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Library Card / Account

Show All Answers

1. How do I get a Nicholson Memorial Library System card?

Local Residents

A Library card is available to residents of Garland and surrounding communities. You must be 18 with a valid photo ID to get your own Library card. Otherwise, a parent or legal guardian with ID would need to cosign. Please bring your unexpired official state photo ID (Texas driver’s license, Texas ID, Matricula, out of state license) with your full name and current address on the ID. If the ID does not show your current address, you must present proof of address. Acceptable items for proof of address include current utility bill, lease agreement, auto insurance or bank statement. The proof of address has to have your name on it.

Replacing a Card

If you had a card and need to replace it bring your current unexpired official state photo ID and a $2 replacement fee to any Garland Library and get a new card.

2. How old do you have to be to get a library card?

You must be 18 with a unexpired official state photo ID to get your own Library card. Otherwise, a parent or legal guardian with ID would need to cosign. If you have any questions, call the Circulation Desk at 972-205-2524.

3. What types of identification do I need to get a library card?

Please bring your unexpired official state photo ID (Texas driver’s license, Texas ID, Passport, Matricula, out of state license) with your full name and current address on the ID. If the ID does not show your current address, you must present proof of address. Acceptable items for proof of address include current utility bill, lease agreement, auto insurance or bank statement. The proof of address has to have your name on it. People with addresses in Northeast Texas will be eligible for full library cards. People residing outside our service area will be eligible for visitor cards that can be used for internet and Wi-Fi access only. If you have any questions, call the Circulation Desk at 972-205-2524.

4. Can I check my library account online?

Yes, you can check your account by clicking on Library Catalog and choosing the My Account tab. Enter your library card number and PIN to see your account information, if you have any fines, what you have on hold, what you have out and when it is due as well as renew any items you have out (provided no one else has requested them and you have not renewed them more than 6 times). Email Library Support or Inter-library Loans (for inter-library loans) with any questions, comments or concerns.

See also:

• How much are overdue fines?
• How do I pay fines online with a credit or debit card?

5. How do I find out what my PIN is?

Your PIN is the last 4 digits of the phone number we have on file for you. You can change your PIN in My Account in the Personal Information tab.

6. What if I do not remember what phone number I have in my Library account?

To update your phone number or change your PIN to a different 4 digit number please visit the Circulation Desk at any of the Garland libraries.

7. Can I see what items I have checked out?

Yes, you can check your account by clicking on Library Catalog and choosing the My Account tab. Enter your Library Card number and PIN and click Log In. From here you can see what you have on hold, what you have out and when it is due as well as renew any items you have out (provided no one else has requested them and you have not renewed them more than 6 times). Email Library Support with any questions, comments or concerns or call the Circulation Desk at 972-205-2524.

8. Can I see what items I have requested/placed on hold?

Yes, you can check your account by clicking on Library Catalog and choosing the My Account tab. Enter your Library Card number and PIN and click Log In. From here you can see what you have on hold, what you have out and when it is due as well as renew any items you have out (provided no one else has requested them and you have not renewed them more than 6 times). Email Library Support with any questions, comments or concerns or call the Circulation Desk at 972-205-2524.

9. Can I see what items I have requested through inter-library loan?

Viewing the status of your inter-library requests:

1. Go to the Texas Group Catalog.
2. Hover over "Texas Group Catalog" in the upper left corner and choose My Requests.
3. Choose “Garland/Nicholson Memorial Library System” as your home library.
4. Click on “Continue.”
5. Enter your library card number.
6. Enter your PIN.
7. Click “Login.”
8. After signing in, you will see all of your active requests and their statuses:
   • "New" - this is a new request.
   • "Pending" - Currently, the Texas Group Catalog software is sending requests to libraries on your behalf.
   • "Shipped" - the item is on its way to Garland for you!
   • "Received" - the item has been received by the Garland Public Library. Some processing will be required and then it will be sent to your branch for pick up. When it is ready for pick up at your branch, you will get notified just like you get notified for all other holds. You'll have ten days to pick it up after it's ready.

Not seeing your hold? When cancelled, a hold drops off your request list and an email is sent to the email address you provided with an explanation for the cancellation. Also, there is no historical record of your requests. Once the library receives and process the request, it drops off your request list in the Texas Group Catalog.

10. Do library cards expire?

Yes, they do. Every four years we require patrons to present an unexpired official state photo ID with current address at any Garland Library. If you go to My Account in the Library portal and click on the Personal Information tab you can see the date your library privileges expire. Please renew on or before that date for continuous service.

11. Why can't I login?

The newest version of the Library Portal supports these browsers:

• Windows Edge latest two versions for Windows
• Google Chrome latest version for Windows and Macintosh
• Mozilla Firefox latest version for Windows and Macintosh
• Safari latest two versions for Mac

The login box is a pop up window so you may need to add https://nm.ent.sirsi.net to your list of allowed sites. The Place Hold box and the item detail screen are also pop up boxes.

Browser issues

The appearance of the Library portal interface and performance speed may vary based on the specific web browser and browser settings you are using. 

12. Will I get charged if I don’t return an item?

While we are not charging late fines, we are charging for lost items. When an item is 7 days overdue, your account will be charged the replacement cost of the item, plus a processing fee. You will be responsible for those charges until you bring back the overdue item.

13. How will I know if I have overdue items?

Check your account status and sign up for automated text or email service through Library Elf at http://library.garlandtx.gov. You can even download our library app. Search for Garland PL in the Apple or Android store.

14. I currently have overdue fines. Do I still have to pay them?

No. Visit your nearest library location and staff will clear those fines. We are working to clear accounts of overdue fines, which may take a few weeks.

15. I lost the items that are charged to my account, but I can’t afford to pay the replacement costs. Will you clear those charges?

We will not clear the cost of an item if it is lost or damaged. However, come talk with us. In most cases, we can find a way to allow you to pay for lost items in installments.

16. What if I have lost items on my account but I still have them? Can I still bring them back?

Yes! If they are still in good condition and less than a year overdue, bring them back and the charges on your account will be cleared.

17. Is the library going to lose money by not collecting fines?

Any fines and fees collected by the library goes to the city’s general fund, not the library directly. With the popularity of eBook checkouts (which don’t accrue fines) and our automated due date reminder system, the amount of overdue fines charged to accounts has decreased over the last few years. As we’ve learned, some people with fines will no longer use the library and we don’t want that. We would rather have our patrons use the library than feel punished for fines they cannot pay.  

18. What about personal responsibility?

Library users are still responsible to bring items back. Library accounts will be charged the replacement cost of an item and a processing fee of $5.00 when an item is 7 days overdue. The account will be inactivated until the item is returned.