MNLINK users can now cancel their own requests. Login to your MNLINK account, select the requests to cancel and confirm your decision to cancel the selected requests.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

About MNLINK

Accounts and Logging In

Requesting Items

Request Status Definitions

Other Questions

About MNLINK

What is MNLINK?

MNLINK is Minnesota's Library Information Network. MNLINK supports and develops a technology infrastructure and collaboration to facilitate equitable and shared access to library and information resources for all people of Minnesota. MNLINK provides access with a single point of entry into Minnesota's vast resources.

How does MNLINK work?

You place a request for an item that you want, and let the system do the work finding a library with a copy to lend. The vast majority of requests will be filled within 2 weeks, but some requests may take longer for a variety of reasons.

Where can I get help using MNLINK?

MNLINK encourages users to talk to the staff at their local library first. They may put individuals in touch with their central resource sharing team when issues need escalation. You may also contact MNLINK staff for system issues through the Contact MNLINK link on our website at mnlink.org.

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Accounts and Logging In

How do I get an account?

To place a request you only need a valid library card in good standing from your Minnesota library. MNLINK performs a real-time validation with your library.

I seem to be having trouble logging in, what should I do?

The first thing to do is to check your library card number with your local library to make sure your card is still active and in good standing. Your PIN/Password will be the same as you use to login to your local library account. Overdues, expired cards, etc. are all potential reasons for a login being denied on MNLINK. Contacting your local library is the correct first step for resolution.

What library do I select to Login?

To login you must select your library, which is the location that manages your interlibrary loan requests. This may be a regional library system, county or municipal library. You should be able to find your library on the MNLINK Participating Libraries page.

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Requesting Items

How can I place a request in MNLINK?

Placing a request in MNLINK is as easy as one, two, three. Using your library card from a participating MNLINK library:

  1. Login to MNLINK first for a better experience. Select your library, enter your full card number and enter the PIN/Password which is the same as your local library account.
  2. Search MNLINK for materials you would like to request.
  3. Request from the search results display or click into the title for more information about the material. A request form window will open, select your Pick up location, add specific information about a Volume/parts needed (if relevant), and any additional Patron notes to help staff fill your request correctly.

How can I cancel a request in MNLINK?

MNLINK users can cancel their own requests before the request status has been updated as Shipped. The material has then been put in transit to your library at that point. Login to MNLINK and select the requests to Cancel. Then click Cancel Selected Requests, and confirm that by selecting Yes.

I see multiple records for the same thing. Which record should I use to place a request?

Many of the library records in MNLINK did not align well with another library record during the process of building the MNLINK library database. We recommend that users choose the record with the most libraries listed. If none of those libraries are able to fill your request other libraries will be attempted if they are found to have an available copy.

Is there a charge for requesting materials via MNLINK?

MNLINK is supported by your tax dollars. You are not charged for delivery of your requests and you are able to search for and use items throughout the state. Libraries place a limit on the total number of requests you can have at one time, but all of the participating libraries are providing free access.

How long does it take to fill a request?

It is impossible to say how quickly any given request will take to arrive. Requests will only be filled if a library has a copy available to loan when they receive your request. Availability, popularity, and location are all important factors in determining how long it takes for a request to arrive. We do our best to fill every request as quickly as possible.

What libraries provide material?

Most of Minnesota’s Public Libraries, Colleges and Universities lend material through MNLINK. Each participating library determines which materials are available for statewide resource sharing and what they may need to retain for their own local needs.

What is available through MNLINK?

Each participating library determines what material they are willing to lend and what they will allow their users to request. Items that are currently in demand at a local institution will not be available for resource sharing. An item may indicate it is available at a certain library, but that does not guarantee it is available for interlibrary loan lending. A library will only lend an item to another library when there isn’t local demand. Resource sharing has no process in place for adding names to a waiting/hold list.

Records display owning libraries in Green and Red below the display. These libraries have indicated that the material is requestible (Green) or non-requestible (Red) when we were in the process of building the records database. Please feel free to request an item that has one location in Red, because there may be another library with the material available to lend that does not have holdings in the MNLINK search. Real-time availability is only available in each institutions' local catalog at this time.

Will my requests still be filled by a library in North Dakota, South Dakota or Wisconsin?

Minitex facilitates much of the interlibrary loan activity in Minnesota and manages the MNLINK program. When you place a request with MNLINK, Minnesota libraries are exhausted first. Libraries that are part out of state, but participate with the Minitex network for interlibrary loan activity, are automatically checked to determine whether or not they may be able to fill your request.

Can I set a preferred/default pickup location for my requests?

No, the pickup location must be selected for each request at this time.

How many requests am I allowed to make?

Each library determines an appropriate request limit for their users. Login to MNLINK and view your requests in My Account. You will see a display of My Requests there, which lists the number of your Active Request Limit and My Active Request Count.

How do I place a request for something that I do not find through a MNLINK search?

The MNLINK search is an aggregation of Minnesota library holdings available to request. If you know of material that you do not find through a MNLINK search, you may want to confirm the information is correct in WorldCat. While all of this content may not be available through a MNLINK library or another library that is within the Minitex network, you can still place a request.

A blank request form, which should be used as a last resort, is available after you Login to MNLINK. You can find a link to the webform in Your Account > Title Not Found? Request items and articles here. Fill in all required fields to submit your request. Incomplete information may mean your request will cancelled by your library.

Can I get ebooks/downloadable audiobooks through MNLINK?

The Ebooks Minnesota collection is available and can be opened in your search interface when you select Click here to open. Many libraries license ebooks and downloadable audiobooks for their own registered users as their license allows.

How can I renew my MNLINK request?

