About us - Library basics, history, reports and documents
Find a Library - List of library branches and hours
Using the Library - Information on joining, borrowing, renewing and placing holds
Family History - Online resources for family history
Reader's Corner - reader's advisory includes suggested reading, booklists and newsletter.
Jobs @ ERL - Job vacancies and information for those wishing to send resumes to the organisation
Kids & Teens - great sites for kids and teens, including book reviews, cool links to sites to pass the time.

The left menu focuses on the community aspects of our website as well as online information:

What's New events blog - The Library blog advertises actvities at the library and advises of newbooks, CDs & DVDs.
Podcasts - Podcasts of The Eastern Regional Library show
Newsletters - The library produces 3 newsletters to which you can subscribe (New Books and activities, Family History, Military History)
Community databases - search the community databases hosted by the library including historical societies
Online Information - Weblinks wiki and online encyclopedias, magazines & journals as well as search engines.
Local History - Tips to research your house history and find rate books
Situated above the banner & logo are the utility links such as Help, Contact, Sitemap and SiteSearch.

SiteSearch
Click on SiteSearch at the top of the website, then type in keywords at the SiteSearch page to find webpages on the site.
Sitemap
Click on Sitemap at the top of the website.
Trails
On every page of the main website (under the banner at the top of the page) is a trail to show where the page fits, in relation to the rest of the site.
E.g. The Knox branch trail will look like this.
Home » Find a Library » Knox Library
To view the entrie list of branches in Find a Library, click on the Find a Library link on the trail.
Email & Search
The Email & Search page (link found in the footer of the website) contains links to web email services such as Hotmail and Yahoo Mail, search sites and other information resources. It is set as the home page on the public PCs at the library.

Searching the library website

Click on SiteSearch at the top-right of the main library website.
Type in a word or phrase that you are looking for. Searching is not case sensitive. Boolean searching (using the AND, OR, NOT to link your search words) is not supported.

How do I access the web catalogue?

To login and search the catalogue:

Enter your user ID (library barcode number) and PIN and click login button.
Type in your search in the Quick Search box

To search the catalogue without logging in:

Clicking the Search the catalogue link (at the top of the website) or entering the catalogue address http://swft.erlc.sirsidynix.net.au (clicking this link will open a new window, so you can easily refer back to these instructions)
Type in your search in the Quick Search box

I can't access your web catalogue. Is it down?

If you are unable to access the catalogue at any time please fill in our feedback form with the following details:

Time it occurred
Browser you are using
Error message displayed

How do I get my PIN ?

You will need a PIN to access the My Account area and renew items as well as place holds. Contact staff in person at one of our branches or over the phone, and confirm your address to receive your PIN. Alternatively you can receive your PIN via email by filling in the PIN application form.

How do I change my PIN?

Click on the catalogue link at the top of the website.
Enter your user ID (membership barcode) and PIN. Your barcode is on your library card and also your checkout docket.
Click My Account
Click Change PIN.
Enter the new PIN.
Enter the new PIN again.

How do I search the catalogue?

To login and search the catalogue:

Enter your user ID (library barcode number) and PIN and click login to the catalogue button.
Type in your search in the Quick Search box

To search the catalogue without logging in:

Clicking the Search the catalogue link at the top of our website or entering the catalogue address http://swft.erlc.sirsidynix.net.au (clicking this link will open a new window, so you can easily refer back to these instructions)
Type in your search in the Quick Search box

Once you are in the catalogue there are 2 main ways of searching; search performs a keyword search, browse gives you an alphabetical list of entries (titles, authors or subjects) surrounding your search term.

How To Perform a Keyword Search

Enter one or more search words in the Quick Search box
Select an index from the pull-down list (choose from words or phrases, title, author, subject, series, periodical title).
Click the Search button to start the search.

How to perform a Browse Search

Click Power Search from the Quick Search box
Click Browsing from the box at the right.
Enter a word or phrase to browse (such as genetics).
Click on the index you wish to search e.g. title, author, subject etc.
The catalogue will display an alphabetical list.

How do I place a hold?

