Set patron password and username options

To set the password and username options offered to patrons using Polaris PowerPAC or Mobile PAC:

Important:
Complete this procedure for each branch that allows patron self-registration.

In the Administration Explorer tree view, select Profiles > PAC.
Double-click Patron access options.
The Patron Access Options dialog appears.
Select the Log In tab.

To allow patrons to change their passwords online, select the Patron can change password checkbox.
To specify an override password for staff, perform these steps:

Note:
A staff member can use the staff override password to help a patron access the account in case the password has been forgotten. Once in the account, if the Patron can change password box is selected, the patron can specify a new password by selecting a link on the PAC patron account page.

Select the Enable staff override checkbox.
Type a password in the PAC override password box. The password can be 4 to 16 characters (letters and numbers), but cannot include spaces.

(System level only) To allow patrons to set up and change usernames, select Enable patron username.

A patron can enter their username instead of a barcode when signing in to use PAC functions such as viewing their account or placing a hold request. The username is displayed in the patron account in PAC, and the patron barcode is masked to display only the last four digits. The username is also accepted for signing in to third-party self-service devices (devices that rely on SIP or SIP2) and in Polaris ExpressCheck.

The username must be a minimum of 4 and a maximum of 50 alphanumeric characters, and cannot contain spaces. It must begin with a letter. The following special characters are also allowed: - (dash), _ (underscore), . (period), and @ (at). The username must not contain two special characters next to each other, and cannot match an existing patron barcode.

Note:
Patron usernames are not available to staff. Staff cannot assign them during patron registration, they are not searchable or available for reports, and they are not displayed in the patron record. Only patrons can create or change usernames.

(System level only) To allow patrons to receive an email message containing a time-sensitive link to reset their password, select E-mail reset password link.

When this option is set, the PAC, MobilePAC, or Polaris ExpressCheck sign in pages include a Forgot password? link. When the patron selects the link, an email message containing a time-sensitive link to reset their password is sent to both the primary and alternate email addresses in the patron record. If no email address is present in the patron record, the system displays an error message.

Note:
If the patron has forgotten both their username and their password, they must contact the library. Staff can assign a new password. Using this and the barcode, the patron can set up a new username.

To restrict passwords to numeric characters (PINs), select Passwords must be numeric only.

This option is useful if you use Polaris Phone Attendant and allow patrons to sign in by telephone to hear information about their accounts. (Alternatively, you can allow alphanumeric passwords from the Phone Attendant. See Set Phone Attendant Options for Specific Lines.) If you choose to enable this option, existing alphanumeric passwords will continue to work but only numeric passwords are accepted when a new account is created or when a patron password is changed from the staff client or from PAC.

Select Apply to apply your settings and continue working with Patron Access options, or select Save to save your settings and close the Patron Access options dialog.
Select File > Save.