Using The Online Catalog

Search our library's collection any time, anywhere!

Log in to your account using your library card number and password. Once you are logged in, you will be taken to your account summary page. From here, you can:

• Check due dates and renew items
• Search for items
• Place items on hold and check the status of your holds
• Cancel or suspend holds
• Use the cart and list features
• Save or delete your reading history
• Update your contact information
• View your fines
• Make a payment online
• Change your messaging preferences
• Change your password
• Make a purchase suggestion

Finding your library card # and password

Your library card number is on the back of your library card. It is fourteen digits long and should always be entered without spaces. It serves as your account login. Your password is usually the last four digits of your phone number.

If you have a library card but have forgotten your password, you can request a new password by calling your local library.

 

Logging in to your account

1. Visit catalog.ncrl.org or click on the words Log In wherever you see them on our website, including under the NCRL logo on the top left side of every page.
2. On the catalog's main page, enter your library card number (without spaces) and your password (usually the last four digits of your phone number) and click Log In.
3. You will be taken to your account summary page.
4. When you are logged in to your account, you will see your name at the top of the screen.
   You can click your name at any time to return to your account summary page.

Check due dates and renew items

You do not need to contact your local library to check your due dates or renew items - although we love your calls!

1. Log in to your account.
2. When you are logged in, you will see your name at the top of the screen. You can click your name at any time to return to your account summary page.
3. Due dates are listed on your account summary page. The due date for overdue materials will appear in red.
4. To renew items, select the Renew button next to the item, or scroll to the bottom of the page and choose Renew All. 
   

Most items can be renewed two times, unless someone else is waiting in line for them.

Place items on hold

Placing a hold is just library lingo for ordering an item.

1. Log in to your account.
2. Search for your item.
3. Click the Place Hold button under the item's information. You can select several items at once by marking the check boxes to the left of each item and clicking the Place Hold button in the menu on the left side of the screen.
4. On the next screen, change the location if you would like to pick the item up from a different library or have it mailed to your home.
5. You can also delay the start of your hold or set your hold to expire if you will not need the item after a certain date.
6. Click Place Hold.

Cancel or suspend a hold

If you discover that you no longer need an item you placed on hold, you can cancel or suspend it.

1. Log in to your account.
2. When you are logged in, you will see your name at the top of the screen. You can click your name at any time to return to your account summary page.
3. From the account summary page, click on the Holds tab.
4. To the right of each item, you may cancel or suspend each hold.

Use the cart

You are allowed to have 25 items on hold at a time. If you prefer to gather many items into one place temporarily before deciding which items to place on hold, you can use the cart.

1. Log in to your account.
2. Search for items.
3. Click the Add to Cart button under the item's information. You can place several items in the cart at once by clicking the check boxes next to each item and choosing Cart under the Add To drop-down in the menu on the left side of the screen. This process must be done one page of results at a time.

Once you have placed items in your cart, you can click into the cart at the top of your screen. You can place items on hold directly from the cart or save items to lists so that you can find them easily in the future. The cart provides temporary storage only.

Note: To avoid accidentally ordering items twice, delete your cart before logging out. Items will remain in your cart until you remove them or the temporary storage expires.

Make a list

You can create and use lists so that you can find items to order easily in the future.

1. Log in to your account.
2. Search for items.
3. Click the Save to Lists button under the item's information. You can place several items in a list at once by clicking the check boxes to the left of each item and choosing New List under the Add To drop-down in the menu on the left side of the screen.
4. Give each list you create a unique name.

Save or delete your reading history

For your privacy, we do not keep a record of what you have borrowed from the library.

Save your borrowing history:

1. Log in to your account.
2. When you are logged in, you will see your name at the top of the screen. You can click your name at any time to return to your account summary page.
3. Click the Your Privacy tab on the left side of your account summary screen. If you are using a tablet, you may need to scroll down to find the menu tabs. If you are using a phone, you may need to click on Your Account Menu to view the menu tabs.
4. In the drop-down menu, choose Forever and click Submit.
5. The catalog will begin saving your reading history from this date forward. To view your reading history, click the Your Reading History tab on the left side of your account summary screen.

