How can I get a library card?

How can I request materials?

How can I renew items?

How can I access the Library homepage and databases from home?

How can I access electronic resources for research topics and homework information?

How can I join an online book club?

How can I search for genealogical information?

How do I request an interlibrary loan?

How can I access Wi-Fi Internet?

How do I save to a Flash Drive?

How can I get a library card?

• In person - Stop by any library location for an application.
• Online Card Registration

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How can I request materials?

If an item is not available at your neighborhood library, you may request it for pick-up when it becomes available.

1. Enter the online catalog.
2. Search for item you want to borrow .
3. See if the item is available by looking under the status heading on the right side of the screen.
4. Click on the Request button at the top or the bottom of the screen.
5. Enter your 5-character Library barcode and personal identification number (PIN) in the appropriate boxes. If you do not have a PIN, try the last four digits of your telephone number. If that does not work and you are in any Library location, please see someone at the Circulation desk for assistance.
6. Select the pickup location from the drop down menu.
7. Select a month and date to cancel if not filled by.
8. Click on the Submit button.
9. The next screen will let you know if the request was successful. Please note that some items are non-requestable.
10. Click on Home or Start Over to return to the catalog.

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How can I renew items?

1. On the left-hand side of the homepage, click on Renew Books/My Card .
2. Enter your barcode number and PIN (personal identification number) in the appropriate boxes. If you do not have a PIN, try the last four digits of your telephone number. If that does not work and you are in any Library location, please see someone at the Circulation desk for assistance.
3. Click on Submit.
4. Your account information will appear and you will be able to see what items you have requested, any fines you owe, and items you have checked out.
5. Click on the line showing the number of items you currently have checked out.
6. You are able to renew all your items by clicking on the Renew All box.
7. If you only want to renew some items, click on the box(es) next to the item(s) you want to renew. Then click on the Renew Selected box.

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How can I access the Library homepage and databases from home?

Helpful information to patrons trying to access catalog and databases from home:

Question:
I am running a Firewall on my home computer, what ports need to be opened/enabled so I can view databases and catalog without a problem?

Answer:
Port 8200: Used for authentication of the research databases
Port 8103: Used to access catalog


Question:
I currently use a web accelerator provided by my ISP (Internet Service Provider); should I be using this when trying to access databases?

Answer:
Sometimes web accelerators block the referring URL from the Library for research databases. 
If having a problem connecting to databases after entering barcode, we suggest temporarily turning off the web accelerator.

Question:
My web browser has a "Pop-up Blocker" enabled. Will this affect me when accessing catalog and databases?

Answer:
It is recommended to temporarily turn off "Pop-up Blocker" when accessing catalog and databases.

The Library has many excellent online resources covering newspapers, magazines, encyclopedias, directories and specialized resources on business, history, literature, science, and health. To access these

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How can I access electronic resources for research topics and homework information?

1. From the Research & Reference drop down menu on the Library's homepage, select Database Search, Databases A - Z, or Homework Help.
2. When you select Database Search a list of the categories will appear in the navigation bar on the left. Select the category you want to search.
3. A list of databases and descriptions will appear in the center section of the screen.
4. Click on the database you want to search. The database website will open for you to begin your search.
5. Click the back button on your browser to return to the list of databases.
6. To access these resources from outside the library you will need a valid Toledo-Lucas County Public Library card. A screen will appear asking for your library card number. Type in the 5 letter-number combination on your Library card and click "enter."

7. For some resources, you will also be asked to select your Library from a drop down menu. Scan down to "Toledo Lucas County Public Library" and hit enter. Then follow the on-screen instructions asking for your Library card number.
8. Please note that our license for some databases limit use to those patrons who are actually in the Library.

Librarians will be glad to assist you. Please ask in the Library or call 419.259.5207.

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How can I join an on-line book club?

Join our On-Line Book Clubs and start reading books in your e-mail. Each day you will receive a 5-minute portion of a book from the club of your choice. By the end of the week, you'll have read 2-3 chapters. If you'd like to finish a book, stop by the library and pick up a copy. New books are featured every week. Sign up today and start reading tomorrow.

1. From the Library Collection drop down menu, select On-line Book Clubs.
2. Select the book club or clubs you want to join: Non-fiction, Fiction, Business, Audio, Teen, Mystery, Good News, Romance, Horror, Science Fiction, or Pre-publication.
3. Enter in your e-mail address in the box provided, then click on the "Click to join" box. You will receive a confirmation message on the next screen.
4. You will receive an e-mail confirming your subscription with directions on how to unsubscribe. You will begin receiving the e-mail book the very next day.
5. If you want to unsubscribe from the book club, follow the directions on the "welcome" e-mail or the directions at the bottom of the daily read.

