Frequently Asked Questions

Can I receive notifications via text or email?

Physical items (books, DVDs, CDs, etc.):

You can sign up to receive hold notifications via text and/or email. We can send you a notification when your holds are ready to pick up, a reminder 3 days before your items are due, and a notice when you have overdue items.

If we do not have an email address on file for you, we will automatically send you a paper notice in the mail when your holds are ready and when you have overdue items, even if we have a text number on file for you.

To edit your contact information and opt in or out of email and text notifications:

1. Visit metrolibrary.org and click My Account at the top.
2. In the window that pops up, enter all the digits of your library card number. Your password/PIN is your full last name.
   • If you have an ECARD number, enter that word along with the trailing digits with no spaces between them. For example: ecard1234567
   • If your card number has a lowercase letter "c" at the end, do not include it when you enter your card number.
3. After you have signed in, click on your name in the top right corner of the page (or the head and shoulders icon if you are on a mobile device) and then select Contact Information from the drop-down menu. From this page, you can update your phone number and email address and opt in or out of email and text notifications.

The coming due reminders are sent 3 days before an item is due. Our system will automatically attempt to renew all checkouts 3 days before they are due, but if they have holds on them, have already been renewed the maximum number of times, or are ineligible for renewals (such as ILLs or Wi-Fi hotspots) you will receive the "coming due" text or email notice. For more information on autorenewals, visit this link.

The hold ready reminders are sent within a couple of hours of the item being placed on the hold shelf.

The overdue reminder is sent 15 days after an item is due and again at 30 days if the item hasn't been returned.

Email notifications are primarily for libbyapp.com users, since push notifications are available for the Libby mobile app.

To change your email address for Libby notifications:

Note: To enable email notifications in the mobile app, disable or disallow push notifications for Libby in your device settings, then follow these steps.

1. At libbyapp.com (or in Libby, after push notifications are disabled), go to
2. Select Settings, then Manage Notifications.
3. Select Change this? at the bottom of the menu (next to the setting for email notices).
4. Enter your email and select Next.