This week I have had the opportunity to sit in on the training for new LiLI Unlimited participants. Staff from these libraries are learning how to use OCLC’s CatExpress, FirstSearch, and Interlibrary Loan tools. As I hand out the passwords to access FirstSearch, I am struck by how much they look like something the cat types as she walks across my keyboard.

FirstSearch passwords are machine-generated. Is it secure? You bet. Easy to remember? Not at all.

Since this password can be shared with your library’s customers, you might want something more user friendly. So how can a library change their password to something that is both secure and sane? You have 2 options:

1. Change the password. Use OCLC’s Guide for changing FirstSearch passwords to create something more user friendly for your patrons, or
2. Set up IP address recognition so users accessing the catalog from inside the library do not have to type in a password at all. OCLC has a how-to guide for that here.

Remember that you will want a different password for your administrative access to your library’s FirstSearch account. Administrative passwords should follow basic secure password guidelines. Passwords should:

use a combination of letters, numbers, and symbols,
be at least 8 characters long
not be the name of a person, library, or library pet
known by only those who need to know it