Your user account will allow you to:
- View the items you have checked out and the due dates
- Renew items that you have checked out (if they are not overdue)
- Update your home mailing address and contact information
- Create and save bibliographies
- Request items through the catalog’s reservation feature
To request your user account, fill out the OPALS Request for a User Account form. You will receive an email with your username and password after your request has been processed during business hours.
Once you have received an email with your username and password, you can log in to your OPALS user account. View the steps below to change your password and explore your user account.
Important Things to Note
Items on Reserve
This section shows the status of your reservations. If a date is shown in the Hold Expires column, then this item is currently available and will be mailed to you. You will receive an email when it is mailed. If the Hold Expires column is empty for an item, then this item is currently checked-out. It will be mailed to you when it is returned. You can view the due date for the current borrower by searching in the catalog and viewing the Item Record.
Lost/Damage/Overdue History
This section shows items that you have returned that were checked in past their due dates or items that were never returned and were declared lost. The Media Center is flexible about due dates, and there are no penalties. Do not be concerned if you have items listed here. It does not in any way affect your ability to borrow from the Media Center.
My Request
This page lists the items that you have requested to borrow. If a number shows under “# on hold”, the item will be mailed to you the next business day. If a number shows under #Reserve, the item is not currently available but is reserved for you. You will receive an email when your request is mailed. You may cancel any of your reservations by clicking the Cancel button at the end of the line.
Searching the Catalog
Requesting Resources
Creating Bibliographies
Pathfinders and Other Ideas for Finding Your Next Study