Soon the BTS Library will be ready for students and families to check out books. The processing of the books is almost done, just a few more weeks away!
In the meantime, anyone can get acquainted with the library’s resources by exploring the BTS Library Catalog. The catalog is housed in a social media site called “LibraryThing.” Here are some tips on how to use LibraryThing and how to use the special features of our BTS Library:
About Library Thing:
From the site librarything.com: “LibraryThing is an online service to help people catalog their books easily. You can access your catalog from anywhere—even on your mobile phone. Because everyone catalogs together, LibraryThing also connects people with the same books, comes up with suggestions for what to read next, and so forth.”
I will give you tips on how to use the Catalog here, but we will approach it in steps. This first part will help you get familiar with the site. In future posts I will show you how to use some of the features.
Using the Catalog (Q & A) Part 1:
Q: Do I need any special software or downloads?
A: No. You can use the site from any internet browser.
Q: Do I need to create an account to view the BTS Library books?
A: No. If you are not a LibraryThing user, you can still view our catalog, do searches for specific books, and get their location in the library.
You only need to create an account with LibraryThing if you wish to catalog your own books, write reviews, share your library with other people, and other social features like that.
Q: How do I view BTS books?
A: Click on this link (or better, bookmark it in your own computer). You’ll see a list of books that belong to the BTS Library. The list will be displayed in a specific format, but you can customize how you see it. You can click on “List” or “Covers” to see the books listed or only the covers of all the books we own. Also, you can change the information that is shown on the list by clicking on “Style” and choosing styles A, B, C, D, E, or custom (the gear wheel.)
Q: How do I find a specific book or books on a topic?
A: At the top right there is a search box with a magnifying glass icon that says “Search your library.” You can enter an author, a topic, a tag, etc… to see what we have.
Q: How do I find the book in the BTS Library?
A: When you find a book that you’d like to check out, look at the book’s “Call Number.” You will find this number in the column that says “Dewey/Melvil.” Write down that combination of letters and numbers, and that will tell you in which section of the library it is, and the location on the shelf. The teachers or librarian present at BTS will be able to point you to the location if you have that number.
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This should be enough for you to begin browsing our books. As previously stated, in future posts I will share how to use features to see the books’ reviews, recommendations, popularity, and other tools that will make it easier to select books for you or your kids. Please send us any feedback on this introduction of the BTS Library. And remember that we are not done! The BTS Librarian is still entering books in the system each week!
Happy browsing, BTS!
Your BTS Librarian.
Books & Beyond 