Beginning Tuesday, March 28, security passwords will be required for several online services offered by Mesa County Libraries.
Traditionally, patrons have needed only their name and library card number to place holds and use certain eResources through the library website. But to offer better protection of patrons’ private information in library accounts, passwords will be required for certain services beginning March 28.
Requiring patron passwords improves computer system security and also enables us to offer new services that require password protection.
HOW TO SET YOUR PASSWORD
The transition to passwords means patrons will need to create a unique password for their library account as of March 28. Here’s the process:
- The first time you log in to your library account on March 28 or afterward, your library account will automatically have a default password consisting of the first three letters of your last name and the last four digits of your library card number (for example, doe4321).
- Use that default password to log in to your account.
- You will be prompted to reset the default password to a password of your choice. We encourage you to use a password or passphrase consisting of upper- and lower-case letters, numbers, and symbols.
- Type in your new password or passphrase, and follow the onscreen directions to complete your password reset.
If you have problems resetting your password, please call or visit Mesa County Libraries, and our staff can help you. Be sure to have your library card with you.
DO I NEED A PASSWORD?
We urge all patrons to set hard-to-guess passwords or passphrases to help protect personal information in library accounts. A good password is an effective layer of security that can discourage hackers from accessing your information.
You will be required to have a password to use certain library services.
Services that will require passwords include:
- Accessing your library account to view checkouts and place holds.
- Prospector.
- Libby / OverDrive: A password will be required the first time a patron logs in after March 28.
- LinkedIn Learning: A password will be needed to create an account (yes, we intend to offer LinkedIn Learning – formerly known as Lynda.com – soon!).
Services that won’t require passwords include:
- Self-checkout stations.
- Using library computers.
- Print release and copy.
- Reserving meeting rooms.
- Registering to attend library events.
If you have questions about resetting your default password, please call or visit Mesa County Libraries for assistance.
Stupid idea! Needing a password to check out a library book is totally unnecessary!
Hi, Michael. You won’t need a password to simply check out a book. Passwords will be needed mainly for logging in to your library account to place holds, or to use library eResources.
Will logging in require name, library number, AND password? I rely on my phone’s password storage, and I don’t think it will hold three items, which would be really inconvenient. Any thoughts?
Hi, Shae Lynn. Logging in will just require barcode and password, so password managers and storage systems will work.
Your reply on March 15th shows “Logging in will just require barcode and password” what barcode are you talking about and where can I find this?
The barcode is your library card number.
How annoying. Seems like a solution in search of a problem. I’m really not concerned about security when I want to place a book on hold. Can’t you just make this optional for those who think they need it?
Hi Richard,
We are unable to make passwords optional.
Hoopla is now telling me I need a pin for my library card number to borrow a book.
Hi Sharlene. Our apologies for the trouble! Hoopla was unable to change their terminology to match ours. When they say “pin” they mean “password”. You will need to login to hoopla with your email address and hoopla password and then navigate to your account settings. In your account settings, you will want to input your library card number and the account password you created on our website. From there, you will be able to check out materials on hoopla again. Please give us a call or stop by one of our locations if you have any trouble with this process!
Your instruction “worked like a champ!”
Thanks for letting us know!
I want to thank the library staff who have been helping me with the new password requirement, and the trouble it has caused. Libby is fine (I think), but Hoopla not recognize my password. I went to the library for a second time, and thought it was fixed. It seemed to work on my phone, but I can’t get into Hoopla on my MacBook Air. It refuses to recognize my password. Note: The librarian even checked my password and other info while I was at the library, and all was in order. Do I need to do something specifically with my computer to access Hoopla? Can I opt out of having to use a password? I don’t really feel what I check out from the library merits having to use passwords. Thanks so much.