FAQ-Online Library Account

Logging In • PIN/Password • Library Account Features

Logging In

How do I log in to my online library account?

1. Click "library account" on vertical side navigation on left side of screen or at the top of the catalog.
2. Enter your library card number found on your library card. You can enter either all the numbers or the last 7 digits including any zeros.
3. Click in PIN/Password field or hit tab key and enter your PIN/Password.
4. Click "submit" button or hit enter key.

To protect your own privacy, remember to click "log out" when you are finished.

If you receive the error message "Sorry, the information you submitted was invalid. Please try again." then you entered either your library card number or PIN/Password incorrectly. Try entering the information again.

If you have forgotten your PIN/password, click the "Forgot your PIN? Get a PIN reset e-mail." link to reset your PIN/password. If you do not have an e-mail address in your account or the error persists, ask for help at the Information Desk or call 972-466-4800 during library hours.

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.

PIN/Password

How do I get a PIN/password?
You do not have a PIN/password when you receive your library card. Enter all other information on the "library account" or "place hold" page but LEAVE THE PIN/PASSWORD FIELD BLANK. After clicking "submit" you will be given a field to enter a PIN/Password and another to verify it. If instead of fields to create a PIN/Password, you receive a "Sorry, the information you submitted was invalid. Please try again." message, double-check that you are typing your library card number correctly. If the message persists, call the library at 972-466-4800 during library hours for help.

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 is that is repeated two or more times (for example, abab, abcabc, abcdabcd).

I forgot my PIN/password. What do I do?
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." message and you gave the library your e-mail address, click the "Forgot your PIN? Get a PIN reset e-mail." link. An e-mail will be sent to the account your 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 or by calling 972-466-4800 during library hours. Staff cannot tell you your PIN/Password because it is encrypted. Instead staff 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.

Why do I need a PIN/Password?

You need a PIN/Password if you want to

• log in to your online account
• place your own holds
• use most of the library's research databases

Since your library account displays your name, address, phone number, and any items checked out or on hold, your PIN/Password protects your privacy 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.

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Library Account Features

What can I do in my online library account?

• "search catalog" button
  • save preferred searches
  • place holds without re-entering library card number
  • rate items from 1-5 stars
• "checked out" items button
  • check when items are due back to the library
  • renew eligible items
• "check holds" button
  • cancel holds
  • see status of holds including your position in the holds list
  • change pickup location for unfilled holds
  • freeze holds while on vacation
• "fees" button
  • view outstanding fees
• "change PIN/Password" button
  • change your PIN/Password
• "change info" button
  • create a user name
  • update your e-mail address
  • choose how you receive notices
• "reading history" button
  • start or stop saving a list of everything you check out
  • delete items from your reading history
  • export your reading history

To protect your own privacy, remember to click "log out" when you are finished.

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