Frequently Asked Questions

Decodables are books designed to build a reader's skills gradually by introducing simple words that match letters to their sound (grapheme to phoneme correspondence).

Each bag contains 10 copies of the title and a notebook with discussion questions, author information, recommended reading lists, bookmarks, information on the library, and information on how Book Club in a Bag works. 

Only the largest Ramsey County Library branches have Teen Services librarians on site, but we also offer programming and support teens at our smaller branches. If you are looking for book recommendations for your teen, research help, or have questions about teen events, we would love to help you!  

Click on these links to email a Teen Services Librarian for your branch:  

RCL-Shoreview, RCL-Maplewood, RCL-Mounds View, RCL-North St. Paul, and RCL-White Bear Lake:  Alyssa Stevenski
RCL-Roseville and RCL-New Brighton: Devin Warner

Yes! Our app, My RCLreads, is available on the Apple App Store or the Google Play Store.

Use the above links or search the App Store for "My RCLreads" to find and download the app.

Our app lets you:

• Find the library closest to you – check library hours and locations.
• Explore library resources - search the library catalog, browse new arrivals and more.
• Manage your library account – see what you have checked out, place holds and renew materials.
• Manage your personal shelves – keep track of what you’ve read and would like to read.
• Browse and register for upcoming events.
• Scan the barcode on the back of a book, DVD or CD to see if the library has a copy of that item.
• Access a digital version of your library card to check out items at our self-checkout machines.
• Add and manage multiple library cards within the app.

Each Ramsey County Library has one or more Children's Librarians on staff, and we would love to help! Does your child need book ideas for a report? Are you wondering how to help your 4-year-old prepare for kindergarten? Or maybe you just need some ideas for your child who devours books like candy. Whatever your need, we can help!

Yes! You can download e-books, e-audiobooks and e-magazines using Libby, by OverDrive. Learn which devices work with Libby, by OverDrive and how to download items.

Borrowing and Renewal Policies:

• Metro area public library cardholders registered with Ramsey County Library may borrow e-books, e-audiobooks and e-magazines through Libby, by OverDrive.
• A maximum of 15 e-books or e-audiobooks may be borrowed at a time.
• An unlimited number of e-magazines may be borrowed at a time.
• e-books, e-audiobooks and e-magazines may be borrowed for 7, 14, or 21 days.
• e-books, e-audiobooks and e-magazines are renewable. A Renew option will appear on your Loans page three days before the item expires as long as there are no requests on that title.
• If a title has been borrowed by another user, a hold for the title may be placed. Hold limit is 15 items. Note: e-magazines are always available to be borrowed at all times and require no holds.
• e-Books and e-audiobooks cannot be downloaded to the Library's publicly used computers.

Simply visit any library in the seven county area. Ask someone at the Service Desk to issue you a library card. You will need to provide picture identification and proof of your current address.

In accordance with the Minnesota Statutes 13.02 and 13.40, library patron records are private and information contained in the record cannot be given out to anyone other than the library card holder.

Decodable books help readers sound out words instead of guessing based on context or repetition. Each book builds on prior skills, progressing from short vowel and consonant combinations to blended sounds, digraphs, and long vowel words.

Bags may be requested and picked up at any RCL branch, and can be kept for 6 weeks. You may request them in person, by phone, or online. At this time, the bags cannot be requested for a specific date.  Patrons are limited to two bags at a time per library card.

OverDrive is a collection of downloadable e-books, e-audiobooks and e-magazines. Libby is a free, one tap reading app from OverDrive where you can borrow and enjoy digital content from Ramsey County Library.

Whether in person, or virtually, Ramsey County Library is committed to offering fun teen programming! We currently offer:  

• Twice-weekly MakerTeen programs where teens can craft and explore technology and art
• Weekly virtual board gaming/video game sessions, and virtual Dungeons and Dragons sessions. 

The most up-to-date information on programming for teens can be found on our event calendar.

Watch a story on BookFlix, a movie on Kanopy Kids, download a book using Libby, by OverDrive, or check out our collection of storytime videos for kids. You can sort the videos by category and follow along with your favorite librarians as they teach you to sing songs, share flannel stories and more!

After you download the app, you will need to enter your library barcode number or username and your PIN to sign in.

Please note:

• You need an existing account with our website in order to sign in to the app. If you need to create an account, click Log In/My RCL followed by Log In/Register. If you need help, please contact a staff member at your local branch.

Choose the network named RamseyCountyPublic.

Open a web browser and click "I Agree" to abide by the Internet Access Policy and connect to the Library's WiFi.

No password is required.

Decodables are available at each Ramsey County Library location. Look for the decodable sticker on the book!

You can add additional library cards using the My Library Cards section of the app. To access My Library Cards, tap on the library card icon located in the upper right corner of the Home Screen.

Tap Add card.

Enter the barcode or username for the card you want to add. Then enter the PIN and tap Add card.

You can find the list of titles available in the library's catalog by searching for "Book Club in a Bag" or look at a printable list of Book Club in a Bag titles in the Ramsey County Library collection.

