Using the elibrary
The elibrary is different from many websites. For example; it requires different methods of searching than when you search the the whole web and you cannot use your browser's back button (you must use the Go Back link provided) to visit previous elibrary pages.
This page aims to help you get to grips with it providing information on:
Logging in - Searching - Browsing - Viewing and Printing Results - Making reservations -
Can't find it -Renewing items - Changing password - Community Information - ask for help
Logging in
When you are logged in to the elibrary you have the opportunity to renew and reserve books. To log in you must:
- Go to the elibrary: elibrary.westminster.gov.uk
- Either enter your card number without spaces and then your password/pincode below.
- Or once you have entered the elibrary via the check the catalogue link you can log in when you come to reserving or renewing items.
Searching for books and other items
Once you are logged in or have followed the check the catalogue link you can then search the catalogue. The first thing you see is the quick search screen this can be used to find a particular item; be careful if you are unsure of the title or spellings though as the elibrary does not correct your mistakes! With this catalogue we recommend that you only search using the information from one of the known pieces of information at a time e.g. title or author.
It is reasonably easy to find a particular title in this way when you are sure what you are looking for, but it is a bit harder to find books and other items that you are less sure of or that cover on a particular subject. Indeed, you may wish to see several on one subject.
Boolean terms
The search terms AND OR and NOT are used all the time when you search databases and the internet whether you notice it or not.
- Library AND Westminster will look for anything containing both the words library and Westminster in their record.
- Westminster OR London will look for anything containing either the word Westminster or the word London.
- Library NOT Westminster will look return things that contain Library but not if they contain the word Westminster; even if they do have Library in them.
Google and other search engines automatically add AND between all the words you search for as it assumes you just want to find pages with these words contained anywhere within them not just ones with them together. This is not the case with this catalogue; here it is best to assume you will have to add the AND yourself. It is also important to know that these terms are not case sensitive so will be used even if they are just part of a title e.g. searching for Ruth Rendell's Not in the flesh will find every book on the catalogue except this one!
Other search aids
As well as these terms there are other tools you can use:
- Using the drop-down menu next to the search box you can limit your search to which library you wish to visit or are currently in.
- A wildcard added to the ends of words: read$ will search for the words read, reads and reading. It means any word beginning with what comes before the dollar sign.
- You can use another dropdown to say which field you wish to search e.g. Title or Author
- You can also go to Advanced Search where you can add some of the Boolean terms etc automatically with the drop-down menus provided. You also have the opportunity to limit your search to include only particular items e.g. from the Format menu choose Visual Material and you will be searching through DVDs. Monographs are books in this menu but have a look at the others you may find other useful ways of narrowing your searches.
- More help from iBistro
View what you've found
You can check to make sure that something is what you want by clicking on the details button. This will take you to a page containing far more information including it's location(s) under Holdings but also its date of publication and frequently a short description.
Reservations
When you spot the book you want, press the button next to it marked place reservation this will take you to a form where you can enter your card number and password, which library you would like to pick it up at, plus dates such as the one after which it will cease to be useful and a period when you would be unable to pick it up e.g. a holiday, this is referred to as the suspension date.
Once this is done just press Place Reservation. You will be charged when you receive your book. We recommend that you reserve a book as if it is on loan you may not receive it for a long time; readers can renew up to six times!
Displaying, sending and printing the details of several books
Once you have completed your search and have a list of books you wish to look through. You can also tick the ones you are interested in (by pressing keep) and print them with a lot of their information including where they are on the shelf. To do this go to Kept near the top of the page. When you do this a page will appear with options to View, Print Formatted, or email. These will produce a page of references including different information according to what you select from the drop-down menu:
- Bibliography: includes where the book is
- Brief: include the subjects
- Full and All: include the summaries
You can also choose to look at either just the books in one library or all the libraries, and sort by author or title instead of the default. Most importantly though; you can email your results to yourself rather than simply printing them, just put your address in the box and click email.
Browsing
Class number browsing is the most effective method of looking through books in a particular subject area; it allows you to choose a particular library and look at what appears on the shelf under the same number or subject.
Maybe do a search to gather information about which numbers you wish to look under first before you start browsing in this way or maybe just look for a book next to the one you just read. There is also another way in to browsing around a book whose subject you are interested in; when you have pressed Details then follow the link on the left marked Nearby items on shelf which then shows you exactly what this suggests.
What happens if you Can't Find It?
- Requesting items not on the catalogue
When you have performed your search a Can't find it? link will appear near the top of the page when you follow this you will get the option to suggest it as an addition to the library's stock or request it for yourself (please order for me). When you request a book you will have to fill in a web form with as much information as you have available the Inter Library Loans team will then request it from another library service and the book will be sent to your home library (usually the library you joined at, but this can be changed), at the bottom of this form fill in your card number in the My ID is: box. You will pay for this reservation when you pick it up from your library.
- Current charge for this service
The suggestion process is very similar but the item will not necessarily be sent to your library.
Renewing items
To renew items you have borrowed go to My Account (near the top of the elibrary page). You will then have three options: Change password, Review My Account (where you can view what materials you have out, look at any messages sent or any requests made such as those listed above), or Renew My Materials. This final option is what you follow to renew books and other items. If you have not signed in already you will need to here (card number with no spaces and password/pincode, then click the list charged items button). You will then see a list of items you have on loan with due dates and tick-boxes next to them; tick the ones you wish to renew then press the Renew Selected Items button. Your renewal and new due date should then appear, just click OK once you have made note of this.
Be aware that factors can prevent you from renewing so do make sure you have been sucessful:
- You can renew items up to six times
- You cannot renew an item if it has been reserved by another reader
- You may not be able to renew items if you owe large amounts of fines or other charges
You will need to return items or pay any charges if this happens.
Changing your password
This is easily done following one of the options in My Account and filling in the proceeding form. However, it must have ten characters or less. It can contain letters and/or numbers.
The Community Information database
The elibrary isn't just to search for books you can also search for Community Information in Westminster and surrounding areas. This includes:
- Rooms and halls for hire
- Organisations with their contact details and opening times
- Clubs
- Advice centres
- Hostels
- Sports centres with details of their facilities and even classes!
- And much more...
To get to this database, as well as following the links on this page, you can follow click Community Information on the main elibrary page and when you are on the catalogue page (this is important as if you choose New Search whilst in this database you will find yourself in the library catalogue). Once there you have the option to search or browse through the entries.
Browsing whilst simple to do may not be the best way of finding the information you want. Searching is very similar to the library catalogue and similarly you can use Boolean terms (see above for this and other methods of searching). Remember thought that there are not that many entries on the database and therefore you must be restrained with the number of words you enter in the search box. We recommend that you use the Words or Phrase search box provided rather than title unless you are searching for something very specific.
Getting help
More help is available via the Help link within the elibrary; just follow this and navigate through the different topics within this help directory. However, you may find that the best source of help is from your Westminster library or by emailing us: libraries@westminster.gov.uk
Go straight to the elibrary
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