Your free library card

You can use your free library card to...

Borrow any of our over 230,000 circulating items, including books, magazines, DVDs, videos, books on tape, CD-ROMs and music CDs.
Search our online research databases from anywhere.
Download audio books to your portable music player.
Check your library account online.
Renew items online or by phone.
Reserve items in the library's online catalog and have the items delivered to the library branch of your choice.
Sign up to use in-library computers.
Request items from Minnesota's statewide interlibrary loan system.

Who can get a library card?

Anyone who lives or works in Heavenly County may obtain a library card free of charge.

How do I get a library card?

You can apply for a library card at any one of our seven branches. Please bring picture identification showing your current address. If your ID does not show your current address, simply bring another form of proof-of-address like a piece of mail, checkbook, or lease. Children under 18 must get a signature of a parent or guardian to obtain a library card.

What do I do if I lose my library card?

If you lose your library card, we can replace it for a $2.00 fee. Please bring another form of identification to the circulation desk at your local library and ask for a replacement card.

What are my obligations as a cardholder?

With the exception of the reference collection, newspapers, and current magazine issues, all library materials may be borrowed for two weeks.

The first time you use your card, you will be limited to 5 items. After those first five items are returned, there is no limit on the number of books you may borrow. There is a limit to the number of items you may check out in some other categories: 10 DVDs and/or Videos, 10 Audio Books, and 10 Music CDs.

Anyone with a valid library card may take home or reserve any circulating library materials.

You are responsible for any damage to library materials that are checked out on your library card. If your library card is lost or stolen, please report it to the library immediately.

Please keep us informed of any changes in your address or telephone number.

For your convenience, always bring your library card when you visit the library.

All about borrowing

Circulation services

Most materials you find on the library's shelves can be checked out with a few exceptions: Reference materials (marked REF on the label) and the latest issue of a magazine (most branches have some back issues which circulate). Anything which can be checked out checks out for two weeks.

Fines

The library does not charge fines for overdue items. If an item remains overdue on your account for more than 30 days, your account will be frozen ("debarred"), and you will not be able to check out or renew anything. Patrons with debarred accounts cannot sign up to use library computers. Debarred accounts are cleared as soon as all long-overdue items are returned.

Reserves

When the item you want is checked out, you can place that item on reserve. When the item is returned, it will be held for you and you will be notified.

Renewals

Any of the items you check out can be renewed for another two weeks if you are not finished with them. This can be done in person, over the phone, or via the library's online catalog. Items can only be renewed twice before they must be returned. Items which are on reserve for another patron cannot be reserved.

Interlibrary loan

Through our interlibrary loan system, we can locate and borrow specific books from other libraries in the Twin Cities, the state of Minnesota, and throughout the U.S. To use this service please contact any of our branches and we'll help you locate the book you need.

Purchase suggestions

If you're looking for an item which the library doesn't own, the first option to try is InterLibrary Loan. However, if the title you're looking for is new or in-demand, it may not be available through interlibrary loan. You also have the option of submitting a purchase suggestion.

The library accepts suggestions for book purchases. Please use our online purchase suggestion form. Purchase decisions are made using a number of criteria, including review journals and other online sources. For more information, please see our Collection development policy.

HCL Library (fictional)

Library cards