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How can I search for genealogical information?

The Library's Local History and Genealogy Department can help you. It is located on the third floor of Main Library at 325 Michigan Street . Hours are Monday through Thursday, 9 a.m. to 9 p.m., Friday and Saturday, 9 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. The telephone number is 419.259.5233.

If you cannot visit the Department and are not a Lucas County resident, written requests for information may be submitted to the address below. Staff research fees are $7.50 per half-hour and photocopies are 30 cents each. Each request can have a maximum of three obituaries. Please allow six to eight weeks for your request to be processed. Send no payment with your request; you will be billed.

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How do I request an interlibrary loan?

Search Ohio Interlibrary Loan Instructions

1. From the Library Collection drop down menu on the Library’s homepage, select Catalog.
2. The Enhanced Catalog (Aquabrowser) search screen is displayed.
   Enter the search information in the white search box and press Enter (or click on Search) or Click on the option Classic Catalog (displayed near the top of the page).
   Enter the search information and press Enter (or click on Go).
3. If the desired title is not available in the Toledo Lucas County Public Library catalog,
   click on the icon SEARCH OHIO near the top of the page.
4. The Search Ohio screen will be displayed, click on the desired title to check on the availability of the title, click on the line:
   __ Search Ohio library(libraries) has(have) this item
5. Click on request this title (if the title is available).
6. Select Toledo PL from the pull down menu.
7. Enter your name and barcode and select a pickup location.
8. Click on Submit.
9. A confirmation message that request has been successful will be displayed along
   with the name of the Ohio Search Library from which the item has been requested.
10. This request will be displayed on your hold record as OPHIR REQUEST.

Policies for Search Ohio requests:
Loan Periods:                       Fines:                           Maximum Requests:
Most items 21 days.              $.50 per day                 25 requests (at one time)
DVDs and Videos 7 days       $25.00 replacement fee
3 renewals per item

If you have any questions, please call the Library Information Line at 419.259.5207.

World Catalog Interlibrary Loan Instruction

1. From the Research & Reference drop down menu on the Library's homepage,
   select Database Search.
2. When you select Database Search, a list of the categories will appear in the
   navigation bar on the left. Click on the General Reference category.
3. A list of databases and descriptions will appear in the center section of the screen.
   Click on the World Catalog/First Search option.
4. Enter your search information and click on Search.
5. Click on the desired title.
6. Click on the ILL symbol near the top of the page. or Click on Borrow this item from another library (Interlibrary Loan) below the title’s Availability information.
7. Enter the appropriate information in the required fields (indicated by *), and
   click on the Submit button.

Please note: A World Catalog interlibrary loan usually takes 3-5 weeks to arrive.
A Search Ohio interlibrary loan usually takes 3-5 days to arrive.

Policies for World Catalog Interlibrary Loan requests:
Loan Periods:                       Fines:                           Maximum Requests:
All items 14 days.                 $.50 per day                 10 requests (at one time)
Non-renewable

If you have any questions, please call the Library Information Line at 419-259-5207.

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How can I access Wi-Fi Internet?

Wi-Fi Internet Access FREE at the Library

The Toledo-Lucas County Public Library now offers patrons two options to access free wireless Internet services at Main Library and all neighborhood branches.

Library patrons can choose from either free access for existing Buckeye Express cable modem subscribers, or access through the Toledo-Lucas County Public Library.

No additional networking cables are required for either service. All that is needed for access is a wireless computer with a wireless card or radio transceiver.

To access through the Library’s service, patrons can connect to the network using the identification “T-LCPL.” Once the connection is established, Internet access will be available.

Wireless access ranges approximately 150-feet from the nearest reference desk. Access to the Internet is filtered as required by the Children’s Internet Protection Act (CIPA). CIPA is a federal law enacted by Congress in 2000 to address concerns about access to offensive content over the Internet on school and library computers.

Availability for either free wireless service, provided by Buckeye Express or Toledo-Lucas County Public Library, is limited to the hours of operation specific to each Library location. Patrons are encouraged to check with a Library staff member for branch hours of operation.

How to connect to Wireless Network with Windows XP

How to connect to Toledo-Lucas County Public Library's Wireless Network

For more information about free wireless access through the Toledo-Lucas County Public Library, or for existing Buckeye Express cable modem subscribers, please visit toledolibrary.org, or call 419.259.5207.

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