Skip to main content
OCLC Support

I am not receiving library notices in my email. What should I check?

  1. Last updated
  2. Save as PDF

Symptom

  • I am not receiving library notices about due dates, holds, renewals, or other circulation activity.
  • Library notices are going to my spam or junk folder.
  • Library notices are not arriving in my inbox even though my library account details are correct.
  • Library says they have been delivered but I did not receive them

Applies to

  •  WorldShare Management Services (WMS)
  •  WorldShare Circulation
  •  Library patrons

Resolution

If you are not receiving library notices, the issue may be caused by how your email provider handles automated messages. Some providers deliver notices to your inbox, some move them to spam or junk, and some may reject them before they arrive. Use the steps below to check your email settings and improve delivery.

1. Add the library sender addresses to contacts

  • Save no-reply@oclc.org and donotreply@oclc.org to your address book or contacts list. Many email providers are more likely to deliver messages from saved contacts to your inbox.
     

2. Check the spam or junk folder

  • If a library notice is in the spam or junk folder, open the message and mark it as Not spam or Not junk. This helps the email provider learn to deliver future notices to the inbox.
     

3. Add OCLC to the safe senders or allowlist settings

  • Outlook.com, Hotmail, Live, MSN:   Settings > Mail > Junk email > Safe senders and domains > Add safe sender > enter oclc.org > Save
  • Yahoo Mail:  Settings > More Settings > Filters > Add new filter > set From to contain oclc.org > deliver to Inbox
  • mail.com:  Settings > Security > Allowlist > add oclc.org
     

4. If notices still do not arrive, then use an alternate delivery method

Some email providers, including Yahoo Mail, may continue to block or filter automated notices even after you complete the steps above. AOL, AT&T, BellSouth, SBCGlobal, and Verizon addresses also run on Yahoo's mail system, so changing between those providers may not resolve the issue.

  • Ask your library about text message notices. Many libraries can send notices by SMS instead of email, which avoids the problem entirely.
     
  • Use a free forwarding address. Set up a free Gmail or Outlook.com account, give the library that address for notices, and set it to forward automatically to the inbox you already use. You continue reading your mail where you always have, and the notices take a route that gets through. In Gmail: Settings > See all settings > Forwarding and POP/IMAP > Add a forwarding address.


5. Check the library account online

  • You can sign in to your library account online to review your current loans, due dates, holds, renewals, and other account activity. Due dates still apply whether or not you receive an email notice.
  • If you still do not receive notices after completing these steps, contact your library for further assistance.

Page ID

69626