Library patrons looking for information now have a new tool when using the computer catalog for the Coeur d’Alene and Lake City public libraries and the Community Library Network (CLN).

While patrons can still find books and other physical items through the catalog as usual, the new feature allows a search to expand beyond titles into the libraries’ tremendous collection of information. A single search not only taps into the libraries’ catalog, but also includes thousands of magazines, journals, newspapers, and reference materials in the libraries’ databases.

The search tool is available through the libraries’ websites as well as at in-library computer catalogs.

If a user wants to save or print an article from a copyrighted database, the library card number needs to be entered and the user password — the cardholder’s last name in all caps. The card number and password only need to be entered once during the session.

The CLN and the Coeur d’Alene library share catalog services as part of the 28-member Cooperative Information Network (CIN) library consortium in North Idaho and eastern Washington. During this “soft roll-out” of the system not all libraries have opted to begin using it.  

For more information, contact your local library.