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Mobile App Basics & How-To

This guide will cover the basics to help you get familiarized with the new Brampton Library mobile app. If you’re reading this guide for the first time, we recommend following along with the app open on your tablet or smartphone. Let’s start exploring the great tools and features available on the Home Screen. 

Quick Navigation:

 New Releases

"New Releases" features items newly added to the library's collection, which are available for you to browse, borrow, or place a hold. 

Find this interesting? You can also view more shelves:

  1. Tap "More" under the "New Releases" shelf.
  2. Scroll down to view all featured shelves. Swipe left on any shelf to have a quick view of books featured.
  3. Tap on any book cover to bring up the "Item Detail" for that title. From here, you can see the item availability and borrow or place a hold. 

"New Releases" shelves are regularly updated. Check back as often as you like to discover great new items and recommended reads. 

Search

The Search Bar provides a quick and convenient way to search the library's collection. 

Search for an item

  1. Tap the Search bar (magnifying glass).
  2. Type in you're looking for, then tap "Return" or "Enter."
  3. To narrow down your search results, you can:
    1. Tap "Search by." Select an option to help refine your search, then tap "Apply."
    2. Tap "Limit by." Select your format preference (i.e. Book, DVD), then tap "Apply."
    3. Tap "Sort by." Select your sorting preference (i.e. Relevance, Publication Date), then tap "Apply." 

Place an item on hold

  1. Tap on any book cover to bring up the ‘Item Detail’ for that title.
  2. Tap "Place a Hold"* 
  3. Tap the drop-down menu (down arrow) next to "Pickup Library." Tap to select the library you will pick up your hold from.
  4. Tap "Place a Hold."

*If you haven't already done so, you may be prompted to sign in with your Library Card and PIN.

My Bookshelf

"My Bookshelf" gives you a list of items you have currently borrowed on your account. This is a great place to keep track of your due dates and renew items.

Please note that your eBook or eAudiobook loans will also appear under "My Bookshelf." To access, read, or listen to your loans, you will need to download the cloudLibrary app on your device. See Getting Started with cloudLibrary for more details.

Renew an item

  1. Tap the "My Bookshelf" button on the home screen or menu.
  2. Tap the "Renew" button under the item listing, then tap "Yes" to continue.

Please note that the "Renew" function is not available for eBook and eAudiobook loans. In addition, the "Renew" function may be unavailable if another customer has requested the item.

Return an item

The "Return" feature is only available for eBooks & eAudiobooks in the mobile app. All print books, DVDs, Launchpads, and other physical items will need to be returned to any of our 8 branch locations. 

  1. Tap the "My Bookshelf" button on the home screen or menu. 
  2. Tap the "Return" button under the item listing, then tap "Yes" to confirm.

My Account

"My Account" is a great tool to help you manage your library account. From "My Account," you can access your bookshelf, suspend or cancel your holds, view your loan history, check for outstanding fines, and more.

Suspend a hold

  1. Tap "Holds" to view your list of holds.
  2. Tap the "Suspend" button under the item listing, then tap "Yes" to continue.
  3. Tap the Calendar button to select a date to suspend your hold until, then tap "Set"once you've made your selection.
  4. To complete this action on the item, tap "Suspend." 

Please note that the "Suspend" function is unavailable for eBook and eAudiobook holds.

Cancel a hold

  1. Tap "Holds" to view your list of holds.
  2. Tap the "Cancel" button under the item listing, then tap "Yes" to confirm.

View your loan (or reading) history 

  1. Tap the "My Account" button on the home screen or menu.
  2. Tap "Loan History" to see a list of items you have previously borrowed. 

If you do not have any history available to view, and would like to track your loan history, please contact This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

Review fees and fines

  1. Tap the "My Account" button on the home screen or menu.
  2. Tap "Fees and fines" to see any outstanding balance on your account.

Late fees can be paid at library locations.

For more information, please see "How do I pay late fees?" on our How Do I… page.

Check messages and notifications

  1. Tap the "My Account" button on the home screen or menu.
  2. Tap "Messages" bar under "Notifications" to view a message. 

