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How to Request Interlibrary Loans through JERSEYCAT

Welcome to JERSEYCAT, New Jersey's statewide interlibrary-loan system. If we don't have what you're looking for, you can check for it in JERSEYCAT and place an online request to borrow it from another library. We'll have the item sent to South Plainfield and notify you when it's available for pickup.

PLEASE FOLLOW THESE INSTRUCTIONS TO USE JERSEYCAT:

FIRST, search the South Plainfield Public Library's ONLINE CATALOG to be sure we do not already own the item(s) you want.

If you don't find the item(s) in our catalog, connect to JERSEYCAT, wait for the program to load, then follow these instructions:

  1. PLEASE NOTE: You cannot use the forward and back buttons in your browser to navigate in JERSEYCAT. Click the HOME icon on the left-hand tab at any time to start a new search. Your previous search(es) will still be accessible with the other tabs. If you perform several searches in a session, only two or three search tabs will be visible at any time; you can access the others by using the arrows on either side of the search tabs. The 'MY ACCOUNT' tab is also accessible at any time during your search.
  2. Click on 'Choose Resources' to select the libraries whose collections you wish to include in your search; the default search does NOT search all libraries. HELPFUL TIP: The more libraries you choose to search, the slower your search will be and the more irrelevant results you may have to wade through. When searching for popular titles or authors, search only LMxAC (Middlesex County Area Public Libraries). Select more libraries when you are searching for less popular items.
  3. Enter your keyword(s) (author, title, and/or subject) in the QUICK SEARCH box. You can enter a combination of keywords, such as author's name with a word from the title, or author's name with a subject keyword (examples: Search 'swan taleb' for The Black Swan by Nassim Nicholas Taleb, or 'nigella cooking' for cookbooks by Nigella Lawson).
  4. Click 'SEARCH' (or press 'ENTER' on your keyboard) and wait for your search results to appear, showing a list of titles related to your keyword(s). If you want to enter more detailed search terms, click on 'ADVANCED SEARCH' from the results page (upper right-hand area of the screen).
  5. If you get no results, try changing your keywords, using the Advanced Search option, and/or searching more libraries. If you still get no results, click on 'BLANK REQUEST FORM' to request your item.
  6. For more information on any individual item, click on the blue title. Click on 'BACK TO RESULTS' (beneath the 'MY ACCOUNT' tab) to return to your list.
  7. From the list of results, choose the item you wish to borrow and click on 'REQUEST THIS ITEM'.
  8. When you click on 'REQUEST THIS ITEM', a request form will open. Fill in the request form; information highlighted in red is required. You will have to create a password. Keep a record of your password. HELPFUL TIP: If you're using your home computer and making multiple requests, check the 'Remember Me on This Computer' box and you won't have to enter this information for each request.
  9. Click 'SUBMIT' at the bottom of the request form. Click 'CANCEL' to close the form without submitting your request.
  10. A printable form will appear confirming that your interlibrary loan request has been submitted. Click 'PRINT' if you wish to keep a paper copy for your records.
  11. When you close the request confirmation, you will be returned to your results list. You may request another item from the same list, or click the HOME icon on the left-hand tab to start a new search.
  12. To check on the status of your ILL request(s), click on the 'MY ACCOUNT' tab. You must log in with the name and password you used in step 8 above. Be sure to log in with last name, first name (you don't need to capitalize or use a comma, and it doesn't matter whether you include a space after the comma or not) - e.g., 'smith, mary' or 'smith,mary' or 'smith mary' rather than 'mary smith'. A list of the items you have requested will appear. To cancel an item, click on the title and click on the little red circle that appears beneath it on the right. A pop-up will ask if you want to continue to request a cancel of the item. Click 'YES'.

If you have any questions or difficulties, feel free to call us at 908-754-7885.

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