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Frequently Asked Questions

About MNLINK

Accounts and Logging In

Requesting Items

Other Questions

About MNLINK

What is MNLINK?

MNLINK is Minnesota's Library Information Network. MNLINK supports and develops a technology infrastructure and collaboration to facilitate equitable and shared access to library and information resources for all people of Minnesota. MNLINK provides access with a single point of entry into Minnesota's vast resources. The MNLINK program uses OCLC’s WorldCat Discovery for searching, requesting and viewing content online.

How does MNLINK work?

You place a request for an item that you want, and let the system do the work finding a library with a copy to lend. The vast majority of requests will be filled within 2 weeks, but some requests may take longer for a variety of reasons.

What is changing with MNLINK?

The search tool is updating to a modern and fully responsive design for easier use on any device you choose. Some functionality will go away, such as the ability to save searches.

What is NOT changing?

The system’s requesting form will remain the same. No requests will be lost when we change to the new design.

Where can I get help using MNLINK?

MNLINK encourages users to talk to the staff at their local library first. They may put individuals in touch with their central resource sharing team when issues need escalation. You may also contact MNLINK staff for system issues through the Contact MNLINK link on our website at www.mnlink.org or www.mnlinkgateway.org.

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Accounts and Logging In

How do I get an account?

The new program uses a geo-located IP authentication service for online content, which means you shouldn’t need to Login to search if you are within the boundaries of Minnesota. For requesting material you only need a valid library card in good standing from your Minnesota library.

I seem to be having trouble logging in, what should I do?

The first thing to do is to check your barcode number with your local library to make sure your card is still active and in good standing. Overdues, expired cards, etc. are all reasons for a card being rejected on MNLINK. Contacting your local library is the right first step for resolution. If you are a MnPALS Consortium member it is important to remember that your password must be entered in all capital letters. Using lower case letters will result in a failed login.

What is My Library?

The Login page Pickup Location menu's default option of My Library will define the process as the location that issued your library card. You can select an alternate location from the menu if your library card is registered at a different location that you use regularly. The Login Pickup Location will limit your delivery destination options to a certain group of libraries. For example, My Library will limit a card issued by the Great River Regional Library to request delivery destinations of the Great River Regional Library System.

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Requesting Items

How can I place a request in MNLINK?

Placing a request in MNLINK is as easy as one, two, three. Using your library card from a participating MNLINK library you:

  1. Search MNLINK for desired materials.
  2. Select a title to view more details and access the Request item button.
  3. Access online content immediately or retrieve materials from your local library when they have arrived. Your library will contact you when material is available for pickup.

Is there a charge for requesting materials via MNLINK?

MNLINK is supported by your tax dollars. As such, you are not charged for delivery of your requests and you are able to search for and use items throughout the state. Some libraries do place a limit on the total number of requests you can have at one time, but all of the participating libraries are providing free access.

How long does it take to fill a request?

It is impossible to say how quickly any given request will take to arrive. Availability, popularity, and location are all important factors in determining how long it takes for a request to arrive. We do our best to fill every request as quickly as possible.

What libraries provide material?

Most of Minnesota’s Public Libraries, Colleges and Universities lend material through MNLINK. Each participating library determines which materials are available for statewide resource sharing and what they may need to retain for their own local needs.

What is available through MNLINK?

Each participating library determines what material they are willing to lend and what they will allow their users to borrow. Items that are currently in demand at a local institution will not be available for resource sharing. An item may indicate it is available at a certain library, but that does not guarantee it is available for interlibrary loan lending. A library will only lend an item to another library when there isn’t local demand. Resource sharing has no process in place for adding names to a waiting/hold list.

Can I get ebooks/downloadable audiobooks through MNLINK?

Ebooks from the Ebooks Minnesota collection should soon be available with one click via "Access Online." Many libraries license ebooks and downloadable audiobooks for their own registered users as their license allows.

Why did I only receive 1 disc when requesting a complete set?

Searching MNLINK will display a master record, which libraries use to designate their ownership. This record may not reveal that a library packages the individual parts or discs separately. Many libraries will only fill a given request with a single part for tracking purposes.

If you did not specify which part/disc you wanted, libraries will send the first disc when they aren't able to send the set. To specify the part/disc you want, you will need to change the request information before you submit. To do this, find the item you are looking for and then click Request Item. If you haven't logged in it will ask you to, and then bring you to the request form. On this page you will want to change the title of your item by adding the disc number in brackets at the end. So a request that has in the title "Law and Order: SVU Complete 2nd Season" should be changed to read "Law and Order: SVU Complete 2nd Season [Disc 2]".

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Other Questions

Removing Your Old Barcode from Your Browsers Auto-fill

Modern browsers have the option of saving information filled into websites. When you go to a website with saved information, it will automatically fill it in for you. If your library barcode changes this can cause problems as your browser will continue to try and fill in your previously saved information. Listed below are the methods of removing this information from several popular browsers.

Mozilla Firefox

  • Windows
    • In the top right, click the three horizontal bars.
    • Select Options.
    • Switch to the Security tab.
    • Click on Saved Passwords.
    • To eliminate all existing saved usernames and passwords, click Remove all. To eliminate specific saved passwords, click View Saved Passwords and delete just those associated with mnlinkgateway.org. If you wish, deselect the option to Remember passwords. This will prevent passwords from being saved in the future. In older versions of Firefox, this option is in the Privacy tab instead of Security.
  • Mac OS X
    • In the menu bar, open the Tools menu.
    • Select Options.
    • Switch to the Security tab.
    • Click on Saved Passwords.
    • To eliminate all existing saved passwords, click Remove all. To eliminate specific saved passwords, click View Saved Passwords and delete just those associated with mnlinkgateway.org. If you wish, deselect the option to Remember passwords. This will prevent passwords from being saved in the future. In older versions of Firefox, this option is in the Privacy tab instead of Security.

Internet Explorer

To delete individual passwords: when using IE and a saved password is pre-filled on your screen, simply highlight the username that displays there, and press the Delete key to remove just that one username/password combination from IE. Internet Explorer will then prompt you to confirm that you do want to delete it.

To delete all saved passwords:

  • Open the Tools menu.
  • Select Internet Options.
  • Click Content.
  • Under AutoComplete, click Settings.
  • Click Delete AutoComplete history&hellips;
  • To prevent AutoComplete in the future, make sure AutoComplete is deselected for User names and passwords on forms, and then click on OK.

Chrome

  • Open the Chrome menu using the button on the far left of the browser toolbar that looks like three horizontal bars.
  • Choose Settings from the left-hand menu.
  • Click Show advanced settings at the bottom of the page.
  • Click Manage saved passwords in the “Passwords and forms” section.
    • Windows, Linux, and Chrome devices: In the Passwords dialog that appears, hover over the site whose password you’d like to remove and click the X that appears.
    • Mac OS X: Remove the site passwords in the Keychain Access dialog that appears.
  • More information on managing website passwords in Chrome can be found in the Google Help pages.

Safari

  • Open the Safari menu.
  • Select Preferences.
  • Switch to the Autofill tab.
  • Click the Edit button for Usernames and Passwords.
  • Delete the entry that corresponds with mnlinkgateway.org.

Opera

  • Open the Tools menu.
  • Select Advanced.
  • Click on Password Manager.
  • Delete the entry that corresponds with mnlinkgateway.org.

This information has been adapted from Boston University Information Services & Technology's How to Remove a Saved Password from a Browser.

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