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Ask a Librarian / FAQs:
Frequently Asked Questions About the Library Catalog
Who can use the Library Catalog?The use of the Library Catalog is unrestricted. There is no login name and no password required. All users are welcome! Please read the next section if you are having difficulty connecting. Why is it that every time I try to connect to the Library Catalog from home I just get a blank screen?If you only get a blank screen whenever you try to connect to the Library Catalog you are probably using a browser (Netscape 4.8, for example) that does not support the Library Catalog applications. Full Library Catalog functioning requires Internet Explorer 6.x, Firefox 1.x, or Netscape 7.x. IE 6.x is available from http://www.microsoft.com/windows/ie/downloads/default.mspx#EDAA. The latest (and earlier) version of Netscape is available from http://browser.netscape.com/ns8/download/default.jsp. Why do I get a "session already in use" or "session timed out" message from the Library Catalog message no matter what I do?This error message is typically the result of one of two things:
Changing Your Cache Settings The exact instructions on how to change your browser's cache settings varies from browser to browser and version to version. Proxy Server Settings If you find that checking and re-setting your cache preferences does not work, then try checking your proxy server preferences. If your browser is configured to connect to a proxy server, removing that setting will probably fix your access problem. However, you should check with your institution (if you are working from a PC at your place of work, for example) or your Internet Service Provider (ISP) as to why your browser is configured to use a proxy server. It may be possible for the institution to configure the proxy server in way that will allow you to use the Library Catalog with the proxy server setting on in your browser.
How do I find a specific book in the Library Catalog? When I put in a title I just seem to get a whole list of irrelevant results.When you bring up the Library Catalog, it is automatically set to do a WORDS anywhere search. "WORDS anywhere" looks for words found anywhere within a title; within the subject headings; within the list of author names; etc. WORDS anywhere:: "college students" :
However, if you are looking for a specific title, or a specific author's name, or a specific subject heading within the Library Catalog, you will usually want to use the pull-down menu to change your search type from "WORDS anywhere" to "TITLE begins with," or "AUTHOR (last name first)," or "SUBJECT begins with."
A "begins with" search looks for your search terms as a phrase beginning with the first word entered in an alphabetical list of authors, titles, subjects or other headings. So if you are looking for a book entitled Not Quite Burned Out But Crispy Around the Edges, just
You will then be presented with a list of titles; the title closest to the phrase that you entered should be toward the top of the list.
Browse Catalog by Title: "not quite burned out"
1) NOT QUITE AT HOME HOW AN AMERICAN JEWISH COMMUNITY LIVES WITH ITSELF AND ITS NEIGHBORS [1] 2) NOT QUITE BURNED OUT BUT CRISPY AROUND THE EDGES INSPIRATION LAUGHTER AND ENCOURAGEMENT FOR TEACHERS [1] 3) NOT QUITE CLASSICAL [1] Click on the link to go to the record for that title. 
How do I find out if the Library has a particular journal?To find out if the Rutgers University Libraries receive a particular journal, just
If, for example, you were to enter "journal of accounting and economics" as your periodical title, you would then be presented with a list of titles; the title closest to the phrase that you entered should be toward the top of the list.
Browsing the Catalog
1) JOURNAL OF ACCOUNTANCY ONLINE [2] 2) JOURNAL OF ACCOUNTING AND ECONOMICS [1] 3) JOURNAL OF ACCOUNTING AND PUBLIC POLICY [4] 4) JOURNAL OF ACCOUNTING AND PUBLIC POLICY ONLINE [2] Clicking on the second title listed would lead you to the following record:
I found the record for the journal I'm looking for; now how do I figure out if a library has the issue that I need?The Rutgers Libraries are currently in the process of changing how the periodical "holdings" [i.e., the part of the record that indicates which libraries own what portion of each journal title] display in the Library Catalog. During this period of flux, you may encounter two possible types of periodical holdings records. The "Old" Journal Record Format
In a traditional the Library Catalog serial record, the important part to look at are the entries after "Library has:"; these indicate which Rutgers Libraries have what portion of the journal. In this case, the Dana Library in Newark and the Robeson Library in Camden both have the Journal of Accounting and Economics. The Dana Library has it going back to volume 1 (1979); while Camden has it going back to volume 19 (1995). Both libraries stopped receiving it in the year 2000. Note also the "Electronic access:" link that appears before the first "Library has". This indicates that some portion of this title is available electronically. You would click on this link to find out if the volume/article that you are looking for is available electronically. The "New" Journal Record FormatEventually, our periodical records should all look something like this:
Instead of a single "Library Has:" per library, there are two listings for each Rutgers library that is currently receiving a particular title. In this case, the only Rutgers Library that is subscribing to this title is LSM (The Library of Science and Medicine) on the Busch Campus. The first LSM holdings entry gives the location [PER] and holdings for Current [unbound] issues: the most recent issue that LSM had received at this point was the July 20, 2002 issue, which is Issue 10 of Volume 75 of this journal. The second LSM holdings entry gives the location [PER] and holdings for Bound volumes. There is one listing for the most recently bound volumes [i.e., Current holdings] and another listing for earlier bound volumes [i.e., "Holdings"]. All together LSM has bound volumes of the International Journal of Control from volume 1 (1965) through volume 75 , issues 1-6 (2002). Note that in this case there are two "Electronic access:" links listed before the first holdings record. The second link has information on which issues of this journal you will find if you select this link: "EBSCO" has the full text of this journal going back to July 10, 1998; however, the most recent twelve months are not available in full text at this link. The first "Electronic access:" link has no information about what portion of the journal is available at that link; you would need to follow the link to determine that information. How do I figure out if the issue that I need was on the shelf on a certain date?We are unable to determine when a particular issue of a journal became available to the public after receipt, or when any individual issue, volume, or other item was available on our shelves for someone to consult. The Rutgers University Libraries have open stacks in all facilites except for certain special collections. Library users themselves take materials off the shelves for consultation or check out, and we cannot certify when an item was not in use. Attorneys with further questions should call the office of university counsel.
