Who needs a password?
All residents, guests, and families using a Summit County Library Card will be required to use a password starting March 28, 2023.
Library Account Passwords start March 28
03/03/23
Nationally, the last few years have seen an alarming increase in cyber crime. Malware and ransomware attacks, data breaches, and identity theft have become daily features in the news. Libraries have a long history of protecting the privacy of library users. For this reason, we are taking steps to protect patrons' personal and reading history data.
Starting on Tuesday, March 28th, 2023 access to your personal information and reading history in your online library catalog will be protected by passwords. Each library patron will have a default password to get started, and will be prompted to reset the default password to a password of your choosing.
Passwords will also be necessary to access Libby by Overdrive. You will be logged out of your Libby account and will need to visit your library account (see My Account at the top of this page) to update your temporary password. (See instructions below)
What do I need to do before Monday, July 31?
1) Visit your Library Account at: https://summit.marmot.org/MyAccount/Home
2) Try your temporary password, the first 3 letters of your last name (lower case) and the last 4 digits of your phone number.
3) You will be prompted to reset your temporary password to a permanent password of your choice. Passwords will need six alpha-numeric characters.
4) Temporary Password doesn't work? Click "Forgot Password? Reset My Password" to have an email sent to you with the reset link.
4) Have you chosen your permanent password and are getting this error message? Just refresh your screen and you should be logged into your account.
5) Still stuck? Call or email your local Summit County Library to check your account information: [email protected]
Thank you in advance for working with library staff to better protect your privacy.
We encourage you to treat your library card just like a credit card. A library account unprotected by a password could be used by bad actors to check out materials for which patrons will be responsible, resulting in replacement fees if those items aren’t returned. Learn more about the importance of carrying your library card here.
Question? Email [email protected] or call 970-668-4138
Password FAQ
Who needs a password?
What is my default password?
How do I reset my password?
What if I don’t know my library card number?
What if my temporary password doesn't work?
What do I need a password for?
What if I don't have an email address?
What won't I need my library account password for?
Why is the library adding passwords?
What happens to patrons who never reset their default password?
What is my default password?
Your default password is the first three letters of your last name in lower case, followed by the last four digits of your phone number.
How do I reset my password?
The new password requirement goes live on Tuesday, March 28, 2023. You’ll have to wait for that day to begin this process.
-
Starting on March 28, 2023 on, go to www.summitcountylibraries.org.
-
Click on "My Account" in the upper right corner.
-
Enter your library card number starting with the 420 and your temporary password.
-
Your temporary password is the first 3 letters of your last name and the last 4 digits of your phone number.
-
You will then prompted to reset your password to a permament password of your choice.
-
What if I don’t know my library card number?
Don't worry we do. Please call 970-668-4138 or email [email protected]. We will need to verify your contact information in order to give you the card number over phone or email.
In the future, we do want library patrons to know and carry their Summit County library card. Please read through this news post with tips and tricks on why and how to do this in the future.
What if my temporary password doesn't work?
-
Visit your library account: https://summit.marmot.org/MyAccount/Home
-
Click "Forgot Password? Reset My Password"
-
You will receive an email with instructions on how to reset your password.
-
Don't have an email address? Call the library at 970-668-4138 or email [email protected] and a staff member will verify your contact information and reset your temporary password.
-
The phones may be quite busy the week of March 28th. You are welcome to email [email protected] if there is a long wait.
What do I need a password for?
Starting on March 28, 2023, your library card password will be required to access the following:
-
Place holds at https://summit.marmot.org/ including Prospector holds
-
Renew items
-
Changie your account settings (name, physical address, phone number, email address, etc.)
-
Access certain databases (example Newsbank or Consumer Reports)
-
Use Libby to access eBooks, eAudiobooks and eMagazines
What if I don't have an email address?
Email addresses are a great way to securely connect you to the library. They improve your ability to know when your holds are ready, when to renew items, and to learn about library events and resources. We recommend creating an email address and circulation desk staff can help anyone set up a free email address. However, library staff can also set a permament password on your behalf via phone, email or an in-person visit.
What won't I need my library account password for?
- To visit the library
- To Browse the catalog
- To use public internet computers, copiers, printers, or scanners
- To use the self-checkout machines
- To access WiFi
- To participate in library events
- To access Hoopla eBooks, eAudiobooks, Music, Movies and TV Shows
- Kanopy streaming films
- Various databases on our website including New York Times, Tumblebooks, Book Flix and more.
Why is the library adding passwords?
The library profession prioritizes the protection of patron privacy as a core tenant of the Library Bill of Rights. Colorado law also requires that “reasonable steps” be taken to protect personally identifiable information. Implementing passwords for access to patron data is a reasonable step.
Passwords are for more than just keeping patron reading history private. Personally identifiable information such as personal contact information can be more easily accessed without passwords in place – information that has the potential to result in identity theft or other crimes.
Colorado law has recently changed such that this level of security is required. There have been dramatic nationwide and worldwide increases in cybercrime, identity theft, and the commodification of PII. This level of security is more important now than in the past.
What happens to patrons who never reset their default password?
Patrons have a grace period from March 28 – July 31 to reset their default password. Once libraries close on the evening of July 31, any remaining default passwords will be updated to randomly generated passwords, effectively locking patrons’ accounts. Patrons will have to contact the library at that point for assistance resetting the password.
