Using the Library Catalog

If you would like to search multiple fields at once, such as by "title" and "author," you can use the "Advanced Search" option. You can find the link directly below the main search box on the top right of the website. You can also find the Advanced Search by using this link. 

Once you click "Advanced Search," you will be taken to a large form that you can use to construct your search. If at any time you want to reset the search, you can click "Reset All" at the top of page.

You will probably want to use the form that is underneath the first, long search bar. If you are an advanced user and know how to construct your search by yourself, you can use that first box that says "Enter your advanced search here." Using the first box will disable the form below it, and if you'd like to go back and use the form, just click "Reset All" to reset the form.

Underneath the "OR," you will see "Use the form to construct your query." This means you can fill in what you want in the boxes provided, and the computer will construct the search for you. The box you will probably use most often is the first one, which defaults to keyword. You can click the drop-down menu beside it to change the field you're searching. Some common fields to search are title, author, and keyword. You can also add additional fields by clicking the "Add Another" button beside the search box. 

You will see several different options below the main search boxes, which you can use to further refine your search. Don't feel pressured to fill every single box; just fill in the ones you care about for your search. In general, the more boxes you fill in, the fewer results there will be. You can type into some of them, and some of them are just drop-down menus. At the very bottom of the page, you'll see a variety of formats you can select by clicking the boxes beside each option.

In the example above, you will see an example search where we have searched for a few different things. First, we searched for "harry potter" in the title field and "j.k. rowling" in the author field. We also limited the "Availability" to "Grove Hall" (because this is the branch we are about to visit, in this example), the "Content" to "Fiction" (because we want fiction books, as opposed to non-fiction), and the "Format" to "Book" (because we only want books, not DVDs or anything else). To run our search, we can hit the "Search" button at the top or bottom of the page or hit "Enter" on our keyboard.

The catalog will show all of the items available at the Boston Public Library, including our 25 branches, several affiliated libraries, and numerous research departments. Keep in mind that an item that is marked as "Available" in the catalog just means it is available somewhere in the library system, and you will have to check to see if it's available at your local library. The steps below will help you find out where an item is located. If the item you want isn't located at a nearby library, you can see the box below on placing holds.

First, if you are only looking for items at one library location, you can use a filter to only see items at that location. Click the arrow beside "Available Now" and select the one you want. They will be in order of locations with the most results, and if you don't see your location, click "Show More" to see all the available locations. If your location isn't listed, the item might not be available there right now.

You can also find out where a specific item is in the catalog. In the results list, if an item is available somewhere in the library system, you will see green text underneath the title that says "Available." You can see which locations it is available at by clicking "View details" beside the green text. If the item is unavailable anywhere in the library system, you will see red text that says "All copies in use" instead. This means all the copies are checked out, and to get it, you will need to place a hold.

After clicking "View details" beside an item, you will get a snapshot of where the item is available. The first section, underneath the green "Available" heading, will tell you which items are marked as "In" right now. Underneath those items, you will see "Unavailable" items, which can be a variety of items, such as ones that are checked out, on hold for someone else, or in library use only. 

On this screen, you will see a list of the individual copies in the library system. In the example above, there are 4 copies in the library system that can be checked out (in the top section), and 2 are in library use only copies (in the bottom section). The first column is "Location," followed by "Collection," "Call number," and "Status." Think of the first 3 fields as an address that will tell you where an item is located, and you can find a detailed explanation of them below:

1. Location - Tells you which location the item is located at (a branch or Central). Like the state of an address, it gives you the general area.
2. Collection - Tells you which collection the item is located in, such as Fiction, Nonfiction, Teen, or Juvenile. The collection will also tell you if the item is in library use only, such as reference materials. Like the street name of an address, it gives you a specific area to start looking in.
​3. Call number - Tells you the exact shelf location. Like the house number of an address, it gives you the exact location of the item on the shelf.
4. Status - tells you the status of where the item is, such as In, Out, Held, or In-Transit

If you want to see more information than just the availability details, you can click the title to view its catalog record. The catalog record has the most information about the item, including what it's about, publishing information, and where it is at the library.

To find an item's catalog record, you can click the title. If you've just run a search, you can click the title of what you want to see from the results. If you've already clicked "View details," you can click the title from that screen too. The titles of items are blue in the catalog, signaling that they're links.

The information on the center of the page (#1 on the image) is about the item, such as the cover image, title, author, and summary. The information along the right side of the page (#2 on the image) tells you about the item at the library.

