You are now able to pay library fines and other fees from any computer with Internet access, using a credit card. The following series of questions and answers explains the new system.

 For a convenient two-page brochure showing how to use SWAN Ecommerce, please click here.

What is Ecommerce?
    Ecommerce is an online payment service which allows you to pay any or all of your fines, bills and other charges via SWAN’s WebPAC. You can use Ecommerce while using the WebPAC in a SWAN library or from any PC with an Internet connection.

What credit cards can I use for online payment?
    Visa, Discover and MasterCard.

Can I use a debit card for online payment?
    No, debit cards cannot be used for online payment.

If I have a PayPal account, can I use it to pay charges on my library account?
    No, you can only pay by credit card.

Can I pay only a part of what I owe online?
    When you click on the “Pay Online” button, you are offered the choice of paying all charges or selecting specific charges that you want to pay. You cannot pay part of a single charge. To select specific charge(s), click on the “Clear All” button then check the individual charge(s) you wish to pay.

If I use online payment, is my patron information and my credit card secure?
    Yes, your information is secure. The system uses Verisign to transmit secure payments. Your credit card information is not stored in the library’s database and the information is encrypted before it is transmitted to PayPal via a secure gateway connection. You may see a pop-up message or dialog box advising you that there is a problem with SWAN’s security certificate. This warning is triggered by a technical issue that staff members at SWAN are aware of and are working to correct. This problem does not affect the security of SWAN or the “Pay Online” feature. It is safe to pay with your credit card.

How can I tell if I am paying for a fine or lost material online?
    In your list of unpaid fines and bills, fines are indicated by the words “Overdue Item Returned” or “Billed Item Returned”. Items that are 42 days overdue are indicated by the words “Item Replacement Bill”. The words “Lost Item Reported” indicate an unpaid bill for a lost item. The text of charges not associated with a specific item (i.e. charges added manually to your account) will vary.

Will I receive a receipt for online payments?
    Yes, if you have an email address in your patron record or enter an email address in the online payment form, your receipt will be emailed to you from “Library Receipt [libraryreceipt@mls.lib.il.us]”. You can print a receipt if the PC you are using is connected to a printer. Do not reply to these emails.

What if my email receipt does not arrive in my mailbox?
    Check the spam/junk filter associated with your email to see if the receipt from the address of is in the spam/junk email folder. You should enable your email spam/junk filter to deliver email from the sending address of “Library Receipt [libraryreceipt@mls.lib.il.us]”.

Is there a service fee when I pay online?
    No, there is no service fee for you to pay online.

Is my credit card charged immediately for the transaction?
    Yes, it is charged immediately upon submission of the payment information.

Can I pay with a credit card inside a SWAN library?
    You can use Visa, Discover and MasterCard at any WebPAC (SWAN’s online catalog) in any SWAN library.
You can also use your credit to pay fines and bills via SWAN’s WebPAC from any PC, located anywhere, as long as it has an Internet connection. You can find SWAN’s WebPAC at the following address:
http://swan.mls.lib.il.us/

Can I use my credit card to pay charges at the Circulation desk instead of online?
    The “My Account” and “Pay Online” features are designed for use with the WebPAC (SWAN’s online catalog). Contact your local SWAN library to inquire whether credit card payment service is available at the Circulation Desk.

Can I pay for fines with my credit card at a Self Check unit?
    Coming soon!

Do the charges on my library account get cleared immediately when I pay online?
    Yes, when PayPal confirms and accepts the payment, your library account will be updated accordingly. If your payment transaction is denied, the charges will remain on your account.

My library account has been referred to a collection agency. When will I be able to use my library card again?
    Charges on your library account are cleared as soon as PayPal accepts the transaction. However, the block on your account, created when your account was turned over to the collection agency, will not be cleared until the next business day. If the block on your library account is not removed after a reasonable amount of time, contact the Circulation Desk at your local SWAN library for assistance.

Who will be the merchant listed on my credit card statement for online payment?
    The merchant on your credit card statement will be “Metropolitan Library System”, not the name of your local SWAN member library.

What if I pay online for a billed or lost item and then I find the item?
    Check with the SWAN library where you borrowed the item.

What does the message “There is a problem with your patron record – payment not made – please see a librarian for assistance” mean?
    This message means that your library account is busy. Wait a few minutes before making another attempt to pay your charges. If you continue to see this message, contact the Circulation Desk at your local SWAN member library for assistance.

What does the message “Checked out item could not be removed from your record (someone else is updating it) – please see a librarian for assistance” mean?
    This means that the record for one of the items you are paying for is busy or has been deleted from the database. Wait a few minutes and try again. If you continue to see this message, contact the Circulation Desk at your local SWAN member library for assistance.

What does the message “We’re unable to process your payment – please reenter your card number or visit a SWAN member library to pay this amount” mean?
    This message means that your payment was declined by your credit card company. This is due to a problem with your credit card and you should contact your credit card company to resolve the problem. If you have another credit card, you may attempt to pay your charges using that card. If you are unable to use any of your credit cards, you must pay in person at the Circulation Desk in a SWAN member library.

What does the message “Transaction declined” mean?
    This message means that your payment was declined by your credit card company. This is due to a problem with your credit card and you should contact your credit card company to resolve the problem. If you have another credit card, attempt to pay your charges using that card. If you are unable to use any of your credit cards, you must pay in person at the Circulation Desk in a SWAN member library.

Where can I get a list of SWAN member libraries?
    A list of SWAN member libraries is available by clicking on the following link: http://swan.mls.lib.il.us/screens/libinfo.html

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