LINKcat Library Catalog

LINKcat FAQ and Search Tips

• Who is responsible for the catalog?
• I got the message: Unable to process request/Unable to find results to get hit.
• I got the message: HTTP ERROR: 503 Server is busy. Please try again later.
• Why am I seeing the "LINKcat Web is closed" message between 7 a.m. and 3 a.m.?
• When is LINKcatWeb available?
• Why can't I access LINKcat between 3 a.m. and 7 a.m.?
• What is a PIN?
• Can the web site remember my library card number from visit to visit so I don't have to type it in every time I visit the catalog?
• I created a list in My List, but I was not able to get it back. What happened?
• You can change your default pickup location.
• Can I turn off the cover art so the pages load more quickly?
• Why does the system log me out so quickly?
• You can suspend your holds without losing your place on the list.
• When I try to change a hold from active to suspended or vice versa, nothing appears to happen. What's going on?
• I changed the status on a hold, but when I look at my hold list, the status has changed back. What is causing this?
• How do I clear the "browser cache"?

Who is responsible for the catalog?

The LINKcat catalog is maintained by the South Central Library System, which operates and maintains a shared catalog for public libraries in a seven county area, including Madison Public Library. Purchasing is a decision made jointly by all members. Some features of the software purchased are customizable, others are not.

I got the message: Unable to process request/Unable to find results to get hit.

This means the catalog is temporarily unavailable. While the web page still appears to work, you will not be able to retrieve any results for your searches. Please try your search again after a little time has passed. If you continue to receive this message over a long period of time, please contact Tana at 266-4953 or madtech@scls.lib.wi.us.

I got the message: HTTP ERROR: 503 Server is busy. Please try again later.

This means the LINKcatWeb server is temporarily too busy to handle your request. Please try your search again after a little time has passed.

Why am I seeing the "LINKcat Web is closed" message between 7 a.m. and 3 a.m.?

If you receive a LINKcat Web is closed message between the hours of 7 a.m. to 3 a.m., try clearing your browser's cache. If you still see the message after you clear the cache, please contact the library for assistance. (Note to Safari users: Safari contains a bug that may cause the browser to incorrectly handle caching instructions. If you are still seeing the LINKcat Web is closed message after clearing Safari's cache, you could try using a different browser, such as Firefox or Netscape.)

When is LINKcatWeb available?

LINKcatWeb is available Monday through Saturday from 7 a.m. to 3 a.m. It is down each morning from 3 a.m. to 7 a.m. in order to update information and add new records to the catalog.

Why can't I access LINKcat between 3:00 a.m. and 7 a.m.?

We must take the system off line to perform routine maintenance. Commercial enterprises such as Amazon.com have funding resources that allow them to purchase redundant systems so that they can "switch" from one server to another while performing maintenance tasks. This type of operation is very costly and is beyond the scope of the current budget of the LINK/South Central Library System.

What is a PIN?

Each person has a four-digit PIN number in addition to their library card barcode number. To place a hold or renew a book, you will need your PIN number, too. See Protecting My Privacy in LINKcat brochure.

Can the web site remember my library card number from visit to visit so I don't have to type it in every time I visit the catalog?

This is not possible due to the fact that many people accessing the site are doing so from shared computers, particularly those inside the library. The technology that Yahoo and Amazon have that asks "Hello, Mr. Smith! If you are not Mr. Smith, please click here." is very expensive and still requires you to remember and enter some information (ID and password) in order to access the catalog. As a shortcut, you may enter just the last eight digits of your library barcode number (after 290780...).

I created a list in My List, but I was not able to get it back. What happened?

A list created in My List is saved only if you have logged in before you created the list. If you have not logged in, the list will be deleted as soon as you exit the LINKcat session. If you log in and create a list in My List, the list will remain in the system for 365 days. More info on My List.

You can change your default pickup location.

Your default holds pickup location is the library you originally registered at. If you'd rather pick up your holds at another location, just let our staff know the next time you check out.

Can I turn off the cover art so the pages load more quickly?

Yes. To turn off the cover art, disable the image-loading feature of your browser. (Please note that turning off images can cause minor display problems in some browsers.) Browser-specific instructions for disabling image-loading are below:

• Windows
  • Internet Explorer 5.5, 6, and 7: Go to Tools, and then select Internet Options. Click the Advanced tab, scroll down until you get to the Multimedia heading, and uncheck Show pictures. Then click OK.
  • Firefox: Go to Tools, and then select Options. Click on Content, and uncheck Load Images. Then click OK.
  • Netscape 8: Go to Tools, and then select Options. Under Master Settings (on the left) select a type of site, and on the right, uncheck Allow images to be displayed. Repeat as needed for other types of sites. Click OK.
  • Netscape 6 and 7: Go to Edit, and then select Preferences. Under Privacy and Security (on the left), click Images. (You may need to click the plus sign or triangle next to Privacy and Security in order to see this option.) Under Image Acceptance Policy, check Do not load any images. Click OK.
    
