Library Card & My Account FAQs

  • Holds

    After you search for something in the catalog and you are looking at the search results, you should see a green Place Hold button next to each format.

    1. Click Place Hold across from the format you would like.
    2. After you click Place Hold, you will be prompted to log into your account, if you were not already logged in.
    3. Next, you will be asked to select a hold pickup location (if you do not have Single-Click Holds enabled).
    4. Click Place Hold a second time to confirm.
    5. If the title is available, we will find it and send it over to your library within several days. If the title has a hold list, you will now be in line.
    6. You will receive an email or phone call when your hold is ready to pick up. The item will be held for you for 7 days at library buildings and 3 days at holds lockers, including the day of the notification.
    • You can enable Single-Click Holds in your Account Settings to skip the location selection step.
    • You can also place holds on some e-content.
    • To see your list of Holds anytime, click on Log In / My Account, then select On Hold.
    • It is currently not possible to indicate exactly when you would like a hold to be ready, but you can Pause holds.

    The easiest way to search the library catalog is to type one or more words in the search box at the top of the page, and then click the Search button (the magnifying glass).

    You can enter titles, authors, keywords, subjects, or a combination of all, in this search box.

    After you search, you can use the filters on the left side of the page to narrow down the results. There are filters for format, availability, audience, language, and publication date, among others.

    The catalog recognizes certain keywords and automatically applies filters accordingly. For example, if you search for “new kids dvds” the search results contain DVDs for children that were recently added to the collection. The search will recognize format, audience, language and "new to the library." This also works with “Spanish books” or “new music cds.”

    Note: On a smaller screen, the search box will collapse to a magnifying glass icon to save space. Just click or tap on the magnifying glass to open the search box.

    My Account features include:

    • Shelves: Shelves give you a way to keep track of everything you have read, watched or listened to, track what you are currently reading, watching or listening to, or what you want to borrow in the future. Your Shelves can be public or private. You can add items to your Shelves from just about anywhere when you are logged in. Look for the “For Later" button near the "Place Hold" button.
      • Your Completed Shelf is where you can store everything you’ve read, watched or listened to.
      • Your In Progress Shelf is the place for what you are reading, watching or listening to right now.
      • Your For Later shelf is like a wish list, a place to keep track of the books, movies and music you’d like to borrow in the future.
    • Single-click holds: Pick your favorite or most convenient library location. With just one click, your holds will be sent to that library.
    • Lists: A list is a collection of titles related to a topic or idea of your choosing. You can create lists for yourself (e.g. Vegetarian Cookbooks I Want to Remember, Books We Loved When My Children were Toddlers) or for other people (e.g. Emily Should Read These Books This Year, These Titles Can Get You Started with your Research), and they can be set to private or public. Lists are another way to explore the catalog and find new recommendations. Search the Catalog by List (change the second dropdown from Keyword to List) to find lists made by library staff and patrons around the world. To create your own List, select Lists from the menu under your username in your account. Click Create a New List, select the type of list you want to create, and give it a title and description. Click "+ Add to List" to add catalog titles or website URLs. When you have added all your titles, click Finished Editing. Choose who can see your list, then click Publish.
    • Ratings and Reviews: Share what you think about anything in the collection.
    • Profile: Set up a personalized profile to share your recommendations. You can also choose to follow other users if you like their lists and reviews.

    You can choose whether you would like to receive hold notifications and overdue courtesy notices via email or phone. Please contact us if you would like to change your current preference.

    We are in the process of changing the way records for TV shows display. For the duration of the transition, you might encounter the records in both ways:

    1. If the title of a TV show does not indicate a specific season, use the View Details or Availability by Location links to see what seasons of a TV show are available. To place a hold on a specific season, click Place Hold, log in (if necessary), then select the season you'd like (the last step in the process). Your hold is placed for all available copies of that season. Example of a TV show title that does not contain a specific season:

    1. If the title of a TV show does contain a specific season, click Place Hold next to it, log in (if necessary), select your pick-up location (if necessary) and confirm. Example of a TV show title that does contain a specific season:

    If you don’t want an item you have requested to become available when you’re unable to pick it up, you can pause the hold. Pausing, or suspending, retains your place in line until you’re ready to resume. 

