Frequently Asked Questions

On the napalibrary.org homepage on the top right, click Log In / My Account.

1. Use your current library card number and PIN (the last four digits of your phone number) the first time you log in to set up and customize your account.
2. Create a username. The username you choose will display in the catalog if you opt-in to share ratings, reviews, reading lists, or your profile. Having a separate username maintains the privacy of your library card number.
3. Select your home library.
4. Set your privacy settings.
5. Choose whether you would like to keep your borrowing history and import your Saved Titles List from the old catalog if you currently have one.
6. After completing your registration, you can use your username or library card number to log in.
7. You will be asked if you would like to import your Saved Titles List from the old catalog.
8. You are all set! Once logged in, your account information, settings, checkouts, holds, and more can all be found in the Library Dashboard. 

If you don't know your password, use the "Forgot your Password?" link on the Login page. Click the link, enter your library card number (barcode), and then click Send. You’ll receive an email with instructions on how to change your password. To use this feature, you need to have an email address associated with your account.  If you don't have an email address associated with your account, contact the Library at (707) 253-4243 to reset your password. 

Usernames can consist of up to 24 letters, numbers and underscores. One of the features of our new catalog is the option of participating in a vast library community with more than 10 million library lovers sharing reviews, comments, and lists. Your username will be unique to you and will be displayed alongside any content you share.  

When you create a username, you may find another user already uses your preferred username. If so, a similar alternative will be suggested.  

When logging into your account, you can continue to use your library card number or new username after your username has been created.  

Usernames for Kids Under 13

To comply with the Children's Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA), users under 13 cannot create custom usernames or type comments. Instead, they can choose a preset color and animal and a unique number will be automatically added (e.g., red_dog_1010).

Accounts automatically upgrade to standard status on the first of the month following the child's 13th birthday. Parents may grant permission for custom text and usernames via their own account settings; library staff cannot enable these features.

Protecting your right to privacy and confidentiality is essential to intellectual freedom and our mission. Your new catalog lets you share what you're reading, watching and loving at the Library. We want to ensure you understand what you're sharing and what is kept private. Make sure to review your privacy settings when you create your account.

Always Private:

• Your current checkouts, holds and fees.
• Your library card number and password.
• Your borrowing history - if you've enabled it.

Borrowing History

Borrowing history lets you view all items you’ve checked out. By default, the Library does not retain your borrowing history. You can save your borrowing history by enabling this feature within your account setting. If this option is selected, your borrowing history will remain confidential per our policies. You can disable your borrowing history anytime, which will also delete your history. Once your Borrowing History is deleted, it cannot be retrieved. Update your settings at My Settings > Account Setting > Borrowing History.

Shelves

Shelves allow you to track titles you’ve enjoyed or would like to enjoy. Shelves are private by default. You can make specific items private even if you make your shelves public. Private notes and personal tags for any title will always be private. Removing a title from your shelf will remove your ratings and comments as well. Update your settings at My Settings > Privacy > My Shelves.

Activity Feed

Your activity feed is public by default. Your feed displays items added to your public shelves and lists, comments and ratings you’ve added to specific titles and lists and comments by others you follow. Make your feed private at My Settings > Privacy > My Feeds.

Lists

A list is a collection of titles related to a specific topic or idea. After you create your list, set the privacy settings. You have multiple options, including making the list private.

Your library records are protected by state law (California Government Code Section 6267). Unless required by court order or requested by you, the Library does not share information about your records.

Borrowing history tracks items you have borrowed and returned to the library. Only you can enable this feature, and it is always kept private unless requested by court order. Borrowing history can be enabled the first time you log in, or any time after from the My Setting section of your library account.

Accessing Borrowing History

Borrowing history is accessible from the menu in the My Borrowing section. You can also navigate to your borrowing history from the My Borrowing account summary in the left sidebar of any borrowing page. When you first view your borrowing history, you'll see up to eight most recently returned titles. Click View All Borrowing History to see all titles. 

Sorting

You can sort borrowing history by returned date, title, author or format, if you have 100 titles or fewer.

Explore more about Borrowing History

Shelves help you track what you’ve read, what you’re borrowing, and what you want to read. You have three private shelves (which can be made public in your settings). Add items from anywhere on the site—including search results, your borrowing history, booklists, or even other users' shelves.

Completed Shelf

Fill this shelf with everything you've read, watched or listened to. Browse items you’ve enjoyed and find related recommendations and lists. Items you rate, tag, or comment on are automatically added to your Completed Shelf.  

In Progress Shelf

Keep track of items you're currently borrowing. 

For Later Shelf

Create a wish list of items you'd like to enjoy. 

Move Items Between Shelves

To move the title between your shelves, go to your shelves and select the item you want to move. Select "manage item" beside the item, and from the dropdown menu, select the destination shelf. 

Explore more about using Shelves.

Get social! From your account, you can rate and review titles you've read, add quotations, summaries, and more. 

Explore the full guide.

When registering, you can import your Saved Titles List from the old catalog to your new For Later shelf. You can also do this later from the shelf itself. Imported items are private by default.

Note on Item Counts: If you have multiple lists, they will be merged into one. You may notice a slight change in total items due to updated catalog records.

Once imported, you can sort these items into your Completed or In-Progress shelves, or use them to build new custom Lists.