Yes. There are two ways to discover titles that are not yet in our Libby collection:

1. Search for a title, author, or series. If Libby returns no results, it will automatically expand into a "deep search" to display relevant titles that are not yet in our collection.
2. If you run a search that returns fewer than 100 results, you can tap a filter button to manually enable "deep search."

From the expanded search, you will see relevant results with a Notify Me option. Tap Notify Me to tag titles and be notified if they are added to the library's collection in the future. Learn more on Libby Help.

Yes, we do! We are proud to offer a variety of things like DVDs, e-books, e-audiobooks, graphic novels... and of course a robust collection of fiction and nonfiction! 

Still have questions? Ask a librarian!

There is no cost to scan documents to a USB Flash Drive.

Everyone will need to register to use their library accounts in the new website and catalog. You’ll be asked to create a username the first time you log in.

To get started:

• Click on Log In/My RCL in the upper right-hand corner
• Enter your library card number and PIN
• You create a username the first time you sign in and register.

Your username is the name that will be displayed publicly next to any comments or summaries that you contribute to the site.

Tutorial

Ramsey County Library is committed to early literacy. The most up-to-date information on programming for all kids is found on our event calendar.

Family Storytime (generally geared to ages 2 to 5) is a fun, dynamic program that includes books, songs, fingerplays, storytelling and movement activities to get kids fired up about reading while providing a strong foundation in early literacy skills. 

Baby & Me storytime (generally geared towards infants 6 to 23 months) is a one-on-one storytime where babies sit on a caregiver’s lap for a short storytime followed by playtime. Baby and Me is intended to introduce the joys of reading, singing, and playing together to caregivers and their babies.

Hope you can join us!

The library will only receive 1040/1040-SR forms and instructions. Contact your library for up to date form availability. Learn how to access additional forms.

There are multiple ways to switch between library cards and select the account you want to use.

To switch between accounts on the My Library Cards screen, swipe to the card you want to use and tap Use this card. You can also tap on the ellipsis on the card you want to activate, then tap Use this card. The card with the In use label is the currently active account.

You can also switch between accounts by clicking on the user avatar. That will bring up the account switcher. Select the account you’d like to activate. The currently active account is listed first and has the YOU label.

Please note:

• A maximum of 8 cards can be added to your app.
• Signing in with a new library card will automatically add it to your app.
• If you install My RCLreads on more than one device, you will need to add any additional cards to each device.
• A library card’s digital barcode is still scannable when in an inactive state.
• Changing your PIN will prevent someone from switching to your account if they’ve added it to their app. To be used again, that account will need to be removed and then readded with the new PIN.

The bags may be renewed up to two times if not requested, and must be returned to a Ramsey County Library branch.

Absolutely! Check out Libby, by OverDrive, where you will find a diverse collection of teen fiction and teen non-fiction, and graphic novels. For more info ask a librarian!

We are very proud to offer a variety of things like Kanopy streaming service, eBooks, eAudiobooks, graphic novels, board books, beginning readers, DVDs, CDs, audiobooks on CD...and of course a robust collection of fiction and nonfiction! We also have special collections like Storybags, which are two books and a toy packaged together, STEM Kits, which provide hands-on exploration of themes like magnets and buoyancy, and VOX Books, where you can listen to a story while following along with the printed text.

Still have questions? Ask a librarian!

You can remove additional library cards using the My Library Cards section of the app. To access My Library Cards, tap on the library card icon located in the upper right corner of the Home Screen.

Swipe to the card you want to remove.

Tap on the ellipsis, then tap Remove card.

Confirm card removal.

Please note:

• The card that is currently active cannot be removed. To remove the card for the active account, activate a different card first.
• Deleting the app removes all stored library cards. Cards will need to be readded once My RCLreads is reinstalled.
• Clearing your phone’s cache, storage, or data will clear out the stored login credentials and cards will need to be added again.

Bags will not fit in book return slots; please return them to the Service Desk at any Ramsey County Library.  Bags cannot be checked in until all copies of the books are in the bag; please do not return individual copies of the books separate from the bag. 

When returning Book Club in a Bag titles, please check to be sure all 10 copies of the book are in the bag, as well as the resource notebook. If copies of the book, the notebook, or zipper bag are missing, the person who checked out the bag will be billed for the replacement cost of the missing items.

Ramsey County Library offers an excellent web-based tutoring site called HelpNow. Not only can students in grades K-12 use their computer to instant message with a live instructor, they can also upload papers for editing help, take sample tests in several subject areas, or get help with language learning. In the Skillsurfer section of HelpNow, teens can also find information about the GED, AP tests, and college admission exams like the SAT and ACT, as well as practice exams. We hope your student finds it useful!

Additionally, the library offers you access to lots of databases and other powerful research tools. Whether your student is doing a presentation on a famous person or writing a pro-con essay, you’ll find an abundance of online resources for students grades K-12.

Absolutely! Download a book using Libby, by OverDrive, where you will find a diverse collection of picture books, juvenile fiction, teen fiction, and non-fiction too. Ask a librarian for more info!

