Introducing a Palace Project Statewide Virtual Barcode

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The Palace ProjectWe’re rolling out access to a Palace Project statewide virtual barcode, which will provide access to content in the Palace Project to every New Jersey resident who chooses to sign up. This content includes the Digital Public Library of America-curated Palace Bookshelf of approximately 17,000 items, the perpetually-licensed Boundless (formerly Axis 360) titles purchased by the New Jersey State Library, and items purchased through the Palace Marketplace by the New Jersey State Library. In total, those three collections comprise close to 20,000 items, with great potential for expansion.

The process for signing up for a virtual barcode will be completely self-contained within the Palace app, and will require only an email address and authentication through geolocation (anywhere in NJ). We’ve outlined instructions below. For more detailed instructions from Palace, click here. If you’d prefer to watch a training video, click here.

Step 1: Download the Palace App from the Apple Store or Google Play Store.

Step 2: Find your library (New Jersey State Library) in the app

Step 3: Click on Settings

Step 4: Click on New Jersey State Library

Step 5: Click on Create a Card and follow the instructions

Step 6: Open the verification email you receive and click the verification link. Your virtual library card number will be included in this email

Step 7: Log in to the app and find your first book!

For libraries already participating in the Palace Project, there will be no action to take; your patrons should still use their local library barcodes to log in. That will still provide access in the Palace app to all Overdrive/Bibliotheca/Boundless/Palace items available to your patrons locally, side by side with the collections listed above.

For libraries not currently participating, your patrons will be able to (in the Palace app) tap “Find My Library” and select “New Jersey State Library” to register. If your library opts to join the Palace Project later, your patrons can switch over easily by tapping “Find My Library” again and selecting your library.

All implementation and hosting costs for local libraries joining the Palace Project are being absorbed by the New Jersey State Library. If you would like further information, please contact Michael Maziekien our Project Specialist for Shared Services for the State Library’s Library Development Bureau, and he will put you in touch with Palace representatives.

Library marketing resources, including sample website content, and training materials, can be found here: https://thepalaceproject.org/library-resources/. 

These opportunities are made possible in part with funds provided by the Institute of Museum and Library Services, administered by the New Jersey State Library.

About Julia Giantomasi

I've had opportunities throughout my career to coordinate marketing and social media for live events and small businesses across various industries. I've enjoyed keeping up with the trends and using social media to not only promote quality services but create a sense of community. As the PR & Marketing Coordinator for the New Jersey State Library I can draw from these experiences in order to provide tips and best practices for libraries handling their own marketing and social media. I hope that I can be a resource to libraries across New Jersey as they engage with their communities.