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 used to chang to any other indexed field.
• Right truncation is done by using the "*". For example, child*. The truncating symbol cannot be used by itself. there must be at least one character to the left of the ' * ' .
• 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 are sorted by publiching / copyright date by default. Columns can be sorted by Author, Title, Call Number or Date by clicking on the column header in the display table.
• 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.
• The Next or Previous Record can be chosen as you view a record in the expanded record display, and you may choose to go back to the title list.
• Book jacket cover thumbnails display in OPALS via one of two providors. Amazon.com book jacket archives are free. "Syndetics,” is a Bowker subscription service that provides links to book jacket thumbnails and enriched content including book reviews. The librarian can set up these services in the administration system preferences folder.
• Item Barcodes are hyper-linked to the Item Status.
• A “Loan history” displays in the same row as the Item Status. If you are logged in with administrative rights, you can click on the loan history link to view transaction history for each copy by loan dates.
• The URI (A Uniform Resource Identifier) MARC field 856, now displays above the barcode numbers in the expanded record as a clickable link. The link will take you to the Internet resource that is identified in the URI field.
• All of the Marc field 505 "Contents Note" subfields will display formated in the Expanded record.
• All of the MARC field 526 "Study Program Information Note" subfields will display in the expanded record.
• A viewed record may also be selected for the bibliography function.

• 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 subject 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 subject "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.
• After selections are made click on the 'Search' button to see the results.

You may also use the subject browse menu selection as above.

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.