Frequently Asked Questions

If you live within our District, stop by with proof of residency. Some examples include: 

• Illinois Driver’s License or ID card
• Utility Bill
• Mortgage papers
• Rental Agreements
• Title to Property

Be sure to call ahead to make sure we are your Library. Not all portions of Bartlett are within our District.

Learn more on the Get a Library Card page

Username: Library Card Barcode

Password: Your birth date as a 4 digit combination of your month and year (MMYY). For example, if your birthday is Dec 7, 1984, your password is 1284.

Call 630.837.2958 for issues.

If your card is lost/damaged, a replacement card costs $0.50. You’re responsible for all items, fines and fees checked out on your card until its loss is reported.

To receive a replacement card, visit the circulation desk during your next library visit. 630.837.2958 to report a lost library card.

Library card holders may use their library cards to access a number of online catalogs and services including collections of music, TV, magazines, online learning courses, and more.

Browse eResources

Library card holders can also request free tickets or discounts to places like zoos, parks, and botanical gardens on a first-come first-serve basis.

View Museum & Zoo Passes

Cardholding patrons of other Illinois libraries may register their card at the Bartlett Public Library in order to check-out materials as a reciprocal borrower. For more information about reciprocal borrowers, see our page on creating a library card.

Cards issued by the Bartlett Public Library are valid for a period of three years. To renew a card, bring both your card and proof of residency to the circulation desk.

Reciprocal borrowers must renew their accounts with the Bartlett Public Library after a period of one year.

Video games, DVDs, and our Library of Things collection can be checked out for one week. Other items may generably be checked out for three weeks. Times for specialty items may vary. 

Most items have no late fees. However, there are late fees of $1.00 per day for video games and Library of Things items. Inter-Library loan items have a late fee of $0.10 per day.

Pay Overdue Fees

Library borrowing privileges are suspended when an item on the account is 10 days overdue.

A total of 99 items can be checked out at one time, however some collections have additional restrictions.

• Only 3 video games may be checked out at one time.
• Only 1 item from the Library of Things collection may be checked out at one time.

Eligible items automatically renew up to two times if there isn’t a hold on them. Renewal times run from one to three weeks based on the type of item checked out.

Place holds over the phone, in person, or through our online catalog by hitting the “Place Request” button and following the prompts. Once an item is ready, you will be notified.

The following items are not eligible for renewal: 

• Library of Things collection
• Inter-Library loans

All holds are placed on a shelf past the circulation desk near the public computers. Held items are marked with paper tags and organized by the last name of the borrowing patron.

Please note that held items still must be checked out at the circulation desk or one of our self-checkout stations after being picked up.

Items will be held for patrons for three days. Failure to pick-up the item within three days will result in forfeiture of the hold. If you know that you will be unable to pick-up a held item once it has come in, please contact circulation at 630.837.2958

The Library will never issue a due date for a patron when the building is closed. In the event of an unexpected closing, no fines are issued for the duration of the closing, and you are free to return your item when we are next open.

Items other than our Library of Things collection may also be returned to the drive-up book drop at the back of the building when the Library is closed.

1. Can I get a longer checkout period?
   If there are no hold requests for the items, your eligible items will automatically renew. Please refer to question 9 for more information on renewals.
    
2. How can I keep my holds active?
   Suspend your holds by going to My Account and then Requests. Check the holds that you would like to suspend and press the “Suspend/Reactive Selected” button at the bottom of the page. Then enter the date you would like to reactivate your holds in the textbox titled “New Activate Date” and click “Submit”.
   
   We will not fulfill any holds before the date that is entered, but you will retain your place in the holds queue. If you need to reactivate your holds early, follow the same process as above, but enter today’s date in the “New Activate Date” textbox.
    
3. My hold came in, what now?
   If you receive a notification of holds while on vacation, then please call 630.837.2985

For damaged items, the borrower must reimburse us the cost of the item(s).

For lost items, review first to see if they can be located. If the item(s) cannot be located, the borrower must reimburse us the cost of the item(s).

Call 630.837.2958 to speak about lost/damaged items.

For items less than six months old that have been released/published, BPLD residents can fill out the following form, call, or ask for it in person. Limit of five items a month for purchase.

Make a Purchase Request

BPLD patrons can request items from other libraries directly from our catalog. Make sure OCLC is selected under the “Select Databases” button after you’ve searched our online catalog. To see items from other libraries, make sure to click “Add Pending Results,” which appears just above the list of available items. Find the item you want, hit “Place Request,” then follow the prompts. You can also call or request items in person.

Our Library carries a wide variety of collections, such as our Library of Things collection, DVDs, CDs, video games, audiobooks, magazines, youth puzzles, youth flashcards, ACT/SAT Prep Launchpads, Playaways, and family resource kits.

