Log into your account to:

• View holds and items checked out
• Renew materials
• Check on due dates and the availability of requested library materials.
• View outstanding fines or bills
• Create and save preferred searches and set up automatic email alerts of new library materials for your preferred searches
• Create a Reading History
• View the personal contact information the library has on file for you
• View and cancel or change the pickup location of items you have on hold/request

Log into your account before searching TOPCAT! This will allow you to place requests (holds) on one or more items without re-entering your account information. You won't have to sign in again.

Return to top

Your home library is the library where you received your library card. When you are logged into TOPCAT, you will see the abbreviation "HOME LIBR" along with your library's abbreviation (e.g., AC, CSU, CUW, etc.) directly under your name in the middle of the account screen.

When placing a request (hold) in TOPCAT, your home library will automatically be selected as the pickup location for your items. You can change the pickup location to any other SWITCH library at this point. To do so, use the pull down menu in the Request form to select a different SWITCH library (hold shelf).

After placing a hold, if you want to change the pickup location for a particular item, you can do so within one hour of making the request, by going to the Holds view in My Library Account. Chose a new pickup location using the Pickup Location drop down menu for the particular title.

Return to top

SWITCH patrons can request items from any member library so long as the item is requestable, that is available for checkout. The easiest way to request items is to first log into TOPCAT. Click on the My Library Account link found at the top of any TOPCAT screen and enter your barcode number and PIN. Then search TOPCAT, locate items of interest and either request one at a time, or mark and save selected items and request multiple items all at once. See below for more information.

Requesting a Single Item.
After you have found an item in TOPCAT that you want to request from another SWITCH Library, that is also NOT available at your home library, go to the full record and look at the STATUS of the item to see if it's requestable. The item might be a "Library Use Only" item, meaning it does not circulate to patrons.

If you see words like "Available" or an actual date listed (which means someone currently has it checked out), then the item is requestable. Click on the Request button found at the top of the screen and fill in the online Request form. You will be prompted to login if you have not already done so. At this point, you can change the pickup library location if necessary and (optional) you can specify a date when the request is no longer needed using the "Cancel if Not Filled by" area. TOPCAT will automatically cancel the request if it is not filled by this set date. Click the Submit button. On the next screen click to select the correct item you want to request (there may be more than one libraries items listed), then click the Request Selected Item button to finish the request process. To cancel the request at this point, click the Start Over button.

Be sure to read the TOPCAT screen for any messages. You will be notified by the appropriate SWITCH library when your request (hold) is ready. To return to searching, click on the Regular View button.

Requesting Multiple Items From a Saved List.

• Log into My Library Account using the link found at the top of any TOPCAT screen.
• Search TOPCAT looking for items of interest.
• On EACH search results screen, checkmark the "Save" box next to any titles of interest to you. Then, BEFORE GOING to a new search results page, click either the Save Marked Records or Save All on Page button (if you want to select all on the page)! This will cause TOPCAT to add your saved records to a new list. Two new buttons will display at the top of the screen: View My List (where you save records to a new or existing Wish List; make multiple requests and/or choose a method to output your list of records) and Clear My List (which clear your list of saved records).
• You can now navigate to the Next or Previous search results page.

• If you click on a title and are viewing the full record, you can add that individual record to your Saved Record list by clicking on the "Add to My List" button.
• When you are finished searching and ready to review your Saved Record list, click on the "View My List" button found at the top of the screen.

• At this point you can view your list of saved records, delete selected titles where needed or clear all titles. To output the list either to print out or to send as an email, click the Export My List button. Otherwise, to request multiple items click on the Multiple Requests button found near the top of the screen.
• You will be prompted to login if you have not already done so.
• At the next screen you can still choose to request selected titles or to request all titles from your Saved Records list. Use the pull down menu to select a pickup location. This does not have to be your home library.
• The system will batch request your selections and let you know if the request is successful or not.

    Show me ...

Requesting Journal Articles.
When requesting articles from periodicals (i.e., magazines, newspapers...), you need to perform a journal title search in TOPCAT, locate the correct journal and click the Request button near the top of the screen. Include as much bibliographic information as you have including the author's name, article title, volume, issue, date and page numbers. Articles requested via TOPCAT are $0.15 a page for most patrons. Check with your home library about charges for TOPCAT articles.

    Show me ...

Return to top

If available and not checked out, items will be ready at your home library (or pickup library) the next week day or within 48 hours. The SWITCH delivery system runs Mondays through Fridays. Materials typically remain on the hold shelf at the Circulation desk for seven days but there is some variation depending on the library material. Patrons are notified when TOPCAT requests are available.

Return to top

After logging into your library account, you can view all your TOPCAT requests (holds). Use the Sort by Request Date button to resort your holds by the Request Date.

