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Primo User Guide

How to use the Library Catalog

Getting Started

Primo VE, also known as just "Primo", is a library search system used in many academic libraries to help patrons find resources like books, articles, and more. It is often known to users as the library catalog or just the catalog.

This guide has been created to help you navigate and utilize the library catalog at your own institution.

This LibGuide was developed by the PASCAL Discovery, Reference, and User Experience Working Group with some assistance from ChatGPT, a language model created by OpenAI.

Accessibility

From Ex Libris’ Accessibility for Primo VE Documentation

“All researchers, regardless of ability, need access to scholarly information. ProQuest is committed to providing all our users with a fully accessible experience for research, teaching, and learning. 
At ProQuest, we make every effort to ensure that our platforms – including Primo – can be used by everyone. Primo is continually designed and developed to meet Level AA of the W3C Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG 2.1) and Section 508 of the US Rehabilitation Act for features and functions.”

Access the documentation on Primo VE’s accessibility features and gaps at the previously linked documentation. View the full Accessibility Compliance Report at this link.

Accessing the Catalog

To access the library catalog, us our One Search Feature. This can also be viewed below. 

Logging In

Signing in to the library catalog allows you access to electronic resources like articles and ebooks, as well as access to request items from your library. It also allows you to pin and save items for later access and to export search results. If you aren't signed in, you'll see a yellow banner across the top of your page:

Follow these steps to sign in to your account.

  1. Click "Sign In" in the upper right hand corner of the page.
  2. Sign in with your institutional credentials. This is usually a ".edu" email address and a password. 
  3. If you don't have institutional credentials, talk to your library staff about creating a community borrower account!

Where to Find Help

There is a button on the edge of the page called “Ask a Librarian” that opens a chat box or feedback page. Try it out and see how it works! Don’t worry if you’ve never used the chat box before - the librarians are there to help you.