The circulation desk checks out material from the Adult and Children's sections, renews books, reserves materials and issues library cards.

Library Cards | Loan Periods | Renewals | Holds | InterLibrary Loans

Library Cards

If you live, own property, work or go to school in East Chicago you may apply for a Library Card. Children may have a card as soon as they can print their names. Parent sign their approval for cards for children preschool age through 8th grade.

Adult residents, high school age and over, are asked for identification which shows their name and current address.

Non-residents show additional identification from their work place or school.

Through borrowing agreements with other library systems your card may be used to borrow books from most public libraries in Indiana. In the event that library card becomes lost or damaged the cost to replace is it $5.00 for adults and $1.00 for children.

Your library card also grants access to the following materials:

Books that require a DEPOSIT

For example, Auto Manuals, Armed Forces Test, SAT and many other similar titles. These books require a deposit which is equal to the cost of the book. These books can be renewed once unless the title has a previous reserve on it. When these books are checked out a receipt is issued to the patron. The patron must have their receipt to collect their deposit. If the book is not returned with in six months the deposit is automatically forfeited.

Apple Mac Computers

Computers may be accessed by 8th grade and up. We have a collection of public domain software programs that may be copied by adults free of charge. Patrons may provide their own blank computer discs or purchase them at the circulation desk for $1.75. Computer paper is .02 cents a sheet. There is a $5.00 deposit required to use the room. An appointment is required to used room. you also must know how to the apple computer if not you can set an appointment for an orientation. Only the patron using the equipment is allowed to enter the room.

Typewriters and Word Processors

Public typewriters and worked processors are available for public use. Patrons must register at the circulation desk. These are on a first come first serve basis. A $5.00 deposit is required to use the room and .25 each half hour on the computer. Disks for the Word Processor are available at the circulation desk for $2.00. All rooms close 1/2 hour before the scheduled library closing.

 

Loan Periods

Print Materials Audio-Visual Materials Non-print Materials

Special Items Fee for all lost or damaged materials

Print Materials

Circulating collection of books and magazines	3 weeks, with 1 renewal
Maximum of 30 items may be checked out per card
Bestsellers
If there are more than five reserves on the title If there are more than 600 pages	1 week, no renewal 3 weeks, no renewal
Cliff Notes	3 days, no renewal
InterLibrary loan materials	Due date given by loaning library, no renewal

Reference, East Chicago Room and Career Services Center collections
do not circulate and may only be used in the library

Late Fees

Adult Materials Children’s Materials Cliff Notes InterLibrary loan materials

- 5 cents per day that library is open, $2 maximum - 2 cents per day that library is open, $1 maximum - $1 per day that library is open - $1 per day that library is open

Audio Visual - Materials

Educational/Instructional Videos	2 days, no renewal
Maximum of 3 items may be checked out per card
High demand videos	Overnight, no renewal
Maximum of 3 items may be checked out per card
Late Fees/Charges	3 days, no renewal
Donation of $1 per item requested for checking out entertainment videos
Fee of $1 per item will be charged for any video that is not rewound before it is returned
Regular Videos	$1 per day that library is open, maximum is retail value of video
High Demand Videos	$3 per day that library is open, maximum is retail value of video

Audio Materials

Recorded books, cassettes, CDs, record albums	3 weeks, 1 renewal
Maximum of 6 items may be checked out per card Maximum of 5 CDs may be checked out per card
Late Fees/Charges	3 days, no renewal
Audio materials	.05 cents per day that library is open $2 max.

Non-Print Materials

Art prints and sculptures	8 weeks, no renewal
Maximum of 2 items may be checked out per card
Late Fees
$1 per day that library is open

Special Items

Slide Projector

Late Fees/Charges
$30 cash deposit required, with $3 retained as a service charge $4 per day that library is open

Hooked on Phonics

Late Fees/Charges	3 weeks, no renewal
$35 cash deposit required $2 per day that library is open

Engraver

Late Fees/Charges	2 days, 1 renewal
No deposit required $4 per day that library is open

Fee for ALL Lost or Damaged Material ***Cost of replacing item and a $2.00 processing fee.*** ***Includes Print, Audio-Visual and Non-Print Items***

Renewing Materials

Many library materials may be renewed, in person or over the phone. Materials must by renewed on or prior to the date due. If materials already are overdue, they cannot be renewed and must be returned to the library to avoid further accumulation of fines.

To renew materials in person, please bring the items to the Circulation Desk and have your library card available. You may renew materials by telephoning the Circulation Desk at 397-2453 at the Main Library or at 397-5505 at the Pastrick Branch Library. You will need to have your library card number as well as the bar code numbers for the items that you wish to renew.

Placing Holds

If a specific book you are looking for is available through the East Chicago Public Library system, but it is not currently available because it is checked out or not on the shelf, you may place a "hold" on that item.

We ask that patrons fill out a special reserve slip that is available either at the Circulation Desk or the Reference Desk or you may telephone us at 397-2453 at the Main Library or at 397-5505 at the Pastrick Branch Library. The information you will need to provide includes the title of the book, author, your name, your library card number, and your telephone number or address.

Your name will be placed on a list of those requesting a specific item. Holds are processed in the order that they are received, which is helpful to know if you are requesting a best-seller.

Once the book becomes available, a library staff member will call you at the number provided on the reserve slip. If a telephone number has not been provided, a slip will be mailed to your home.

The library will hold the item for pick up at the Circulation Desk for five days. Afterward, it will go to the next person on the waiting list or be placed back on the shelf for general circulation.

In order to place a hold, you must have a valid East Chicago Public Library card and be in good standing. If you have any overdue fines or other charges listed on your account, you will not be able to place a hold until your account has been cleared.

InterLibrary Loans

If a specific book you are looking for is not available through the East Chicago Public Library system, we may be able to obtain it for you through our interlibrary loan service. This program allows the East Chicago Public Library to obtain the book through another library in the state or nation for its patrons. Interlibrary loans are limited to books that have NOT been published within the last six months.

We ask that patrons fill out a special interlibrary loan slip that is available at the Reference Desk or you may telephone us at 397-2453 at the Main Library or at 397-5505 at the Pastrick Branch Library. The information you will need to provide includes the title of the book, author, your name, your library card number, and your telephone number or address.

Library staff will then conduct a search for the book. It may take up to three weeks for the book to be made available. Books that are made available through other libraries in Indiana are delivered on Wednesdays by a special courier service. Books from out-of-state are delivered in the mail and their arrival dates vary.

Once the book has been delivered to the East Chicago Public Library, a library staff member will call you at the number provided on the reserve slip. If a telephone number has not been provided, a slip will be mailed to your home.

The loan period for the book is established by the lending library, but generally, books must be returned to the East Chicago Public Library within a three- to four-week period. The return date will be indicated when the book is checked out. Because books obtained through interlibrary loan belong to other libraries the overdue fine is substantially higher, $1 per day per book.