OneSearch FAQs - Using OneSearch and Off Campus Access to Library Resources - Research Guides at Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo Skip to Main Content MY LIBRARY ACCOUNT Toggle navigation * Visit * Visit Overview * Appointments * Building Maps * Study and Meeting Spaces * Maritime Academy and Solano Campus * Building Partners * Services * Services Overview * Checkout and Requests * Course Materials * FAQs * Accessibility * Remote Access * Research * Research Overview * Research Databases * Digital Scholarship Studio * Digital Commons @ Cal Poly * Special Collections and Archives * Special Collections and Archives Overview * Research and Teaching * Collections * Exhibitions * History of Kennedy Library * About * About Overview * Staff Directory * Policies * Jobs at Kennedy Library * Library Reports * Advisory Groups * Awards * Robert E. Kennedy Library * Research Guides * Using OneSearch and Off Campus Access to Library Resources * OneSearch FAQs Search this Guide Search Using OneSearch and Off Campus Access to Library Resources Topic guide that provides tips for using OneSearch and Accessing Licensed Resources from Off-Campus * OneSearch FAQs * Finding Books On the Shelf in Kennedy * Library Pickup Locker Instructions (SLO) * Off Campus Access to Library Resources - The Basics * Off Campus Access to Library Resources - For Faculty * Off Campus Access to Library Resources - EZProxy Bookmarklet * Linking to Cal Poly Library Resources - Google Scholar * Requests in OneSearch/Interlibrary Loan * Quick How To Videos Having trouble signing into OneSearch? System updates sometimes cause hiccups. Here are steps in order of ease that often clear hiccups: Clear your browser history. (Current details for clearing browser history (Chrome, Firefox, Safari) are most simply found on Google). Check the currency of your browser version. Older versions can cause serious display issues. Check to see if your pop up blocker is trying to wreck your day. Delete Cal Poly Cookies. Simpler than it sounds: see PDF below. If none of that works, sign into the Campus VPN (it makes you look like you are on campus) then refresh your page, and see if you are able to access the resource. Here is information about VPN: https://tech.calpoly.edu/services/vpn If problem persists we are here to help: Research Help Desk and 24/7 Live Chat Help "Requests" in OneSearch To See and make Requests, you must be signed into OneSearch. For Cal Poly Library owned physical items, the Request options appears on the full record . Click on that, and request the book so it will be retrieved. At SLO the book will be delivered to the Library Pick Up Lockers near Dexter. At Cal Poly Maritime it will be delivered to the Cal Poly Maritime Library, where you can pick it up. You will get an email when it is ready. For items not available, various options will appear for getting physical books and media, or digital copies of articles, book chapters, and more. Hint: Digital delivery will typically be quicker than physical delivery. * Video: "Find by Citation" The Royal Road to Faster ILL Access This link opens in a new window This brief video demonstrates how to generate the best OneSearch Record for making Ill requests, using the DOI for articles or the ISBN for Books on the "Find by Citation" tool at the top of the OneSearch bar. What's on the Tool Bar? Citations - copy & paste, export Permalink - copy & save a permanent url Pin - save results in your account and group them with labels Email - well, yes, email My Account My Account Sign in and see : * Loans * Requests * Fines * Saved Searches What is OneSearch Searching? OneSearch brings up results from the Cal Poly Library, the CSU, and a gigantic discovery index beyond those holdings. For immediately available electronic results, use the filter on the left: "Available Online at Cal Poly." With or without this filter, you can use filters for books or articles or peer-reviewed, depending on your need. Many results will link out to full-text in databases. If you are signed into OneSearch any record for an item not immediately available will give you clear options for getting articles, chapters, or whole books. Why Sign In? When you are logged into OneSearch it will recognize you and provide ALL the options for online access, requesting items, or borrowing items. To sign in you will need to have an active PolyCard. (See Sign-In Troubleshooting Box). Search and Filter: The Simplest Strategy for OneSearch The simplest way to find materials is to search with keywords and then use the many filters on the left to narrow your results. For more targeted searching you will gain more accuracy by resorting to ADVANCED SEARCH where you can use pull down menus for title, author, language, format, etc. How do I Find? How Can I tell if the Cal Poly Library has a Specific Book Available in Print? (Easiest) 1) type title and author's last name into Main Search Box; 2) after results appear, filter on the left by either Robert E. Kennedy Library or Cal Poly Maritime Library. Tip: If an item record lists one library and says "and other locations" click on the record to see if that item is also in the library closest to you. How Can I tell if the Cal Poly Library has a Specific Book Available in Print? (More complex) If easiest route fails, use main