Delete your borrowing history at any time:

1. Log in to your account.
2. When you are logged in, you will see your name at the top of the screen. You can click your name at any time to return to your account summary page.
3. Click the Your Privacy tab on the left side of your account summary screen. If you are using a tablet, you may need to scroll down to find the menu tabs. If you are using a phone, you may need to click on Your Account Menu to view the menu tabs.
4. Click on the red Immediate deletion button. Be careful! Once you confirm deletion, no one can retrieve your history.
5. To ensure that no future history will be saved, choose Never in the drop-down menu and click Submit.
6. Items that are currently checked out by you will continue to show in your history until they are returned.

Update your contact information

You may update your contact information in two ways.

In Person:

Call or visit your local library. The librarian can update your information immediately.

Online:

1. Log in to your account.
2. When you are logged in, you will see your name at the top of the screen. You can click your name at any time to return to your account summary page.
3. Click the Your Personal Details tab on the left side of your account summary screen. If you are using a tablet, you may need to scroll down to find the menu tabs. If you are using a phone, you may need to click on Your Account Menu to view the menu tabs.
4. Fill out the form.
5. Click Submit Update Request. Requests are processed as soon as possible.

View your fines

You can view fines associated with your library card at any time.

1. Log in to your account.
2. When you are logged in, you will see your name at the top of the screen. You can click your name at any time to return to your account summary page.
3. Click the Your Fines tab on the left side of your account summary screen. If you are using a tablet, you may need to scroll down to find the menu tabs. If you are using a phone, you may need to click on Your Account Menu to view the menu tabs.
4. On this page, you will see a list of all past and current fines. Your fine balance is located on the bottom right side of the screen.

Make a payment online

CLICK ON IMAGE BELOW TO ENLARGE.

Change your messaging preferences

You may update your messaging preferences in two ways.

In Person:

Call or visit your local library. The librarian can update your information immediately.

Online:

1. Log in to your account.
2. When you are logged in, you will see your name at the top of the screen. You can click your name at any time to return to your account summary page.
3. Click the Your Personal Details tab on the left side of your account summary screen. If you are using a tablet, you may need to scroll down to find the menu tabs. If you are using a phone, you may need to click on Your Account Menu to view the menu tabs.
4. If you prefer email notices, enter a working email address and add 555- to the beginning of your phone number. If you prefer phone notices, double check your phone number and remove any 555- prefix if it is listed.
5. Click Submit Update Request. These changes will be processed as soon as possible.
6. Next, click the Your Messaging tab on the left side of your account summary screen.
7. If you prefer email notices, be sure that email is chosen for Item Due and Hold Filled. If you prefer phone notices, be sure that phone is chosen for Item Due and Hold Filled.
8. If you prefer to receive one message per day instead of one message per item when items are due, be sure to select Digests Only.
9. Click Submit Changes.

Change your password

Your password is usually the last four digits of your phone number. 

1. Log in to your account.
2. When you are logged in, you will see your name at the top of the screen. You can click your name at any time to return to your account summary page.
3. Click the Change Your Password tab on the left side of your account summary screen. If you are using a tablet, you may need to scroll down to find the menu tabs. If you are using a phone, you may need to click on Your Account Menu to view the menu tabs. 
4. Enter your old password, and then type in your new password twice.
5. Click Submit Changes.

Make a purchase suggestion

The library works hard to have the materials you want. If you're not finding what you're looking for, we want to know!

You may place up to 20 purchase suggestions at a time, and 6 of your 20 suggestions may be for digital material (eBooks and eAudiobooks). You will receive an email when the library processes your suggestion. Once the library processes your suggestions, you may place more.

Please Note: Items published or released within the last 2 years may be purchased and put on hold for you. Classics and other perennial favorites will be considered for purchase regardless of their publication date. If the item is over 2 years old we will try to borrow it from another library system (Interlibrary Loan).

1. Log in to your account.
2. When you are logged in, you will see your name at the top of the screen. You can click your name at any time to return to your account summary page.
3. Click the Purchase Suggestion tab on the left side of your account summary screen. If you are using a tablet, you may need to scroll down to find the menu tabs. If you are using a phone, you may need to click on Your Account Menu to view the menu tabs. 
4. Select the New Purchase Suggestion option directly below the Search For bar.
5. Fill out as much of the form as you can.
6. Be sure to choose a format from the drop-down menu! We accept suggestions for every type of material we carry, including digital material like eBooks and eAudiobooks from OverDrive.