If a book is lost, the person who checked out the bag will be billed for the list price of a replacement copy of the book.

Ramsey County Library offers an excellent web-based tutoring site called HelpNow. Not only can students in grades K-12 use their computer to instant message with a live instructor, they can also upload papers for editing help, take sample tests in several subject areas, or get help with language learning. We hope your student finds it useful!

Additionally, the library offers you access to lots of databases and other powerful research tools. Whether your student is doing a presentation on a famous person or writing a pro-con essay, you’ll find an abundance of online resources for students in grades K-12.

Tours of the buildings are available by contacting the Teen Services librarian for your branch. Tours include a detailed look at the Teen Area and its collections and features, and a behind the scenes visit to the book return and check in area. Let us know if you have a specific focus or need. We will be happy to work with you to customize your tour with instruction on resources, booktalks, or other highlights of library services.  

Please allow at least two weeks planning time for any requested tour.  

Each library offers a special section dedicated to children's books and media as well as places for families to read and play together. Each children’s area offers a variety of puzzles, puppets and other toys intended to encourage creative play between kids and their caregivers. Several of our locations also have outdoor spaces to enjoy.

The library in Roseville also has a Children's Reading Garden that is always open for outdoor exploration. It is accessible only through the children's room, and families are encouraged to use this space as an extension of the library. You can even come have a picnic outdoors! Come explore and enjoy the kids’ spaces at Ramsey County Library! Get up-to-date information on building hours and closures.

Of course! Ramsey County Library invites all children to enjoy our facilities. That said, you may want to view outings with children to the library as great opportunities to model appropriate library behavior. While the children’s section of the library is generally a bit noisier than sections intended for adult use, “inside” voices are still encouraged!

Sure do! In addition to the Sensory Friendly Comfort Room at RCL - Shoreview, Ramsey County Libraries provides wellness rooms to use for short-term personal needs. 

Read the internet use policy.

The search box found at the top of every page should provide excellent results for most of your searches.

For those occasions where you have a particular kind of search in mind, you can use Advanced Search. It has tools that enable you to describe precisely where and how you want to search.

Find out more about Advanced Search.

To find items in the catalog:

• Click on Catalog in the navigation bar on the top left of any page of our site, or Search in the upper right corner of our website. This will display a search box where you can type your search.
• Type in your word(s) in the search box.
• Refine your search by using the filter categories that show up on the left to hone in on exactly what you’re looking for.
  • Want to limit to fiction? Click on Content and then click Fiction.
  • Want to see only kids’ materials? Click on Audience, then check Children.

Learn more about searching the catalog.

If you often search for titles by the same author, or on the same subject, you can save your search and run it again later. This can save you time, especially if you have constructed a complex search strategy.

To save a search:

1. Log in opens a new window to your account. You must be logged in to save a search.
2. Run your search.
3. If required, narrow your results by applying facets on the left side of the page.
4. Click the Save Search link above the search results.
5. Name the search so you can easily identify it later. If you already have a search by that name, you’ll have the option to choose a new name or overwrite your existing saved search.
6. Click Save it.

To run a saved search:

1. Log in opens a new window to your account.
2. Clicking Saved Searches opens a new window under the search box.
3. Click the search you would like to run again.

More information about Saving Searches.

We would love to show you around our libraries! Tours of the buildings are available by contacting the children’s librarian at each specific branch. Tours include a detailed look at the children’s area and its collections and features, and a behind the scenes visit to the book return and check in area. Let us know if you have a specific focus or need. We will be happy to work with you to customize your tour.

Please allow at least two weeks planning time for any requested tour.

Ebooks Minnesota is an online ebook collection for all Minnesotans. The collection covers a wide variety of subjects for readers of all ages, and features content from our state's independent publishers, including some of our best literature and nonfiction.

Community rooms are available at the libraries in Mounds View, Roseville, Shoreview, and White Bear Lake to support learning, community gathering, and the exchange of information and ideas (Community Rooms Policy). Learn more about what is available at each library. View the Library's room calendar or call the individual library to check availability of particular dates.

View the Library's policies.

The username created for the catalog will not work for other online resources.

Use your library card's barcode number (and password or PIN, if necessary) to log in to online resources brought to you by the library like Libby by OverDrive and additional online databases.

Yes, you can. If you go to Log In/My RCL and click My Settings, you will be presented with the options to change either of these.

If the item you want is checked out, you may request to have it set aside for you when it is returned. You may do this by selecting the title from the catalog and clicking on the Place Hold link. You will need to have your library card barcode and PIN to place the request.

There are two ways to renew materials remotely:

1. Start by visiting Log In/My RCL. You will be asked for your barcode and PIN to proceed so make sure to stop by your library if you don't already have one. Within Log In/My RCL you can go to the Checked Out section and renew your materials.

2. Call our telephone renewal system (TeleCirc) at 651-766-4141. You will be asked for your barcode and PIN and our computerized attendant will prompt you through the renewal process.