UPDATE: Northwest Regional Library will be implementing the new password requirement, beginning February 1st.

Beginning at approximately 2:00 a.m. on Thursday, December 15, a cyber attack was directed at MNLINK.org, a website that provides Minnesota library patrons with access to interlibrary loan services. By 8:30 a.m. that day, the staff who run MNLINK had coordinated to block the attack and restore MNLINK to full function.

In the attack, an automated process attempted to log in to MNLINK by entering a high volume of random patron barcodes. MNLINK’s login page crashed due to the web traffic associated with the attack. A total of 1,709 successful log-ins occurred, all of which were associated with Rochester Public Library accounts. With each successful log-in, data may have been exposed, including the patron’s email address, delivery location, and recent requesting activity.

Minitex, Rochester Public Library, and all MNLINK-participating libraries take the security of patron data very seriously. The MNLINK Operations Committee held an emergency meeting on Friday, December 16, and unanimously agreed upon a course of action to improve MNLINK system security in order to prevent future attacks.

As a result, Northwest Regional Library and MNLINK are implementing an additional security measure to protect your privacy. In the near future, in addition to your patron barcode, your PIN/password will be required to access interlibrary loans through MNLINK. This is the same PIN/password you use to access our online catalog. Unless you have changed it, your PIN/password is the last four digits of your phone number. You may reset your PIN/password by following this link: https://egcatalog.nwrlib.org/eg/opac/password_reset or by speaking to your librarian.