Enter your user ID (membership card with no spaces) and PIN at the top of the screen and click on the Login button. Your userID is on your library card and also your checkout docket. PINs are automatically added to your card. Contact library staff to find out your PIN.
3. Type in your search words in the Quick search box, select words or phrases, author, title etc from the drop-down menu and click on the Search button.

4. A list of results will appear. Scan the list for the title you want.

Note: 2 copies available at Belgrave Library and Lilydale Library means that there are 2 copies on shelf, located at Belgrave and Lilydale libraries. There may be more copies on loan at other branches. (To view the complete list of branch holdings click the Details button).

5. Click on the Place Hold button beside the title wanted.
6. Select the pickup branch from the drop-down menu.

How do I see what I have on loan & any charges?

1. Enter your user ID (membership card with no spaces) and PIN at the top of the website and click on the Login button. Your userID is on your library card and also your checkout docket. PINs are automatically added to your card. Contact library staff to find out your PIN.

Member Area

Once logged in, to view items on loan (checkouts), bills and holds:

1. Click on My Account. A menu will appear

2. Click on Review My Account.

At the top of the My Account window will be the number of checkouts (items on loan) and holds. Below this is a detailed breakdown of the checkouts and holds.

Checkouts
This will show the titles, authors, date due as well as the amount currently owing if the item is overdue.

Bills
Any money owing on the card for late returns or charges for activities will be displayed in the bills area.

Holds
The Holds sections will display any holds placed with your membership card. It will list the title, author.

If you are still waiting for the title:

it will state your position in the queue.
the expiry date will be approximately 18 months after placement of the hold.
The pickup branch will be the branch you selected when you placed the hold

If the title has arrived at the pickup branch:

the pickup branch is the branch where the hold is awaiting pickup.
the expiry date will be the date the title will be returned to its home branch if not picked up.

How do I Renew my items on loan?

The quickest method of renewing your items is through the website. Enter your userID (membership card number with no spaces) and PIN. Your userID is on your library card and also your checkout docket. You will not be able to renew if there are bills or overdue items on your card. Click the login button.
Click My account at the top of the catalogue.
Click Renew My Materials.
Click on the List Charged Items button.
A list of eligible items to renew will appear.

To renew Selected items:

1. Click in the circle next to renew selected items
2. Click in the checkbox next to the title(s) you wish to renew
3. Click Renew Selected Items button

To renew all items

1. Click in the circle next to renew all items
2. Click on the Renew Selected Items button

A renewal response will appear

Items cannot be renewed if:

they are overdue
there is a reservation on the item
you have exceeded the renewal limit
there are charges on the card.

Items may be renewed once. Items that have been reserved by others cannot be renewed.

Why won't the catalogue let me renew the items on my card?

You are unable to renew items through the web catalogue if:

the item is overdue
there are any charges on your card
it has already been renewed
the item has been reserved by another person
your card has expired.

What do I do if I've received multiple calls from the library on my answering machine?

Occasionally you may receive multiple calls if there are several members in the family receiving calls or you are receiving overdue and reservation notices.

However, some answering machines are not compatible with the telephone notification service. Please advise staff at the branch of your phone number and the brand/model of answering machine so that they may advise the IT department.

You may wish to have your library record amended so that you receive paper or email notices instead of the telephone calls.

Contacting the library

There are several methods to contact the library:

For reference questions
Click on the "Ask a Librarian" link at the top of our website. Fill out the form with your details. You will receive an answer within 4 hours.

Contacting library staff or providing feedback
Click on the Contact Us link at the top of our website and fill in the form.

Contacting a branch
The branch hours and contact phone numbers are available by clicking the Find a Library link at the top of our website or through the Using the Library section of the website. Click on the branch name for a map and contact details.

Where can I find the entry form for the Storywriting competition?

The National Storywriting Competition runs from May-September each year. The entry form will appear on the competition page only during this time.

To find the entry form for the National Storywriting competition :

1. Click on What's New @ Your Library from the main menu of the website. This will take you to the library blog.

2. Click the 'National Storywriting competition' link on the menu at the left hand side.

3. A link to the entry form will be on the page when the competition has started.