Library of Things  Browse Catalog

Enjoy our subscriptions in-house. We have a month’s worth of recent Daily Herald and Chicago Sun-Times publications as well as eSources that supply years of various newspaper publications such as the Bartlett Examiner and Chicago Daily News.

Periodicals Collection

Access Periodicals Online

Yes, we have world language collections for both Adults and Children. To learn more, visit our language learning page or speak to a librarian at either department’s desk.

Bartlett Public Library District card holders may also access some of our online world language collections and learning tools.

Our Library of Things collection encompasses a wide variety of items ranging from productivity tools, hobbyist tools, games, and much more. All Library of Things items are available for a checkout period of one-week. These items are not eligible for renewal and are subject to late fees. 

All Library of Things items must be both checked-out at and returned to the circulation desk and are only available to BPLD card holders.

View our Library of Things

Please complete our Collection Statement of Concern form.

Printing/copying in black & white or color costs $0.20 per page. You also have the capability of sending a print job from your home to the Library with our WiFi Printing. Scanning to email is free. A fax machine is also available, with costs beginning at $1.00 for the first page and $0.50 for each additional page.

View More Information

Yes, patrons can use our computers with a registered library card or receive a guest pass at the circulation desk. Additionally, we offer 15-minute express PCs for quick tasks. Patrons with a registered library card may also borrow laptops for in-Library use. 

Youth computers are located on the second floor along with youth iPads that have fun and educational apps for children (In-Library use only).

View All Technology Services

Yes, all library guests are welcome to use our free guest wi-fi. Look for one of the signs posted within the Library during your next visit to learn more.

Some service providers do not properly forward our messages. If you would like to enable e-mail notifications, please speak to the circulation desk or call 630.837.2855.

First, find the appropriate resource on our eResources page.

Follow our link to their website. Look for a “Sign in” or “Get started” button; this will vary from site to site. Follow the on-screen instructions and enter the necessary information which may include: the library name, your library card number, your e-mail address, and your library card PIN.

The default PIN for all patrons is their two digit birth month followed by the last two digits of their birth year (MMYY). A person born March 19, 2004 would have a PIN of 0304.

All of our eResources are available only to those with a Bartlett Public Library District library card. Reciprocal borrowers should contact their home library for information about the digital resources available to them.

Your library card PIN is the same as your password. By default, we set the PIN of all patrons to their two digit birth month followed by the last two digits of their birth year (MMYY). A person born March 19, 2004 would have a PIN of 0304.

If you have ever changed your password for your account, please use your new password instead.

Call 630.837.2958 for issues.

The Bartlett Public Library District aims to be a welcoming space for people of all abilities. For more information about our available services and accommodations, please see our accessibility page.

Sign up for a room by calling or making a reservation in person. You may also call for information on room capacities.

Learn More

Unfortunately, the Bartlett Public Library does not offer any notary services.

No, the library does not offer any tutoring services. We do have resources for teachers and homeschooling for children. Teens and adults may reserve study rooms or check-out any of our test prep materials.

Alternatively, view our list of community groups that offer tutoring or educational services.

We have information and links to a wide range of community resources including topics like Income Taxes, Food & Financial Aid, Tutoring, Citizenship, and more. 

View Community Resources

Bartlett Public Library has events for every age group, including crafting, cooking, concerts, technology classes, and book clubs for adults!

View our calendar to see what events are being hosted.

Only some events require registration. All requirements are listed on the event page in our event calendar.

To register for an event, either click the orange “Registration” button on the event’s page in our calendar, or contact the department running the event.

Many events do not require a library card to register. The full list of registration requirements will always be noted on the event’s page in our calendar.

Both our current and previous quarterly newsletters are available to read and download on our Newsletter page.

For more information about our book clubs, please refer to our book club page.

Please complete our Presenter Request Form and a librarian from the relevant department will contact you at a later date.

The Foundation and the Friends of the Library accept monetary donations through online or physical payment options. They also accept some non-monetary donations. 

After donating books or other non-monetary items, a donation receipt can be picked up at the circulation desk.

More details can be found on the Foundation page and the Friends of the Library page.

Yes, teens can earn official volunteer hours and experience by participating in our seasonal VolunTEENs program.

Adults interested in supporting the Library may contact either the Friends of the Library or the Bartlett Public Library Foundation.

Yes, however, food should be limited to the café section of the Library.

We’ve created a step-by-step visitor's guide to help make your visit more comfortable and enjoyable.

All open positions are listed on our employment page. 

We seek dedicated and enthusiastic team members to provide exceptional customer service.

All Library Board Meetings are open to the public. For a schedule of upcoming meetings, please refer to our Board of Trustees page where you can also view meeting agendas and approved minutes.

There’s plenty of ways to connect with us, and we are happy to help however we can.

Contact Us