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Open a
Library Account
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What is a Library
Account? |
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Your Library Account is
the account you receive when you sign up
for a library card. In addition to
checking out Library materials, you can
use your account to place holds on items
through our catalog, renew items, and
view your record. Your account also
provides you with remote access to SMPL’s
subscription databases. |
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How Do I Get a Library Card? |
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Any California resident
may sign up for a free library card.
You may apply at any
Santa Monica Public Library (Main
Library,
Fairview,
Montana, or
Ocean Park Branches). Please bring
personal ID - e.g., California ID or
driver's license - and proof of your
current, residential address.
You may also apply for a
library card online, and it will be
ready for you by the next business day.
Your card will be available at the
Main Library, 601 Santa Monica Blvd., for pickup
at the Customer Service Desk. Please bring ID and
proof of current, California residence on
your first visit. |
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How Does My Account Work
Online? |
Use your Account to place
holds, renew items, and check your
record. These functions are accessible
only through the online catalog. The
system used by SMPL is called iBistro.
Your account can be accessed by
going to the catalog now. Your
Account is represented by the number
beginning with the letters PSMP
on the back of your Library card. Be
sure to enter the number exactly as it
appears on your card (beginning with the
letters PSMP) when prompted.
You may wish to log into your Account
first. Simply enter your Account number
and PIN at the top right hand corner of
the main catalog search screen and click
Login. Logging in enables you to place
holds, renew items, and check your
record without having to continually
reenter your information. If you do not
know your PIN, please see “Changing
your PIN” . Be sure to log out if
you are using a public terminal by
clicking “Log Out” on the blue bar, when
done. |
How to
Renew Library Materials
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Enter the catalog and
click on My Account. This tab is located
near the top left on all screens in the
catalog. |
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Click Renew my materials
under My Account then enter your Account
number (or driver’s license number in
the “Alternate ID” box) & PIN at the
next screen. |
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Mark the items you wish
to renew (or select Renew All) and click
Renew Selected Items. The new due date
will appear. |
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Please note: Videos and DVDs may not be
renewed. Items that are on hold for
another user may not be renewed. |
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Downloadable audiobooks may be
renewed at
www.netlibrary.org |
How to
Check Your Library Account
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Enter the catalog and
click on the My Account tab. |
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If you
enter your Library Card Number and PIN
in the upper right hand corner of the
screen, your login is good for the
entire session. |
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Select
any of four options: Review My Account,
Renew My Materials, User PIN Change, and
Change My Address, and follow screen
instructions. |
How to
Change Your PIN
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Your 4-digit PIN number
was assigned to you when you registered
for your library card. If you do not
know your PIN, please call (310)
458-8614 during Main Library Hours. To change
your PIN, follow the steps below. |
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Enter the
catalog and click on the My Account tab. |
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Click on User PIN Change,
then enter your Account number (or
driver’s license number in the
“Alternate ID” box) and current PIN at
the next screen. Using letters or
numbers or both, enter and reenter the
new PIN in the appropriate boxes. Be
sure to change it to something you will
remember. Click Change PIN. |
How to Place
A Hold
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Search the catalog and
locate the item you wish to place a hold
on. |
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Click on the
Place Hold button on the left-hand side
of the screen. |
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Enter your
Library Card Number
(or driver’s license number in the
“Alternate ID” box) and PIN in the
appropriate boxes. |
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Select a pick-up location
in the drop down box and click Place
Hold. |
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You
will receive a notice in the mail when
the item is ready. You may check your
record to view the availability status
of a hold (see “Checking
your Record”). |
What
are Borrowing Limits?
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Generally, books can be
borrowed for four weeks, except for new
books that check out for two
weeks. Audio books and audio CDs
can also be borrowed for four weeks.
Videos and DVDs can be borrowed for one
week. Except for videos and DVDs,
most items can be renewed
one time unless others are waiting for
the material. Fines are accessed
for library materials returned late and
fees are charged for lost material.
Please see our
complete list of borrowing limits, fines
and fees. |
Donations
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The Santa
Monica Public Library welcomes gifts of
books and audiovisual materials to
enrich the Library's collections. The
Library does not accept donations of
magazines.
All
donations are carefully reviewed by a
collection manager librarian to
determine whether they meet needs within
the Library's Collection
Policy. The Library reserves the
right to refuse restrictive gift
conditions and to transfer donations not added
to the Library's collection to the Friends of the
Santa Monica Public Library for
inclusion in their used book store at
the Main Library. Proceeds of the
Friends Book Store sales are used to benefit
the Library.
Gifts are
acknowledged with a receipt that
indicates the number and general type of
items being donated. The Library can not
make a determination of the value of the
donation or act as an appraiser pursuant
to The Tax Reform Act of 1984, Sec.
155a. |
You
can now request a "key card" instead
of the regular-size library card.