search box, then filter on left by author/creator, AND filter by either Robert E. Kennedy Library or Cal Poly Maritime Library. How Can I tell if the Cal Poly Library has a Specific Book Available in Print? (Most complex/most accurate) Click on the "spyglass" icon to the right of the search box. On the new page, click on "Advanced Search (to the right of the search box). On Advanced Search, use left pull down to title, and middle pull down to "contains" enter title and search - or even "contains exact phrase" and then enter title into search box. How Can I tell if the Cal Poly Library has a Specific Book Available as an e-BOOK ? Follow instructions for print book above- easy, more complex, or most complex/most accurate - but filter on left by "Book" and "Online Access." (Ebooks have no call numbers highlighted by a blue box.) How Can I tell if the Cal Poly Library has a Specific Journal or Newspaper? On the Cal Poly Library Home Page use the Journals link just below the main search box. Or from OneSearch use the Journal Search link on the top banner. You can search by title or ISSN. You can also browse by subject category. For specific journals, the search results will provide key information about date ranges for online and print access. How Do I Find Content From Peer Reviewed Journals? After searching with keywords, filter on the left by Peer Reviewed Journals. (But remember these journals also include book reviews and editorials - so results are not NECESSARILY articles! If you specifically need an article, look at results for clues such as decent length (minimum 5 pages), citations, abstract, and methodology.) How Do I find a Specific Article? Use the main search box and filter on left by "Articles" Tip: a chunk of the title in quotes and the author's last name often gets you right to the article, for example: "maggot in the brain" Weller How Do I Find Course Reserves? Two Ways : 1) on the Cal Poly Library Homepage, right beneath the OneSearch box, or 2) from the OneSearch Page use the Course Reserves link on the top banner. You can search either place using Course number or Instructor. How Do I Find Senior Projects? Use ADVANCED search: set lefthand pull down to LOCAL COLLECTIONS and type in Senior Projects. Then type in author and/or title information as relevant in another box. This will retrieve Senior Projects on microfiche prior to Fall 2009. To find digital Senior Projects (Fall 2009 and after) the DigitalCommons@CalPoly provides good access. How Do I Find Streaming Videos, DVDs, or Even ... yes ... VHS In ADVANCED SEARCH, type in the title, then pull the left drop down of Material Type. To find streaming video content, select Videos on dropdown. To find DVDs, select DVD on the dropdown. Due to inconsistencies and the presence of legacy VHS, you may also filter to the left of a results list by either Robert E. Kennedy or Cal Poly Maritime Library to find DVDs, or Available ONLINE at Cal Poly to find Streaming Video. How Do I Find What New Print Books, including novels and poetry? If you use the Collection Discovery tool (click on the ... on the tool bar above OneSearch, click on New Books, and then do a keyword search, such as novels, history, race, etc and see what new print books are available. You could also click right here and do the same: Search New Books How Do I Find Items in Different Languages? Two ways to do this. 1) Use the main search box, then filter on the left by Language. or 2) Use ADVANCED SEARCH and on a right-side pull-down men choose from one of four languages and then enter your search terms. Google Scholar (A Side-Door Entry into OneSearch) * Google Scholar This link opens in a new window Scenario 1: Use the Google Scholar link above from the Cal Poly Library Database List. After you sign in with your Cal Poly username and password, Google Scholar will provide options for linking to licensed content from our databases (sometimes clearly stating Get it At Cal Poly; at other times, more discreetly - click on the double arrows " >> " beneath an item to see if it then shows the Get it At Cal Poly tool. Scenario 2: BEST: If you have used the Google Scholar link from the Cal Poly Library Database list, AND you are logged into OneSearch, Google Scholar will often link directly to books and other tangible holdings providing you with a request form when you click on the >> or Get it At Cal Poly. * Cal Poly Library Database List (Google Scholar under G) This link opens in a new window * * Next: Finding Books On the Shelf in Kennedy >> * Last Updated: Jul 22, 2026 7:57 AM * URL: https://guides.lib.calpoly.edu/onesearchfaqs * Print Page Login to LibApps Report a problem Visit * Hours * Study and Meeting Spaces * Solano Campus Library * LIBRARY EVENTS Visit * Hours * Study and Meeting Spaces * Solano Campus Library * LIBRARY EVENTS Services * Checkout and Requests * FAQs * Course Materials * Course Materials * MY LIBRARY ACCOUNT Services * Checkout and Requests * FAQs * Course Materials * MY LIBRARY ACCOUNT Research * Research Databases * Digital Scholarship Studio * Digital Commons @ Cal Poly * ONESEARCH Research * Research Databases * Digital Scholarship Studio * Digital Commons @ Cal Poly * ONESEARCH Library Home Web Accessibility Statement Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Privacy Notice Campus Safety