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General Questions
Using the Web-access catalog
Accessing RCPL databases from home

General Questions

How do I get a library card?
Do I have to return items to the same location I checked them out from?
What if I want a book or magazine article that the library doesn't have?
When is the library open?
Can I still get a library card if I am not a resident of Richland County?
Does the library offer computers for word processing and internet access? What about typewriters?
How do I donate my old books to the library?

How do I get a Library Card?
See our Borrowing Guidelines.

Do I have to return items to the same location I checked them out from?
No. You may return items to any RCPL location.

What if I want a book or magazine article that the library doesn't have?
If RCPL does not own the book you need, the Library may be able to borrow it from another library. Interlibrary Loan is offered at the General Reference Desk (929-3400) at the Main Library to any patron 18 years or older who has a valid RCPL card. You can also request that we buy the book you need. All you need to do is come in and fill out a Request for Purchase. The form will ask for the title and author information as well as for your name, telephone number and library barcode number. Once the request has been reviewed, you'll get an email or postcard that says either we are not purchasing the item (and why), or we are purchasing the item. If we purchase the item, it will automatically be placed on hold for for you and you will be notified when it arrives. Please complete this form only for titles which have already been published and only for authors the library does not buy consistently. Check with your branch if you have questions about what you may request.

When is the library open?
See the Main Library page. For branch location hours, see the individual branch page.

Can I still get a library card if I am not a resident of Richland County?
Yes, however there is a $65 per year charge for non-residents.

Does the library offer computers for word processing and internet access? What about typewriters?
Yes. The Main Library and all branch locations offer computers for public access. However, the number of computers available for word processing is limited. Please contact your local branch or the Main Library for availability, sign-up and policy information. The library system no longer offers typewriters.

How do I donate my old books to the library?
Books donated to the library generally are given to the Friends of the Richland County Public Library for their community book sales. Money raised from the sales is then used for the benefit of the Library in many ways. Some books are selected for the library collection if they are needed and meet all selection policy guidelines for any materials owned by the library. Books in good condition may be left at any RCPL location during that location's opening hours. At this time, the Friends do not take old textbooks or National Geographic Magazine issues. Donations are gratefully received by the Library and the Friends of the Library.

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Using the Web-access catalog

What's my Borrower ID?
How do I get a PIN?
How do I access my account?
How do I place a hold on an item?
How can I renew items online?
How do I update my address, telephone number, and/or email address?
I tried to place a hold on a book, but I keep getting an error message.
I tried to access my account, but I keep getting an error message that says "patron not found."
I tried to renew my books online and could not. Is there any other way to renew?

What's my Borrower ID?
Your Borrower ID is the 14 digit number underneath the barcode on your library card. When inputting your barcode number, you must include all 14 digits with no spaces (e.g. 20080001234567, not 2 0080 00123 4567).

How do I get a PIN?
Your PIN is automatically assigned as the last four digits of your home telephone number. If your home phone number has changed, please contact your local branch or the the Main Library Circulation Desk to update your phone number.

How do I access my account?
Your account is accessible from every page of the main Web site by clicking on "My Account". Patron accounts are part of the online catalog, so you can also click on the "Catalog" link to enter the catalog and then click on the "My Account" tab. Once you've accessed "My Account," log in by entering your library barcode number (all 14 digits with no spaces) and your PIN (the last four digits of your home telephone number). From the "My Account" page, you can review your checked-out items and holds, delete hold requests, and renew items.

How do I place a hold on an item?
To place a hold (request) on books, videos, CDs, etc., you must first find the specific title in our online catalog. Once you have found the title, bring up the full Bibliographic Record for that individual title (you cannot place a hold from a list of titles or authors). Then, click the "Request Item" button on the right side of the page. If you're not logged into "My Account," a login page will appear where you must enter your 14 digit library card number and PIN (the last four digits of your home telephone number). Once you've logged in, a "Request Confirmation" screen will appear and you must choose the location where you wish to pick up the item when it becomes available. Then click on the "Request" button.

How do I update my address, telephone number, and/or email address?
Please contact your local branch or the the Main Library Circulation Desk to update account information.

