Frequently Asked Questions
Any resident of Genesee County or Tyrone Township can get a Genesee District Library card by going to one of the 18 locations, and filling out a Patron Registration form. People under the age of 18 must have a parent's or legal guardian's signature.
Those who live in the Mideastern Michigan Library Cooperative service area may also get a GDL card.
A patron of a participating Michicard library in Michigan may also get a card. Only print materials may be checked out with a Michicard. Genesee District Library policies and rules apply.
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Yes, you can! Go to My Account or My Millenium either from the GDL website www.thegdl.org or in the catalog. Type in your name and library card number, click on items currently checked out. The list will allow you to select the items you wish to renew. Some kinds of items are not renewable such as DVD's. If there is a hold on the item, it will not be renewed.
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The Board of Trustees members are appointed by the two governmental units that originally formed the district library, Genesee County and Grand Blanc Township. Each unit appoints four members.
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There are no daily fines for late books but there are some fees to note.
- To replace a library card - $2.00. A patron must use a viable card whenever he or she checks items out.
- Service fee for long overdue items. Once the computer generates a bill (the second reminder), a $2.00 fee per item is charged. This fee is non-refundable. No fee is charged when the first reminder is generated. The patron will not be allowed to check out more items until the matter is resolved.
- Lost items. A service fee of $2.00 per item is added to the replacement cost of a lost item. The fee is non-refundable. All materials vary in replacement cost according to the purchase price with these exceptions: Magazines ($5.00) and uncataloged paperbacks ($6.00).
- Found items: If a lost item is found and returned within six months of original check out date, a refund is given when the receipt for the amount paid is presented. A $5.00 administrative service will be deducted from the refund.
- Most libraries will send or receive faxes for you. The cost is $2.00 for every five pages.
You can pay your fines online with a major credit card.
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We will do our best to obtain it for you. Please ask your librarian or call the Inter-Library Loan Desk at 810-230-9629. Genesee District Library participates in several inter-library programs:
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All 19 locations have public access computers that are connected to the Internet through T1 connections.
All 19 locations have Microsoft Office and other software available.
You can ask your reference question online at Reference Online .
Genesee District Library subscribes to many specialized databases for you to use. Many are available from outside the library but some may be used only within a GDL library.
You must have your Genesee District Library card to use the databases from outside the library! You will be asked to enter the card number. When you are in the library, you will not be asked for the number. Click on Research at the top of any GDL website pages.
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There are regularly scheduled classes in the libraries about the Internet.See information and schedule.
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Reference Online! Click on the Reference Online on the GDL website homepage.
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On the left of the web pages is an area for Parents and Teachers. Go there. There is a link to e-mail the children's librarian. Include as much information as possible.
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Library cards must be renewed every year. You must come into the library and show identification to verify your address. Any changes in address, telephone number, e-mail address can be updated at that time. GDL makes every effort to have an up to date, accurate database of its users.
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Genesee District Library is now purchasing feature film videos in VHS and DVD formats. There are new policies for the feature films.
- A patron is allowed no more than five videos and/or six DVD's to be charged out on his/her record at a time
- DVD's are checked out for seven days, and they are not renewed
- Holds may not be placed on the feature films or DVD's
- You will not receive an overdue notice for DVD's but you will be billed. A late fee will be charged if a DVD is returned after closing on the date it is due.
Feature films in video cassette format are available in all 18 branches, but they are being phased out..
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Why does Genesee District Library use paper receipts instead of stamping the date due?
- The main reason is for accuracy. The paper receipt lists the title of the book and the date it is due back at a Genesee District Library.
- You will have a printed list of titles for yourself.
- The entire check out procedure is much faster, cleaner, and easier for everyone. It cuts your time at the circulation desk at least in half. Genesee District Library circulates so many more items (over 400,000 more in 2004 than 2003) that we must find timesaving methods that also provide a benefit to our patrons.
- There is no confusion about which date stamped is the correct one. Date due slips pasted in the back of books get filled up, and if it is not replaced immediately, it gets messy and confusing.
- The date is correct and matches the date in the computer database. There is no chance of the wrong date being stamped on the item.
- And, best of all, this timesaving feature allows GDL staff more time to spend helping patrons and selecting books and other materials that our patrons want to have available in their libraries.
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Why do I have to repeatedly type in my library card number when I am placing holds?
You don't have to. There is a better way. If you have a Genesee District Library card, you have access to the feature of the catalog called My Account or My Millenium. Type in your name and library card number. Now, you are in your own area of the catalog, and the computer knows it. Until you log out, it is your space. See the next question for how to place a hold.
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How do I place a hold?
Go to My Account from the left side of any GDL web page. You can also go directly to the catalog and select My Millenium or by clicking on Catalog at the very top of any web page.
Now, begin searching for the items you want by clicking on the "Search" button. When you have located an item, click on "Request," choose your pickup location, and then click on "Submit." When you are asked the date the item hold can be cancelled, you can fill in a date, but the default date is one year.
If you want to place another hold, click on "New Search" or "Start Over" at the top or bottom of the page.
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What is the Book Cart in the catalog?
The Book Cart allows you to collect many items on which you may be interested in placing holds. You can make that final decision later. Find something, click on "Add to Cart."
When you are finished selecting items, click on "Book Cart." Then you have two options. View and Export means that you will see your list and have the opportunity to e-mail the list to yourself or someone else, or save it. If you choose View and Request Your Saved Items, you can place the holds all at once by checking the items in your list you want.
