Search Portal

Instructions on how to access and use the Learning Commons Search Portal.

Getting Started

The Search Portal is the place to access Learning Commons resources such as physical books and kits, eBooks, audiobooks, databases, curricula, hands-on resources, supplemental packs, and inclusive education support materials.

Physical resources are shipped directly to your home if you live outside the Kelowna area (e.g., Lake Country to West Kelowna). 

What is Available to Me?


HCOS Enrolled and Flex

HCOS Registered

Books, eBooks, audiobooks

Digital Unit Study Kits

Inclusive Education General Collection books

Curriculum

Grades 10-12 Extended Loan General Collection Textbooks

Robots

ADST/Steam Resources* 

Supplemental Packs

Inclusive Education Support Material

Individualized Course Extended Loan Textbooks

Susan Barton Material

Microscopes

Physical Unit Study Kits

*ADST/Steam resources include hands-on items such as Keva planks, K’nex, Lego, Coding kits, Snap Circuits and Cubelets.

How to Log In

Parents

Parents use their Encom username and password to access the Search Portal, Sora, and Subscription passwords. To book physical books and curriculum for a student, log in to the Search Portal under your parent account, not the student account.

If you do not know your Encom password, you can reset it here. If you don’t remember your username, it is usually FirstnameLastname. 

Changing your password in Encom will also change your password for the Learning Commons Search Portal, so please keep track of your login information. It takes up to 24 hours for the credentials to update.

Students

Students use their Encom username and password to access Sora eBooks and Subscription passwords. They cannot book physical items from the Search Portal, but they can view them. Bookings must be made on the parent account. If you do not know your Encom password, you can reset it here.

Loan Periods & Shipping

Enrolled Families

Enrolled families receive eight free shipments (four round trips) per school year (August 1 to June 18). There is a maximum of 40 items per shipment, including the following limits:

Item Circ Type Loan Limit Loan Period
Book Club 2 10 Week(s)
CD/DVD/CD-Rom 8 10 Week(s)
Curriculum 40 10 Week(s)
Kits 6 10 Week(s)
MakerEd Family 4 10 Week(s)
Mini Kits 2 10 Week(s)
NonFiction/Fiction 40 10 Week(s)
Reader Pen C Pen 2 8 Month(s)
S-KIT 10 10 Week(s)
Inclusive Education 10 10 Week(s)
Inclusive Ed Packs 10 10 Week(s)
Susan Barton 4 8 Month(s)
Textbooks 6 8 Month(s)
Thumb Drive 1 10 Week(s)
Registered Families

Registered families receive four free shipments (two round trips) per school year (August 1 to June 18).There is a maximum of 40 items per shipment. That includes a limit of 8 Audiovisual resources (CDs, CD-Roms, DVDs), and a limit of 6 textbooks.

Fines

Fines are charged for lost or damaged items. The fine can be paid with student funding or invoiced via Paypal. 

Avoid fines by:

Items borrowed from HCOS should not be shared with other families not registered or enrolled with HCOS. These materials are specifically for HCOS families. You are responsible for replacement costs of all items signed out under your account, regardless of how they are lost or damaged, except for courier issues.

How to Search

This video is a visual walkthrough of using the search features in the Search Portal. You can use the timestamps to navigate to specific topics. Alternatively, if you prefer, there are written instructions with screenshots below the video.

Searching for Resources

 

 

 

 

You will see how many results were returned once you enter a term in the search bar. Use the “Refine Your Search” options in the left column to limit your results by Material Type, Audience, Author, and Series.


 

 

Topics are organized by subjects and by grades. This is a great way to quickly find a list of items and the unit study kits by grade.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Registered Families can only access the Digital Unit Study Kit Guides online.

Booking Items

This video is a visual walkthrough of how to book items in the Search Portal. You can use the timestamps to navigate to specific topics. Alternatively, if you prefer, there are written instructions with screenshots below the video.

Booking Resources


You can view due dates, renew, change dates or cancel items online.  Please cancel items if your plans change so other families can use the materials.

Booking Multiple Items for One Date

Add an item to My Lists by clicking the Save to My Lists button. A pop-up will ask you to create a New Favorite Title. Use dates of shipments or subjects as titles. You can search multiple subjects and add resources to your lists by creating different Titles.

Once you have added all the books to your lists, click the My Lists icon in the menu. You will see all of your lists in the left column.

Use the List view icon in the top right corner and book all items for the same date by clicking the “Book Items” button at the top right of the page. If you are in grid view, click the checkboxes for each item you want to book, then click Book Items. Choose a date on the calendar and click Book Items. A pop-up will confirm your bookings.


Viewing Due Dates and Renewing Items

View all of your Bookings for the Year, Cancel or Change Booking Date

Hover over “My Account”, then “My Borrowing”, and then select “Future Booking.”  



In List View enter the “From” and “To” dates (change to June of the school year to see the entire year’s bookings).  All of your bookings will be displayed. Click the "Cancel" button to cancel your booking or the "Edit" button to change your booking date.

If you are in Grid View, hover over the item record, and the "Cancel" and "Edit" buttons will appear.

Shipping Procedures

Change of Address 

If you plan to move or have moved, please update your address in Encom and email Kelly Wiebe at kelly.wiebe@onlineschool.ca with the new address so information can be updated.

If you do not update the Learning Commons with a change of address and a shipment is sent to the wrong address, you will be charged for shipping fees and any lost items.

Shipping Outside of Canada

The Learning Commons does not ship physical items outside of Canada due to shipping costs, limitations of loan periods, and higher risk of damaged and lost items. Families who are travelling can access our online resources.

Receiving Packages

Returning Items

If you live outside the courier service area, we will ship by Canada Post and provide prepaid shipping labels for returns.

Arrange a courier pick up or prepaid return by connecting with Kelly Wiebe: 778-721-8309  kelly.wiebe@onlineschool.ca or Jen  jennifer.mcnamara@onlineschool.ca

Please follow all instructions included in your shipment.  Every shipment is different. Proper packaging will reduce damage to books and other items.

Returning Multiple Boxes/Packages

Local Patrons 

Patrons living in Kelowna, Lake Country, and West Kelowna need to pick up their items from the Learning Commons. Since no shipping time is involved, please get in touch with Library Administrator Shandra Wiebe (swiebe@onlineschool.ca) to have items booked for a shorter period. 

Learning Commons Hours and Location