Using Your Library From Home

Renew it Yourself

First, you need to access your account.
At the login screen enter your library barcode and the last four digits of your phone number. (Or your pin number, if you were assigned a specific pin.)
- NEW Patrons: to setup an account, click the Register as a new user link. We recommend you set up an account using your barcode as your username and your pin as your password. If you choose to use a different username and password, as you might on another internet site, we will be unable to help you if you forget your password.
Once logged in, click on Items Out
Check the box next to the title(s) you wish to renew.
Click the Renew Selected link located above your list of items

Please note:

You cannot renew an Overdue item.
You cannot renew an item with a hold on it.
You cannot renew if your fines total $3.00 or more.
You cannot renew if you have three or more items overdue.

Reserve it Yourself

To place a hold or reserve on a book:

Access the Library Catalog
Search for the desired item
Click on the Request Item icon and follow the directions on the screen
- When you reach the confirmation screen, you need to confirm, or your hold will not be placed.

E-mail Notification Service

The Goshen Public Library now uses e-mail to quickly and efficiently notify patrons that “the book you requested has arrived,” or that you have overdue items. This service is available to any patron with an e-mail account.

Please note:

You should only request e-mail notification if you check your e-mail daily.

To sign up, or remove yourself, access the E-mail Notices page, and select either the Sign up or Remove button and follow the instructions on the ensuing page(s).

Please note:

If at any time your e-mail is bounced back to the system, your e-mail settings may be removed. If you stop getting your e-mail notices, please send a message to Jaemi to see if this has happened to you.
Some ISPs have spam-blocking settings that will stop your e-mail notices from getting to you. If you've stopped getting notices, and know you should have had some, send a message to Jaemi and she will try to troubleshoot with you, and pass it along to RCLS if need be.
- Customers with e-mail notification should be aware that the notices are not sent out until Day End Processing has run. This means your e-mail notice would not arrive until the night your book had arrived, or possibly the day after. In rare occasions, even later. If you check your own account often, and see holds listed, if they are recent holds, you may be ahead of the system. If you pick up the item before Day End Processing is run, no notice will be generated.

Catalog New users

In order to use the Catalog, you need an account. If you are new cardholder, or this is the first time you're accessing the on-line catalog, you don't have one yet. You need to register.
- To register for an account in the Catalog, go to the Login page, and click the Register as a new user link.
- On the next screen, you want to select Horizon in the Agencies box
- Follow the instructions from there.
Once you are registered for an account, you can use it to check the status of the items you have out, renew items that meet the criteria
(see above), and place holds.

Things to be aware of:

The current version of the catalog was built using current web standards. This means it will only work with modern browsers, such as Internet Explorer 6, Firefox 1.5.x, Opera 8+
The catalog uses javascripts to perform some of its functions, such as placing holds. If you're using a browser which has javascript disabled, or running a firewall which blocks javascripts, you will need to alter these settings (if you have the permission to do so) or use another machine to do those kinds of things
- If you're comfortable with alternative browsers, try using Firefox to run the Catalog, and install the NoScript extension. This will enable you to allow scripts on a per site basis. Once you've selected "Allow" for the addresses associated with the Catalog, you shouldn't run into anymore [scripting] problems, as long as the catalog itself is fully functional.
This version of the catalog also uses session cookies. If the Catalog is not able to place its cookie, it will not work for you. Some ways to override cookies are:
- Hold down Ctrl+C when loading a site, or clicking its login box
- Go to Tools-->Internet Options (in IE), click the Privacy tab, and then the Sites button. Add the catalog link in the Address field, and click Allow.
- In Firefox, go to Tools-->Options, select the Privacy tab/button, click the Exceptions button, paste the catalog link into the address field, and click Allow.
Some Firewalls will block cookies. I had my first experience yesterday of this happening, and even after I had set an override, the site would not function correctly unless I turned off the setting entirely, or disabled the firewall while I was browsing it. If you run into any quirks, you might want to try the same tactic just to narrow down where the problem is stemming from.

Getting Help On-line

Visit the Full-time Staff Directory or the E-mail Us page, if you would like to Contact a Staff Member directly
Visit our newly installed On-line Support system to search for- answers to common questions/issues.
- If you don't find an answer to your problem, please feel free to post your question [in the appropriate forum].
- The forums are moderated mainly by Jaemi, and we hope to be able to center our website support in this location. If you're not comfortable with the system, feel free to ask a Staff Member for assistance--we'd be happy to show you how to use it.
  - Please note: All forums are open to the Public for posting, but in order to reply to other people's queries, registration is required. If you'd like to Register, simply click the Register link at the top of the page and follow the instructions.

For immediate assistance:

Chat will open in a pop-up, new window, or new tab, depending on your browser and its configuration.

Using Your Library from Home

Renew it Yourself

Please note:

Reserve it Yourself

To place a hold or reserve on a book:

E-mail Notification Service

Please note:

Please note:

Catalog New users

Things to be aware of:

Getting Help On-line