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4.4. Patron Passwords

Last Updated 08/28/2025

Verifying and Resetting a Patron Password

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Staff may verify a patron's PIN from the staff client using the Verify Credentials function. PINs may be reset from the OPAC or through the staff client. 

Verifying the Patron's Password

A patron's existing password is not displayed in patron records for security reasons. If staff are assisting patrons to verify whether their password is correct, there are two options that allow staff to verify passwords without view the password:

From the Patron Account

1. Click on the Other menu in the patron account.
2. Select Test Password from the drop-down menu.
   
3. If possible, have the patron type their PIN in the password field of the Verify Credentials screen. If it's not possible for the patron to type it, staff may type it, but recommend the patron update thier PIN from the OPAC to maintain security.
4. Click the Verify button.
   

If the PIN is incorrect, you will get the following error message: "Failure testing credentials."

If the PIN is correct, you will get the following confirmation message: "Success testing credentials."

From the Circulation Menu

To verify a patron's PIN wihtout navigating to their account first:

1. From the Circulation menu, select Verify Credentials.
   
   
2. Scan the patron's barcode into the barcode field.
3. If possible, have the patron type their PIN in the password field of the Verify Credentials screen. If it's not possible for the patron to type it, staff may type it, but recommend the patron update thier PIN from the OPAC to maintain security.
4. Click the Verify button.
   
5. If the verification attempt fails, you can access the patron's account to update the PIN by clicking the Retrieve button.

Resetting Patron’s Password

A patron’s password may be reset from the OPAC or through the staff client. To reset the password from the staff client, click the Retrieve button after verifying PIN, or retrieve the patron record as described in the section Searching for Patrons. Navigate to the Edit tab.

1. Enter the desired password conforming to your library's policy or patron request. As an alternative, you may select the Generate Password button next to the Password field.
2. A new number will populate the Password text box. Note the new password.
3. Save the patron record.
4. The screen will refresh and the new password will be suppressed from view.

Alternatively, patrons may reset their passwords themselves via email. From the Edit tab:

1. Verify the patron's email address.
2. Click the Send Password Reset Link button.
3. The patron will receive an email with a link allowing them to reset their own PIN.