Underneath the summary, there are a few tabs with more information. The page will default to "Details," which gives you a few things, like the title and ISBN. The "Full Record" and "Additional Info" tabs will give you more information about the item. The "Full Record" gives you the full information about the item. The "Additional Info" is extra information that varies from item to item, and it can include things like chapters lists and information about the author.

The box on the right side of the screen will tell you about the availability of the individual items. Remember that an item that is "Available" could be at any number of locations, so it is a good idea to find out where it is exactly. You will see a drop down menu with the first item available, which is organized alphabetically by the location, and you can click the drop-down menu to select a different location. The collection and call number below the drop-down menu correspond with the location that is selected. The "Availability by Location" link takes you to the full availability page.

The library catalog also includes electronic materials, such as e-books (which you read like a regular book) and e-audiobooks (which you listen to). How you check them out depends on where they are from because we have several companies we use for electronic materials. If you are interested in electronic materials, take a look at this research guide for more info: E-books, E-audiobooks, Digital Magazines, and Streaming Media. You can also search each resource individually by going directly to their websites, which you can find links to on the Streaming & Downloadable Media page.

In the catalog, the information with an item will tell you where the item is located. When you run a search in the catalog, you should see the type of item it is underneath it. We have three main resources you'll see: Overdrive (e-books and audiobooks), hoopla (e-books), and RBdigital (audiobooks). Overdrive is the only resource that works with the catalog. You will see a green "place a hold" button beside the item, and Overdrive holds and checkouts will show up with your other holds and checkouts. Hoopla and RBdigital items show up in the catalog, but you will click a link to check out the items through their websites.

Overdrive

E-book

Downloadable audiobook

hoopla

RBdigital

"My Library Dashboard" is the main landing page for your account. It will give you a snapshot of your account and let you click on specific areas, such as your holds.

To find your dashboard, log into your account and click your username in the top right of the screen. On the drop-down menu, click "My Library Dashboard." It is the first link.

Once you're in your dashboard, you will see a menu along the left and your saved items in the center. The "My Borrowing" menu on the left (number 1) shows you your number of holds and items you have checked out. You can click these links to be taken to their respective pages, such as your checked out items and holds. You will also see your borrowing history (which you can set up in your settings), submit a suggestion form, and your lists. The center is your "For later" shelf, which contains items you've saved for your personal use (number 2). This tool is great for items you aren't ready to place a hold on but want to remember.

Some important things you can do from your account are see what items you have checked out and renew them. You can find out more about borrowing here. We do have automatic renewals for physical items checked out at the Boston Public Library, which means the system will check to see if it can renew your items a few days before they're due, and it will if it can. Renewals are not guaranteed, and you are still responsible for the item if it does not renew. If you are having trouble renewing something, check out the box on troubleshooting renewals below.

When you are logged into your account, you can find the menu to see your check out items and holds by clicking your account on the top right of the screen. When you are logged out, it will say "Log In / My BPL," and when you're logged in, it will say your username. Underneath "My Borrowing," you will see links for "Checked Out" and "On Hold."

When you click "Checked Out," you will see a list of the items you have checked out. Each title will have information listed with it: the due date, the number of people on the hold list, and the renew button. The number of people on the hold list tells you if you can renew it or not; if there are any holds currently on the item, you cannot renew it. An error will occur if you try to. If you are able to renew the item, it will be renewed from the day it is renewed for another renewal period (3 weeks for books and CDs, 1 week for DVDs).

The menu on the left of the screen gives you a snapshot of your account. You can see the number of items you have out categorized by "Due Soon" or "Due Later." You can also see a snapshot of your holds that are ready to pick up or are in transit.

Holds are items that you have reserved for the future, and they are sent to a pick up location that you choose. The two main reasons you would place a hold are that the item is in at a library you can't visit or the item you want has a hold list. A hold list occurs when more people want the item than there are copies, and the items go to patrons in order of when the holds were placed. When you'll get your hold depends on a variety of factors. If the item is in at a different location, you should allow at least several business days for it to be shipped from that location. An item with a waitlist is more difficult to predict; the timing will depend on when items are brought back.

First, let's talk about placing a hold. You can place a hold on most items yourself using the online catalog. You will see a green "Place a Hold" button beside items that can be placed on hold. When you click the button, a confirmation page will appear. "Pickup at" is the location where you want to have it sent, and it will default to your preferred location. You can change the location for this item by clicking the down arrow beside the location, and you can change your preferred location in your settings. If everything looks good, click "Confirm Hold" on the right, and you will get a message telling you your place in the hold queue. 

