Catalog Update: Navigating My Account
Last month we discussed how to search in the updated catalog. This month we’ll take a quick look at the My Account features and preview some more changes that should be coming soon. First, one thing you should know about the My Account section is it actually runs on a secondary piece of software and is not yet full integrated into the updated catalog. While most people don’t notice this, you will if you place a lot of holds at one time and need to log in for each hold you place. The good news is, our software vendor is finishing an update that will bring the My Account features over to the new catalog for a more seamless interface and eliminate the disparity between the systems.
Getting Started
To log on to your account, you’ll need your library card barcode number and PIN. The barcode number is on the back of the card and when typing it in, you can skip the spaces. The PIN is set to be the last four digits of your home phone number.
Once logged in, you will see the My Account overview page. This page has links to review the account, change your PIN or renew materials. The change PIN link asks you to verify the barcode and PIN, then enter a new PIN. As with most PINs, you should pick 4 numbers that are easy to remember. Renew Materials presents you with a list of items checked out and, to the right, lists the due date and how many times you previously renewed an item. You may choose to renew all items using the radio button at the top of the screen or you can select individual items with the check boxes on the left. Items are arranged by the due date, with the nearest due date at the top of the list. If an item cannot be renewed, you will receive a message saying so if you attempt to renew it. Note that you can also renew materials from the Review My Account page.
My Account
When you click Review My Account, you see an overview that shows how much you owe in fines, how many items you have checked out and how many holds you have available or you are waiting for. Links at the top of the box let you look at this information in more detail. The checkouts page is identical to the Renew Materials page and is arranged in the same manner so you see the nearest due date at the top of the list. Like Renew Materials, you can use the check boxes to select items to renew. This page also includes an estimated fine for items that are overdue so you can see how much you would owe if you renewed or returned the item that day. The Bills screen is similar in that it shows you the oldest bill on the account and provides details as to when the item was returned and how much was owed at that time.
The holds screen contains two sections, the top one is a list of items available for pick-up with the branch and expiration date showing so you know where the item is and how long we will hold it for you. The bottom section includes items that are on hold but haven’t come in yet. This list shows you the title, you position on the holds list, pick-up location and status. If you don’t see a number in the holds queue for an item, that just means it is still on order. Once the item arrives at the library and starts circulating, you will see your number appear. If you need to cancel, change the pick-up location or suspend a hold, you can do so by clicking the check box next to the title and then using the commands at the bottom of the screen. To cancel, click the check box next to cancel and then the Cancel Selected Holds button. To change the pick-up library, check the box next to the title, pick a library from the drop-down list and then click the Edit Selected Holds button. For suspensions, check the box next to the title, then the radio button next to Suspend Selected and either type in a start and end date or use the calendar pop-up to pick a date, then click the Suspend Selected button. Note that if you type in the date, you need to use a mm/dd/yyyy format and if you use the calendar, you may need to turn off any pop-up blockers. Another thing to pay attention to when suspending holds is, while you don’t need to enter both a start and end date, it is to your benefit to do so. If you fail to enter a start date, the system assumes to start today. This could lead to a delay in receiving holds if you were intending to suspend at some future date, let’s say to accommodate a vacation next month. If you fail to enter an end date, you may also miss a title, as the system will cancel any unfiled hold after a year and a blank end date means the system will never reactivate the hold unless you tell it to. You can re-activate a hold by checking the box next to the title and then clicking the Activate Selected button.
Coming Soon
As mentioned above, the My Account section is due for an upgrade. A few things to look for in the future include cover art on the checkouts and holds screens, the ability to sort columns and the return of the author on the holds list. On the search side of the catalog, the My List and Kept items will be returning, along with the ability to place holds on all items on one of those lists.
Getting Started
To log on to your account, you’ll need your library card barcode number and PIN. The barcode number is on the back of the card and when typing it in, you can skip the spaces. The PIN is set to be the last four digits of your home phone number.
Once logged in, you will see the My Account overview page. This page has links to review the account, change your PIN or renew materials. The change PIN link asks you to verify the barcode and PIN, then enter a new PIN. As with most PINs, you should pick 4 numbers that are easy to remember. Renew Materials presents you with a list of items checked out and, to the right, lists the due date and how many times you previously renewed an item. You may choose to renew all items using the radio button at the top of the screen or you can select individual items with the check boxes on the left. Items are arranged by the due date, with the nearest due date at the top of the list. If an item cannot be renewed, you will receive a message saying so if you attempt to renew it. Note that you can also renew materials from the Review My Account page.
My Account
When you click Review My Account, you see an overview that shows how much you owe in fines, how many items you have checked out and how many holds you have available or you are waiting for. Links at the top of the box let you look at this information in more detail. The checkouts page is identical to the Renew Materials page and is arranged in the same manner so you see the nearest due date at the top of the list. Like Renew Materials, you can use the check boxes to select items to renew. This page also includes an estimated fine for items that are overdue so you can see how much you would owe if you renewed or returned the item that day. The Bills screen is similar in that it shows you the oldest bill on the account and provides details as to when the item was returned and how much was owed at that time.
The holds screen contains two sections, the top one is a list of items available for pick-up with the branch and expiration date showing so you know where the item is and how long we will hold it for you. The bottom section includes items that are on hold but haven’t come in yet. This list shows you the title, you position on the holds list, pick-up location and status. If you don’t see a number in the holds queue for an item, that just means it is still on order. Once the item arrives at the library and starts circulating, you will see your number appear. If you need to cancel, change the pick-up location or suspend a hold, you can do so by clicking the check box next to the title and then using the commands at the bottom of the screen. To cancel, click the check box next to cancel and then the Cancel Selected Holds button. To change the pick-up library, check the box next to the title, pick a library from the drop-down list and then click the Edit Selected Holds button. For suspensions, check the box next to the title, then the radio button next to Suspend Selected and either type in a start and end date or use the calendar pop-up to pick a date, then click the Suspend Selected button. Note that if you type in the date, you need to use a mm/dd/yyyy format and if you use the calendar, you may need to turn off any pop-up blockers. Another thing to pay attention to when suspending holds is, while you don’t need to enter both a start and end date, it is to your benefit to do so. If you fail to enter a start date, the system assumes to start today. This could lead to a delay in receiving holds if you were intending to suspend at some future date, let’s say to accommodate a vacation next month. If you fail to enter an end date, you may also miss a title, as the system will cancel any unfiled hold after a year and a blank end date means the system will never reactivate the hold unless you tell it to. You can re-activate a hold by checking the box next to the title and then clicking the Activate Selected button.
Coming Soon
As mentioned above, the My Account section is due for an upgrade. A few things to look for in the future include cover art on the checkouts and holds screens, the ability to sort columns and the return of the author on the holds list. On the search side of the catalog, the My List and Kept items will be returning, along with the ability to place holds on all items on one of those lists.
- Laura N.
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