Logging out

  1. Tap the "My Account" button on the home screen or menu.
  2. Scroll down and tap "Log Out."

My Card

"My Card" gives you instant access to your virtual library card. Simply tap "My Card" — that's it! 

Whether you need to check your library card number to log into a digital resource or pull up and scan your library card when borrowing items from a Brampton Library branch, "My Card" can be used for quick reference anytime. 

Self-Checkout

"Self-Checkout" gives you the ability to scan and check out an item at your library, using your smartphone or tablet! For the time being, the self-checkout tool can be used as another way to renew items you have borrowed.

  1. Tap ‘Self-Checkout’
  2. Tap ‘Scan’ when you’re ready.
  3. If you’re using the ‘Self-Checkout’ tool for the first time, you will get a permission request from your device asking whether you allow the Brampton Library app to take pictures and record video:
    1. If you accept, use the camera on your phone or tablet to align the barcode at the back of the book in the viewfinder. Make sure the red horizontal line is on the barcode. Once scanned, the item will be checked out to your account. If the item is already checked out to your account, it will be renewed for an additional loan period.
    2. If you do not accept, you can always choose to enter a barcode manually instead. Tap ‘Add’ once you’ve entered the barcode, and the item will automatically check out to your account. Tap ‘Finish’ to continue scanning more items or exit this tool.

Digital Library

"Digital Library" helps you discover online collections and resources available for free with your Brampton Library card. 

Start exploring by tapping a category to view more. For example, tap on "eLearning" to learn about more resources — like Mango Languages and Lynda.com — which can help you with your personal and professional development goals. If you're interested in a resource, you can tap "Visit" to login (with your library card) and start using that resource. 

For more information and instructions to help you get started, please see visit our eResources page.

Events

"Events" helps you easily keep track of programs and events offered by Brampton Library.

To start using "Events," you can:

  • Scroll down to view featured programs and events, or
  • Use the keyword search bar if you have a specific event type you're looking for, or
  • Use the "Filter By" options to narrow your search and show events of interest to you. For example, you can tap the "Date" filter to see all programs happening within a specific date range. You can select multiple filters to further refine your results.

When you find an event you’re interested in, tap "View More." This will pull up details about when and where the event is happening, what the event is about, and how to register to participate. 

Social Media

Social Media offers so many great ways to stay engaged with your library online. Following Brampton Library on social media is a rewarding experience that can help you learn something new and discover other ways to stay connected with your community.

  1. Tap "Social Media."
  2. Tap on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, or YouTube to be redirected to Brampton Library’s account page. ‘Follow’ us to stay connected and see Brampton Library content in your feed. 

Branches

"Branches" gives you quick access to a list of Brampton Library’s branch locations and their information. 

Tap on a branch to pull up more details on hours of operation, contact information, and directions. 

If you have location services turned on, your results will default to "Nearest," meaning the closest branches to your current location will conveniently appear at the top of the list. 

Scan ISBN

"Scan ISBN" is a built-in tool that can help you benefit from your library membership (and save money, too). Have you found something in a bookstore you're interested in reading, but aren't sure you want to buy it? Use the "Scan ISBN" tool to see if Brampton Library has the book, and you might be able to borrow it instead!

  1. Tap the "Scan ISBN" button on the home screen.
  2. When you're ready, tap "Scan an ISBN."
  3. If you're using the "Scan ISBN" tool for the first time, you will get a permission request from your device asking whether you allow the Brampton Library app to take pictures and record video.
    1. If you accept, use the camera on your phone or tablet to align the barcode at the back of the book in the viewfinder. The item will scan and show results if an item with a matching ISBN is in the library's collection.
    2. If you do not accept, you can choose the "Enter an ISBN" option instead of using the "Scan" feature. Tap "Add" once you've entered the ISBN, and results will appear if an item with a matching ISBN is in the library's collection.

Help

"Help" has valuable tips and tricks on how to use the Brampton Library mobile app. Think of it as a cheat sheet where you can review all the great tools and features of the app, like the ones you just read about in this guide. 

Contact Us

‘Contact Us’ gives you options to get in touch with Brampton Library staff. Instead of using a search engine or visiting our website to find contact information, you can tap to directly call the library, use the Ask A Question service, or get directions for branch locations to connect with us in-person.

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