    To pause your hold, log into your library account and go to your On Hold list. Click Pause Hold next to the hold you would like to suspend. When you are ready to continue in the hold line, click Resume Hold next to the title to undo the Pause.

    After 255 days, your paused hold will be automatically cancelled. If you just want to save a title as a reminder to check it out later, use your For Later Shelf.

    To change the pickup location of a single hold, log into your library account and select On Hold. For the hold you want to change, click on the location listed under "Pick up at" and select another location from the dropdown. The change will be automatically saved. Please note that hold pickup location cannot be changed for holds that are in transit, ready for pickup, from Prospector, or through interlibrary loan.

    To change the location for all of your future holds, select My Settings in your Account menu. Under Account Preferences > Holds and Pickup Location, click Change to make changes to your preferred pickup location. You can also enable or disable Single Click Holds here. With Single Click Holds enabled, your holds will be automatically be sent to your preferred location.

    Loans and holds from Prospector will display special status codes in your account.

    REQUESTED – The item has been requested from a Prospector library.
    INNREACH CANCELLED – Your Prospector hold was cancelled.
    IN TRANSIT – Your Prospector hold is being delivered to our library.
    INNREACH REC’D – Your Prospector hold has been received at our library and is being processed.
    INNREACH RTN’D – You have returned a Prospector item.

    After you do a search in our main catalog, look for a link that says "Search other resources." Click on that, and then click on "Try your search in Prospector."

     

    Click "Request It" next to the item you would like to request from Prospector.

    In the pop-up box, select Alliance - Jeffco Public Library from the dropdown under "With which institution are you affiliated?"

    Enter your name, library card number, and pickup location, then click Submit.

    Please note that it is not currently possible to pick up Prospector holds at Holds Lockers, and Prospector is not accessible via the MyJCPL mobile app.

  • Checkouts, Renewals, Returns

    Most items fall under two checkout periods: 21 days and 7 days.

    21 days: books, Lucky Day books, Lending & Express books, e-books, books on disc, downloadable and streaming audiobooks, nonfiction DVDs and TV Shows, Playaways, most Prospector loans, most Interlibrary Loans, Stories to Go bags

    7 days: DVD movies, Lucky Day DVD movies, Lending & Express DVD movies, music CDs, streaming music, Wi-Fi hotspots, print magazines

    Outliers include our Book Club Kits (6 weeks), Chromebooks (60 days), Hoopla and Kanopy streaming content, among others. Please see Library Card Rules for a full detailed list.

    Most items that are eligible for renewal will renew automatically, up to 12 times. Lucky Day items, material on hold for other people, and some other items will not renew. Lending and Express materials will auto-renew one time. Please consult this page to determine what types of materials are renewable.

    If you want to control your renewals yourself, that is still an option: from jeffcolibrary.org, click on Log In/My Account, then Checked Out, then enter your library card number or username and PIN. Items are automatically sorted by due date. There are several options for renewing.

    • You can renew items individually by clicking on the Renew button near the title:

    • You can renew multiple titles at once by clicking in the check boxes to the left of each title and using the options on the purple bar at the bottom of the screen:

    • You can renew in batches, using the left menu to select Overdue, Due Soon, or Due Later. Click the "Select [#] items" checkbox, then use the Manage Items bar at the bottom of the screen.

    We send an email notice or a voicemail two days before an item is due. We also send an overdue notice at one, two, and three weeks overdue. If your item is 4 weeks or more overdue, the replacement cost will be billed to your account. This and any associated charges will be removed from your account once the item(s) is/are returned. We do not charge replacement fees for overdue children's items.

