Changes to Patron Account Access Coming Soon!
My Bookshelf before and after
What: My Bookshelf – where patrons access their checkouts, holds, fines and fees, profiles, bookmarks, saved searches, and reading history – will be replaced with a new full-page area called a patron portal or account portal. It will have the same functions and include clearer navigation, a centralized dashboard, and additional options. Scroll down for more details.
When: The change will happen on our Discover online catalogs (including collection and kiosk sites) on Tuesday, February 3, 2026, or possibly the next day depending on the vendor’s rollout timing. No actions required: My Bookshelf will automatically transition to Account Portal after the release. To avoid confusion, please note that patron and admin documentation in Vega Discover will be updated after Account Portal and Account Linking are released. Account Linking will be off by default.
Why: This change fulfils feedback, suggestions, and enhancement requests to replace the Bookshelf bar at the bottom of the page with something easier to use. The new portal will open in its own full-size page. It should be friendlier to screens of various sizes, more intuitive to navigate, and a more streamlined interface. The goal is to provide users with simpler access to and interaction with their own library information, as well as to add space for future personalization.
How: Users will click the account icon or their name at the top right of the page, then Account Portal to manage their account. This replaces clicking the My Bookshelf bar at the bottom of the screen.
Details and screenshots
The core functions of My Bookshelf remain, but they are now organized in the Account Portal with clearer navigation and additional options. Core functions include managing checkouts, holds, history, bookmarks, saved searches, fines, and personal information.
It further adds a place for features either planned or available soon, such as account linking, which allows overseeing multiple accounts (such as within the same household),* integration with other Vega products, and, hopefully down the road, a new online self-registration form with automated ZIP code and duplicate patron checking.
*The account linking feature is not enabled as an option by default. If offered by MHLS or individual library collection sites, it would be separate from the linked account features in both Sierra and the patron mobile app (which are separate from each other).
(Screenshots provided by Innovative Interfaces – Mid-Hudson will not have access until general release on February 3rd.)
Landing Page:
Account information (previously under My Bookshelf -> Profile):
Checkouts, holds/requests, and borrowing history – under the button Checkouts & Requests:
Checked-out items:
Holds:
Borrowing history:
Bookmarks in the catalog:
Bookmarks in the patron portal:
Saved searches:
Account Linking
Patrons can now easily link multiple library accounts, making it simple for parents, guardians, and caregivers to switch between child and adult profiles. With dedicated 1-way and 2-way permission levels, households and guardians can manage checkouts and holds without juggling multiple logins. Mid-Hudson will enable this feature if agreed upon by the membership.