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Library card passwords are now required

Bud Werner Library
For Steamboat Pilot & Today

As cyber crime continues to escalate globally, malware and ransomware attacks, data breaches and identity theft are frequent features in the news. Meanwhile, public libraries continue a long tradition of prioritizing privacy protection for all patrons. This is why Bud Werner Library and all of its Marmot library partners in Colorado have added a password requirement for all library cards starting Tuesday, March 28.

Libraries are taking this step to protect your private personal information, including your reading history, email address, phone number and home address. From now on, access to your personal information and reading history in the library catalog will require you to enter a password.

Who does this affect?

All residents, guests, Steamboat Springs school students and families using a Steamboat Springs library card are now required to use a password.



How to set up your Bud Werner library card password

1.     Go to SteamboatLibrary.org.

2.     Click on “Account” in the upper right corner. 



3.     Your default password will be the first three letters of your last name in lower case, followed by the last four digits of your library card number. (Don’t know your library card number? Call the library at 970-879-0240.)

4. You will be prompted to reset your password.

Any problems? Call the library at 970-879-0240 and a staff member will help you.

What library services require using your library card password? And what don’t?

Your library card password is now required to place holds online, renew items online, change your account settings (name, physical address, phone number, email address, etc.), access databases from outside the library, and use Libby/Overdrive to access eBooks, eAudiobooks and eMagazines.

You won’t need to use this library card password to simply browse the library catalog, use guest computers, use the self-check machines, or log on to Hoopla and Kanopy.

When do you need a library card password?

Now and forever.

Why are our libraries doing this?

As a public library, Bud Werner Library prioritizes your privacy protection as a core tenet of the Library Bill of Rights. Colorado law also requires the library to take “reasonable steps” to protect personally identifiable information to help combat identity theft. Along with all of our fellow Marmot libraries, this is why a password will now be required for access to your library data. Adding a password to your library card will help keep identifiable information like personal contact details more secure. Library card passwords ensure your reading history is private, too.

Stuck in the process? Got more questions? Need some help?

Bud Werner Library has built a comprehensive Library Card Password Information FAQ page (including video tutorials) at SteamboatLibrary.org/Password. It’s also linked from the library home page. The FAQs should answer most questions about your default password and how to reset your password. If you have additional questions or need assistance, call the library at 970-879-0240.

The library staff thanks our community in advance for working together to better protect everyone’s privacy.


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