11/20/08 -- Introducing VUFind

In case you haven't noticed it, there is a new link appearing in the upper right corner of the online catalog:

Clicking on the link to Try it now! will take you to VUFind, named after Villnova University where it was developed.

VUFind is an open source program for searching a library database. The great staff at CARLI have developed VUFind for use with all the I-Share schools.

• VUFind gives you single search box: No worrying about what kind of search you want to do -- type in your search and see what comes back.


• VUFind gives you "faceted" results. This means that you can either browse through all the results, or you can click on a list of options on the right to narrow your results by format, by topic, by subject terms.


• And for those of you who place online requests in the online catalog or I-Share, VUFind lets you create your own username and password -- no more typing in your 14-digit barcode number.

A word about creating your own account: You first click on the Login button in the upper right corner:

Then you click on "Create New Account":

In the "Library Catalog Profile" section of your new account, select "Northern Seminary" as your library and enter your 14-digit barcode number and last name:

Click on "Submit" and you will now have your own customized VUFind account that will let you place requests without having to retype your barcode number every time.

If you have any questions about using VUFind or creating your own VUFind account, please call the library at (630)620-2104 or email us at library@seminary.edu.

And let us know what you think. VUFind is still in early development, but we hope you enjoy some of the new things it brings to the library's online catalog.