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Primo Discovery Service: Primo

General information for CIA faculty, staff and students on the ExLibris Alma / Primo VE Migration.

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What is Primo?

What is Primo?

Primo has replaced EBSCO's EDS (EBSCO Discovery Service), on the CIA Library's home page. Primo is a "discovery service," which means it provides one search box to search across all the library's resources, including books, eBooks, streaming media, journals, newspaper articles, and more.

The CIA Library's collection is not changing. We still have all of the same resources that we had prior to the system upgrade and although the interface looks different, the collections included in the search have not!

Try out Primo using the search box below!

Using Primo

What am I searching?

Primo provides multiple ways to search for items in the library's collections and beyond. In Primo, you can select from four different pools of content ("scopes") to search within

  • CIA + OhioLINK: searches all of CIA's resources + OhioLINK print resources - This is the default search when using Primo
  • Discover CIA: searches all of CIA's print and digital resources
  • In Library Resources: searches just CIA's physical collections
  • Course Reserves: searches all items placed on course reserves
  • CIA's Artists' Books, Graphic Novels, and Game Collection searches: each search only those special collections of items

How Do I Change the Search Scope?

Choose which scope you are searching in Primo by using the drop down menu next to the search box. If you do not see the drop down menu, click on the New Search button located above the search bar.

Image of Primo search box with drop down menu to change search scope  and new search button visible.

Basic Searching

1. Type in your keywords, an author, or a title in the search box on the library's home page:

Image of primo search box with words Nick Cave in the box

 

Once your search results load, make sure to sign in! Logging into Primo lets you see all materials and functions (save favorites, request OhioLINK items etc) available to you.

Please note that your Primo login is the same as your CIA email login!

2. Primo searches everything we have access to: our databases full of online books & articles, books on our shelves and books available through OhioLINK.  You will often get a lot of search results (this search shows 1,646). To narrow it down, choose a "Resource Type" you want (books, articles, videos etc) from the filter menu on the left or add more key words in the search box:

Image of search results in primo. The keyword artist has been added to the search box and the filter menu for resource type is visible on the left hand side of the screen.

 

3. This is what it looks like when we have a source online. Make sure you are signed in, then click "Available Online" & follow the links to open the item.

Image of an online resource record in primo

 

4. This is what it looks like when we have a print book on our shelves at the CIA Library. Use the call number, such as N6537.C38 A4 2014 for this book, to find it on our shelves.

Image of a physical book record in Primo.

 

5. This is what it looks like when we don't own a source but can still get it for you. Click 'Check for available services" and then the blue box on the next page that says "Get it" to request the item. For more information, see the OhioLINK tab above. 

 

Can't find what you need in CIA's catalog? Search OhioLINK! The OhioLINK consortium access to books from over 100 college and research libraries across the state of Ohio. You can request books from any of these schools and the book will be sent to CIA.

You no longer need to know your library account number or specify a pick up location to request materials. Your Primo login is is the same as your CIA login. If you are logged into Primo, you will be able to request physical items from other OhioLINK libraries with two simple clicks. 

Request an Item from OhioLINK:

1. Go to the Library's website OR directly to our Primo search site

2. Click “sign in” in the upper right corner of the screen (use your normal CIA credentials).

Screenshot with sign in button highlighted

3. Type in keywords, an author, or a title in the search box. 

This is what it looks like when CIA doesn't own an item but can still get it for you. Click Check for available services.

Check for other libraries button

4. On the next page you will see a blue box. Click "Get it"  in the box to open the request form for the item. 

Please note that the number of days you can keep an item may be different from what shows up in the blue box.

get physical copy button

5. Click “Send” at the bottom of the Request Physical Version form.  

send button

The book has been requested and you will receive a notification when it is ready to pick up at the library! 

Please note that Search Ohio borrowing from public libraries is not back up, yet. We will let you know when the service returns.