State law requires that we keep the items you check out on your library card private, even from your family members. That means we can’t talk about what you have checked out with anyone other than yourself, and family members can’t pick up your holds, pay your fees, or use your card… unless you give them authorized access.
If you give someone authorized access to your card, you are giving us permission to talk to them about what you have checked out, access to pick up your hold items, and the ability to check out items in your name (as long as they have proper photo ID—school IDs count).
The people you give access to don’t necessarily have to be family members. You can give access to anyone you trust to borrow from the library on your behalf: that can include significant others, best friends, roommates, neighbors, etc. You do not need to tell us their relationship to you, simply provide their first and last name.
For children under the age of 18, parents are automatically given authorized access since they are liable for any lost or damaged items on those accounts. If your child often comes to the library with an older sibling, a grandparent, or a nanny, you might want to consider giving those individuals access to your child’s account. That would allow them to check out materials if your child forgot their card or you weren’t able to provide them with it.
Deciding who you trust with your account requires some thought. That’s why we’ve made adding and removing access to your account easy. All you need to do is come into the library and tell one of our Check Out Desk staff which people you’d like to add or remove from the authorized access portion of your account. If you are a Canton or Plymouth cardholder, you can also edit authorized access through the renew option in the online portal.