Canceling One or More Holds.
To cancel individual requests (holds), checkmark the Cancel box for those titles you want to cancel, then click on the Cancel Selected button found within your library account. Click the Cancel All button to cancel all of your requests (holds) listed in your library account. Remember, specific requests will automatically be canceled by TOPCAT if you entered in a specific date for the "Cancel if Not Filled By" area when filling out the request form.

Changing the Pickup Location of a Hold.
After placing a hold, if you want to change the pickup location for a particular item, you can do so within one hour of making the request, by going to the Holds view in My Library Account. Chose a new pickup location using the Pickup Location drop down menu for the particular title.

Return to top

Return to top

All fines, bills, etc. incurred from TOPCAT item & article requests can be paid at your home library as well as at the library site where the materials originated. Patrons are asked to identify themselves and the items at the time of payment. Fines for non-home library materials (SWITCH materials) cannot be waived.

Return to top

My Reading History is an optional TOPCAT feature that maintains a list of all the materials you check out, even after the materials have been returned to any SWITCH library. This is an "opt in" feature, meaning that TOPCAT will only keep a Reading History if you elect to participate in the service. You do not have to use this feature.

How do I "opt in" for My Reading History?

• Go to My Library Account in TOPCAT.

• Enter the barcode number found on the back of your library card and your library PIN. See PIN INFORMATION if you need more help.

• Click on the My Reading History button, then click the Opt In button to begin tracking your reading history from that moment forward. Reading History includes the title, author, date checked out, and copy number for each item. It will not track items currently checked out, only items from then on.

Reading History Disclaimer

• The SWITCH Library Consortium takes the privacy of your library records seriously. Our libraries do not keep track of what you borrow after you return it. However, our automated system offers the optional feature My Reading History, which allows you to track items you checked out through your library account. By 'opting in' you are agreeing to allow our system to store this data on the TOPCAT server. IMPORTANT: SWITCH Library staff do NOT have access to your My Reading History. The data, however, is subject to all applicable local, state, and federal laws, and under those laws, could be examined by law enforcement authorities without your permission should a subpoena be served. If this is of concern to you, you should not use the My Reading History feature.
• Participation in this feature is entirely voluntary. You may start or stop using it, as well as delete any or all entries in your reading history at any time.

Return to top

Q:  Once I opt-in to My Reading History, are current checkouts recorded, or only checkouts from that moment forward?

A:  Only checkouts from that moment forward are tracked.

Q:  Once I have "opted in" to My Reading History, may I opt out at some future point?

A:  Yes. Once a you have opted in, the button in your account will change to "Opt Out." To disable My Reading History, you need to delete all entries in the list, then click on the Opt Out of Reading History button.

Q:  May I delete parts of my Reading History, or must the entire history be retained?

A:  You may delete all or part of your Reading History by checking specific items and clicking the "Delete" button.

Q:  What are the implications for My Reading History in terms of confidentiality and the PATRIOT Act?

A:   Using My Reading History means this information is being stored on the TOPCAT server. Library staff do NOT have access to this information. However, if staff are served with a subpoena, Reading History information might have to be surrendered to law enforcement officials. If this is of concern to you, you may not want to opt in to the reading history feature. Read more about privacy issues that involve the Patriot Act and libraries from the American Library Association.

Return to top

For example, you might want to create multiple lists representing different courses you are taking and/or your own personal interests.

Return to top

• Log into My Library Account using the link found at the top of any TOPCAT screen.
• Search TOPCAT looking for items of interest.
• Checkmark those titles you would like to save to a new wish list.
• Use the "Select a List" pull down menu located near the top of TOPCAT to select the 'Create a New List' option. Then click the Save to My Wish List button
• If you already have an existing wish list set up, select that choice from the "Select a List" pull down menu and click the Save to My Wish List button. TOPCAT will display a message that the records have been added to the list.

• If you are creating a new Wish List, the next TOPCAT screen will prompt you to enter in a List Name and a brief description.
• Click the Submit button.
• From there you can return to the previous screen or start over.

• If you checkmark items of interest and click on the Save Marked Records button or Save All on Page button from the search results display. Two new buttons will display at the top of the screen: View My List (where you save records to a new or existing Wish List; make multiple requests and/or choose a method to output your list of records) and Clear My List (which clear your list of saved records).
• Click on the View My List button to bring up the option to save selected records to a new or existing Wish List.

• If you are NOT logged into My Library Account and have checkmarked items of interest from a search results page, you need to click on the Save Marked Records button and then on the View My List button at the top of TOPCAT to bring up the option to Save to My Wish List.
• Click on the Save to My Wish List button. You will then be prompted to log into your library account.

Return to top