The Library Toolbar

We hope you've had a chance to try out the new Library Toolbar by now. I want to take a few minutes to explain the functionality and the different parts of it, so that you can use it to its full advantage. So, starting from left to right, let me break it down for you:

• The first button has the library logo on it. Just clicking once on this logo button will take you to the Columbus Metropolitan Library's homepage.

• This logo button is also a drop-down menu. If you click on the small arrow to the right of the logo, you'll see the full menu: CML Homepage, Contact Us, Help, Privacy, About, Tell a Friend, Refresh Toolbar, Clear Search History, Upgrade, and Toolbar Options.

• Next is the Search Box. The default search is a Google search, but you can use the drop-down menu just to the right of the arrow to access other search features. Catalog Search will search the library's catalog, and Premium Resources will search our online subscription databases. There are other search functions here that will allow you to do basic Dictionary, Encyclopedia, Image and Weather searches.

• The next part of the toolbar is the drop-down menu for the search box. This allows you to go through and see your previous toolbar searches. You can clear this by clicking on Clear Search History in the logo drop-down menu.

• The Go button will execute the search commands you have specified.

• The My Account link opens the My Account window so you can check your library card.

• The next button is a drop-down menu for all the available eMedia resources the library offers. These resources are from the Mid-Ohio Library Digital Initiative, where you can download eBooks, Audio Books, eFlicks and music!

• The Events link will take you to the online library events calendar.

• Then we come to the New Items button. These are RSS feeds for the latest items added to our catalog. Please note that this functionality is still a work-in-progress, so enhancements will continue.

• The next two links, Kids and Teens, offer direct access to the library's Kids and Teens web sites.

I encourage you to play around with the new features of the toolbar! Remember that, no matter where you are online, you have one-click access to many helpful library features. In the coming weeks, we will highlight more toolbar features and talk about some of the links on the Power Tools page. Feel free to let us know what you think. We will use your suggestions to develop more tools and discover more cool sites!