How can I renew items online?
You can renew items through the "My Account" section of the online catalog. From the catalog, click on the button labeled "My Account." From anywhere else in the Web site, click on the "My Account" button. A log-in screen will appear. Once you've entered your barcode (all 14 digits with no spaces) and PIN (the last four digits of your home telephone number), an "Account Overview" screen will appear giving you some basic information. Above the "Account Overview" banner are five options: Overview, Checked out, Holds, Fines/Blocks and Profile. Click on "Checked Out" and the "Items Out" page will appear showing the items currently checked out to your account. There is a little check box just to the left of each title. Click your mouse in the check box next to the item you wish to renew and click the "Renew" button. A message will appear at the top of the screen to let you know whether the item renewed or not. If it didn't renew, there will be a second message just above the title of that item explaining why it did not renew.

I tried to place an item on hold, but I keep getting an error message.
I tried to access my account, but I got an error message that says "patron not found."
There are a number of reasons why you might get an error message, however, the three most common problems are as follows:

Make sure you input your barcode number with no spaces (e.g. 20080001234567, not 2 0080 00123 4567).
If your phone number has recently changed, we might not have the new number in our records. Since your PIN is the last four digits of your current phone number, this could result in an error message such as "patron not found". If your phone number has changed and you suspect that our information is incorrect, please contact your local branch or the the Main Library Circulation Desk to update your phone number.
In order to be able to place holds, you must use an Internet browser that supports JavaScript. For the two most popular browsers, Internet Explorer and Netscape Communicator, this means using version 4.0 or above. If your browser does not support JavaScript, you will receive error messages such as "item status not requestable" or "patron not found."

I tried to renew my books online and could not. Is there any other way to renew?
Yes. If you are unable to renew items in person or online through the Web catalog, you can contact your local branch or the Main Library Circulation Desk. Additionally, you can access your account and renew items through our TeleMessaging system which is available 24 hours a day. The numbers for TeleMessaging are 929-3425 and 929-3427.

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Accessing RCPL databases from home

What's my Borrower ID?
How do I get a PIN?
I cannot access a database.
How do I enable cookies from my computer in order to access the databases?
How do I clear cookies from my computer in order to access the databases?
How do I clear the temporary Internet files (cache) from my computer in order to access the databases?
Your system authenticated me, but then the Web page I ended up on is still asking for a user name and password.

I cannot access a database.
Please try the following:

Verify your barcode and PIN. Your barcode should have 14 digits and should be entered with no spaces between the numbers (e.g. 20080001234567, not 2 0080 00123 4567). Your PIN is automatically assigned as the last four digits of your home telephone number. To update or verify your PIN, please contact your local branch or the Main Library Circulation Desk. Although the "My Account" component is not related to database access, you can verify your barcode and pin by logging into your account. If you successfully log in, you will see your name in the top right corner. If you are unable to log in, please contact your local branch or the Main Library Circulation Desk to confirm or reset your PIN.
Verify that you are using Internet Explorer 6 or higher or Netscape Navigator 6 or higher. The AOL browser will not work with some of our databases. In order to access some of our databases, you must use an Internet browser that supports JavaScript. For the two most popular browsers, Internet Explorer and Netscape Communicator, this means using version 4.0 or above. If your browser does not support JavaScript, you may receive error messages such "patron not found."
Verify that cookies are enabled on your computer. How do I do this?
Clear cookies from your computer. How do I do this?
Clear temporary Internet files (cache) from your computer. How do I do this?
Internet and Windows firewalls will block access to some databases. Therefore, you may need to adjust your settings to allow access or temporarily turn them off. Windows XP firewall settings can be viewed by clicking Start > Settings > Control Panel > Windows Firewall. If you have Norton Internet Security, please be sure to set your "Security" and "Personal Firewall" to "off." Remember to restore your settings when you are finished.

How do I enable cookies from my computer in order to access the databases?
The authentication program we use for remote access to our databases requires cookies in order to work properly. Additionally, many of the databases themselves require cookies in order to allow you access. If you have your cookies disabled, or if the cookie is corrupted, you will not be able to access the databases: you might see an invalid authorization notice or a message that says "welcome to [[null]]." If you are not sure what cookies are, you can get more information from the Unofficial Cookie FAQ.

These instructions assume that you are using the most recent versions of Netscape Navigator/Communicator or Microsoft's Internet Explorer as your Internet browser. If you are using the built-in Internet browser in America Online, Compuserv, or another ISP, we suggest that you download and use a separate copy of another browser such as Internet Explorer or Netscape Navigator.

