FAQ Topics:

Frequently Asked Questions

Technical

What browsers can I use to access the library catalog?
  • Firefox, version 1.0-current
  • Internet Explorer, version 5.x-current
  • Mac OS®, release 8.1-current
  • Netscape, version 4.0-current
  • Opera, version 7.0-current

Earlier versions of browsers and operating systems listed above cannot be guaranteed to work with the current release of the library catalog (from Polaris Library System). WebTV/MSN TV is no longer supported by Polaris.

Why can't I log in?

...to my Patron Account?

Problems logging in are often caused by simple keying errors or by leaving the Caps Lock on, but the difficulty may have other sources.

If you have a library card and password, but you can't log in or stay logged in, the link you saved to the Patron Account page might be out of date. Try bookmarking or adding this link to your Internet Favorites.

If you know your password and your links are up to date and you are visiting the WCCLS catalog from home or work, your browser's cookie settings could be preventing you from logging in. Check the recommended cookie settings (see "What are the recommended cookie settings for my computer? " on the FAQ Technical page) to see if that might be the problem.

If you are in the library, ask a librarian to help check your password or to change it.

...to a database?

When you attempt to log in to a database, instant "session timed out" messages and blank screens could indicate that your browser's cookie settings may be preventing you from logging in. Check the recommended cookie settings (see "What are the recommended cookie settings for my computer?" on this page) to make sure they are correct on your computer.

If you are in the library, inform a librarian so that staff can check cookie settings on the workstation you're using.

Why do I get asked for a user name and password after I've already entered my barcode?

When you link to the Oregonian, ReferenceUSA or another database from the WCCLS website or catalog, you shouldn't be prompted for more than your library barcode. The reason you are is most likely because you have disabled your browser's ability to accept cookies. (To learn more about cookies, see "What are cookies" on this page)

The following steps should get rid of the extra user name and password challenge in the following browsers:

Internet Explorer 6 or 7 for Windows:

  • In Internet Explorer, go to the Tools menu.
  • Select Internet Options.
  • In the Internet Options window, click open the Privacy tab.
  • Click "Advanced."
  • In Advanced Privacy Settings, check "Override automatic cookie handling."
  • Under the now-activated cookie settings, check "Always allow session cookies."
  • Unless you have a reason to adjust the settings for First-party and Third-party cookies, leave them alone.
  • Click OK to close Advanced Privacy Settings.
  • Click OK to close Internet Options.
  • Restart Internet Explorer.

Internet Explorer 5.x:

  • In Internet Explorer, go to the Tools menu.
  • Select Internet Options.
  • In the Internet Options window, click open the Security tab.
  • Make sure Internet settings are selected.
  • Click "Custom Level."
  • Under "Allow per-session cookies," select "Enable."
  • Click OK to close Security Settings.
  • Click OK to close Internet Options.
  • Restart Internet Explorer.

Internet Explorer 5 for Mac:

  • Note: These settings have NOT been tested at WCCLS.
  • In Internet Explorer, go to the Edit menu.
  • Select Preferences.
  • Under "Receiving Files," select "cookies."
  • From the drop-down menu labeled "When receiving cookies", select "never ask."
  • Click the OK button to close the window and update the settings
  • Restart Internet Explorer.
What are "cookies"?

A cookie is a little text file a web server drops on your hard drive when you visit a website. Cookies are instrusive and can be used to send you annoying ads and other unwanted content, but cookies are useful, too. Websites that allow you to save your password or preferences or that need to keep track of your requests through many pages of data (such as our database vendors) make use of session cookies. Session cookies are set to expire and disappear from your system at a set time-out, usually less than 30 minutes, after the last time you click a link on the host's website. If a host uses session cookies, then you must have cookies enabled on your browser.

The library catalog software uses in-memory cookies to facilitate proper navigation through the catalog and delivery of pages with frames. Many web users will never see or hear about cookies. If you have your browser set to reject cookies you will be unable to access the library catalog.

The Microsoft Active Server Pages that serve the web pages employ in-memory cookies on the server. The library takes patron privacy very seriously, and please be assured that no data is collected about you or your searches through in-memory cookies. Nothing is written to your hard drive, and the in-memory cookies are discarded when you exit your browser.

What are the recommended cookie settings for my computer?

Check your browser to see if it is set to the recommended settings for using the WCCLS catalog and electronic resources:

Internet Explorer 6 or 7 for Windows:

  • In Internet Explorer, go to the Tools menu.
  • Select Internet Options.
  • In the Internet Options window, click open the Privacy tab.
  • Click "Advanced."
  • In Advanced Privacy Settings, check "Override automatic cookie handling."
  • Under the now-activated cookie settings, check "Always allow session cookies."
  • Unless you have a reason to adjust the settings for First-party and Third-party cookies, leave them alone.
  • Click OK to close Advanced Privacy Settings.
  • Click OK to close Internet Options.
  • Restart Internet Explorer.