To view your holds, you can use the drop-down menu for your account on the top right of the page, or if you're already in your account, you can also use the "My Borrowing" menu on the left. 

The view for holds is similar to the one for checked out items. You will see a summary of your holds on the "My Borrowing" menu on the left, and a list of your individual holds will be in the center. The summary will list the number of items that are ready to pickup (the green check mark) and in transit (the orange truck). On your hold list in the center, the information you see will vary based on the status of the hold: not ready items will list your place in the holds queue, and ready items will tell you when have to pick them up by. In transit items have been shipped but have not arrived yet.

You can manage your holds in a number of ways. One thing you can do is pause your hold, which keeps your place in the hold queue and keeps the hold from coming until after your specified date. The date you choose is the date your hold will become active again. This is a good tool to use if you can't get your holds for a period of time, such as you're going out of town or you have too many holds that are going to come at once. You can only pause holds that are "Not Ready" (not "In transit" or "Ready"). To pause a hold, click the "Pause hold" button beside the item, and a calendar will pop up. Pick the date you want your hold to become active again and then click "Yes, pause hold" at the confirmation screen.

There are a few other ways you can manage your holds. For paused holds, you can click "Resume hold" to resume your hold early, or you can click the date beside "Paused until" to change it. You can change the pick up location for holds that are "Paused" or "Not ready" by clicking the arrow beside "Pickup at." You can also cancel a hold by clicking "Cancel hold."

One thing you can do from your personal account is suggest the library purchase something. You can find the full FAQs on suggesting a purchase here. We consider each suggestion, and suggesting a purchase is not a guarantee that the library will order something. We will let you know through a notice in the catalog if the suggestion was purchased or not. If we purchase the item, it will show up in our online catalog in a few weeks, and you can place a hold on it if you wish. We do not automatically hold the item for you.

To suggest a purchase, first go to your library dashboard, and you can also go there directly by using this link. On the menu on the left, you will see "Submit a Suggestion," which is the form to suggest a purchase. The number below the link is the number you have used this month. You get 20 suggestions per month.

A form will appear, and you enter what you know about the item. The fields with a red asterisk (*) are required. The first part of the form needs basic information: the title, author/contributor, and published year. Click "Next" to move on.

The next part of the form requires more information. The "Format," "Audience," and "Content" fields are required, which are all drop-down menus that you can select from. The other two fields, "ISBN" and "Notes," are nice to fill in if you have the information, but they are not required. The "Notes" field is a good place to put additional information that could help us locate it, such as where you heard about it or a link to a third party website you found it on, like a book review or Amazon.com entry. When you're done, click "Next."

This page is the final one before you submit your suggestion. You will see a summary of the item you suggest at the top of the page, and it's a good idea to make sure it is correct. Beneath that, you will see any items the library catalog thinks could be the item you entered. You can only suggest purchases of items the library does not own, so if you see your item below that, place a hold on it instead of suggesting a purchase. When you're all set, you can submit your suggestion.

Your 4-digit PIN is your password for your library account, and it would have been set up when you made your library card. You can see complete instructions on how to reset your PIN here.

If you've logged into your library account at least once, you can reset your PIN online. Click "Login / My BPL" at the top, like you're going to log in. Underneath the username and password boxes, you will see a button for if you forgot your PIN. Click it, enter your library card number, and you will receive an email to reset your PIN.

If you haven't logged into your library account before, the library will have to help you reset your PIN. You can come into any Boston Public Library location and have it reset in person, or you can email our Webmaster to have it reset online at: websupport@bpl.org. Be sure to include your name and library card number.

If you encounter an error placing a hold, there are two main things that can be the cause: a problem with your library account or a problem with the item. If you continue to have problems, send us an email at ask@bpl.org with your library card number, the item you're trying to place on hold, and a description of the problem.

If the problem is with your library account, the most common problem is that you must have a valid library card to place holds. This means your registration must be in date and you must have under $10 in fees. Another problem, which is less common, is that you've reached your hold limit, which is 50 items (not including Overdrive items).

Expired registration: Your library card registration expires every 2 years, and you can renew it in person with your picture ID and proof of Massachusetts address. You can find complete instructions on how to renew it here. You should get a notice before your library card expires, and you can check your expiration date in your account settings.

