PIN/Password for Library Account

What is a PIN? • Getting a PIN • Error Messages • Changing PIN

What is a PIN/Password?

You need to create a PIN/Password to log in to your library account, place a hold, or use a database outside the library. Your PIN/Password protects your private account information in the event you lose your library card. Your PIN/Password is encrypted and cannot be viewed by library staff to further protect your privacy.

Getting a PIN/Password

You do not have a PIN/Password when you receive your library card.

1. LEAVE THE PIN/PASSWORD FIELD BLANK.
2. Enter all other information on the "library account" or "place a hold" page.
3. Click "submit" button.
4. Enter a PIN/Password in the first blank field that appears.
5. Enter the same PIN /password in the second blank field to confirm it.
6. Click "submit" button.

If you receive a "Sorry, the information you submitted was invalid. Please try again." message, see under Error Messages below for what to do.

Error Messages

Sorry, the information you submitted was invalid. Please try again.

Sometimes you forget your PIN/Password if you have not used it in a while. If you receive a "Sorry, the information you submitted was invalid. Please try again." error message and you have verified your barcode or user name is correct, then a PIN/Password already exists in your account.

• Click the "Forgot your PIN? Get a PIN reset e-mail." link if you gave the library your e-mail address.
  • An e-mail will be sent to the account you gave the library.
  • The e-mail has a link to reset your PIN/password that is valid for 3 hours.
  • If more than 3 hours pass before you read your e-mail, simply go back to the library account log in page and request another PIN reset e-mail.
• If you did not give us an e-mail address or continue having problems logging in or placing a hold:
  • ask for help at any library service desk
  • call 972-466-4800 during library hours

Staff cannot tell you your PIN/Password since it is encrypted, but they can delete it to allow you to create a new one. At your request, staff can also enter a PIN/Password of your choice in your account.

Your PIN is not complex enough to be secure. Please select another one.

Your 3-30 character long PIN/Password can be a combination of numbers and/or letters that you will remember so long as it is not a "trivial" pattern. A "trivial pattern" produces the following error message "Your PIN is not complex enough to be secure. Please select another one."

A "trivial" pattern has:

• a character that is repeated three or more times (for example, aaaa, ababa, bbbb)
• a set of up to four characters that is repeated two or more times (for example, abab, abcabc, abcdabcd).

If there are more than five failed attempts to log in with the same barcode within one minute, the system will block access to the patron account for one minute.

Changing PIN/Password

To change your PIN/Password when you are logged in to your account, click on the "change PIN/Password" button. If you do not know your PIN/Password to log in to your account:

• Click the "Forgot your PIN? Get a PIN reset e-mail." link if you gave the library your e-mail address.
  • An e-mail will be sent to the account you gave the library.
  • The e-mail has a link to reset your PIN/password that is valid for 3 hours.
  • If more than 3 hours pass before you read your e-mail, simply go back to the library account log in page and request another PIN reset e-mail.
• Otherwise contact library staff to delete your existing PIN/Password allowing you to create a new one.