As you look through the online library catalog, if you perform a search and then quickly run into a screen such as are seen in the attached images, then you are running into a known issue. When this happens, staff have been repeating their searches and using the "Open Link in New Tab" option in our browsers to open records before they "time out," as you've experienced. To open links in new tabs, just right-click on the link and click the appropriate option. Opening multiple links at a time allows you to view those pages, even if the main webpage "times out." Close any active catalog tabs in your browser and then start your search again. This is a tedious process but, until we have a lasting fix from our vendor, there are not really any other solutions.
The recent decline in performance of the online catalog is due to a dramatic increase in automated activity (bots) driving up the amount of traffic to the catalog which forces real search sessions, like yours, to be forced into a timeout. The MHS is working with the vendor which operates the online catalog to figure out a lasting solution. We appreciate your patience as the problems are addressed.
If you have a specific title you want to find then you can contact Library Reader Services staff who can provide a direct link to a catalog record so you may then initiate a request. Click here to return to the FAQ home page where you will find contact information for email, telephone, and live chat.
