1 Type .S to start a search for a particular item.  This will display a list of different kinds of searches.  The most general search is a title keyword search.  Subject searches use categories developed by the Library of  Congress.
  2 A title search displays a list of titles right away.  A subject search does not display a list of titles, it displays a list of subjects.  When you do a subject search, you have to choose a subject in order to see a list of titles.
  3 In a list of titles, some titles appear in print that is brighter than the others.  This means they are owned by your branch.  It does not mean that they are currently in.
  4 In a list of titles, some titles appear entirely in capital letters.  There are threecommon reasons for this:
The item is a video or sound recording;
The item is on order;
There are several items with the same title.
  5 Once you have selected a title from the list, you can find out which branches own a copy of a particular item, look at the Copy Status screen.
TIP: This screen will also tell you the status of each item - when it's due, whether it's on hold, etc.
  6 From the Copy Status screen, you can find out the name of the last patron to have checked the item out by typing LP, then the number of the item.
TIP: As soon as an item is checked in, the current patron becomes the new last patron, and all information about the previous last patron disappears.
  7 If you need to move to the middle or end of a long list of items on the Copy Status screen, type the letter G, followed by the number of an item further down on the list.  This will move you down to that item.
  8 Type Feature Films as a subject search to generate a large partial list of videos.
  9 If someone wants a list of videos with a particular actor, use the performer search.  This is option 6 on the search screen.
10 If a patron wants another book on the same topic as one they already know about, look up the one they know about, then use the RW (Related Works) command to find other items catalogued under related subjects.
TIP: This also works for other books by the same author, but an author search is easier.
11 A title keyword search lists all titles that include a particular word.  It does not matter if that word is the first word in the title or not.
TIP:  If LOC subject headings are mysterious to you, a title keyword search works well for many general non-fiction searches.  Examples include: divorce, whales, soccer, Indonesia, etc.
12 Use question marks in your title keyword searches.  For example, searching for divorce will show only those titles that have the word divorce in them.  Searching for divorce? will show titles that have both the word divorce and divorces in them.  Searching for divorc? will show you titles with the words divorce, divorces, and divorcing.
13 It may not be necessary to scroll through a long list of titles.  Limit searches by typing the letter L.  For example, if someone wants a copy of Danielle Steele's 1994 book, do an author search to generate a list of titles.  Then type L to limit the search.  Select PUBDATE, then =, then type 1994.  This will show a list of Danielle Steele's 1994 publications.
14  It may not be necessary to scroll through a long list of titles.  For example, if someone wants a video on skateboarding, do a title keyword search and type in SKATEBOARD?  This will generate a list of titles that include the words: skateboard, skateboards, and skateboarding.  Then type L to limit the search.  Select MATERIAL, then =, then type videorecording.  This will show a list of  videos that have the words skateboard, skateboards, or skateboarding in the title.
15 It may not be necessary to scroll through a long list of titles.  You can limit a search so it shows only titles owned by your branch.  After generating a list of titles, type the letter L to limit the search.  Select AGENCIES, then =, then type the Dynix abbreviation for your branch in square brackets: [CA] for Carmel, or [D] for Davidson.  This will show a list of the items in your search owned by your branch.