BORROWER INFORMATION

LIBRARY CARDS

HOW DO I GET A LIBRARY CARD?

Anyone who pays taxes to or lives in the Borough of Madison is entitled to Madison Library privileges. Proof of eligibility such as a driver's license, check book, rent or tax receipt, or a utility bill imprinted with a name and address must be presented at the time of registration.

Non-residents employed by a Madison business are entitled to courtesy privileges. Proof of employment is required at the beginning of each year. Business cards are not acceptable.

Any interested individual or family is eligible to purchase an out-of-town paid membership. The annual rate is $65.00 for Madison only privileges, and $145.00 for privileges throughout all of Morris County. This card expires 1 year from the date of registration.

Student privileges are available to resident undergraduate students of Drew University, Fairleigh Dickinson University and the College of St. Elizabeth. A student attending Madison High School, but residing in Harding Twp. is also eligible as are children attending elementary school in Madison, but living elsewhere. Proof of eligibility is required.

Temporary cards are available to any person residing in Madison, employed in a Madison business, or in a Madison household for a period anticipated to be less than 1 year.  Children who live part-time with a non-custodial parent in Madison, a nanny or aide employed in a Madison household, and Shakespeare Festival workers are examples of those who can request a temporary card. Proof of eligibility must be presented.

LOANS (Top of Page)

WHAT ARE THE LOAN PERIODS?

Adult books published within the last year have a loan period of 14 days.

All other books have a loan period of 28 days.

Audio-visual material, such as music compact discs, books on cassette and on CD, Informational/Instructional/TV/Classic Comedies & Musicals DVDs and videocassettes , have a loan period of 14 days. Also available for 14 days are magazines and pamphlets. 

Entertainment videocassettes may be borrowed for 14 days. There is a charge of $1.00 for each title. After 14 days there is an additional charge of $1.00/day per title.

Entertainment DVDs may be borrowed for 2 days with a charge of $1.00 for each title. After 2 days there is an additional charge of $1.00/day per title.

RECIPROCAL BORROWING (Top of page)

WHAT IF I DON'T LIVE IN MADISON?

Persons from other Morris County libraries may use their home library card for borrowing at the Madison Public Library. Restrictions may apply.

A Morris-Union Federation (MUF) library card may be used in all 7 MUF libraries which include: Berkeley Heights, Bernards Township, Chatham, Madison, Morristown, New Providence and Summit. These privileges do not apply to any other Morris County library. Restrictions may apply.

FINES (Top)

HOW MUCH ARE THE FINES?

Fines on all books, magazines and pamphlets from the adult collection and most audio-visual materials are
$ .10 per day. The exception being, entertainment videos and DVDs which are $1.00 per day.

RESERVES & INTERLIBRARY LOANS (Top)

WHAT IF THE BOOK ISN'T ON THE SHELF?

M.A.I.N. CATALOG (Morris area libraries)

If the book you want is checked out or has been published but not yet received by the library, you may place a "hold" for a copy of that book. When the book becomes available the library will call you. You will then have 3 days to pick up the book. You may reserve the book in person, at the library.  You may also reserve it (place a "hold") on line through the library web catalog .
In order to place a hold (reserve a book) you must log in with your library card number and PIN. Your PIN may be the last four numbers of your telephone number. If this doesn't work call the library.
 

Items not in the M.A.I.N. CATALOG

If none of the Morris area libraries owns a book or other material you would like to have,  it can be requested through interlibrary loan. Interlibrary loan requests are handled by the Reference Desk. Either contact the Reference Desk (973-377-0722 ext,212) or  go to the white box in the upper right corner of the catalog search page.  There you will find Request Items Not in Catalog.  When you click on this a form will appear. Fill this out for the item you would like to request. Another option is to click on Other Catalogs which will bring you to Jersey Cat, the catalog of all the New Jersey libraries, where you can search and request an item.  Only five (5) interlibrary loan requests per individual may be submitted each week for processing by the Reference Desk.
 

RENEWALS (Top)

CAN BOOKS BE RENEWED?

Books from the Adult Services collection may be renewed for 2 additional loan periods, if they have not been reserved by another patron. Audiobooks, educational videos and DVDs, and Health & Healing videos and DVDs  may also be renewed once.

Renewals can be done from home through the library web catalog. You will need to log in with your library card number (no spaces) and your PIN. If you have requested a PIN in the past it has transferred to the new system. If you have not, your PIN is probably the last four digits of your telephone number. If you have a problem, please call the library for help.

Renewals can be done by phone. Please have the book or AV material handy so you can tell us its bar code number.  This number identifies the item. In the book it is usually found on the back cover.  For an AV item, look on the cover, or inside the case, or on a music CD itself.   The number on all items begins 01017. . . . .  You may also use your library card barcode and we can use that to check on the item's barcode

LOST MATERIAL (Top)

WHAT HAPPENS IF I LOSE AN ITEM?

When a book or other library material is lost or damaged beyond repair you will be charged the replacement cost according to the unit price schedule. Replacement copies purchased by you will not be accepted unless first OK'd by a library staff member.

A receipt will be given to you for the lost material. If the item is found after payment has been made,  you may keep the item. The Library has a no-refund policy.

Feedback: send email to our director, Nancy Adamczyk or webmaster, Pauline Lang

Copyright © 1999, Madison Public Library. All rights reserved.