Internet Explorer 5.x:

  • In Internet Explorer, go to the Tools menu.
  • Select Internet Options.
  • In the Internet Options window, click open the Security tab.
  • Make sure Internet settings are selected.
  • Click "Custom Level."
  • Under "Allow per-session cookies," select "Enable."
  • Click OK to close Security Settings.
  • Click OK to close Internet Options.
  • Restart Internet Explorer.

Internet Explorer 5 for Mac:

  • Note: These settings have NOT been tested at WCCLS.
  • In Internet Explorer, go to the Edit menu.
  • Select Preferences.
  • Under "Receiving Files," select "cookies."
  • From the drop-down menu labeled "When receiving cookies", select "never ask."
  • Click the OK button to close the window and update the settings
  • Restart Internet Explorer.
What is meant by "clearing the browser's cache"?

"Clearing the browser's cache" and "reloading the page" are often used interchangeably, but they do have different meanings.

"Clearing the browser's cache" means cleaning out temporary copies of Web pages your browser saves so that you don't have to load a fresh copy of a page you visit often each time you visit it. You don't lose bookmarks or cookies or any settings, just temporary files. It's the best way to ensure that you're getting the most recent updates to a website you visit often.

The downside to clearing the cache is that each page you visit thereafter has to be loaded fresh from the server, even if it's a bookmarked page or your home page. If you have a slow dial-up connection, this means you'll spend some time waiting. However, pages you visit often are quickly cached again.

"Reloading the page" simply means reloading the page into your browser. If you have a copy of the page in cache, it loads from there. If you have a broken page cached, then reloading the page reloads the broken page. Clearing the cache and then reloading the page forces your browser to go to the website's server for a new copy. You can tell you've got a brand new copy of a page when all the links have turned blue again--the default color for an unvisited link.

To clear the cache in Internet Explorer 7.x

  1. In Internet Explorer, click the Tools button, and then click Internet Options. The Internet Options box should open to the General tab.
  2. On the General tab, under Browsing history, click Delete.
  3. In the Delete Browsing History box, next to Temporary Internet Files, click Delete files, and then click Yes.
  4. Click Close, and then click OK.

To clear the cache in Internet Explorer 6.x

  1. On the Internet Explorer 6 Tools menu, click Internet Options. The Internet Options box should open to the General tab.
  2. On the General tab, in the Temporary Internet Files section, click the Delete Files button. This will delete all the files that are currently stored in your cache.
  3. Click OK, and then click OK again.

To clear the cache in Netscape Navigator 9.X

  1. Click Tools and select Options.
  2. Click the Privacy.
  3. Click Clear Now under the Private Data section.
  4. Check the box Cache and Clear Private Data Now.
  5. Click OK.
  6. Close and re-launch your browser.

To clear the cache in Firefox 1.0

  1. Click Tools and select Options.
  2. Click the Privacy Icon.
  3. Click Clear next to the Cache section.
  4. Click OK.
  5. Exit and relaunch the browser.

To clear the cache in Firefox 1.5

  1. Click Tools and select Options.
  2. Click the Privacy icon.
  3. Click the Cache tab and click Clear Cache Now.
  4. Click OK.
  5. Exit and relaunch the browser.

To clear the cache in Firefox 2.0

  1. Click Tools and select Options.
  2. Click the Advanced icon and click the Network tab.
  3. Click Clear Now under the Cache section.
  4. Click OK.
  5. Exit and relaunch the browser.

To clear the cache in AOL 7.0

  1. Close your browser.
  2. Click Start, select Settings and Control Panel.
  3. Double-click Internet Options.
  4. Click Delete Files.
  5. Click OK on the Delete Files dialog box.
  6. Click OK.

To clear the cache in AOL 8.0

  1. Close your browser.
  2. Click Start, select Settings and Control Panel.
  3. Double-click Internet Options.
  4. Click Delete Files.
  5. Click OK on the Delete Files dialog box.
  6. Click OK.

To clear the cache in AOL 9.0

  1. Close your browser.
  2. Click Start, select Settings and Control Panel.
  3. Double-click Internet Options.
  4. Click Delete Files.
  5. Click OK on the Delete Files dialog box.
  6. Click OK.

To clear the cache in Safari 1.x for Macintosh

  1. Click the Safari menu and select Empty Cache.
  2. Click Empty on the Are you sure message box.
  3. Exit and relaunch the browser.

To clear the cache in Safari 2.0 for Macintosh

  1. Click the Safari menu and select Empty Cache.
  2. Click Empty on the Are you sure message box.
  3. Exit and relaunch the browser.

To clear the cache in Firefox 1.5 for Macintosh

  1. Click the Firefox menu and select Preferences.
  2. Click the Privacy icon and click the Cache tab.
  3. Click Clear Cache Now.
  4. Click the X in the top left corner to close the Privacy window.
  5. Exit and re-launch the browser.

To clear the cache in Firefox 2.0 for Macintosh

  1. Click the Firefox menu and select Preferences.
  2. Click the Advances icon and click the Network tab.
  3. Click Clear Now under the Cache section.
  4. Click the X in the top left corner to close the Advanced window.
  5. Exit and re-launch the browser.