Frequently Requested Information 2007

What are the library hours?

Holiday Closing Information, 2007

Holiday Closing Information, 2008

How may I get a library card? (revised 3/12/07)

Customers who wish to check out materials from any Gwinnett County Public Library branch or utilize certain other services must have a valid library card. A card may be obtained by individuals and organizations that meet the eligibility requirements outlined below:

Organizations:

Associations, businesses, churches, day care centers and schools located in Gwinnett County may obtain an organizational library card in order to check out materials that are relevant to the activities of the organization.

Age:

A library card may be obtained at any age. Parents/guardians are responsible for deciding what kind of library card their child (under age 18) receives. Cards are available with the following checkout options:

1. Checkout privileges for the entire collection
2. Checkout privileges for the entire collection except items in the Parents' Advisory section
3. Checkout privileges for materials in the Juvenile and Easy collections

In order to qualify for a card at no charge, a person must meet one of the following qualifications:

1. Reside in Gwinnett County
2. Own property or a business in Gwinnett County
3. Be employed by a school in Gwinnett County or by Gwinnett County government
4. Be a student, faculty member or staff member of the Georgia Gwinnett College
5. Be a student, faculty member or staff member of Gwinnett Technical College

Anyone who does not meet one of the criteria listed above may obtain a card for an annual fee based on the amount a Gwinnett County resident contributes towards public library service.

PIN - You are required to provide a 4-digit personal identification number (PIN) as part of your card registration.  You will need this number to access your account (online and for telephone renewals) and online subscription databases. 

Check Out Limit - Effective April 3, 2006 the Library Board adopted a policy allowing a maximum of 75 items to be checked out per card at one time.

What types of children's programming do you offer?
All branches offer these scheduled programs for individual children and their parents:

Lapsit Storytime -  Stories and activities for ages 2 - 3 1/2 with their parents.
Lapsit/Pre-school Storytime -  Stories and activities for ages 2 - 5 with their parents.
Pre-school Storytime -  Stories and activities for ages 3 1/2 - 5, with or without their parents.

Child care and private preschool groups are scheduled by appointment. 
Please call 770-822-5368, or 5369, to schedule your group.

How may I get a children's programming calendar?
You may pick up a current children's programming calendar at any branch, or view online by selecting the Children's Programming or Vacation Reading Program schedule link on the library homepage.

Does the library provide photocopiers for public use?
Public photocopy machines are available in all branches.  The charge is 15 cents for black and white copies, and 50 cents for color copies. 11X7 sized copies are 30 cents, and 11X17 sized color copies are $1.00

Can I get tax forms at the library?
Many federal tax forms are available in a notebook of reproducible forms available at each branch; you may photocopy the forms for $.15 per page.  If you prefer, branch Information staff will assist you in locating and printing the federal and/or state forms you need using electronic resources, also for a charge of $.15 per page.  

Federal tax forms may be printed from the Internal Revenue Service’s web site, http://www.irs.gov.  This site also provides a link to individual state web sites for state forms.   The IRS site provides a link for downloading Adobe Acrobat software necessary for printing the forms.

How may I e-mail a reference question?
You can e-mail a reference question by clicking here or by selecting AskInfo from the home page.  Typically you will receive an answer to your question within 24 hours.  Of course, you can also receive assistance with your reference question by visiting any branch location, or by calling the Library Help Line at 770-978-5154 during open hours and selecting the option for “Information librarians.”

What is the checkout period?
Library materials may be checked out for 21 days.   Many materials may be renewed twice, for an additional 21 days, if no one else is waiting for the title.

Does the library charge fines?
If materials are returned on time, there is no charge for their use.  An extended loan fee of $.20 per day per item is charged for materials kept beyond the date they are due. (Customers 65 and older are not charged extended loan fees.) Please click here for important information regarding seriously overdue materials or extended loan fees.

How may I renew an item?
Most library materials can be renewed one time, for an additional 21 days, if no one else is waiting for the title.  Due to short supply and high demand, items from our "Just Looking" collection are non-renewable.  In addition to renewing materials in person at any branch, there are several other ways to renew:

2) Call the automated renewal line, 770-822-5351, and follow the instructions provided. You will need to know your library card number and your 4-digit Personal Identification Number (PIN). This option is available 24 hours a day.

3) Call (770) 822- 4522 during the library’s open hours and select the option for “Information Librarians.”

May I return library materials to any Gwinnett County Public Library Branch?
Yes,  materials may be returned to any Gwinnett County Public Library Branch.
(Branch Locations)

Can I register to vote at the library?
Yes.  When you get a library card you will be offered the opportunity to register to vote or amend your voter registration.   Postage-paid registration forms are also available at all branches should you wish to complete one at some other time and mail it to the Georgia Secretary of State yourself. 

To be eligible to register to vote, a person must: 

Be a citizen of the United States and a legal resident of Georgia.
Be at least 17 ½ years of age (at least 18 years of age to vote).
Not be serving a sentence for a conviction of a felony involving moral turpitude.
Not have been judicially declared to be mentally incompetent.

FYI - To be eligible to vote in most elections,  the registration deadline is 30 days prior to the election date.

Can I use the library’s information databases remotely?
Yes, the library subscribes to many information databases that are available over the internet. You can use most of these databases 24 hours a day if you have a Gwinnett County Public Library card.
                  
To access these resources, go to the library web site: http://www.gwinnettpl.org.  Click on Search Databases/All Resources, and then enter your card number and pin on the following screen.

Note: Click here for information on establishing a netLibary account.

How may I reserve a book or other library materials?

Most non-reference library materials can be reserved and held at the branch of your choice for pick-up.  When you find a title you want, you can reserve it by placing a hold on it, so that when a copy becomes available, it will be sent to the branch location you specify.  To place a hold, you will need to access the library catalog and know your 14-digit library card number and your 4-digit PIN. You may also call 770-822-4522 during the library’s open hours and select the option for  “Information Librarians.” A staff member from the library’s Library Help Line will assist you.

May I send or receive personal faxes at the library branches?

No, a public faxing service is not provided by the library system.  Fax machines are available only for library-related business.

  What procedures should customers follow to address the Library Board?
      Click here for this and additional information regarding the library board.

Does the library offer word processing or other office software? Are typewriters available?