Catalog FAQs

  • General Questions

    To activate, or register, your library card for use with the library's catalog, click or touch the blue and white Log In/My ELPL button located in the top right corner of every page of elpl.org:

    Log In to your library account by clicking/touching this button.

    A drop-down menu will appear.  Click or touch the green and white Log In/Register button:

    A login page will appear.  In the Username or Library Card Number field, enter your entire 14 digit library card number, with no spaces.
    In the PIN or Password field enter your PIN.  If you have not been assigned a PIN call the Service Desk at 517-351-2420 or Contact the Library to create a PIN.

    login_dialog

    After you successfully log in the system will walk you through a few more steps, including:

    • Creating a username 
    • Confirming your email address and date of birth
    • Determining if you would like to keep track of your reading history

    Once those steps are finished you will be taken to Your Library Dashboard, where you can:

    • View and renew checked out items
    • View and manage holds
    • Submit a Suggestion for items not owned by the library
    • Create Lists of library items for yourself or to share with others
    • Add items to your Completed, In Progress, and For Later shelves to help you keep track of what you've checked out and what you would like to check out.

    If you are able to log in to your library account you can change your PIN/password from Your Library Dashboard.  From the Dashboard, click or touch the Settings icon:

    Settings icon located in the Library Dashboard

    From the settings page you can update your:

    • Email address
    • Username
    • PIN/Password
    • Saved Searches
    • Suggested Purchases
    • Community Content Defaults
    • Borrowing History
    • Shelves settings
    • Feeds settings
    • Ignored Users
    • Child Account Permissions
    • Community Credits

    If you are not able to log in to your library account you can reset your PIN/Password online as long as there is a valid email address in your library account.  To reset online:

    1.  Click or touch the blue and white Log In/My ELPL button located in the top right hand corner of any page of elpl.org:

    Log In to your library account by clicking/touching this button.

    2.  Click or touch the green and white Log In/Register button:

    3.  A Log In page will appear.  Click or touch the Forgot your PIN or Password? link and follow the prompts:

    PIN/Password reset form on elpl.org

    If you have never created a PIN and don't have an email address in your library account, call the Service Desk at 517-351-2420 or Contact the Library for technical assistance via email.  During open hours we can reset your PIN/Password.

    You can search the library's catalog from any page of elpl.org.  At the top of every page, look for a magnifying glass near the top right:

    Magnifying glass icon for library catalog search

    Click (or touch if you are using a touchscreen) the icon and a catalog search box will appear:

    Catalog search box on elpl.org

    Click the drop down menus to change where you are searching (catalog, FAQs, website) and how you are searching (keyword, title, series, author, etc.).