Have I mentioned recently that I love my library? Are you sick to death of me bringing it up? Well, I can’t help it – I really have the greatest library on earth. One of the things I like best about it is the ability I have to access it online. Depending on where you live, you might have this option as well – ask your librarian the next time you’re in.
When I sit down at my computer, I click on the link that takes me to my library. I love it so much, it’s saved in my favorites menu (why would it be anywhere else?) I log in with my library card number and my PIN, and I’m good to go.
I have the following options available to me.
1. I can search the library data base to see if they have the book I want. Once I see if they own it, I can check for availability. It’s not in right now, but it’s due on Tuesday. I want to be the next person to get it, so I can put a hold on it. I click a button, the computer takes my reservation, and as soon as the book comes in, an automated system at the library will call me and tell me the book is available. This data base also works for movies and books on tape – any material the library has, you can access online.
2. I can check the status of my account. I can see how many books I have checked out, how many are overdue, and how many are lost. (Right now, thankfully, I have no overdue and no lost.) I can look to see how many holds I have placed that haven’t been filled yet. (None at the moment.) I can also see what fines are being charged against my account. (I was three days late returning Enna Burning – I’ll pay it next time I go in.)
3. I can update my telephone number, address, and even select a new PIN.
I love pulling up the page that lists the checked out books. On the left is the title of the book, and on the right is the due date. On the very right is a little column that tells me if I’ve renewed the book already or not. And, the computer will e-mail me and tell me when I have books that will soon be due. My life is crazy enough, I often need to be reminded to take care of the little things.
If your library has this system, you should definitely sign up for it. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve been saved from embarrassing fines when the library e-mailed me. And it’s so nice, when I walk into the library, to know that the book I want is sitting on the shelf, because I looked it up before I left. (Unless someone checked it out in the fifteen minutes it took me to load the kids up and get out the door, in which case, they’ve got a fight on their hands.)
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Photo courtesy of MorgueFile.