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Starting Polaris PowerPAC
Your library determines the first page you see when you connect to the library Web site. Many libraries have their own Web sites and home pages. For these libraries, you select a link on the library home page to use Polaris PowerPAC features. The library determines the appearance and location of these links.
Some libraries use the Polaris PowerPAC portal page as the home page. The portal page offers links to library information and Polaris PowerPAC functions. The portal page may also include current news, weather, new title lists, and other information.
Note:
The Polaris PowerPAC portal page is the starting point for the procedures in this guide. However, Polaris PowerPAC functions work the same way regardless of what home page the library uses. You start Polaris PowerPAC, as well as any other functions your library provides, by selecting links on the home page.Polaris PowerPAC Page Structure
The main Polaris PowerPAC pages, including the portal page, are arranged in three sections: the banner, the left pane of the page, and the center pane.
Banner
The main functions, Library Info, Search, Patron Account, Log In and Help, are in the menu bar at the top right of the banner.
You select a function to display the submenu of options associated with the function. For example, when you select Search on the menu bar, search choices are displayed in the submenu in the lower left portion of the banner.
Left Pane
The left pane of the window is a frame that appears with each Polaris PowerPAC page. The contents of this pane change depending on the current page. It may contain lists, such as new arrivals and items of seasonal interest. List items are often links. For example, you may be able to click a title on a new titles list to launch a search for the title. You can expand or close the lists by clicking the arrow next to the list title.
Center Pane
The content of the center pane of the window changes depending on the current function. For example, the center pane of the portal page may offer current news, weather, and links to community information. Click any link to display more information. When information opens in a separate browser window, you can close the window to return to the portal page.
Your library may also display a picture of a book in the center pane (you may have to scroll the page down past any weather information to see the picture). The pictured book is drawn from best-seller lists. You can click the image to search for the book in the library catalog. For more information, see "Search from a book jacket image".
Operating System and Browser Compatibility
Polaris PowerPAC has been tested with the operating systems and browsers listed in the following table:
Optimizing Your Screen Display
If you find that Polaris PowerPAC pages or controls do not display, or display oddly, try optimizing your screen display by changing your browser settings or by changing your screen resolution.
First, try to optimize your screen display by decreasing the font size in the Web browser. For example, from the Internet Explorer 6.0 menu bar, select View, Text Size, and choose a smaller size from the menu.
Polaris PowerPAC requires certain scripting settings for your browser. From the Internet Explorer 6.0 menu bar, select Tools, Internet Options, and select the Security tabbed page. Select the Internet zone, and click Custom Level. Scroll down to the Scripting settings, and verify that Active scripting and Scripting of Java applets are enabled.
Important:
The library and Polaris Library Systems are not liable for any damages that may result from your browser settings and from accessing sites other than the library site. Up-to-date virus protection software is essential.The library's Web site may have been designed for a screen resolution different from that of your computer. If you are still having problems after adjusting browser settings, try adjusting your screen resolution to 1024 x 768 pixels. On computers running Windows, select Control Panel, Display, and select the Settings tab on the Display Properties dialog box.
Important:
Changing this setting affects the entire computer display, not just the appearance of Polaris PowerPAC.Objective: Start Polaris PowerPAC
Follow these steps to start using Polaris PowerPAC library services.
Note:
In the library, the browser may be already running on the public access computers. If it is not, ask a library staff member for assistance.Note:
If necessary, contact the library to obtain the correct URL.
- Click Go to display the library home page.
- Select a menu option or a link to start using Polaris PowerPAC.
- For information about searching the library catalog, see "Basic Searching".
- For information about accessing your library account, see "Your Library Account".
Note:
To return to the home page, click Library Info or the logo at the upper left corner of the page.
- To select a language other than English, if your library offers a choice, click a language link in the Languages list in the left pane of the window.
Polaris PowerPAC screens are displayed in the language you selected. You can select a different language at any time during your Polaris PowerPAC session, without clearing your search results or losing your place.
- To change the library to which you are currently connected, click the arrow symbol by the Currently logged into list, and select another system library from the list.
Note:
The policies of this library may affect what functions are available to you through Polaris PowerPAC.Related Topics
- Logging in - Some Polaris PowerPAC functions require you to log in as a library patron. See "Logging In and Out".
- Online Help - See "Getting Help".
- Finding materials - See "Basic Searching".
- Accessing your patron account - See "Your Library Account".
Objective: Quit using Polaris PowerPAC
Follow these steps to quit using Polaris PowerPAC. This procedure protects your privacy.
- If you are viewing search results, save any information you need (see "Working with Title Lists").
- Log out of Polaris PowerPAC by doing one of these actions:
- If you see the Log Out option
on the main menu bar, click it.
- If there is no Log Out option on the main menu bar, and you are viewing your patron account, select Log Out from the Patron Account submenu.
For more information, see "Logging In and Out".
- Do one of the following actions:
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