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Can I see reviews and other information within the catalog about the items I have selected?
Yes, if it is available. Click on "Other Resources." Again, if it is available, you will see the link "Find at Syndetics." When you click there, you will find the information.
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How does GDL handle best sellers or high demand books?
GDL has a strong commitment to do everything possible to assure you that you will not have to wait any longer than necessary for books that are very popular. Beginning with getting the record for the book in the catalog before the book is even available, so that you can place holds. This helps us know how many copies to actually purchase, because we buy using a ratio of one book for every two holds. A John Grisham title may have 300 holds before the book is available. This means, yes, we buy 150 copies. They are usually out in the branches the day after we get the shipment, ready for you to pick up your hold. Of course, as more holds are placed, more copies are purchased keeping to the 2:1 ratio..
You can check for forthcoming books on our GDL website by using the Lists page.
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What is CybraryN?
CybraryN is software installed on the GDL public access computers in all branches. It does many things for you and us.
- It makes sure that only authorized users are using the computers. GDL patrons must type in their library card number to use a computer. GDL patrons are the people who have paid for the resources and services in the libraries.
- It controls the amount of time alotted to one person, so that everyone can have an opportunity to use a computer. The basic time for the Internet is 1/2 hour. If you need more time to type a paper, create a resume, etc., ask for a Document Computer. You will have up to two hours to use Microsoft Word.
- You will be warned before your time is up to save your documents. If you do not save them, they will be gone at the end of the alotted time, as the computer resets itself for the next user. If no one is waiting, you will automatically get ten minutes more.
- GDL can obtain statistics about the number of uses and what programs are being used. This is very important in making decisions about new or additional purchases with your tax money.
- Security is so important to protect the library resources, and CybraryN plays a large role in protecting the computer from misuse and harmful downloads.
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How will I be notified when my books on hold are ready to be picked up or of overdue books?
GDL has three options for you to choose from. You can be e-mailed, telephoned, or mailed a printed notice. If you wish to change how you are currently being notified, ask your branch librarian.
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What is "Research"?
Genesee District Library subscribes to a large number of online databases from several sources. These databases are maintained elsewhere by companies. They are up to date and indexed expertly. They are the places to go to look for information that is located in magazines, newspapers, medical resources, specialized periodicals such as Value Line, encyclopedias, auto repair manuals, etc. This is information that is updated at all times.
Other databases are interactive like Learn-a-Test which lets you practice for standardized tests like the Armed Forces tests or Homework Help where a student can get help from an online tutor. AncestoryPlus (a database of databases) is a wonderful tool for genealogists.
Still others are gigantic "warehouses" of information like Biography Index or Literature Resource Center.
Most are accessible from outside a GDL library, but a few can be used only in the libraries because of costs and copyright issues.
The wealth of information available is amazing. Check them out. You will need to type in your library card number.
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Why can’t I access or get error messages when I try to get into “My Account” or “My Millennium”?
If you cannot access or you get error messages when you try to access “My Account” or the catalog, it could be because your Internet browser is not compatible with the catalog software. These are the browsers that are compatible:
- Mozilla Firefox 0.8 and higher
- Microsoft Internet Explorer 6 and higher for Windows
- Microsoft Internet Explorer 5 and higher for Macintosh
- Mozilla 1.0 and higher
- Netscape Navigator 6.1 and higher
- Opera 7.0 and higher
- Safari for Macintosh
- Mozilla Camino for Macintosh
This is not an inclusive list. While you can use some older browsers, use of a modern browser will help you take advantage of all the capabilities. Innovative (the software) recommends that you use a browser that supports HTML and XHTML, Cascading Style Sheets, ECMAScript (standard behind scripting languages such as JavaScript), SSL, and W3C Document Object Model (DOM).
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What is MeLCat?
It is a statewide catalog, interlibrary loan and materials-delivery service. MeLCat offers library patrons simple and convenient Web-based access to a single, collective catalog of participating libraries' holdings.
The main benefit to GDL patrons is access to more library materials than any single library can provide and an increased level of service offered to patrons.
When you are searching in the GDL catalog, you will see a link that says Search MeLCat. That link will take you directly to that item record in MeLCat. If the item is available from another library, you will be able to request it with your Genesee District Library card number. It will be delivered to your branch library in a few days.
You can also go directly to the entire MeLCat catalog and search for what you need. Again, you can request items using your Genesee District Library card.
GDL's membership in MeLCat will give you one-stop searching via the Internet to quickly identify materials owned by all types of libraries statewide, access to valuable local history materials and digitized items, the ability to request libarary materials remotely from any place at any time, and online monitoring of the status of information requests.
Another benefit of GDL being in this statewide consortium is that you can go to any participating library and use your GDL library card to check out items.
The lending rules of the lending library apply, but you usually will have three weeks to use the item.
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What is a PIN?
To add another layer of security to your library record, you are asked to create a PIN (Personal Identificatin Number) to access My Record in the catalog.
If you are a new Patron or do not have a PIN all you need to do is enter your barcode and click submit. The system will then prompt you to enter a PIN.
A PIN is a string of 10 characters or less of l numbers that you make up. Only you will know what it is. It will not be known to anyone at Genesee District Library. Please make a record of it because you will need it each time you go into My Record.
You will need to call a GDL library to get your PIN reset or changed.
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