Frequently Asked Questions

To log in to your library account, click or touch the blue and white Log In/My ELPL button located in the top right corner of every page of elpl.org:

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.

Once those steps are finished you will be taken to your My 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.

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:

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.

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.

When viewing the items checked out to your library account you may see some items without an author or title.  Those items will be labeled as "Undetermined Item."  We've included a screenshot of a library account showing this phenomenon.  

These entries appear when you have MeLCat items checked out on your account.  Since these are titles that ELPL does not own there is not an entry for them in our database.  So when our web catalog shows you the items checked out to your account, and it can't find an entry for those MeLCat items, it lists them as an Undetermined Item.  The correct due date will show up.  

These items are still eligible for the one renewal allowed under the MeLCat system.

When you check these items out from the library, or when they are checked out for you using our 24/7 Lockers, the title will display on your printed or emailed receipt.

Yes, the library accepts payments online for any library fines totaling $5 or more.  To pay fines online:

1.  Log into your library account., opens a new window
2. After logging in visit your My Library Dashboard.
3. Scroll down the page and on the left hand side you will see your fines total displayed, if you have incurred any fines.
4. Click or press your fines total and then click or press the blue and white Pay Fines button.

You can renew your checked out items from the My Library Dashboard page when you are logged into your library account.

Here's a link to an FAQ that shows you how to log in to your library account., opens a new window

Once you are logged in, click/touch the blue button located at the top right corner.  It should now display your username indicating that you are logged in.  Choose Checked Out from the drop down menu.

You can now see all your checked out items and choose which to renew.

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:

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:

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:

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.