    You can choose whether you would like to receive hold notifications and overdue courtesy notices via email or phone. Please contact us if you would like to change your current preference.

    Materials may be returned to any Jefferson County Library location or returns bin. Book drops and returns bins are open 24 hours.

    Most items will automatically renew 12 times if there are no holds. Lending and Express items will automatically renew one time. The renewal period is the same as the original loan period, and starts at the current date. For a full list of what is renewable, please see our Library Card Rules here.

    More information about auto-renewal:

    • Our system will automatically renew anything that is eligible for renewal, up to 12 times. If it is not eligible for renewal, the due date will stay the same.
    • If you use email, you will still receive Date Due courtesy notices, and each email will list which items renewed and which items did not renew, with due dates. If you do not use email, you can see the due dates in your online account.
    • Only eligible items will be renewed. Ineligible items include:
      • Items with holds
      • Lucky Day items
      • Magazines
      • Hotspots (Hotspots can be renewed 3 times, but not automatically.)
      • Prospector and ILL (Prospector loans of print items will usually renew one time, but not automatically. Prospector loans of audio/video will usually not renew. ILL will occasionally renew one time, but not automatically.)
      • e-books, downloadable audiobooks, and streaming media (some of these can be renewed manually)
    • Items from our Lending & Express Collection (Ridge Rec Center Lending Machine and Express Library West Arvada) will be auto-renewed one time.
    • It is not currently possible to opt out of the auto-renewal feature.

    Loans and holds from Prospector will display special status codes in your account.

    REQUESTED – The item has been requested from a Prospector library.
    INNREACH CANCELLED – Your Prospector hold was cancelled.
    IN TRANSIT – Your Prospector hold is being delivered to our library.
    INNREACH REC’D – Your Prospector hold has been received at our library and is being processed.
    INNREACH RTN’D – You have returned a Prospector item.

    This is a known issue that is being worked on. If you see an orange page of code when you try to renew a Prospector item, please contact us for assistance.

    You may sometimes be able to see brief records for interlibrary loan (ILL) requests or loans in your main library account, but the interactivity is limited. For example, the Renew button will not work, and due dates might not be accurate. For the most accurate and functional list, please log into your Classic Catalog account, opens a new window. There is a login link in the footer at the bottom of every page.

    Please let us know. We do not charge replacement fees on lost or damaged children's items, but do charge replacement fees for other materials. Please visit a library to pay the replacement fee. There is no need to purchase a copy on your own as a replacement. 

    If you find a lost book after paying the replacement fee, you may bring it into one of our locations and receive a refund.

  • Library Card

    Colorado residents who are 17 years of age or older can register for a Jefferson County Public Library account by visiting any of our full-service locations with a current photo ID with them. Residents who are under 17 may do so with a parent or guardian who has current photo ID with them.

    You can also apply for a digital library card online. If your name and address are verified, you will be issued a card that matches your eligibility. If your identity cannot be verified, you will receive a temporary library card that can be converted to a permanent card by bringing your photo ID to any of our locations within three weeks.
    Acceptable forms of ID for users 17+ to register for new library card:
    • State issued Driver’s License, ID card or digital ID in the MyColorado app
    • Passport, Military ID, or Matricula Consular card
    • University or School ID
    Your ID doesn’t need to list CO address, but new registrants must have an address in Colorado.

    Temporary library cards expire after three weeks. Please visit any of our full-service locations with your photo ID to get your permanent library card. If you are unable to visit us, please request information about mail delivery.

    If you have used e-books or downloadable audiobooks with your temporary card number, please let a staff member know when you get your permanent card, or contact us anytime. We might need to update your accounts.

    If you have a permanent card, and you see a message about expiration, please contact us.

    If you lose your library card and there is a chance someone else could find it and use it, please contact us, opens a new window to let us know, and a block will be placed on your account. The next time you come into the Library, bring your photo ID, and we can get you set up with a new library card number.

