What happened to my old card number?

• Your old card number is the same, but we have added a prefix to all card numbers

• All cards issued from La Porte City Public Library are now 14 digits long

• All cards begin with our building prefix (23025) and end with your unique identifier with zeros as filler to ensure all card numbers are 14 digits in length

• For example, if my old card number was 12345, then my new card number is 23025000012345

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What is a prefix?

• A prefix is a unique identifying number for our building, meaning we are the only building in the State of Iowa with card numbers beginning with 23025

• This prefix is also added to our items, so we know all of our books begin with 33025

• To separate our patron records from our material records, patron barcodes begin with a 2 and item barcodes begin with a 3

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​​​​​​Why do we need a prefix?​

• Since we share resources with hundreds of libraries, this prefix ensures our patron cards and material records are unique

• In our old system, all of our material and patron numbers were being drawn from the same pool of numbers, which could cause overlaps

• Lastly, in our old system, we set aside 9,000 numbers for patron account; just prior to our migration, we had used ~6,800 numbers leaving ~2,200; though that seems like a lot of numbers, we would have run out of number by the end of 2030, but with a prefix, we should never run out of numbers creating a more sustainable system

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When does this new prefix come into effect?​

• Now! All cards, regardless of when they were issued, are now 14 digits long beginning with 23025 and using zeros as filler

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What's my username and PIN/password to access the online catalog?​

• Your username is your full library card number (e.g., 23025000012345)

• Your PIN/password is the last four digits of your phone number

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What if my PIN/password doesn't work?​

• Call Library Staff at 319-342-3025

• Your PIN/password may not work because your account has expired, we have a bad phone number, or we are missing your phone number; regardless of the issue, we can reset your PIN/password

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How can I change my PIN/password?​

• You can change your PIN/password after logging into the online catalog for the first time

• From the My Account dropdown menu, click My Bio

• From My Bio, click Change Password

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Why can't I log into OverDrive/Libby?​

• Because of our migration, all cards and PINs were reset; this was an unfortunate resolution to a series of problem

• To log into OverDrive/Libby, use the same username and PIN/password that you use for the online catalog

• If this fails, please call Library Staff at 319-342-3025

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If I still have issues, should I reinstall the app?

• NO! Deleting and reinstalling the app will likely result in you losing your items on loan and your items on hold

• Instead, remove your Library Card and re-add your Library Card

• If this fails, restart your physical device

• Should you still have issues, please call us at 319-342-3025

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Can I backup my loan history, checkouts, and holds?

• Yes! To backup your device, click on the three lines at the bottom of the app

• Click Back Up Your Data and complete the steps as instructed on the agg