The online catalog provides a Web based Online Public Access Catalog (OPAC).

The OPALS Online Public Access Catalog (OPAC) is designed so that anyone seeing the interface for the first time should be able to access the database with ease.

• Select Search> Standard from the main menu. For convenience, the Anywhere and Keyword Search boxes are at the top and bottom of all menus. Either the top or bottom boxes can be used for searching.
• The pull down menu for Anywhere can be changed to any other indexed field.
• Left, right and embedded truncation is done by using the "*". For example, *key, child*, and wom*n. 
• Boolean searching between keywords is made possible by using NOT, OR in caps.
• All searches do a Simultaneous Federated search with Multiple database authentication. 
• Search results can be sorted by Author, Title, Call Number or Date.
• Circulation status shows number of copies that are In, Out, Hold/Reserved, and date due.
• Titles are displayed in a brief format, that when clicked on, a expanded format with Full MARC capabilities are available for viewing.

Expanded record detail 

• To expand the information seen for each item, click on the hyperlinked item title.
• The expanded search display provides access to MARC editing and Reservations for authorized users. (Users can reserve items for themselves if they have a login name, password and permissions.)
• The expanded search displays hyperlinks to author, subject headings, series and 856 URL addresses fields.
• Item Barcodes are hyper-linked to the Item Status.

• Same features at the Standard Search except you have 5 Search boxes.
• Boolean searching within and between fields can be selected by clicking on the appropriate radio button.
• To see more detail for the item use the expanded display as described above.
  

• Beginner's search with graphic icon searching.
• Beginner's search Icons are linked to search arguments.
• Beginner's search has options for keyword, author, title, subject searches.
• A standard search can also be typed into the search text box.
• HINT: If you would like the Beginner's search interface to be the first Interface, ask your Library's webmaster to have the link url set to http://your_school_code.scoolaid.net/bin/search/beginner.

Subject Browser

After a typical keyword search, the page that displays the search results gives you an option to use the subject browser. The terms that were used in your search appear as a link at the top of the results page.

For example, if you searched "China history", a link will display :

When the link is clicked, a new page appears with the key words selected for subject headings.

• Select any subject heading that you wish by clicking in the check box of a title.
• After selections are made click on the go button to see the search results.

You may also browse subjects from this page.

• Type in any subject term or right truncated term (use an asterisk for the truncation symbol).
• clicking on any one of the Letter buttons will display all the subject terms that begin with that character.

While searching for titles in the OPAC, a handy feature allows you to create a formated bibliography or shelf list, then print or e-mail it to yourself or anyone else.