Our libraries made the choice to move to a new app to provide you with a few more features than the existing app offered.  This includes

• being able to limit search results to one location
• being able to see the Hold Pickup By date for your holds,
• being able to place more types of library holds and to cancel holds at any point in the holds process,
• being able to view your reading history,
• being able to link another person's library account to your own,
• being able to change the language of the app.

A few features are still not ready in this version of the app, but we are working to add them!  The Public Libraries of Milwaukee County hope to be able to expand this app to include better e-resource integration and to eventually add a My List feature.  Let us know what you think.

Yes.  It's best to stay logged into the app.

Feel free to close the app when you are not using it but plan to stay logged in. This will allow you to take advantage of the most features and it insures you won't have to reset any linked accounts.

The app supports these versions of operating systems:

• For Apple or iOS users, 9.0 or later
  How to Update an iPhone, iPad to the Current iOS
• For Android users, 4.4 and later
  How to Update an Android Device to the Current Android OS

In order to view your Reading History in the app, it must be activated in your library account already. To do this, go into CountyCat on a web browser such as Chrome or Firefox. Go to https://countycat.mcfls.org, log into your library account and under Reading History choose OPT IN.

Once you do that, your reading history will show as an option in the app under My Accounts > Checkouts > Reading History. Be sure to say logged into the app for the best results.

Please stay logged into the app especially if you have any accounts linked.

When you sign out, it will sign out of all accounts. The only exception to this is if/when you have the app installed on multiple devices. When you sign out on one device, the app will ask if you want to sign out of "All devices" or "just this device." If you choose, "this device" then the linked account information will be retained as they are still connected on the other devices. If you do not have the app installed on multiple devices and you log out, then the linked accounts will be lost and you will need to re-add them again upon logging in.

Would you like to update the operating system (os) behind your smart phone or device?  Check out these short videos:

• How to Update an iPhone, iPad to the Current iOS
  The app requires at least iOS 9.0
• How to Update an Android Device to the Current Android OS
  The app requires at least Android 4.4

View a short video here.

Self checkout through the app is an optional feature that not all locations have opted to enable. Instead, the libraries rely on public service desks and self checkout stations for the purposes of checkout. You must be physically inside the library to use self checkout.  You must also first make sure your smart device has Location Services enabled.

• iOS devices:  Go to Settings > Find Location and tap to enter the area. Turn Location to ON.  Scroll down and tap Privacy.  Find the CountyCat Mobile app and give permission to use location "while using the app.'
• Android devics: Go to Settings > Find Location and tap to enter the area. Turn Location to ON. Then within Location, tap the App permissions option, scroll down, find the CountyCat app and allow location 'while using the app.'  Tick on the option to 'Use precise location' as that will help your phone get an accurate location for using self checkout.

You are now ready to use self checkout in the app.

1. Go to the CountyCat Mobile app. Make sure you are logged in.

2. The first time you use self check, you need to locate that option at the very bottom of the mobile app menu. It will feature a blue shopping cart icon.  Touch the icon once to go into the Self Check feature.  After that point, when you are in the library with self check, a new icon displays in the lower right hand corner across from the barcode icon.

3. If you are in a location that offers self check service, the next screen will list the message that LOCATION SERVICES are required to use the service. Click the green Enable Location Services button. If you are not in a location that offers self check service, the screen will display that as a message and not offer any button.

4. Choose the green Check Out button that comes up.

5. If the library location is set up for checkout by barcode, the following screen will appear.  Scan the item's barcode and look for app prompts.

6.  If the library uses RFID, the following screen will appear.  Look for a small, white rectangular tag found inside the back cover of an item or anywhere else on the item. Let the app scan the item for checkout.

7. Look at the app for a confirmation screen.  If you get a message that a checkout could not be completed, try to scan it again just to be sure the barcode or tag was read by the app.

8.  To check out another item click the green Scan the Library Barcode button. Otherwise, click Finish in the upper right to stop the checkout process.

9. The app will show a screen of all items checked out as well as failed items.  You should try to scan the failed items again. Then take them to a public service desk for checkout.  All self checkout receipts stay on the account indefinitely.

The technology used to check out items on your phone through the app requires that an item's RFID tag be within a few centimeters of your phone.

The library's circulation desk and self checkout machines use different technology that can read the information from a greater distance.

No. The self checkout receipts remain on your account. MCFLS has requested an improvement whereby the receipts eventually expire and come off your account but for now they remain on your account.