In Internet Explorer 6.x, choose the "Tools" pull-down menu and select "Internet Options.",The Internet Options dialog box will open with the "General" tab showing. Choose the "Privacy" tab at the top of the window. Then, use the sliding bar to change your privacy settings to "low" or "accept all cookies." You may be able to use the "medium" or "medium high" settings, but some databases (specifically Reference USA) may require a lower setting. When you've changed the setting, click OK.

In Netscape Communicator 6.x or 7x, choose the "Edit" pull-down menu and select "Preferences." The preferences window will open. Choose the "privacy and security" option from the list on the left and double-click it. A sub-menu will appear below. Click on the "cookies" label to display those options on the right side of the window. Click on one of the "enable cookies" options. If you're not sure which one to choose, then choose the "enable all cookies" option.

If cookies are enabled, but Remote Patron Authentication (RPA) still doesn't work, try deleting all cookies and then trying again. We have found that many times the cookie that RPA leaves on your hard drive can become corrrupted.

How do I clear cookies from my computer in order to access the databases?
These instructions assume that you are using the most recent versions of Netscape Navigator/Communicator or Microsoft's Internet Explorer as your Internet browser. If you are using the built-in Internet browser in America Online, Compuserv, or another ISP, we suggest that you download and use a separate copy of another browser such as Internet Explorer or Netscape Navigator.

In Internet Explorer 6.x, choose the "Tools" pull-down menu and select "Internet Options," The "Internet Options" dialog box will open with the "General" tab showing. Mid-way down the box, you'll see a heading labeled "Temporary Internet Files" with three buttons labeled "Delete Cookies", "Delete Files" and "Settings." Click on the "Delete Cookies" button. A confirmation box will appear that says "Delete all cookies in the Temporary Interenet Files folder?" Click OK.

In Netscape Communicator 6.x or 7x, choose the "Edit" pull-down menu and select "Preferences." The preferences window will open. Choose the "Privacy and Security" option from the list on the left and double-click it. A sub-menu will appear below. Click on the "Cookies" label to display those options on the right side of the window. Click on the button labeled "Manage Stored Cookies" ("View Stored Cookies" in Netscape 6.x). The Cookie Manager/Viewer window will appear. Click on the button labeled "Remove all Cookies." Then click OK to close the Cookie Manager and then click OK again to close the Preferences window. Close the browser and then re-open it. You should now be able to access the databases.

How do I clear the temporary Internet files (cache) from my computer in order to access the databases?
Once you've cleared the cookies from your browser, you may also need to clear your temporary Internet files to ensure that your browser is pulling a fresh copy of the Web page, and not an old copy that's stored on your hard drive. Every Internet browser keeps copies of the Web pages you visit in its memory (or cache). This facilitates a quicker download when you re-visit that page. Clearing the cache forces the browser to actually re-visit the server and get a fresh copy of a particular Web page, rather than using the cached copy.

For Internet Explorer (version 6.x and above), you can clear the cache by choosing the Tools pull-down menu (the View pull-down menu in version 4.0) and choosing "Internet Options." Under the General tab, click the "Delete Files" button under the heading "Temporary Internet Files," then click OK. Close the browser and then re-open it. For Netscape (version 6.x and 7.x) you can clear the cache by choosing the "Edit" pull-down menu, and choosing "Preferences." In the left side of the new window that appears, double-click on "Privacy and Security," and then choose "Cache" from the sub-menu that appears. Then, on the right side of the screen, click on the button labeled "Clear Memory Cache" and click OK. Then click on the button labeled "Clear Disk Cache" and click OK. Click OK to close the preferences window. Close and re-open the browser.

Your system authenticated me, but then the Web page I ended up on is still asking for a user name and password.
Internet and Windows firewalls will block access to some databases. Therefore, you may need to adjust your settings to allow access or temporarily turn them off. Windows XP firewall settings can be viewed by clicking Start > Settings > Control Panel > Windows Firewall. If you have Norton Internet Security, please be sure to set your "Security" and "Personal Firewall" to "off." Remember to restore your settings when you are finished.

If you've already been authenticated by our system, then there may be a problem with the database itself. You can wait a while and try again, or contact our Technology Department. We can contact the vendor to find out whether there is a problem.

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