Borrowing Items
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How To Borrow Books, DVDs, Toys, And Other Physical Items
A valid Pottsville Library card is required to borrow books and other physical items from the Pottsville Library. The card must be presented at the Circulation Desk to check out the materials.
A due date receipt is printed and given to the borrower when the materials are checked out.
Educational toys and kits may be examined by staff before being checked out to ensure all parts are included. Any missing parts will be noted at that time.
Some items may require the borrower’s signature on an agreement form, such as hotspots or items from the Things Library.
Loan Periods
Adult and kids fiction and non-fiction books, books on CD (audiobooks), and educational toys may be borrowed for up to 3 weeks. There is a limit of five audiobooks per card.
EBooks and eAudiobooks are available through Pottsville Library’s Axis360 service. Up to 3 eBooks or eAudiobooks may be borrowed at one time, for up to 3 weeks.
Magazines (except the latest issue) and pamphlets may be borrowed for one week.
DVDs may be borrowed for one week. There is a limit of five DVD titles total per card.
Video games for various consoles may be borrowed for one week. There is a limit of 2 video games per card.
STEM kits may be borrowed for one week. There is a limit of one STEM kit per adult card.
Holiday materials may be borrowed for one week during the holiday season.
Kindle Fire tablets may be borrowed for 3 weeks.
Hotspots may be borrowed for 2 weeks for a rental fee of $20. There is a limit of one hotspot per household.
How To Renew Items
Items may be renewed by coming into the library or calling the Circulation Desk at (570) 622-8880 x10. You may also renew through the online catalog:
Go to “My Account” and type in your barcode number from your borrower’s card and the last four digits of your telephone number as the PIN.
Click on the “Items Checked Out” link or tab, click in the box next to the title to be renewed, then click on the “Go” button.
Click on the “OK” button to confirm renewing the item(s).
The new due date will appear on the screen next to the title(s).
Items may not be renewed more than three times and the number of remaining renewals will be shown next to the title(s).
DVDs, electronic games, tablets, hotspots, Things Library items, and any item which is on reserve for another patron may not be renewed.
How To Access Your Account
Go to the Pottsville Library Catalog by clicking the “Search the Catalog” button at the top of the page.
Click on the “My Account” button in the top right corner.
Type in your barcode number from your borrower’s card and the last four digits of your telephone number as the PIN.
View the list of items currently checked out or titles currently on hold, or view any fines due.
Lists may be created of titles to read or borrow in the future, and edited with the account.
If you are having problems logging into your account, please contact the Circulation Supervisor at (570) 622-8880 x18.
How To Place A Hold
If an item is checked out, you may ask at the Circulation Desk for it to be put on hold and you will be called when it is returned. You may also place a hold through the online catalog, using your barcode number from your borrower’s card. If there are other holds on an item, your name will be placed on the waiting list and you will be called when your turn comes.
Reserves may be placed through the online catalog for items to be pulled from the shelf for you, and you can pick them up at the Circulation Desk. Please allow enough time for the item to be pulled: the Circulation staff only checks for reserves once a day, shortly after the Library opens. DVDs, electronic games, tablets, and hotspots may not be reserved.
How To Request A Book Not At The Pottsville Free Public Library
If the Pottsville Library does not own the material you need we can attempt to borrow it from another library for you. Please provide as much information as possible on the material requested: Author, Title, Publisher, Date, etc. Requested items usually take 2-3 weeks to come in.
Books published within the last six months will not be requested from another library, but you may suggest them for purchase by the Pottsville Library.
When requesting journal articles, we need the author of the article, the title of the article, the title, volume or date, and page numbers of the magazine. Due to copyright law, we may not request more than five articles from any one magazine printed in the last five years.
Certain material is difficult to obtain such as reference books, genealogy material, best-sellers, and sound recordings. Entertainment DVDs (movies) are not available to borrow from other libraries.
You must have a valid Pottsville Library card to request books from other libraries.
ILL service is free, however, charges may occur if the lending library charges for the loan. We will inform you of any charges before requesting the material. Email us for more information at potill@pottsvillelibrary.org
Services For People With Sight-Related Disabilities
The Pottsville Free Public Library has some ways to help low-vision or blind patrons in the library:
- There is a color video magnifier near the public computers that can enlarge magazines, letters and newspapers while you read them.
- One public computer has JAWS screen reading software and a modified keyboard for blind patrons who wish to use the Internet or other computer programs.
- One public computer has a larger monitor, with screen magnification options, and a high-contrast keyboard.
Assistance can be provided with this equipment. For more information, please contact the Reference Department at (570) 622-8880 x11, or by email at potref@pottsvillelibrary.org.
Audio Books
The Philadelphia Library for the Blind and Physically Handicapped serves, free of charge, visually and physically handicapped persons in Eastern Pennsylvania.
To be eligible an individual must be a resident of the United States, and meet at least one of the following criteria:
- Be visually handicapped
- Be physically handicapped
- Have a reading disability
Each applicant for service must be certified by a competent authority (physician, nurse, therapist, librarian, social worker, counselor, recreation and activities director) stating the need for the person to use the service.
Upon completion and approval of application, the Philadelphia Library for the Blind and Physically Handicapped sends catalogs of material available to the new reader. Participants are entitled to free mailing privileges, equipment and supplies.
Pottsville Free Public Library serves as a sub-lending agency. We issue applications and serve as an intermediary if necessary.
The digital talking book players are available from the Philadelphia Library for the Blind and Physically Handicapped. Please contact the Pottsville Free Public Library if you have any questions about these machines.
All cartridges, cassettes and books are mailed directly to the reader from the Philadelphia Library for the Blind and Physically Handicapped.
For an application or additional information, please call the Pottsville Free Public Library at (570) 622-8880 or contact us by email at potcirc@pottsvillelibrary.org.
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