Accessing Digital Collection Materials

Your library may provide digital collections that you can search in the same way that you search for other materials, then access the digital materials online. Materials in the digital collections may include images, video clips, sound files, and text files. If you want to limit your search results to digital collection materials, select Digital Collection in the Limit by box when you set up your search.

In your search results, the digital collection icon identifies digital collection materials. If the material is a single image, you see a small version of the image.

Select Full size image to view a bigger version of an image. Sound files and video clips are played on your device’s default media viewer program.

Multiple items may be associated with one digital title. You can select the Click here to see thumbnail images link to see small versions of all the items, and select an item to see more information about each item. You can select any small image to see the full size version or play the sound file or video clip. Or select Full Description to see the multiple items associated with the digital content title.

The library may make some of its digital collection materials freely available, while restricting access to others.

Important:
Digital materials may be protected by copyright. Read copyright information carefully or contact your library for information about copyright restrictions.

See the following topics:

Request access to restricted digital materials

To log in to view restricted materials, and request access if necessary

When you click or tap a digital item image, you may see a message telling you that you must log in.

  1. Select OK on the message. The log-in form appears.
  2. Type your user name or barcode and your password, and select Log In.
  3. The page returns to your search results. If you already have permission to access the item, you can select the item now. If you do not have access permission, the Request Access window opens.

    The Request Access window notes the cost, if any, associated with the item. Once you have permission to access an item with a cost, you can purchase it if you wish. There is no cost associated with requesting permission to access the item.

  4. Select the reason you are requesting the item.
  5. (Optional) Type an explanatory note in the Additional information box.
  6. Read the terms and select Yes, I agree.
  7. If you selected Yes, I agree, select Request Access. A message indicates that the request has been placed.
  8. Select X in the corner of the window to close the window.
  9. If your library record includes an email address, you will receive a message when access has been granted. If the library has no email address for you, you will be contacted by other means. When you have been granted access to the material, you can search for and access it through the library catalog.

Purchase access to digital materials

Certain digital materials in your search results may be available by purchasing access to them. You can add one or more items to an online shopping cart, then review your cart contents and pay for access to the items with a credit card.

To purchase access to digital materials

  1. Log in to your library account.
  2. Search for the digital collection materials.
  3. In the search results display, select the add to cart link for the item you want to access. The Add item to your shopping cart window opens.
  4. Read the terms and select Yes, I agree.
  5. Select Add to shopping cart. A message indicates that the item has been added.
  6. Select X in the corner of the window to close the window.
  7. Repeat steps 2-6 to continue to add items to the shopping cart.

To view your shopping cart

  1. Select My shopping cart on the My Account menu.
  2. Note: To delete an item from your cart, select X next to the item.

  3. To pay for access to the items in your cart, select Proceed to Checkout.
  4. The Shopping Cart Payment form appears. Information in the address fields is taken from the address recorded in your library account. If your credit card billing address is different, change the address in the address fields to match your billing address.

  5. Supply the required information in the fields marked by an asterisk (*). Unmarked fields are generally optional.
  6. If you want an email receipt for your payment, supply an e-mail address.
  7. Your library may require a card security code for certain types of credit cards. Select Help by the Card Security Code box to locate this code on your credit card.
  8. Select Next. The Payment Verification form opens.
  9. If the information is correct, select Submit Payment.
  10. If you need to correct the information, select Previous to go back to the Payment form, then submit the payment again. When the payment is successfully submitted, a confirmation page appears.
  11. You can now search for and access the items.

View and download previous shopping cart items

To view and download items from previous shopping cart transactions

  1. Select My Record on the My Account menu and log in.
  2. Select My shopping cart on the My Account menu. The Shopping cart page appears. It shows the current shopping cart contents, if any, and your previous transactions.
  3. To see more information about a previous transaction, click or tap the information icon by the transaction. The transaction details (Contents of shopping cart) appear.
  4. To download an item, select the file name link in the Contents of shopping cart section. The copyright notice appears.
  5. Select Yes, I agree, and select Download. Previewing and downloading instructions appear. Follow the instructions to preview or download the item.