Fees: If you have over $10 in fees, you cannot place any more holds. You can check your fees in your dashboard, and you can find out how fees are calculated here. You can find out how to pay fees here.

If the problem is the item, the most common problems are that the item is in library use only or is from a library in our system that doesn't allow Boston Public Library patrons to place holds.

In library use only: Some items are in library use only, and you cannot place a hold on these items. Items are usually in library use only if they're in our closed research stacks or they're reference materials, such as encyclopedias and dictionaries. 

There is one collection called Fine Arts that is in library use only that has materials you can reserve ahead of time online. To do this, you click the green "Place a Hold" button beside the item and make the pickup location "Delivery Desk." You can learn more about Fine Arts requests here.

Other libraries: The library catalog shows items from the Metro Boston Library Network, which includes a few libraries other than the Boston Public Library. While most of these items can be checked out by Boston Public Library patrons, there are some exceptions. Items at Boston Public Schools cannot be held or checked out by Boston Public Library patrons. In addition, Chelsea Public Library and Malden Public Library have some items that only their respective card holders can borrow, such as new releases. If you get an error placing a hold on these items, treat them as if the library doesn't own them, which is explained below.

If you're having trouble renewing an item, there are a few common problems that can occur. You can see a page about how to renew items here. Many items can be renewed for another loan period, but there are some exceptions. The Boston Public Library uses an automatic renewal system, which means the system will renew many things for you automatically. A few days before the due date, the system will check to see if it can renew your items, and it can if it will. If it can't renew the items, your items will still be due. The following errors can occur both with automatic renewals and manually renewing your items. 

If you continue to have problems, send us an email at ask@bpl.org with your library card number, the item you're trying to renew, and a description of the problem.

Expired registration: Your registration must be up to date to renew items. Your library card registration expires every 2 years, and you can renew it in person with your picture ID and proof of Massachusetts address. You can find complete instructions on how to renew it here. You should get a notice before your library card expires, and you can check your expiration date in your account settings.

Fees: If you have over $10 in fees, you cannot renew or check out items. You can check your fees in your dashboard, and you can find out how fees are calculated here. You can find out how to pay fees here.

Hold list: If someone has placed a hold on an item, you cannot renew it.

Out of renewals: If you have used all of an item's renewals, you cannot renew it again. You get 2 renewals for physical items, like books and DVDs.

Interlibrary loans: Interlibrary loans cannot be renewed through the catalog. Renewing interlibrary loans depends on the lending institution, and you will need to contact the Interlibrary Loan Department to ask about a renewal several days before the due date.

Electronic items: eBooks and downloadable audiobooks are renewed differently than physical items. You can find out how to renew Overdrive items here. Hoopla titles cannot be renewed but can be borrowed again immediately upon expiration. For RBdigital audiobooks, a renewal button appears for audiobooks that may be renewed.

Card catalogs are what libraries used to keep track of the collection before computers were invented, and the Boston Public Library's catalog contains older materials, from 1974 and before. While it may seem like everything is on the Internet, not all of our older items have migrated to the online catalog. If you're looking for something that was published before 1974 and it's not in the online catalog, you can check the card catalog to see if it's there.

Interlibrary loan (ILL) is when we try to borrow something from a different library for you. You can request an ILL when the Boston Public Library does not own the item you're looking for. ILLs are a request, not a guarantee. The big determining factor for getting you an item is if another institution is able to lend the item you have requested.

You can find the complete page about borrowing from other libraries here. Remember that the library cannot own the item you request. Check the catalog thoroughly before placing an ILL request.

To find ILL on the library website, go to Books & More and then Borrowing from Other Libraries. The first link is for the Commonwealth Catalog, and the second link is for ILLiad.

First, you should check the Commonwealth Catalog for the item you're looking for. The Commonwealth Catalog is a catalog of libraries in Massachusetts, and it has a large catalog you can search. If you find the item you're looking for, and it says it's available to request, you can log in and request the item. The Commonwealth Catalog is for circulating items (things you can take home): books, DVDs, and CDs. If you need an article or something that's in library use only, you can read about ILLiad below.

Second, you can use ILLiad to request an item. ILLiad is not a catalog like the Commonwealth Catalog. You fill out a form with the information about the item, and the library will try to locate it for you. You will need to log in twice with your library card number and PIN, and the first time you use it, you will need to set up your account. Use ILLiad for things you can't find in the Commonwealth Catalog, like books, and you can also use it for in library use only items like periodicals and microfilm. If you are requesting an individual article, those can usually be sent electronically.