Computer and Library Learning (Archived)

Toronto Public Library customers know that they can
use the basic search box on the home page (or
the advanced search
page) of the
TPL website to search for books, audiobooks, CDs, DVDs, programs, blog posts.
Customers who borrow materials from Toronto Public Library branches have the
means to check and manage their respective library accounts through the TPL
website. To seek help in doing so, patrons can consult library staff for
assistance as well as consult the “Help
with Your Account” section of the Toronto Public Library website. In this
section, one can gain additional information under the categories: “Your account status”, “Your checked-out items”, and “Your holds”.

“Your
account status” provides library patrons with
information on the following:

• Check
  Your Fines
• Fines
  Owing & Your Account Status
• Change
  Your Personal Information
• Expired
  Cards
• Report
  a Lost Library Card

Patrons should consult “Your checked-out items” section for help with the following:

• Check
  Due Dates
• Renewing
  Materials

Finally, the “Your
holds” section provides information on hold management and tracking:

• Manage
  Your Holds
• Your
  Home Branch
• Missed
  Holds
• In
  Transit Holds

For additional information, consider watching
the following video tutorial entitled “How to Check Your Account
and Place a Hold” (also available on YouTube). This tutorial goes through the steps of logging into a
patron’s account, followed by examining the number of checked out items and
their due dates, then looking at the number outstanding holds and their status
(active versus inactive), and, the pickup branch library location for the holds.
Customers are also shown how to change their PIN numbers to access their
accounts as well as the option of including an email address for notification
purposes when holds are ready to be picked up. For patrons interested in eBooks
and eAudiobooks, a link to OverDrive is provided within the customer account.
Customers who have logged into their library accounts first also have the
option of searching the library catalogue for materials and placing holds
requests within the context of their accounts. Naturally, when finished,
customers should always sign out of their accounts to protect their information.