My library accounts
Library Cards
· How do I sign up for a library card?
o Visit your local branch Library, or sign up online. Library cards are free to residents of Clallam County.
· What documents do I need to bring when I sign up for a card?
o Bring proof of identification and an item with your current local address on it (such as your driver’s license, a utility bill, or a lease agreement). If you do not yet have a Clallam County address, you may qualify for a Limited Service Card. (See below.)
· What is a Limited Service Card?
o A Limited Service Card allows you to check out up to five items at a time. Once you can establish proof of residency in Clallam County, your card will be upgraded to a Full Service Card.
· What is a Full Service card?
o A Full Service Card allows you to borrow Library materials with no limit on the number of items you can check out, except for a ten DVD limit. Any resident of, or property owner in, Clallam County qualifies for a Full Service Card if you can provide proof of identification and a current local address. (See Policy 3.1.1 – Full Service Library Cards.)
· How many items can I check out?
o A Full Service Card allows you to borrow items with no limit.
o A Limited Service Card allows you to borrow up to five items at a time.
· How long is the checkout period?
o Most library materials, including books, music CDs, audio book CDs, have a three week (21 day) loan period. DVDs have a one week (seven day) loan period.
· Why is my library card not working when I try to log on?
o Be sure to type the library card barcode number into the username or barcode box with no spaces. If you have created a username, be sure you are spelling it correctly.
o Be sure you are using the correct password. If you have forgotten your password and you provided an email address on your Library account, you can have your password emailed to you: click Forgot your password? on the Library catalog My Account page, or any staff member can reset it for you in person if you take a photo ID to any branch of the North Olympic Library System. Sorry, to protect your security, library staff cannot reset your password over the phone.
o The Library places a routine block on Library cards needing updating—an address verification once a year and a renewal every three years. Your card might have this routine type of block on it. To remove the block, simply call your library or visit the library in person, and a staff member can update your card and remove the block.
o You might have over $25 in fees on your library account. Account holders with fees amounting to more than $25 are blocked. You can pay your fees in person in the library by check or cash, or you can use a debit or credit card to pay them online. (To pay online, visit the Library catalog, log in using your library card number or username and password, and click on the My Account tab to go to your fines and fees page.) Once you have reduced your fines to $25 or less, your account will be unblocked.
· Can I get a library card online?
o Yes, it’s simple to apply online for a North Olympic Library System card at http://www.nols.org/library-card.html. After applying online, you may place holds and use NOLS e-Resources, and then pick up your card when you come in with proof of your Clallam County residence. (If you are not a resident of Clallam County, you can purchase a subscriber card.)For more information on library cards, see NOLS Policy 3.1.
· How do I update my email address for notices for holds and overdue items?
From the Library's catalog page:
o Click on the My Account tab.
o Enter the barcode number from the back of your NOLS Library card, with no spaces.
o Enter your password.
o Click Log In. You should now be logged into your account.
o In the My Record portion of your account, you will see a button on the bottom left of the screen that says Contact Information and Preferences. Click there.
o The next screen allows you to update your phone number, email address, and home address. Click Submit Change Request. Note: For home address changes, you will be asked to verify the change the next time you come in to the library.
o LC – left off here 11/21/12. Pick up below on Friday, 11/23/12.
· Why am I not getting Library email or phone notices?
o If you have signed up for automatic email notices and are not receiving them, the possible reasons include:
o The Library might have your email address spelled incorrectly. To correct your email address, go to the Library's catalog page:
o Click on the My Account tab.
o Enter the barcode number from the back of your NOLS Library card with no spaces, or your username.
o Enter your password.
o Click Log In.
o Click on the My Record Tab.
o Locate the Contact Information and Preferences box. Click on it to open it. Your email address will be listed below your mailing address. Make corrections to it if needed. Click Submit Change Request.
o For various reasons, your email system may block HTML email from NOLS. In your online account under Contact Information and Preferences, try changing your email notices from HTML to basic plain text format.
o Your personal email: Some email and Internet Service Providers may mistake the Library System's email as SPAM or Junk email because the Library sends out hundreds of almost identical emails every day. Check to see if Library emails are going to your Junk or SPAM folders. Please add NOLS' email notification address, , to your email address book.
o Your work email: In the workplace, some company servers may mistakenly mark NOLS email as SPAM. Check your Junk or SPAM folders. You may need to ask your employer’s system administrator to okay the use of your business email account for Library notices.
o Your free webmail account (e.g., Hotmail, Gmail): If you are using a free email account and your email box becomes full, your notice will bounce back to the Library as undeliverable and you will not get that message.
· I have lost my library card. What should I do?
o Visit or call your branch library and notify a staff person that your card is lost. In order to prevent unauthorized use of a card or account, theft or loss of library cards should be reported to the library immediately.
o When you come in to get a new library card, bring identification with you so that the staff person can access your library account. If you left your card in the library and it was returned to the service desk, the staff member can return your card to you at this time. If you need a new card, you will be issued one.
· Can I use a family member’s library card?
o Yes, if the family member gave you their card to present at the library while checking out items for them or,
o If you are listed on one of your family member’s accounts as an alternate borrower which would allow you to pick up hold requests for them. You can also allow a family member to be listed on your library account as an alternate borrower. This designation would allow them to pick up hold requests for you.
o For further information, see the Library’s Policy 3.2 Borrowing Privileges.
· How can I renew an item?
From the Library's catalog page:
o Click on the My Account tab.
o Enter the barcode number from the back of your NOLS Library card with no spaces, or your username if you have created one.
o Enter your password.
o Click Log In. You should now be logged in to your account. From here you may place holds, renew items and more.