Renewals are dependent on your library and the library that supplied the material, agreeing to renew your request. You will need to contact your local library to initiate a renewal. The library staff will contact their interlibrary loan unit for your library, which will need to work with the supplying library to work out the renewal terms. Your local library account will be updated with the new due date if the renewal is accepted. Renewal terms will not be reflected in your MNLINK account.

Why did I only receive 1 disc when requesting a complete set?

Searching MNLINK will display a master record, which libraries use to designate their ownership. This record may not reveal that a library packages the individual parts or discs separately. Many libraries will only fill a given request with a single part for tracking purposes.

If you did not specify which part/disc you wanted, libraries may send the first disc when they aren't able to send the set. To specify the part/disc you want, you will need to add specific information about a Volume/parts needed.

How do I place a request for a copy of a journal article or chapter/part of a book?

The MNLINK system allows library patrons to place their own requests for a copy of a journal article or a chapter/part of a book. You will need to submit complete citation details using the webform found in Your Account > Title Not Found? Request items and articles here. Copy requests for a journal article or another part of a larger item must have the radio button on the request form changed from Loan to Copy for appropriate processing.

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Request Status Definitions

Cancel Pending

A cancellation for your request has been submitted, but still needs to be acknowledged by the potential supplying library. Once they have accepted the cancellation, it will be fully cancelled and no longer active.

Cancelled

Your request has been cancelled and is no longer active.

Complete

Your request has been returned and received by the supplying library. Your request is no longer active.

Document Delivered

Your article or chapter request has been fulfilled. You can access the link to you document in your Request History, or in the email sent to you. The links last for 30 days from delivery, or 5 views, whichever comes first.

End of Rota

We were unable to find a supplier for your request at this time. Your request is no longer active.

Expects to Supply

Your request has been sent to a potential supplier, and we expect them to be able to fill it.

In Local Circulation Process

Your request has arrived at your library system. It may still take some time to arrive at your branch. Look for a notification from your library.

Invalid Patron

Your account is unable to place requests in MNLINK. Please contact your library to determine why.

Overdue

This is a status used internally between libraries. You will be issued a due date by your local library when you check out your material.

Request Over Limit

This request has exceeded the limit set by your library system. The request will be cancelled.

Request Sent

A library has been identified as owning the item you requested, but we do not know if they are able to supply it.

Requires Review - Blank Form

You used the “Title not found? Request here” option on your account. Once your library has reviewed the request, it will move on to find a potential supplier.

Requires Review - Locally Available

The item you requested is likely owned at your library system. Staff at your library will review this request and determine if the request should be cancelled and a local hold placed, or it should be filled through MNLINK.

Requires Review - Possible Duplicate

A request you made has been identified as being a duplicate of a previous request you made. Your library will likely cancel the duplicate request.

Returned

Your item is being shipped back to the supplying library. Your request is no longer active.

Shipped

The supplying library has shipped the item to your library system. It has not yet arrived.

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Other Questions

Removing Your Old Barcode from Your Browsers Auto-fill

Modern browsers have the option of saving information filled into websites. When you go to a website with saved information, it will automatically fill it in for you. If your library barcode changes this can cause problems as your browser will continue to try and fill in your previously saved information. Listed below are the methods of removing this information from several popular browsers.

Mozilla Firefox

  • Windows
    • In the top right, click the three horizontal bars.
    • Select Options.
    • Switch to the Security tab.
    • Click on Saved Passwords.
    • To eliminate all existing saved usernames and passwords, click Remove all. To eliminate specific saved passwords, click View Saved Passwords and delete just those associated with mnlinkgateway.org. If you wish, deselect the option to Remember passwords. This will prevent passwords from being saved in the future. In older versions of Firefox, this option is in the Privacy tab instead of Security.
  • Mac OS X
    • In the menu bar, open the Tools menu.
    • Select Options.
    • Switch to the Security tab.
    • Click on Saved Passwords.
    • To eliminate all existing saved passwords, click Remove all. To eliminate specific saved passwords, click View Saved Passwords and delete just those associated with mnlinkgateway.org. If you wish, deselect the option to Remember passwords. This will prevent passwords from being saved in the future. In older versions of Firefox, this option is in the Privacy tab instead of Security.

Internet Explorer

To delete individual passwords: when using IE and a saved password is pre-filled on your screen, simply highlight the username that displays there, and press the Delete key to remove just that one username/password combination from IE. Internet Explorer will then prompt you to confirm that you do want to delete it.

To delete all saved passwords:

  • Open the Tools menu.
  • Select Internet Options.
  • Click Content.
  • Under AutoComplete, click Settings.
  • Click Delete AutoComplete history&hellips;
  • To prevent AutoComplete in the future, make sure AutoComplete is deselected for User names and passwords on forms, and then click on OK.

Chrome

  • Open the Chrome menu using the button on the far left of the browser toolbar that looks like three horizontal bars.
  • Choose Settings from the left-hand menu.
  • Click Show advanced settings at the bottom of the page.
  • Click Manage saved passwords in the “Passwords and forms” section.
    • Windows, Linux, and Chrome devices: In the Passwords dialog that appears, hover over the site whose password you’d like to remove and click the X that appears.
    • Mac OS X: Remove the site passwords in the Keychain Access dialog that appears.
  • More information on managing website passwords in Chrome can be found in the Google Help pages.

Safari

  • Open the Safari menu.
  • Select Preferences.
  • Switch to the Autofill tab.
  • Click the Edit button for Usernames and Passwords.
  • Delete the entry that corresponds with mnlinkgateway.org.

Opera

  • Open the Tools menu.
  • Select Advanced.
  • Click on Password Manager.
  • Delete the entry that corresponds with mnlinkgateway.org.

This information has been adapted from Boston University Information Services & Technology's How to Remove a Saved Password from a Browser.

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