Charges & Fines

• Does using Alleycat cost me anything?

Connection Issues:

• How do I empty my computer's "Cache" file?

• Does WebTV work with Alleycat?

• Norton Firewall or Internet Security Issues

Contact Information:

• E-Mail address for comments or help

Lender String

• How does Alleycat determine which library to borrow the item from?

• When I requested the item, it was available at one library but it came from a different library, why?

Notification 

•  How will I be notified when my request has been filled? 

•  How will I know if my request cannot be filled?

Priority

• My friend and I both requested the same book. Which request will Alleycat fill first?

Requesting items

• How many items can I request through Alleycat?

• Who can request items from Alleycat?

• How can I request an item that I know the title and author but can find in Alleycat?

• What is WorldCat OCLC?

• What is Non-local Florida Libraries?

Renewals

• Can I renew an item that I received through an Alleycat request?

Recalls

• What is a recall?

Searching

• Why do I get hits at some libraries and not other libraries?

• How do I search by author, title or subject?

• What does "No availability information (empty)" mean?
  

Status Codes

• What do the status codes mean?

Alleycat Requests: 
If the lending library does not respond to an Alleycat request within 5 days (7-10 days for large systems), the request will automatically move to the next library in the lending string. The request will expire after 30 days.  After the request expires you will receive an e-mail notification, if you supplied an e-mail address. The borrowing library will receive the same e-mail notification. Your local library may elect to try and obtain the item from sources outside of Alleycat.

Requesting videos and audios - some libraries are willing to lend their videos and audios.  They best way to determine if it can be requested is to click on the request button and see what happens.  If there is a library willing to lend that format for the title the request will go through.  

Items owned at multiple locations - You only need to submit one request.  Alleycat will build what we call a "lending string".  Alleycat takes all locations that own the item and puts them in a random list.  Starting at the top of the list, Alleycat sends a request to the first location.  If that location does not fill the request after 5-7 days, the request moves on to the second location on the list.  This continues until the request is filled or has expired (requests expire after 30-45 days). If there is only two lenders in the string, then the request is passed back and forth between the two until either the request is filled, expired or the locations set the request to "not available".

Canceling Requests - Currently patrons can not cancel a request.  Library staff can cancel a request if it is still in "pending" status. The best thing to do is call the library in which indicated you  pick the item up at and let them know you want to cancel the request.  They will be able to work with you.  

Viewing the status of requests is easy.  Login to Alleycat using your barcode number. Select the bottom blue button on the Patron Main Menu (Review Your Requests). 

The requests which have "Expired", been set to "Unfilled" or have "Cancelled" remain in "Review Your Requests" for 90 days, then a utility is run which cleans them out.

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Authentication Errors:

Sorry, Your barcode is not recognized. Check to be sure the numbers are correct. 

Are you using AOL?  

AOL browser uses a customized Netscape Browser, in which some browser components have been removed.  Those components are needed for Alleycat.

I recommend the Internet Explorer Browser 6.0 for Alleycat.

If so you need to do the following:

Download the full version of either Internet Explorer 6.0 or higher or Netscape 6 or higher to your computer.  Install the browser and make sure Java is enabled. 
Log into AOL minimize AOL when the connection is made.
Start the browser you downloaded and use this browser to access Alleycat.

Not an AOL User? Are you using Netscape?  

If so check to see which version you are using.  The new authentication software will only work with Netscape 6.0 and higher.  To update your Netscape browser go to http://www.netscape.com

Sorry, Your library card has expired. Please contact the library to have it renewed.  

• You are not registered at the library you are trying to authenticate with

• Your library card has expired at the library - call or go to your library and renew your library card

Internal Server Error - TThe server encountered an internal error or misconfiguration and was unable to complete your request.

There may be several reasons for this problem:

• If you are using Norton Personal Firewall or Norton Internet Security then review these two links:

How to find out whether NIS or NPF is blocking a connection to the Internet

How to pass referrer information to specific Web pages

• This can be caused by using the browser's "Back" or "Forward" button to navigate with in Alleycat.  Try using the orange and blue navigation buttons in Alleycat to navigate.

• Your browser's cache file is full.  For help in clearing  your cache file click here.

• Maintenance is being done on the system and no logins are allowed.  Regular scheduled maintenance is done every day between 2am and 5am.  Daily the authentication service is stopped and re-started every three hours.  Stopping occurs 49 minutes into the hour and restarting occurs one minute later (50 minutes into the hour).

• TBLC's Internet connection is down.  This rarely happens and if we know that it will be down at a certain time, we will post a message on the website several days in advance.

• Be sure to check to make sure your browser has "Java" enabled. 

• WebTV does not currently work with Alleycat for requesting items. 

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Charges & Fines: 
There is no charge for obtaining Interlibrary Loan materials locally. If you keep the item beyond the due date you will be charged whatever fine your library charges for an overdue Interlibrary Loan.  If you lose the item, you will be charged the replacement cost, and in some cases a processing fee.

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Connection Issues: 
There may be several reasons for not being able to connect:

1. Your browser's cache file is full.  For help in clearing  your cache file click here.

2. Maintenance is being done on the system and no logins are allowed.  Regular scheduled maintenance is done every day between 2am and 5am.  

3. TBLC's Internet connection is down.  This rarely happens and if we know that it will be down at a certain time, we will post a message on the website several days in advance.

4. Be sure to check to make sure your browser has "Java" enabled. 

5. Do you have Norton Firewall or Internet Security? If so take a look at Norton Firewall or Internet Security

WebTV does not currently work with Alleycat.  WebTV is working on a compliant browser that works with "Java".

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Contact Information:  
Alleycat help questions or comments can be sent to aalecat@tblc.org.  Why the different spelling for Alleycat?  

