Your Library Record

What can I do with my Library Record?

• View your Library card expiration date.
• View a list of the items you have checked out and their due dates.
• Renew books.
• View the "Pick up by" date for your Holds.
• Change the "Pickup location" on your outstanding Holds.
• Going on vacation and don't want to lose your place in line?
  Simply place a FREEZE on your items.

What is a PIN?

Your Library PIN (Personal Identification Number) can be any 4 numbers without dashes or spaces. If there was no PIN in your record, the system will accept the number you just keyed as your PIN, and you will be asked to enter it again as verification. For security purposes, instead of seeing the actual numbers on the screen, the user will see asterisks (*) displayed as the new PIN is entered.

If you don't remember your PIN, staff at any service desk will reset it. To safeguard your security, staff will need your address, birth date and your library card or a current picture ID. For more information please call Borrower Services at 415-557-4363.

Can I change my PIN?

Once you are logged into your record you may change your PIN by clicking Modify Your PIN.

What do I do if my card number is being used by someone else?

If you believe that someone else is using your card number, you should notify the Library immediately. The Library will deactivate the card and you can request a replacement at no charge by turning in your current library card.

Can I get my overdue and request notices by e-mail or telephone?

Yes. On the Library Catalog search screen, click on Log In to Your Record and enter your library card number and PIN. Click on Modify Personal Information. Choose how you would prefer to receive your notices from the list: Postal Mail, Telephone or E-mail. The telephone notification service is limited to the following area codes: 408, 415, 510, 650, 707, 831 and 925. If you choose Postal Mail or Telephone, make sure no e-mail address is entered in the E-Mail Address box. If you choose e-mail, enter your e-mail address, and click on the OK button. Once you choose e-mail notification, you will no longer receive paper notices. You may call Borrower Services at 415-557-4363 or send an e-mail to borrowerservices@sfpl.org to add or change your e-mail address to receive electronic notices.

Why am I not receiving my e-mail notices?

Your notices may be blocked. Please note that spam-filtering software may block these messages. To ensure that Library notices arrive in your e-mail, please configure your spam filter to receive messages from the following e-mail address: circ@sfpl.org

Once you choose e-mail notification, you will no longer receive paper notices via U.S. Mail. Contact the Borrower Services Department by phone at 415-557-4363 or by e-mail at borreg@sfpl.org, to add or change your e-mail address.

What is a Preferred Search?

Preferred Search is a feature that allows you to stay informed about new materials added to the San Francisco Public Library collection. For example, you can select to be notified by e-mail when a new book by your favorite author comes in. A preferred search can be for an author, a subject, or even a keyword. A total of 25 preferred searches can be stored to your account.

To Create a Preferred Search List:

1. Log in either from the Log In to Your Record link on the home page or by clicking the Log In button on the left when you are on a Catalog page.
2. Choose Search the Catalog.
3. Perform your search. For example, if you wish to be notified about new books by a preferred author, select "Author" in either the drop-down menu or the "Author" link. Type the author's name in the search box and click the Search Catalog button.
4. Click the Save as preferred search button.
   
5. Now click the Library Record button.
   
6. Select Preferred Searches.
7. Click in the check box below the "Mark for Email" column.
8. Click the Update List button. When the San Francisco Public Library receives a new title by your Preferred Search author (or new items according to what you entered as your Preferred Search), you will receive an e-mail message.

What do the different status categories mean in my requests (holds) list?

• 10 of 24 holds (for example) means you are number 10 out of 24 people waiting for that particular title.
• Check shelf means your hold has not yet been pulled for you, and should be available and ready to pick up soon.
• In transit means your hold has been pulled and is on its way to the location you selected for pick-up.
• Ready. Must Pick up by, followed by a date, means your hold is waiting for you to pick up at the location you have selected, and must be picked up by the date shown.

I'm going out of town. Can I make sure my requested items don't come in while I'm away?

Yes. If you're going on vacation and don't want to lose your place in line, simply place a FREEZE on your items:

1. Log in to Your Library Record.
2. Click on Requests (Holds).
3. Select FREEZE and click on UPDATE LIST.

Please note: Not all requests can be frozen. A check box will appear next to each request that can be frozen. When no box appears next to the item, the request cannot be frozen since the system has already set aside an item to fill your request.

When you come back from vacation, log in to Your Library Record, deselect your items and click on UPDATE LIST.

How can I rate an item in the Library Catalog?

To rate an item in the Catalog you must first Log In to Your Library Record.

If your are not logged in, you can click on a star in an item's record to get to the log in screen.

Once you are logged in, you can rate an item by clicking on the specific star that represents your "vote." For example, to give an item four stars you would click on the fourth star:
View definitions of star ratings.

How can I change a rating I have given to an item?

• If you are not already logged in, Log In to Your Library Record.
• Click on My Ratings.
• Locate the item you want to change and click the star corresponding to the rating you would like to assign.

How long do my ratings stay in the Catalog?

Your ratings will remain in the Catalog and in your record until you delete them from My Ratings list. You may wish to keep items in My Ratings as a way to keep track of your favorites or what you've borrowed in the past.