Livingston Lord Library
Curriculum Materials Center

A Guide for Using MnPALS to Locate
Curriculum Center Materials

Getting Started on MnPALS

  1. Go to one of the computer terminals in the library or connect via an off-campus computer using the following URL: http://mnpals.mnstate.edu
  2. From the library home page (http://www.mnstate.edu/library/), click on MnPALS Library Catalog in the upper right hand corner of the screen.
  3. At the next screen, the wording in bold in the upper left should state: You are searching: ALL MSU Moorhead.
  4. On the drop down list under “Select Search Type,” you may choose from a number of options.
  5. When searching for materials by topic, follow the directions for each type of item listed below.

     
  1. Juvenile Trade Books/Books for Young Readers (birth-age 14)
     
    1. To locate books on a particular topic, select search “anywhere in record.” In the box under “search for,” type in the best word(s) describing your topic, plus the word “juvenile.” For example, to locate books about insects, type:

insects juvenile

i.Click on “search” for a list of results to appear.

ii.To view a full description of an item, click on its title.

iii.To find out if an item is available, click on its location.

iv.To locate an item, write down its collection and call number.
 

    1. To search for fiction books on a topic, select search type “anywhere in record.”  In the box under “search for,” type in the best word(s) describing your topic, plus the words “juvenile fiction.” For example, to locate fiction books about Minnesota, type:

Minnesota juvenile fiction

  1. Sample Texts (textbooks) for Grades K-12
    1. To locate textbooks on a particular topic, select search type “anywhere in record.” In the box under “search for,” type in the best word(s) describing your topic, plus the words “sample text” in quotation marks. For example, to locate textbooks about health, type:

health “sample text”

    1. To find all of the textbooks produced by a specific publisher, select search type “anywhere in record.” In the box under “search for,” type in the publisher and the words “sample text” in quotation marks. For example, to locate textbooks published by Houghton Mifflin, type:

Houghton Mifflin “sample text”
 

  1. Curriculum Bulletins/Guides or Activity Books
    1. To find a curriculum bulletin or activity book on a specific topic, select search type “anywhere in record.” In the box under “search for,” type in the best word(s) describing your topic, plus the words “curriculum bulletin” in quotation marks. For example, to locate curriculum bulletins or activity books about mathematics, type:

“curriculum bulletin” mathematics

    1. Note that additional curriculum bulletins are available in full-text from the Kraus Curriculum Development Library. This is an electronic database available through the home page of the Library or the Curriculum Materials Center.
       
  1. Multi-Media Materials (including video cassettes, DVDs, computer software, slides, kits, games, flash cards, CDs, tape cassettes, and realia)
     
    1. Multi-media materials may be searched by topic. To locate all multi-media available, select “audio visual” from the “Libraries and Collections” pull down menu in the upper left corner of the screen.
    2. Select search type “anywhere in record.” In the box under “search for,” type in the best word(s) describing your topic. For example, to find all of the multi-media resources about volcanoes, type

volcanoes

    1. From your list of results, choose the item and format that best fits your purpose.
Compiled by Carol H. Sibley, Curriculum Librarian, Minnesota State University Moorhead Library, 1/06.