Using My Account and Account Portal

A Monroe County Public Library card is required to use My Account. You don't need to log in to My Account to look for items in the Library catalog (but it's a good idea; logging in gives you access to lots of handy additional catalog features).

To access My Account for the first time, go to the Library catalog and click on My Account in the upper right-hand corner. Use the barcode number on your library card and password to log in.

You may continue to log in to My Account using your barcode number and password, or you may create your own username and password.

At the time you received your library card, we may have recommended choosing the last four digits of your phone number as your password. If this four-digit number doesn't work, please go to your account and click "I forgot my password." For security reasons, we cannot reset your library password over the phone, email or chat.

• Log in to My Account using your existing username (or library card barcode number) and password.
• Click on "Account Portal" in the My Account window if it isn't already open.
• Then click on "Account" in the menu on the left side of the Account Portal page.
• Choose the "Change Password" link located under the library card image on the page.
• Enter your current password and then a new password in the appropriate locations.
• Passwords are case-sensitive and can contain letters, numbers, and/or some special characters. Please limit to the following special characters in order to be able to enter your password at self-checkout: @ . , - ; ’ / \ ! & =
• Save your changes.

Your Account information is part of the Account Portal. Some editing is allowed of the account information by choosing "Account" in the menu on the left side of the page and then clicking on the pencil icon next to your name. Fields that you are not allowed to edit, such as your card number, include a information icon (lower case "i" in a gray circle) that lists contact information for the Library. Some editable fields include:

• Nickname: If you enter a nickname, the system uses it as your display name.
• Emails: Add or update your email address.
• Phone Numbers: Add or update home and/or mobile phone numbers.
• Home Library: Set your home library to the library branch that you usually use.
• Preferred Pickup Location: The system uses your preferred pickup location as the default pickup location for holds that you place on library materials. You can change the pickup location when you place holds if desired.
• Reading History: You can turn your reading history on or off, and, depending on your library, you can select your notification preference. Creating a Personal Reading History has complete instructions for setting up your reading history.
  • Note: Although your checkout history is private, this feature is tied to your patron account. Except when compelled by a court order, the Library will not share any of your patron account information. 
• Preferred Contact Method: Choose whether you want to be contacted by email or phone for holds and overdue notifications.
• Additional Text Message Notification: Check if you also want to receive text message notifications.

Please notify the Library as soon as possible of changes to your name or address.

• You can view the Account Portal anytime by clicking on the My Account link in the upper right corner and logging in or once you've logged in, click on your name in the upper right corner and then click on the "Account Portal" button.
• Clicking on Checkouts, Holds, or Fees in the "My Account" window will also take you directly to that section of the Account Portal.

Here you can see your physical library materials, as well as any materials checked out from Libby or Hoopla. You can see the Check out Date, Due Date, and Renew your items (if renewals are available). You can sort the items by Due Date or Title. Find out more about checkouts on the Borrowing and Fees page.

Here you’ll see holds placed on physical library materials, as well as materials placed on hold on Libby or Hoopla. You’ll see your place in line, the pickup location (you can also change the pickup location), and the date by when you must pick up the item. See our Requests and Holds page for more information about placing holds and requesting items not in our collections.

Once enabled, you can view a list of physical materials that you previously checked out within the last 2 years. 

• Reading History is located in the "Checkouts & Requests" section of the Account Portal. 
• The list contains links to the physical materials checked out and the checkout dates. 
• You can search for titles in your Reading History and sort the titles. 
• If you’d like to view your reading history, you will need to opt in, and your reading history will be kept from that date forward. If you opt out at any time, the system will clear all titles from your Reading History.  Creating a Personal Reading History has complete instructions for setting up your reading history.
• Note: Although your checkout history is private, this feature is tied to your patron account. Except when compelled by a court order, the Library will not share any of your patron account information.

If you owe fees, you can pay for them. Minimum online payment is $1.00. If your account is over $20, you will be unable to checkout physical library materials.

• Alternatively, you can visit a Library location to learn more about, and enroll in, our Care Fee Option Program to remove fees just by checking out materials!
• Learn more about fees on our Borrowing and Fees page.
   

So many great things from the Library to read, watch, and listen to ... so little time! Using the Bookmarks feature in the Library catalog, you can create customized lists of anything in the catalog—and come back to them any time. After logging in to My Account, just look for the bookmark icon in the upper right corner next to your name or on the right side of the catalog search page.

Create or add a list to Bookmarks

• Log in to My Account.
• In the Library catalog, find an item you'd like to put on a list.
• In the upper right corner of the item information, click the bookmark icon and "For Later" text.
• Your item will be saved to your "For Later" list automatically.
• You can click on the "For Later" dropdown to create a "New List" or another list you created previously.
• You can create a maximum of 400 lists.

Additional Bookmark features

To print, save, or email Bookmarks:

• Log in to My Account.
• Click on the bookmark icon and then edit in the bookmark popup window or click on the "Edit in Account Portal" link to edit your bookmarks in the Account Portal.
• The three vertical dots to the right of the name of each list allow you to edit the list name, email a link to the list to someone, copy the view link for the list, or delete the list.
• You can use the search box at the top of the bookmarks window or page to find items you've bookmarked either in all lists or just in the list you are viewing.
• Clicking on the title of the list allows you to view the the items on your list with these additional features:
  • You can sort your list items by date or title
  • You can select one or more items to place on hold, add to other lists, or remove from your list
  • Clicking on the three vertical dots for an individual title allows you to email the title, post to X or Facebook, or download a citation

Often searching for the same things? Save your search in your account to use anytime.

Creating a Saved Search

• Log in to My Account.
• Search the Library catalog for something interesting (a favorite author, subject, etc.).
• At the top of the list of search results, choose "Save Search".
• On the Save Search window that opens, complete the form and choose "Save Search".