Help Center

• Logging In
• Searching
• Searching (Advanced)
  • Multiple Words
  • Phrase Searches
  • Wildcards
  • Boolean Operators
  • Field Limits
  • Grouping
• Saving your searches
• Renewals and SMS Alerts
• Logging Out

Logging In

You can log in to the library catalog to view your checkouts, make use of lists and other features of the online catalog.

My Account login options include one integrated with the campus single sign-on and one for guest borrowers. The guest borrower login involves a PIN, which is also required for all borrowers logging in via the MyLibrary! mobile app.

Watch Library Catalog Login for a brief demo.*

See also: Library Catalog: Mobile Versions

*Instruction videos are closed captioned and presented on the library website with a transcript.

Back to top

Searching

Type the keyword you want to find. For example:

• theology
• dogmatics barth

Search Tips

Wildcards

Words may be right-hand truncated using an asterisk (*) wildcard in place of other characters. Use two asterisks (**) for open-ended truncation of over five characters. The '*' wildcard may also be embedded in a search string. You may use '?' to replace a single character anywhere within a word. Examples : theolog*, wom?n

Grouping

Keyword search results are usually grouped by relevance to bring the most likely titles to the top of the list. Each group represents a similar level of relevance and results are sorted within the group by date or title. To get an ungrouped result set, use boolean operators to form a complex query.

Boolean Operators

Use "and" or "or" to specify multiple words in any field, any order. Use "and not" to exclude words.

• Example : institutes and calvin
• Example : (liberation or feminist) and (theology and not commentary)

Field Limits

A field limit causes the system to search only the specified field for the specified word(s).

Back to top

Advanced Keyword Search Tips

Multiple Words

When searching multiple words the system will automatically supply the Boolean "and" operator between each word; multiple words entered for the search will all occur somewhere in the retrieved records though not necessarily in the order entered. Both examples on the right will retrieve the same results.

Phrase Searches

Search for complete phrases by enclosing them in quotation marks. Words enclosed in double quotes will appear together in all results exactly as typed.

Wildcards

*

Matches any number of non-space characters, starting at the specified position in the word. For example, "theolog*" will match all words that begin with "theolog" (e.g., "theology", "theologian", "theological", etc.). The * wildcard may also be embedded in a search string.

?

Used to replace a single character anywhere within a word.

Boolean Operators

Use AND or OR to specify multiple words in any field, any order. Use AND NOT to exclude words. Select the operator you wish to use from the selection list on the Advanced Search form.

Field Limits

Field limits may be specified by selecting a field limit from the selection list. These limits appear before the word or phrase to be searched. A field limit causes the system to search only the specified field for the specified word(s).

Field Limits and their meanings:

• Author: Search only author fields
• Title: Search only title fields
• Subject: Search only subject fields
• Note: Search only note fields

Grouping

Keyword search results are usually grouped by relevance to bring the most likely titles to the top of the list. Each group represents a similar level of relevance and results are sorted within the group by date or title. To get an ungrouped result set, use boolean operators to form a complex query.

Most relevant titles

Highly relevant titles

Very relevant titles

Relevant titles

Other relevant titles

Back to top

Saving your searches (Preferred Searches)

If you have a favorite author or subject for which you often search when using the catalog, you can save your search with the click of a button.

1. Log in to your library account (e.g. My Account).
2. Search for your favorite author, subject, title, etc. or create an advanced keyword search including limits to material type, language, publication year, etc..
3. When your results are displayed, click the button marked "Save as preferred search".
4. The next time that you log in to My Account, you can click the "Preferred Searches" button to see a list of your saved searches.
5. Click on the Search link associated with any of the preferred search terms in the list to quickly execute your search.

You can be alerted of new materials added to the library collection which match your searches. Just check the "Mark for Email" box and be sure that your patron record information includes your current email address.

Back to top

Renewals and SMS Alerts

Library cardholders may renew their own materials online or via SMS* (text message).

All material may be renewed except for materials on which you owe fines, or items which have been recalled by other patrons.

How to renew materials online:

1. Log in to your library account (e.g. My Account).
2. If you don't see the items you currently have checked out displayed, click the "Items currently checked out" link on the left.
3. Select the materials you want to renew by checking the boxes in the RENEW column and then click the Renew Selected button. If you want to renew everything, click the Renew ALL button.
4. If item(s) not renewed, a message will appear on the screen. If item(s) successfully renewed, a new due date will appear in the "STATUS" column. Always check the STATUS column for information on the success or failure of your renewal.

* To renew via SMS, you must first opt-in to receive SMS Alerts:

1. Log in to your library account (e.g. My Account).
2. Select "Modify Personal Information"
3. Under Mobile Settings, enter a mobile phone number and check the Opt In checkbox.
4. Click the Submit button.
5. Follow the prompt on your phone to complete the opt-in process, if you haven't already done so.
6. To renew materials,
   1. Text RENEW or RENEW ALL to 35143
   2. Look for a text message from 35143

Logging Out

If you are using a shared device or public computer, be sure to use the Log Out link in the upper right when you are finished using the library catalog.

If you choose to use the Princeton Theological Seminary Borrower login (the one requiring your @ptsem.edu email address), please note:

• The log out from https://catalog-sso.ptsem.edu or https://m-catalog-sso.ptsem.edu will log you out of any other single sign-on (SSO) sessions you have open in your browser; e.g. Office 365 and other campus systems.
• If you're using your own computer, once you've logged into the library catalog, you may prefer to stay logged in.
• If you're using a shared computer, it's still important to log out before you leave.

If you have any questions, please email the Discovery and Web Services Librarian.

Back to top