Help Center

• Library Card: *NEW* Register online for a temporary card.
• Library Account
• Reading History
• Searching
• Searching (Advanced)
• Saving Searches
• Featured Lists
• Requesting
• Renewals
• Fee Payment: *NEW* Pay your library fines/fees online.
• My Lists

Your Library Card

With a library card from any of the Merlin member libraries you can log into Merlin and then search for items in the catalog to borrow. If you have not already registered for a card with any library in the Merlin system, you can register online for temporary privileges. To check out materials, visit a local library with identification within 30 days to complete your temporary registration and receive full privileges. If you have difficulty accessing a public library you may qualify for library service by mail.

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Your Library Account

Log into your account with your name and barcode to access to the following information and functions:

• search for items to request
• manage requests
• check account status
• renew checkouts
• track your reading history
• create lists of titles
• save preferred searches
• pay online

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Reading History

The My Reading History feature can be activated with the "Opt In" link in your record. To discontinue the display of your circulation history in your record, select the "opt out" link.

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Keyword Searching

Type the keyword you want to find. For example:

• design
• bleachers grisham

Search Tips

Wildcards	Words may be right-hand truncated using an asterisk ('*') in place of (up to five maximum) other characters. The '*' wildcard may also be embedded in a search string. Use a double asterisk ** for open-ended truncation (astro* will match astrophysics as well as astrological). You may use '?' to replace a single character anywhere within a word. Examples : environment* polic*, wom?n, astro**
Boolean Operators	Use "and" or "or" to specify multiple words in any field, any order. Use "and not" to exclude words. Parentheses group words together. Example : stocks and bonds Example : (alaska or canada) and (adventure and not vacation)
Field limits	A field limit causes the system to search only the specified field for the specified word(s). Examples are Author: hill, joe; Title: Pearl; Subject: civil war
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.

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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, "comput*" will match all words that begin with "comput" (e.g., "computer", "computation", etc.).
The '*' wildcard may also be embedded in a search string.

?   You may use a question mark ('?') 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 

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Saving your searches

If you have a favorite author or subject for which you often search when using the catalog, you can save the search with the click of a button. This will prevent you from having to key in the search each time and let you place reserves on new materials quicker.

How to:

1. Log in to your My Millennium Account.
2. Click on the "New Search" button.
3. Search for your favorite author, subject, title, etc. or create an advanced keyword search including limits to material type, language, publication year, etc..
4. When your results are displayed, click the button marked "Save as preferred search".
5. The next time that you log in to your My Millennium Account, you can click the "Preferred Searches" button to see a list of your saved searches.
6. Click on the search link associated with any of the preferred search terms in the list to quickly execute your search.
7. 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.

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Featured Lists

Use Featured Lists to view lists of items recently added to the collection, downloadable media from OverDrive, and ebooks from Learning Express.

Use the quick links on the home page to view lists of special interest items sorted by date.

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Requesting

Library cardholders may request any of the Merlin library items listed in the catalog. The easiest way to request is to first log into your account. From your account page enter your search locate the item(s) you wish to request.

How to Request a Single Item:

1. Select "Request" from the title or title display .
2. Choose a pickup location (qualified MailABook patrons choose Northern Waters for items that need to be mailed.) Click Submit. The system will confirm your request has been successful. The pickup location can be modified up until the item is sent to your library for you to pick up.
3. Return to the record by selecting "Regular Display" or enter a new search by choosing "Start Over ".

How to Request a Multiple Items:

1. Click on the title to display the full record.
2. Select the option near the top to add your marked item(s) to your bag. "Add to Bag "
3. When you're finished searching, choose View Bag and uncheck any item you do not wish to request.
4. Once you're ready to request, choose "Request Saved".
5. Select a pickup library location. Check the items to request. (You have the option to request only a currently available item by selecting the "Request Available" button).
6. Select a request button. The status of your request will display next to the title. Choose from the navigation options from the top of the screen to proceed.

How to Cancel a Requested Item:

1. From you patron account select the title of the hold you wish to cancel.
2. Select the "Update List" button.
3. Confirm the cancellation by choosing the "yes" button.

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Renewals

Library cardholders may renew their own materials online. All material may be renewed except for materials with reserves and materials on which you owe fines.

How to:

1. Log in to your My Millennium Account.
2. If not the default view click the "Items currently checked out" link to view the materials you have checked out.
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 you cannot renew items, a message will appear on the screen. If you are successful, 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.

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Fee Payment

You can now pay any fine over $2 online using your Visa or MasterCard.

Here is how to get started:

1. Log into your Millennium account and select link to view fines.
2. A detailed display of fees and fines displays with a Pay Online link.
3. To make a payment select "PAY ONLINE".
4. Select the fines that you wish to pay using checkboxes and the Select All and Clear All options. Partial payments of select items are not supported.
5. Complete all of the relevant information and click SUBMIT.
6. A confirmation page will appear next. You can print a copy of your receipt at this time and/or click OK. If you have a valid email address, receipt of payment will be sent to the address you entered.

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My Lists

Create lists of records for your patron record.

You can sort your lists, request titles, export records, delete entries, rename lists, and move records between lists.

1. Records can be added to lists from the browse, the book bag, or a single record display.
2. Click the "Add Marked to My Lists" from an item record or after checking the box(es) on a browse list of titles.
3. To create a list from a Book Bag, click Add Marked to Bag, select View Bag, and then click Add to My Lists.
4. You will be prompted to log into your account.
5. You'll be given the option to add the titles to a new list or an existing list.
6. Provide a title and description for your new list. Click Submit.

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