms, limit your searches, and even perform searches in different ways.
Advanced Search allows you to use a variety of terms at once, rather than a single word or phrase. Using the pull down menus, select how you want to search – by word, author, title, subject, or series. You can fill in as many of these fields as you want, and the drop down menus allow you to change how each line is used. For example, you can search for books about cookery (that's the Library of Congress's subject heading for cooking) that were written by Nigella Lawson simply by filling in the lines next to author and subject.
The limiter fields allow you to refine your search further by narrowing the focus to specific types of material or things in particular locations. This allows you to choose a specific library, language, format, reading level, or even a specific genre.
For example, if you wanted to search for DVDs, simply change the type field to Digital Video Disc. This will list the DVDs in all eleven branches. You can further limit your search by changing the reading level, publication year, or by specifying a particular library.
There are two specialized searches possible from the Power Searching Menu — "Browse" and "Call Number Search." Each of these searches uses a different approach to finding material.
"Browse" allows you to do a simple search with a different way of displaying your results. If you do a title search for Hamlet, for example, you get a listing of possible titles that might fit the item you’re looking for, allowing you to pick the best match.
"Call Number Search" provides a way for you to browse the collection by call number. When you enter a call number, you get a result screen that looks similar to the basic search page. You can only search the collection of one branch at a time, but you are allowed to limit your search by the type of material or its location.
*This search finds movies on DVD at the Ashland Library.
Pamunkey Regional Library's online catalog, PamCat, has many advanced special features that provide access to library materials in new ways:
New Arrivals: Located to the right of the "My Account" link on the menu bar, "New Arrivals" lists the most recent items that have been added to our collection in real time. You can see what is added to our collection each day, whether it's the newest novel, picture book, video or reference volume. You can even go to earlier pages of new additions at the bottom of the page.
A menu box of subjects, called "You Found Titles in Categories:" is included in the "New Arrivals" list. By clicking any category ("Children's Literature," for example), you will be taken to the most recent items added in that area, with the newest items listed first. Clicking on the "MORE" box takes you to an expanded list of all the subject headings included in the "New Arrivals" feature.
Other Library Catalogs: Located to the left of "My Account," this feature allows you to explore other library catalogs within PamCat. At this time, these include Randolph-Macon College, the University of Virginia, Library of Congress, and other library catalogs. Once you click on a library to search, a search page similar to PamCat's will appear.
Use the "General" window for subjects. A search for "Castles" will yield over 1,400 items in the University of Virginia's catalog. Remember, searching in "Other Library Catalogs" only searches the catalog you select.
Although you cannot place holds on items you find in other library catalogs, you can request them through inter-library loan (ILL). Please ask a staff member for assistance when you want to request an item. Note: Currently, the "Search" radio button must be selected. The "Browse" feature is unavailable.
Explore Subjects: Located to the right of the "Search/Home" link, this feature allows you to browse some of our most popular subjects, such as "Animals," "Food," and "History."
When you click on the picture or the text beneath you see categories that are part of that subject. When you click "History," you will see choices like the following:
If you click on one of these icons or text links you will go to a list of materials for all media and age levels. For example, "Explorers" gives you a detailed list of items on exploration. Page through these titles using the "Next" link, or by using the page numbers above and below the search results list. Click "Previous" or "Go Back" link to return to previous pages.
Click on one of the subject listings in the "You Found Titles in Categories:" to narrow your search. For example, clicking the category "Africa" returns a more specific list of items related to exploration of Africa and Africans.
"Explore Subjects" is a fun way to see an overview of special interest areas in our catalog, but it includes only a sample of our collection.
PamCat, our online library catalog, has a special place just for kids to explore!
Go to "Kids' Library" by clicking on the toolbar.
What kinds of kids' questions can be found in the Kids' Library? Here is just a sample.
"How can I find out more about bears?"
Click on the "Animals" icon.
Then, click on the "Bears" icon. Here you will find many titles about bears. If you want to see titles on other animals, click on "Go Back" on the menu bar to return to the page of Animal icons.
"How can I find out about Indian tribes?"
Click on the "United States" icon.
Then, click on the "Indian Tribes" icon. Here you will find titles on the different Indian tribes in North and South America, from Algonquin to Zuni.
"How can I find a story that will make me laugh?"
Click on the "Stories" icon.
Then, click on the "Funny Stories" icon for a list of titles that will make you smile.
To see more about any title on the list, click on "Full Details." Scroll to the bottom of the screen to see which libraries own the book and where it is available.
Ask a friendly library staff member for help finding the title you want, or for help putting it on hold and having it sent to your local public library branch.
Advanced Searching for Kids’ Titles
"Advanced Search" is the best way to do a detailed search for all the materials available for children or young adults in the library. See the PamCat Guide No. 4 "Advanced Search" for more details.
Click on "Advanced Search" on PamCat's main search page, then enter author, title, and/or subject information. Under these boxes are additional boxes that will help you focus your search. Make your list of results more specific by choosing from among such headings as:
Reading Level
-
Children's
-
Young Adult
Item Category 1
- Children’s Holiday Books
- Historical Fiction
- Graphic Novels
- Biographies
- ...and much more!
Location
-
Children’s Picture Books
-
Children’s Easy Readers
-
Children’s Music
-
...and much more!
Type
-
Videocassette
-
Digital Video Recording
-
Read Along with Cassette or CD
-
Talking Book on Cassette or CD
-
Music on Cassette or CD
-
...and much more!
Here's one example:
How do I find children’s picture books on dinosaurs?
Do a search under the "subject" of "dinosaurs," the "location" of "Children's Picture Books," and the "reading level" of "Children's." Click the "Search" button for your list of children’s picture books on dinosaurs.
Frequently Asked Questions About PamCat
Q: Can I get a list of magazines in PamCat that the library owns?
A: Yes, you can now search for magazines in PamCat by title (not periodical title).
Q: I can't remember my password for PamCat. Can you reset it for me?
A: Please contact any branch library and a staff member will reset your password back to "CHANGEME," which you can customize to make it easier to remember.
Q: I've found a book in the UVA catalog, using the "Other Library Catalogs." How can I get this item?
A: If we do not own this book, please ask a staff member about placing an interlibrary loan.
Q: Do you still have copies of the new items list?
A: Click on "New Arrivals" located on the PamCat menu bar. Please see "Special Features" for more details.
Q: I tried to find the title, Not Even For Love, and saw really strange results.
A: AND, OR, NOT, WITH, and NEAR are PamCat search terms. If one of these words is part of the title, you'll need to put the title in quotation marks, for example, Gone With the Wind. See "Basic Features" for more information on using these search terms.
Q: What’s the difference between "Hold" and "Keep?"
A: Clicking on "Keep" next to a title will keep a list of items you have selected. Scroll to the top of the screen and click on "Kept" to see the list you have made. The email feature is currently unavailable.