    If your library card is misplaced but most likely still in your possession, use the Forgot Card Number link from this page, opens a new window to have your card number emailed to you.

    If someone is able to access your library account, they can see your personal contact information like name and phone number, and your library history, such as what items you have checked out or on hold. In addition, they can check out items to your account and not return them, resulting in replacement fees on your account. 

    Your library card will remain valid as long as you use it at least once every three years, and will remain in good standing as long as keep the fees you owe under $50.

    We don't charge overdue fines on most materials, but if an item is more than 28 days overdue a replacement fee will automatically be charged to your account.  Please note: We do not charge replacement fees for overdue children's items. When the total charges on your account reach $50, your borrowing privileges may be suspended. Once an item is returned, the replacement fee for that item will be removed. Once the total charges on your account are under $50, your borrowing privileges will be reinstated.

    When your card is blocked, you won't be able to place holds in the catalog, and you will see error messages when you try to use our online resources. If you don't have any outstanding replacement fees on your account, but you see an error message, please contact us for assistance.

    Because we value your privacy, we cannot check out materials to anyone who doesn't have their library card, knowledge or possession of their account number or a photo ID to prove their identity. Please remember to bring your library card with you if you plan to check items out. The MyJCPL app has a digital barcode function, or you can take a photo of the barcode on your smartphone and use that when you visit. 

    If you plan to check out holds for a friend or family member, you will need to have their library card or account number. 

  • Borrowing History

    By default, we keep no record of what you check out. If you want the system to start keeping track, you need to enable Borrowing History in your account, under My Settings. This feature is not retroactive; it begins with the first item you return after you enable the setting.

    After you enable your Borrowing History, it will exist as a raw list in your account. It will continue to track every physical item you check out from JCPL, after you return it. Learn more about using your Completed Shelf alongside your Borrowing History here.

    Notes about Borrowing History:

    • If your Borrowing History has been enabled, and you disable it, your records will be permanently erased.
    • E-books, Prospector loans, and interlibrary loans will not display in your Borrowing History. The different systems are not completely integrated yet, but you are able to manually add e-content records to your Completed Shelf.
    • When an item is taken out of our collection, the details are unfortunately lost and you will see entries that say “record no longer available."

    Your library account has a handy feature called your Completed Shelf. While your Borrowing History is an automatically created list of every physical item (except for Prospector and ILL) you have checked out, your Completed Shelf is a list that you control. That means your Completed Shelf can be an accurate history of what you’ve actually read/listened to/watched, plus it has more features than the static Borrowing History list. You can sort and filter the Shelf, add tags or private notes to each item, add non-physical items and be alerted that an item is on your Completed Shelf while you are searching or browsing the catalog.

    • If you have an existing Borrowing History list, we recommend moving it to your Completed Shelf all at once, which can be done page by page, 50 items at a time. When you are looking at your Borrowing History, you should see these options:

    • In the future, as you check out and return items, you can pull up your Borrowing History in your account on a regular basis and transfer individual items onto your different Shelves. When you are looking at your recent Borrowing History, just click on Completed to the right of a title to add it to that shelf (if you completed it), or click on the dropdown arrow to select For Later (if you did not get a chance to finish it and want to check it out again later) or In Progress.

    • E-content checkouts will not be automatically recorded in your Borrowing History, but you can add them manually to your Completed Shelf. When you are logged in and searching the catalog, simply click on For Later to the right of the title to add it to your For Later Shelf, or click the dropdown arrow to select In Progress or Completed.

    Your Borrowing History is a static, raw list in your account that cannot be manipulated. However, if you have transferred your Borrowing History to your Completed Shelf, you can sort that list using the "Sort by” drop down menu, and you can filter using the options on the left side of the screen. You can also add private notes about titles, or add tags that will help you filter your list. Searching is not currently possible, but sorting, tagging and filtering are helpful.

    Exporting is not currently available from your raw Borrowing History list or Completed Shelf, but your reading history can still be exported from your account in Classic Catalog.