Using My Account and My Bookshelf

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 "Profile" in My Bookshelf if it isn't already open.
• Then click on "Edit Profile" in the upper right corner of your profile.
• Scroll to the bottom and click on the "Change Password" button.
• 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 Profile is part of My Bookshelf located at the bottom of the screen. Some editing is allowed of the profile information by clicking the “Edit Profile” button at the top. Fields that you are not allowed to edit, such as your card number, include a question mark icon 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 and to personalize the name of My Bookshelf.
  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.
• Password: You can also change your password.
• 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. 

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

• You can bring up the My Bookshelf window anytime by clicking on the up arrow on the My Bookshelf blue bar located at the bottom of every catalog page.
• Once open, you can adjust the size by placing your cursor at the top of the window, clicking and dragging upward or downward.
• You can minimize the screen by clicking the down arrow.
• You can also access the My Bookshelf window by clicking your name at the top right corner, and clicking any link to go to that specific area of My Bookshelf.

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.

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 Bookmarks tab in My Bookshelf at the bottom of the 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.
• Choose a list from the Bookmarks tab in My Bookshelf at the bottom of the page.
• The three vertical dots to the right of the name of each list allow you to edit the list name or delete the list.
• The connected dots at the bottom of the list box allow you to email a link to the list to someone or copy the view link for the list.
• 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 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".

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.
   

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