Lawrence Public Library has a new app!
Search the catalog, register for events, track your reading, explore book lists, read blog posts, and more, all from your smartphone or tablet with the new Lawrence Public Library app! It is now available to download for free on the App Store and Google Play. Just search for “Lawrence Public Library” or “LPL” on your app marketplace of choice.
To get started, log in with your library card number or username and your PIN. When you’ve signed in, you’ll be taken to your home screen, featuring up-to-date information about any of your checkouts that are overdue or due soon, any holds ready to be picked up, and if you have any fees due (which should only ever occur due to replacement costs for long overdue items since there are no overdue fees at Lawrence Public Library).
But that's only scratching the surface. What can you do with the app once you get logged in?
1. Access your library card from your phone
As soon as you log in to the app, you'll have access to a digital version of your library card on your phone. Just tap the library card icon in the top-right corner of the home screen, then scan your on-screen library card at any of our self-checkouts (like you would a physical card) to check out your items. If you run into any problems when scanning, you may need to increase your phone's screen brightness.
You can also save multiple cards under the same profile. So if you’re swinging by the library to pick up a hold for a loved one, you can now have their library card information saved to the app. Or if you take the whole family to the library, you can now easily switch between your own library card and your family members' cards when checking out. By keeping your borrowing history separate from your family members', you can ensure you'll have a more personalized experience on the app, receiving more catalog recommendations that reflect your interests instead of an eclectic mix of all your loved ones' reading history.
2. Scan any book’s barcode or ISBN to see if it’s in our collection
With the LPL app, you can scan any book anywhere, and if it’s in the collection, the app will pull up its catalog record. Maybe a friend has recommended you the book they just finished, but they’ve already promised to lend it to someone else next. Now you can scan the barcode on the back and place a hold in a matter of minutes.
Just open the Search tab and click the barcode icon in the top right corner. This function is only available if you allow the app permission to access your camera, so if you want to search by barcode, make sure your permissions are updated in your phone’s settings.
3. Customize your home screen to your preferences, so you see what interests you first
When you first log in to the app, you will have nine modules automatically populate the home screen:
- New at the library
- View on order titles
- Available from your For Later shelf
- Staff lists
- Events
- My upcoming events
- News
- Blog posts
- Online resources
But did you know you can pick your favorites and shuffle the order to your preference? Go to the app settings and tap “Customize home screen," then rearrange the modules as you see fit. You can also select or deselect any of the modules to add and remove them from your home screen at any time.
You can even personalize the various catalog carousels by using the filters in each module to narrow your search to exactly the kinds of titles you’re looking for. It's always fun to see what's New at the Library in every genre, but if you want to know specifically what paranormal romance fiction books for adults have recently been added to the collection, applying a few filters will help you narrow down the results faster, so you're getting straight to the kinds of books that interest you most.
4. Track your reading progress using My Shelves
Each library card user has a section of the app called My Shelves, which you may already be using on our website. Now you can keep track of your reading in the app as well.
Add books from our collection onto your shelves as you decide what you want to read next (on your For Later shelf), what you’re currently reading (on your In Progress shelf), and titles you’ve finished (on your Completed shelf).
You can also set the privacy of your shelves to show off your immaculate taste to other library users, or choose to remain mysterious by keeping your shelves private. The option is yours, and you can always adjust the privacy settings if you change your mind.
5. Register for (or mark your interest in) upcoming library events
Similar to how it works on our website, you can search through all the upcoming library events and filter by date, audience age, event type, and more. When you register for an event or mark that you’re interested, it’s recorded in your personal My Events page. You can also cancel any existing event registrations to let staff know if you can no longer attend the event, so your spot can open up for someone else to attend.
6. Keep up with your holds, checked out items, and borrowing history
In the My Borrowing tab, you can manage your holds and checked-out items. If you get a notification that a book is due soon but aren't quite finished with it, simply find the item under “Checked Out” and tap the “Renew” button. If no one else has a hold on it, the title will be renewed and your due date extended.
It can be especially difficult to plan for your next read while waiting on several holds at once. In the My Borrowing tab under “Holds,” you can now arrange your items by hold position to see which one is most likely to be ready next.
You can also look through your borrowing history to see what you have checked out in the past and when you returned them. So if you reach August before you realize you’re a bit behind on writing down the books you’ve completed for our Summer Reading Challenge, this feature is a great way to remind yourself of all the great titles you've read throughout the summer.
7. Create Saved Searches for the categories you like to search for often
If you find yourself searching within the same categories every time you check the catalog, you might consider creating your own Saved Searches.
Simply make your search, then click the heart icon under the search bar. The app will then ask you to name your Saved Search. Now, each time you open the search bar, your Saved Searches will appear, so you can easily select them and begin your search again.
8. Share app feedback to help us improve
With this being a newly released app, we are eager to hear about your experiences. We won’t be able to immediately make changes to the app itself, but we will be sure to read and pass along your thoughts to the app developers at BiblioCommons to see how they can improve your experience going forward.
One way the development team is already trying to improve the experience is by implementing push notifications, so you can receive smartphone notifications outside the app for specific reminders, like when your holds are ready or when an item is almost due.
This app is just the newest way the library is trying to meet the diverse needs of our community. We hope you enjoy the convenience, and we can't wait to hear from you about how we can continue to improve your experience at the library!
About Lawrence Public Library
Lawrence Public Library (LPL for short) is a community hub that believes in the power of connecting with each other through shared knowledge and resources. Located in the heart of Downtown Lawrence, Kansas, we are committed to providing a space where our community can learn, connect, create, and grow through access to our vast collections, resources, services, programs, and knowledgeable staff. The library is supported by tax dollars, record-breaking book sales and philanthropic efforts by the LPL Friends & Foundation, and the dedicated efforts of more than 300 volunteers. All are welcome.