Find answers to your frequently asked questions about checking out materials and using your library card. Don’t have a card yet? See our Get a Card page to get started.
Patrons can check out 50 items total.
DVD/Blu-ray - limit of 10
Video Games - limit of 2
Library of Things - limits vary
Checkout periods vary based on the type of book or other material you are borrowing:
- Adult books - 28 days
- New adult fiction books - 14 days
- New adult non-fiction books - 28 days
- Children’s & Young adult books - 28 days
- Magazines (newest issue excluded) - 7 days
- Music CDs/Audio books - 14 days
- Rental Books - $1 / week
- Out of system Loan (ILL) - set by owning library
- Library of Things & other special items - checkout periods vary
Holds can be placed by contacting the library, or can be placed online via STARCat:
- Perform a search for the item or items you want.
- From the Search Results page, navigate to the item you want to place on hold and click Place Hold.
- Log in, if prompted.
- Select the pickup library from the drop-down list and click Place Hold.
Note: You can place a hold on multiple items (also known as a bulk hold) by using the checkboxes next to the titles and selecting Place Hold(s) from the Select an Action menu.
Any items that are eligible for renewal, will renew automatically.
Outside book drops are available at all libraries for material returns during closed hours. Most items can be returned to any Southern Tier Library System library. Certain special items, such as Library of Things items, will have instructions to return the item to the library where you checked it out.
Most items, such as books and DVDs, do not have overdue fines. Certain special items, such as Wi-Fi hotspots, still have overdue fines. Patrons will be billed for damaged or lost items (items are marked lost, if more than a month overdue).
The cardholder will be financially responsible for any items on their card and fines/fees associated with the items. The parent or guardian who signed their child’s application will be responsible for any items checked out on that card.
Fees can be paid in-person at the library (cash, check, credit card) or online via STARCat. To pay online:
- Click the My Account button in the menu bar at the top of your screen.
- Log in, if prompted.
- Navigate to the Fines tab, then expand the Current Fines/Blocks section.
- Select the fines you want to pay. Note: If you have a library credit on your account, click Apply Credit to use that credit.
- Click Make a Payment.
- Fill out your payment information.
- Click Submit.