Using the Library Catalog

The King County Library System catalog provides easy computer-based access to nearly 15 million items. Learn how to make the most of this valuable resource.

Catalog Overview | Finding, Holding and Renewing Materials | Downloads and Display| Using Your Account

The KCLS Library Catalog has several new features.

One enhancement is that you may recover a lost PIN through a “Forgot Your Pin?” link if you have a current email address in your library card account.

A new My Millennium feature, called “My List,” will be added to Reading History, which tracks what materials you have checked out. To enable you to better remember what materials you may want to check out in the future, the “My List” feature keeps track of materials of interest.

My Favorite Searches will once again be available for email reporting when new items are added to KCLS collection that match the Favorite Search criteria.

To enable you to view items similar to what that you may be interested in checking out, a "Virtual Bookshelf" search link will be available on the bibliographic record display.

A higher level of security will be implemented on the catalog which will enable only strong Secure Socket Layer (SSL) encryption cyphers in the secure (HTTPS) interface to the Web catalog. The Secure Sockets Layer (SSL) is a commonly-used protocol for managing the security of a message transmission on the Internet. If you experience issues with this heightened level of security see Microsoft's page for updates.

Catalog Overview

Introduction to the Catalog
This brief tutorial is an overview of the features and functions that can be utilized within the KCLS library online catalog.

Guide to Call Numbers
Get information on how books, music and other items are categorized.

Guide to the Status Descriptions of Items
Look up the terms that describe an item’s status.

Catalog FAQs
Get answers to common questions.

Finding, Holding, and Renewing Materials

Basic Searches
Here you will find helpful documentation to aid in achieving the best results while searching for materials in the KCLS library catalog.

Limiting Searches
Get tips that make it easier to find specifically what you’re looking for in the catalog.

Placing Holds
See instructions on how to place a hold on library materials.

Renewing Items
Learn about the KCLS renewal policy and how to renew an item.

Downloads and Display

Library Elf
Use this tool to organize your library account. Keep track of your materials, due dates and holds.

Library Lookup Tool
Want to know whether KCLS carries a book that you find at one of many online retailers? Use this convenient tool to check its availability in the KCLS collection.

Displaying Diacritics
To be able to display diacritics and non-English language characters, including Chinese, Japanese and Korean, you need to have specific settings for your Web browser and your Microsoft Office Word program.


If you have questions about using My Account Features visit the My Account help page.

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Last Updated: July 1, 2009