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The Barton Catalog: New Features, New Look

Contact: Ruth K. Seidman
MIT Libraries Communications Coordinator
rks@mit.edu
617-253-5686, (F) 617-253-8894

May 27, 2003

Barton, the catalog of the MIT Libraries, is about to offer a number of new benefits through its "Your Account" feature. Beginning Wednesday, June 11, MIT faculty, students, and staff will be able to do the following over the web:

• renew books
• place holds on items checked out by other library users
• request stored items from the RetroSpective Collection (RSC)
• view one's own account (fines owed, books on loan, requests pending)
• change results display preferences (e.g., display more than 10 results at a time)
• access other library service forms, automatically populated with user information: Suggest a Purchase, BookPage Delivery and Interlibrary Borrowing

Current Barton users will receive an email from the MIT Libraries providing them with their ID and a temporary password for accessing "Your Account". Upon receipt users should access "Your Account" and change their password to one of their own choosing. Library circulation staff will be able to reset a user's password if it is forgotten or misplaced.

Along with offering these improvements Barton will get a new, simplified look that will offer the following advantages:

• straightforward navigation consistent with browser conventions (e.g., back and forward buttons work consistently)
• easier linking to specific records in the catalog
• pages load faster
• less JavaScript is required, so users without JavaScript can search and retrieve records in Barton
• URLs for online materials are displayed on all results screens

Helpful documentation is available online to assist users with getting the most out of Barton and "Your Account". Take advantage of these new features, starting June 11, at http://libraries.mit.edu/barton.