Where can I find information about the library that has the book that I need?For information about a particular Rutgers University library, see the Libraries and Centers page.
How do I report an error that I've found in the Library Catalog?While in the specific Library Catalog record in which you have found the error, click on "Report Error" and fill in the requested information. How do I renew Rutgers Libraries materials that I have checked out?To renew Rutgers Libraries' materials first select MY ACCOUNT from the black bar across the top of every Library Catalog screen.
At the My Account screen, select Renew Checkouts from the bottom of the middle column. To request that items be renewed, you first must identify yourself by entering your USER ID, the 14-digit barcode found on the back of your Rutgers ID or RUConnection card, and your library PIN. After you have entered the appropriate information in the boxes provided, click on List Charged Items. The next screen will list all items you have currently charged. Select the items you wish to renew by placing a check mark in the box provided. After making your selections, complete the renewal process by clicking on Renew Selected Items. To view the new due dates assigned, go back to My Account and follow the link for Review Checkouts.
How do I renew materials that I got through Interlibrary Loan?You can renew most Interlibrary Loan books in the same way as you renew Rutgers' materials: In the Library Catalog, select MY ACCOUNT from the black bar across the top of every screen and proceed as above. Interlibrary Loan books are renewed for an additional 28 days. Please note that the 28-day renewal loan takes effect on the day you make the renewal; 28 days are not added to your original due date unless you wait to renew on that date. Interlibrary loan books may only be renewed once. You cannot renew interlibrary loan materials that are designated No Renewal or that have been recalled by the lending institution.
How do I find out what my PIN is?PINS are 4-digit Personal Identification Numbers issued by the Libraries. If you don't know/have forgotten what your PIN is, you may request one in person or by telephone at any Rutgers library circulation desk or online by filling out the Library PIN/Registration form. You will need to have a PIN in order to check your library record or renew books in My Account.
I get the message "Access Denied" when I try to use the My Account functions. Why is that?Most often this message is the result of your having entered your 14-digit User ID (the barcode on the back of your Rutgers' ID or RUConnection card) with spaces. It should be entered with no spaces, for example "29030028182000". Please note that as of Spring 2002 you must enter your barcode as your User ID; social security numbers can no longer be used to access your records. If reentering your barcode as a single string does not solve your problem, then either your barcode or your PIN is not being recognized by the Libraries' system. If you do not have/have forgotten your PIN, or have never registered your barcode (the 14-digit number on the back of your Rutgers' ID or RUConnection card) you may register in person or by telephone at any Rutgers library circulation desk or online by filling out the Library PIN/Registration form.
How do I find out what materials my Instructor has placed on reserve in the library?To find your Instructor's reserve list, first select RESERVES from the black bar across the top of every Library Catalog screen. At the Reserves search screen, you have the option of entering either the instructor's name, the course name, or the course number as your SEARCH TERM:
So if your Instructor's name is Jim Peterson, just
I need to access the material my teacher put on electronic reserve from home and I am having trouble doing that. Do I need some kind of password in order to get to these articles?You don't need a password, however if you are trying to access Rutgers-restricted resources such as electronic reserves from off-campus, you do need to login and be recognized as an authorized Rutgers' user. See the instructions for connecting to the Libraries' electronic resources from home. To view electronic reserve materials you will also need to have Abobe Acrobat installed on your machine. For more information on electronic reserve see our User's Guide.
EndNote and Z39.50I'm using EndNote software to manage my references, and I want to know if I can get the ID and password for the Z39.50 server for the Library Catalog?the Library Catalog is indeed Z39.50 compliant, so you can use bibliographic management software like EndNote, ProCite or Reference Manager to connect to the Library Catalog and search and retrieve bibliographic citations.
You'll find the information that you need at the Libraries' Z39.50
Configuration for the Library Catalog page at:
Requesting/Recalling Library Materials
Not finding answers to your questions?Fill out our form and Ask a Librarian.
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Last updated
November 10, 2008
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