Major San Diego Libraries' Online Catalogs (PACs)

If the Point Loma High School library doesn't have a book you need, for most PLHS students the easiest place to find and borrow it will be your local branch of the San Diego Public library. The other major libraries in San Diego are those at San Diego State University and UCSD, but the disadvantage in using them is that you have to drive to campus, pay for parking, walk halfway across campus, find the book using Library of Congress call numbers that are more complicated (and different) than the Dewey call numbers used by school and public libraries... and then you're not allowed to check out the book--you have to sit and read it in the library.

The wonderful thing about the SD Public library system is that you can search the combined collections of all the branch libraries (including the huge Central branch downtown) all at once from their online catalog (or "patron access catalog"--PAC) on the Web. For any title, you'll be shown all copies in any of the branch libraries, which branch owns each copy, and what its status is (Available, Checked Out, etc.) Any copy owned by your local branch will be shown in boldface. If a copy is not available at your local branch but you see one available at any other branch, you can "Request this title", enter your public library card number and PIN (the last four digits of your phone number)... and about two days later the book will be at your local branch library at the checkout desk, being held for you under your name. (You'll be charged $1 for the transfer service when you check out the book--a deal!) This means you have access to about 3 million books you can check out without having to go any farther than your local public library!

Use the links below to access the online catalogs of these major libraries in San Diego.

San Diego Public Libraries Online Catalog

http://sdplweb.sannet.gov/

Before you click on the "Search the Catalog" button, be sure to "Select a library to highlight" (select the branch closest to you.) Copies of titles owned by the library you select will be highlighted; however, you'll still see books at any of the San Diego public libraries.

UCSD Libraries Online Catalog

http://roger.ucsd.edu/

Not only can you search for books in any of the UCSD campus libraries, but if you click on "Borrow books from 'The Circuit'", you can search the combined collections of UCSD, San Diego State, Cal State San Marcos, and USD. Of course, you will not be able to "request" items, and you'll have to go to whichever library has an available copy to use the book in the library only.

San Diego State University Library Online Catalog

http://libpac.sdsu.edu/

In addition to allowing you to search for books at the SDSU library, the SDSU online catalog will, of course, also allow you to search "The Circuit" (see above): click on the "CIRCUIT / COMBINED CATALOG" button.

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