Search Features

 

Shelf Browse is available in the Details view of search results. It quickly locates records with a call number similar to that of a selected record. The patron can move one bibliographic record at a time forward or backward through the list. This is equivalent to looking at items to the left or right of a specific item on a library shelf.

 

Index Browse displays a list of indexed entries from which the patron can choose. This feature is particularly useful to patrons who are unsure of the terms to use in a search. Oasis provides browse indexes for authors, titles, subjects, call numbers, and URLs by default.

 

My Bookbag allows a patron to temporarily store selected records throughout the course of the search for additional review or batch printing. My Bookbag records can be sorted, saved, e-mailed, printed, and downloaded in MARC format. If library staff enables the Persistent Bookbag feature, all items placed in My Bookbag  will be saved between search sessions if the patron signs in anytime during his or her session.

 

Patrons may create and save multiple bookbags, and may save any bookbag as a bibliography, which is an html file with an identifiable URL.

 

The Bulletin Board is a simple way for library administrators to lead patrons to additional information. It consists of between four and six graphics in the Catalog header that can be customized by the library. The Bulletin Board buttons can be linked to local HTML files, such as the library home page or calendar, or to Web pages that the library wants patrons to view.

 

My Account is a feature that allows patrons to view their current transactions, past transactions, and personal information that is on record with the library. Use of My Account also allows for saving of bookbags and bibliographies, patron-initiated transactions such as reserves and renewals, and submission of comments for particular items.

 

Mandarin offers a subscription to Syndetic Solutions, which allows patrons to view cover images as well as summaries, reviews, and other content data for items in the collection through a link in the Catalog. For more information about Syndetic Solutions, see page 23.

 

A feature is available to allow users to rate an individual item on a scale of one to five. The ratings for each item display on the search results as an average of all ratings posted for that item. If a patron signs in to My Account, he or she may submit a comment about the item. Comments are subject to review by library staff before they are publicly visible.