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Using Heritage Online

The Library's Heritage system is now available on-line, using your Raven password. Once you have entered your details simply click Enter on-line library. You can now search for items and reserve them if they are on loan, or renew the items you already have out. Clicking on the Help icon whilst using Heritage will give more detailed guidance.

Searching Heritage

Heritage contains details of Sidney Sussex Library holdings only. To conduct a search simply click on General enquiry and enter terms into the search box. Click on the search button and a list of results will appear. Click on any one of these for details of the individual item. These will appear as below right (click to enlarge), and can be interpreted as shown. An item's location in the Library, and its availability are shown centrally beneath the main body of the display. The classmark (where an item actually is in the shelving sequence) is in the top right hand corner of the display.

Simple Search tips

• To narrow a search

  
  Enter AND between the terms (the search animal AND physiology will return only those results which contain both words together).

• To broaden a search

  
  Use OR between terms (for example the search Constantinople OR Istanbul retrieves results containing either of these terms, so you don't have to do separate searches)
  
  Truncate a term using an asterisk (e.g. the search volcan* will retrieve records containg the words 'volcano', 'volcanoes', 'volcanic', 'volcanology', etc.)
  
  Insert a question mark in the place of a letter that varies in alternate spellings (e.g. organi?ation, will retrieve both 'organisation' and 'organization'

Item status

Once you've located your item there are several availability statuses it might have, which will be displayed in the record.

• Available means it should be on the shelf (although someone might be using it somewhere else in the Library), and can be borrowed.
• Not for loan means it is a reference item, and can be used in the Library only.
• Missing is pretty self-explanatory, so if you have a real need of this item inform the Library staff and we'll see if we can get a replacement.
• On order means we've ordered it from a supplier but it hasn't arrived in the Library yet. If you need an item with this status urgently inform the Library staff, and we'll see how long it's likely to take, and whether we can chase it or get hold of it more quickly.
• Processing means it's come in but is hanging about in the Library Office. Come to the Office and we should be able to locate it for you.
• Withdrawn means we used to have it but got rid of it. Again if you have a real need of this item ask the Library staff and we'll consider purchasing another copy, although if we have disposed of the item once already, purchase may be less likely.

If an item is listed as On loan then someone else has it out. You should be able to place a reservation on it, and it should be available within 48 hours.

Reserving items

From the full record display for the item you require click the Reserve function at the top right of the screen, above the classmark. Type the barcode on your library card and press enter to confirm. Recalled items are held on the shelf near the Library Office for three working days, and you will be notified as soon as they are available.

Renewing items

From the Heritage Online search screen:

• Click the My Account icon
• Enter your University Card number
• Click on the Loans tab
• Select which items you want to renew by ticking the check box at the end of the appropriate row or rows
• Click the Renew button