The aalecat spelling is the original spelling when we started the project. It stands for the Anywhere-Anytime Library Electronic Catalog. For marketing purposes it was suggested we change the spelling to Alleycat. Either spelling will work in the email address. 

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Lender String:  
Alleycat uses an algorithm to determine a list of libraries that have available copies. This is called a lender string. You will not be able to designate a specific copy or library. Instead the system will place a hold at the first lending library in the lender string.  If that library cannot send the item, the request will go on to the next library on the list. This continues until the item is sent or until no lenders can be found. 

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Notification: 
If you provide an e-mail address in your request, you will be  notified by e-mail when your library receives the item. In addition to “Received”, e-mail notification is sent when a request cannot be filled or has expired. If you do not supply an e-mail address, your library will notify you in the same manner as it does for any other item that you request. It is possible to get both types of notification, so don't be surprised if you are notified twice.

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Priority:
Holds will be filled on a first-placed, first-filled basis.  

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Requesting Items: 
Any patron in good standing who belongs to a participating library may use ALLEYCAT.  The current definition of “good standing” is any patron with a library card that has not expired. However, you will have to abide by your library's policy for fines, number of items borrowed, etc. before you can check out the item.

Any item that can be requested through ALLEYCAT is allowed.  The software allows libraries to block items that they do not wish to loan. Note: A request is not a guarantee you will get the item.  Patrons can request items that their library owns but that are not available (missing, lost, checked out, etc).  

Requesting items not found in Alleycat still needs to be done the 'old fashion' way. Contact your local library and ask them to get it for you.  

Non-local Florida Libraries is a union catalog which is a subset of WorldCat OCLC (see below for an explanation). It contains only Florida libraries.  It includes both academic and public libraries in Florida.  Not all libraries have this option available.

If the item you want has more than one record then use this logic in selecting which record to request on:

1. Your first choice is a record which includes Alleycat participating libraries attached to it.  The more libraries the better.

2. Second choice is a record with only Non-Florida Libraries listed (if given the choice).

3. Third choice (if you are given the choice) is a record with only WorldCat as the library.

WorldCat OCLC was introduced in 1971, linking 54 college and university libraries in Ohio. Today, WorldCat contains the merged catalogs of libraries around the world, making it the world's largest and richest database of bibliographic information. WorldCat houses over 48 million bibliographic records. A typical record in WorldCat contains a physical description of an item and information about its intellectual content. WorldCat connects librarians, scholars, students, researchers and patrons to 4,000 years of recorded history—from stone tablets to e-books, wax recordings to MP3s. Where else can you find records for Daniel Webster's socks and a belted leather mini-skirt? Elvis Presley's last will and testament along with temple receipts from ancient Babylonia? Papyrus manuscripts and the web address for Daddy's Junky Music? A jar of volcanic ash from the Mount St. Helens' eruption and the libretto from Madame Butterfly?

So, if you are looking for an information resource, you will probably find it in WorldCat. 

Please Note: WorldCat is not available at all libraries.  We are working on adding this feature to the libraries but currently do not have a schedule. 

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Renewal: 
Check with your library. It is usually decided on a case-by-case basis.  

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Recalls: 
Materials may be recalled.  Recalls are requests made by the lending library to the borrowing library. The recall asks that the item they have lent to you be sent back to them before the item is due.  This rarely happens but sometimes the library needs to get the item back sooner then they had anticipated.

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Searching: 
Searching is done using a protocol called Z39.50.  Each library automation system configures this protocol slightly different.  For example: if you do a subject search for "machine embroidery" you will receive hits for all libraries except Sarasota and SPIN libraries but if you switch the word order and search by "embroidery machine" you will receive hits at all the libraries.

Hints about searching: Capitalization and punctuation are ignored.

To search by Title: Type the title
(example: Gone with the Wind)

To search by Subject: Type the word(s) for the subject
(example: cat breeds)

To search by Author: Type Last First name of the author
(example: Steele Danielle)

When "No availability information (empty)" is displayed this means we can not obtain the shelf status or the holdings information for the item.  Tip:  try requesting it anyway, chances are you will get it.

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Status Codes

TMP = TEMPORARY

The TMP request record is constructed during creation of the request. The temporary request is deleted if the user does make a formal request by pressing a request button on one of the search engine screens. Once the request is created, TMP becomes PEN or PRO if the library is mediated or non-mediated. 

PEN = PENDING

Once the request is live on the interlibrary loan network, it is marked PEN. A request is PEN until mediated requests are printed at the lending library, unmediated requests are shipped or marked as not available, the request expires, or is canceled by the borrowing library.

 INP = IN PROCESS

Once mediated requests are printed, the status automatically changes to INP to ensure the requests are not accidentally reprinted. A request is INP until shipped or marked it as not available, the request expires, or is canceled by the borrowing library.

 PRO = PROVISIONAL

The request is marked PRO while awaiting completion by the borrowing library’s staff. Upon completion by the borrowing library, a PRO request becomes PEN at the first potential lending library.

 SHP = SHIPPED

The request is marked SHP when the item is located and supplied by the lending library.

 RCV = RECEIVED

The request is marked RCV when the item arrives at the borrowing library.

 RET = RETURNED

The request is marked RET when an item is routed back to the lending library.

 COM = COMPLETE

The request is marked COM when the item is returned to the lending library. The request is now fully processed.

 CAN = CANCELED

The request is marked CAN when the borrowing library staff no longer wants the request to be processed. Only a pending or provisional request can be canceled. The request life cycle is terminated.

 EXP = EXPIRED

The request is marked EXP if it is not shipped before the patron-specified Need By date. The request life cycle is terminated.

 UNF = UNFILLED

The request is marked UNF if it cannot be satisfied by any of the potential lenders. The request lifecycle is terminated.

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Revised: October 27, 2003 .