If you’ve visited our online catalog recently, you may have noticed some changes to the way it looks. We’ve added new features to help streamline our services and make it easier for our patrons to access important information.
When you visit http://www.mcplib.org, on the bottom left (under “Get Started”) you will see a link for Patron Account Sign-In. After you click that link, you will be asked for your barcode and PIN. The barcode is your library card number, and you can visit the library to receive your individual PIN. Once you log in, you will be able to see important information about your account, including items currently checked out, due dates, fees owed and your current contact information on file. You will also be able to renew your items online, as long as they are not currently overdue, have not yet hit the maximum number of renewals and are not on hold for another patron. Items cannot be renewed (online or otherwise) if they are overdue, so please make sure you take care of all renewals before the due date! This also helps you avoid late fees.
If you do have fees on your library account, you can now pay them with a credit card through your online account. You can also still pay in the library with cash, check or credit card.
If you don’t have a library card or have lost your card, visit either library branch to receive a new one. This is also a good time to make sure your contact information is up to date. If not, please update your information at either library branch. Renewals, holds and other services can also still be completed in the library if you don’t feel comfortable accessing that information online.
You must bring your library card to the library every time you wish to check items out.
If you visit our online catalog, you will continue to be able to search our catalog as before. The main catalog search page lists top-sellers in various categories, and you can type a title, author or keyword in the search box to find other books. You will also have the option of searching for and downloading ebooks directly from our catalog rather than having to visit a different website. Ebooks are still available through Kentucky Libraries Unbound/Overdrive and can also still be accessed through their website via the link on our homepage, if you prefer to continue downloading ebooks the same way as before.
There are options available to include or exclude ebooks in your catalog searches, as well as several other options. Just search for the author, title or topic you are interested in, then the options show up on the left sidebar of the results page. Click on the options you want to include and hit “Apply” at the bottom to refresh the search results page.
You are also able to place holds from the online catalog with your library card number and PIN. And if you don’t want to wait for a book to come in, our newest feature is a “Buy It Now” button. Eligible books will show that button next to the title in the catalog. Clicking the Buy It Now button will take you to Amazon so you can purchase a copy of the book for yourself. If you buy books or other items at Amazon through our button, Amazon and SirsiDynix (our library software company) will return a percentage of your purchase price to us to help support our programs, services and materials costs without charging you anything extra.
If you have questions about any of these new features, contact the library at 270-338-4760.
Buy It Now buttons will show up beside titles in our online catalog. If you purchase that title (or other items!) from Amazon through our link, a portion of the proceeds is returned to us at no additional charge to you! We use those funds to help support our collection, programs and other services.