• Mac
  • Safari: From the menu bar, go to Safari, and then select Preferences. Click Appearance, and uncheck Display images when the page opens. Click the red dot in the upper left hand corner to close the Preferences window.
  • Firefox: From the menu bar, go to Firefox, and then select Preferences. Click the Content tab, and then uncheck Load images. Click the red dot in the upper left hand corner to close the Preferences window.
  • Netscape 6 and 7: From the menu bar, go to Netscape, and then select Preferences. Under Privacy and Security (on the left), click Images. (You may need to click the plus sign or triangle next to Privacy and Security in order to see this option.) Under Image Acceptance Policy, check Do not load any images. Click OK.

If your browser is not listed, check help from within your browser for instructions on disabling automatic image-loading.

Why does the system log me out so quickly?

The system is set to log off after fifteen minutes of inactivity. This is a privacy measure designed to keep other people from being able to access your account or see your patron information if you step away from your computer.

You can suspend your holds without losing your place on the list.

If you'll be on vacation or have too much to read, you can suspend your holds. This keeps your place on the list without making the hold available until you specify that you are ready. To reactivate holds, change the status back to "Active."

When I try to change a hold from active to suspended or vice versa, nothing appears to happen. What's going on?

If you change the hold status on your item, but the screen doesn't change, try clearing your browser's cache and reloading the page. If this fixes the problem, but the next time you try to access the catalog you have a similar problem, check your browser's cache settings. Try changing the settings to Automatically or When the page is outdated. If that doesn't help, try changing the setting to Every time or Every visit to the page. Remember to close your browser after changing the cache settings. Your new settings will be applied the next time you open your browser.

Instructions for accessing your browser's cache settings are below:

• Windows
  • Internet Explorer 5.5 and 6: Go to Tools, and select Internet Options. On the General tab, click the Settings button under Temporary Internet Files.
  • Internet Explorer 7: Go to Tools, and select Internet Options. On the General tab, in the Browsing History section, click the Settings button.
  • Netscape 8: Go to Tools, and then select Options. Under the Privacy panel, click Cache.
  • Netscape 6 and 7: Go to Edit, and then select Preferences. On the left panel, click the plus sign in the box to the left of Advanced. Select Cache. 
• Mac
  • Netscape: From the menu bar, go to Netscape, and then select Preferences. On the left panel, click the arrow to the left of Advanced. Click Cache.

If your browser is not listed, check help from within your browser for instructions on changing your cache settings. Please note that you cannot easily change the cache settings on Firefox or Safari. If you are using either Firefox or Safari and clearing the cache does not solve the hold status problem, try using either Internet Explorer or Netscape instead.

I changed the status on a hold, but when I look at my hold list, the status has changed back. What is causing this?

There are a couple of possible causes. First, if you press the refresh/reload button on your browser after changing the hold status, the status on the holds you just changed will switch again. If you need to refresh/reload the screen after changing the hold status, us teh Hold Requests link under the My Accounts tab at the top of the page. This will safely reload the page.

Second, using your browser's back button may cause the hold status to reset. If you need to go back to one of the main screens, use the tabs at the top instead of using the browser's back button.

How do I clear the "browser cache"?

• Windows
  • Internet Explorer 5.5 and 6: Go to Tools, and then select Internet Options. (In Internet Explorer the cache is called Temporary Internet Files, so deleting these files will clear the cache.) Click on the Delete Files button in the middle of the window. After you click the Delete Files button, a confirmation box will pop up. Click OK, and then click OK again to return to Internet Explorer.
  • Internet Explorer 7: Go to Tools, and then select Delete Browsing History. Click the Delete Files button under Temporary Internet Files.
  • Firefox: Go to Tools, and then select Clear Private Data. Check the Cache box and then click the Clear Private Data Now button.
  • Netscape 8: Go to Tools, and then select Options. Under the Privacy panel, click Cache, and then click the Clear button. Click OK.
  • Netscape 6 and 7: Go to Edit, and then select Preferences. On the left panel, click the plus sign in the box to the left of Advanced. Click Cache. Click Clear Memory Cache and click OK, then click Clear Disk Cache and click OK. (NOTE: For Netscape 7.1, it is only necessarily to choose Clear Cache.) Click OK to close the Preferences window.
• Mac
  • Safari: From the menu bar, go to Safari, and then select Empty cache. A box will pop up that asks Are you sure you want to empty the cache? Click Empty.
  • Firefox: From the menu bar, go to Tools, and the select Clear Private Data. Check the Cache box and then click Clear Private Data Now.
  • Netscape 6 and 7: From the menu bar, go to Netscape, and then select Preferences. On the left panel, click the arrow to the left of Advanced. Click Cache. Either click the Clear Cache button, or click both the Clear Memory Cache and Clear Disk Cache buttons. Click OK to close the Preferences window

If your browser is not listed, check help from within your browser for instructions on clearing the cache.

 

---