Q: How do I register?
Go to the Log In page. The link is at the top-right of the screen. Enter your barcode and PIN or password. If you haven’t registered before, you’ll be taken to the registration page.
Q: Why do I need to register?
A: Registering allows you create an easy-to-remember username you can use to log in, so you don’t have to type your barcode every time you want to check your account. Registration also allows you to get personalized recommendations, contribute ratings and reviews, and communicate electronically with your library and other users.
Q: What is a username?
A: A username is a name that you can use instead of your barcode to check your account. Think of a username as your library nickname. You can use your real name, but something more anonymous is recommended. Need ideas? Use your initials and your street number (SDK203), your dog’s name, or something about you (Twilightfan), that’s short and easy for you to remember. Remember that the public comments you post will include your username.
Q: Will my username be seen by others?
A: Yes, if you choose to contribute comments, lists or other content, your username appears beside anything you contribute.
Q: What if my birth date or name is incorrect on the registration form?
A: You should complete the registration online even if the data is incorrect. Please ask a staff member at the circulation desk to update this information the next time you visit the library to ensure the library’s records are accurate.
Q: Why do I have to provide an email address?
A: An email address is optional. If you ask to have your PIN/password reset, an email with a reset link is sent via email. If you don’t provide an email address and you forget your PIN/password, you’ll need to contact the library to reset or recover it.
Q: Our family has one email address that we all use, but we each have our own library card. Can we all register with the same email address?
A: Yes, multiple library accounts can use the same email address.
Q: When I first register, do I have to change my PIN?
A: No. Some libraries offer the option to change PINs but it is not required. Many libraries use the last four digits of your phone number, your zip code or something that could be equally easy to guess. Your account will be more secure if you change it.
Q: Should I use my real name or a username?
A: That’s entirely up to you. Keep in mind that when you add comments or summaries to titles you’ve borrowed, your name will appear next to the comment, and be visible to other members. Also bear in mind that the name you choose may be indexed with your public contributions in search engines such as Google as they crawl the web.
Q: Why can’t my child type a username when registering?
A: For users in the United States, the Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA) requires web sites that collect personal information from children to obtain parental consent. For this reason, children under 13 are not allowed to display their real names, nor can they type their own usernames, enter comments, or add other kinds of content that require typing, since these could be used inappropriately. To generate a username, a child can select a combination of color and animal name.
Q: Are there other restrictions for usernames?
A: Your username must be unique, but otherwise you have a great deal of flexibility when you create a username. The name can be up to 50 characters long, and you can use any combination of letters and numbers, as well as underscores ( _ ). It cannot consist entirely of numbers, or use spaces or other non-alphanumeric characters. The best username is one that is easy for you to remember.
Q: I’ve already memorized my barcode. Can I use my barcode as a username?
A: No, unless it contains both letters and numbers. A username can’t consist entirely of numbers.
Q: Can I use my username to log in?
A: Yes, you can use your username or your library card number. However, a username is easier to remember than a long string of numbers. You can’t use your real name to log in, but you can display your real name on the site if you want to.
Q: Can I change my username?
A: Yes, you can change your username at any time. Keep in mind that any content you added previously will show your new username.
Q: How does this login/password relate to the login/password in the old catalog?
A: It’s the same. If you change your PIN and log in using the old system, or to any other system that uses your library card, you’ll need to use your new PIN.
Q: I’m having trouble logging in. What should I do?
A: If you’re logging in for the first time, you’ll need your library card number or barcode, and your PIN. The barcode is the number on the back of your library card. Depending on your library, your PIN may be anywhere from four to 25 digits long, and it may be just numbers or alphanumeric. Some libraries default to the last four digits of your phone number or your zip code. If you’ve already logged in successfully, you have a username, so you can log in with the username or barcode.
Q: If I’ve been away from my computer, sometimes I have to log in again. Why?
A: The system is designed to log you out automatically if you haven’t done anything for 30 minutes. This is a security feature, to protect your account from unauthorized use in the event that you forget to log out.
Q: Can I change my PIN to be more than four numbers?
A: Depending on your library, you may be able to use up to 25 alphanumeric characters. Ask a librarian if your system allows that.
Q: I can’t remember my username. What do I do?
A: Log in with your library card number or barcode. When you’ve logged in successfully, your username appears at the top right of the page.
Q: I can’t remember my PIN. What do I do?
A: There’s a Forgot your PIN? link on the Login page. Click the link, enter your library card number (barcode), and then click Send. You’ll get an email with instructions on how to change your PIN. To use this feature, you need to have already registered. If you haven’t already registered, or the library doesn’t have an email address on file for you, contact your library branch to reset your PIN.