How Do I...
- Borrow Materials?
- Check My Record?
- Check the Status of My Hold?
- Create a Pin?
- Donate Books?
- Donate to the Library?
- Find Out What's Going On?
- Get a Library Card?
- Pay Fines Online?
- Request a Book?
- Request an Inter-Library Loan?
- Save My Reading History?
- Search the Online Catalog?
- Use Extension Services?
- Use the Online Databases?
- Volunteer?
Borrow Materials
You can borrow materials from the Poughkeepsie Public Library District for the following intervals of time:
| Books, Audio Books, Browsing | 21 Days |
| DVDs,Videocassettes, CDs | 7 Days |
| Downloadable Audio Books and eBooks | 7 or 14 days |
Homework and seasonal materials may have limits due to demand.
Renewals and reserves may be done in person, by phone or through the Internet by using the online catalog.
The current fines and fees schedule is:
| Books, Audio Books | 10¢ per day |
| CDs | 25¢ per day |
| Videocassettes, DVDs, Interlibrary Loans | $1 per day |
| Maximum Fine, per item | $10 |
| Lost or damaged materials | Replacement cost (includes processing fee) |
| Unclaimed holds | $1 per title |
Fines and fees schedule is subject to change. Accounts in excess of $25 may be referred to collections.
Check My Record
Use the Web to check your record, search the catalog and request items. Go to the online catalog from the Poughkeepsie Public Library District's homepage. Click on Log iInto My Record. Enter your barcode and PIN (Personal Identification Number).
To view checked-out items, click on "Items currently checked out."
To renew items coming due, check desired boxes in the "Renew" column, and then click "Renew Selected Items," or you may choose to click on "Renew All." You can sort items in order of date checked out, or date due.
To view items on hold, click on "Requests" (Holds). See if an item is "Ready for Pick-Up," "In Transit" or still pending, indicated by a blank box under "Status." You may cancel items you no longer need.
You can track your borrowing activity and set reminder notices by using Library Elf, a third party software managed by a company not affiliated with the Library District or the Mid-Hudson Library System.
Check the Status of My Hold
Libraries will fill the requests of their own patrons first, before filling the requests of patrons from other libraries.
If your library owns a copy of a title, your request will be filled sooner than if your library does not own the title. Once holds are filled by the owning library, the title will be made available system wide. Then requests will be filled in the order in which they were placed.
All hold requests are automatically given an expiration date that is two years from the date on which the requests were placed. If you have not received the item by that time, your request will be cancelled by the system.
Create a Pin
You will need your PIN every time you want to check your record, renew items or place a hold. If you don't have a PIN (Personal Identification Number), or a password that is associated with your library card, you can easily create one. PINs must contain at least four letters or numbers: make it something you will remember in connection with your card!
To create a PIN, go to the online catalog from the Poughkeepsie Public Library District's homepage. Click on Log into My Record. Enter your library card barcode, then click on "Submit." You will be prompted to submit a new PIN, then retype it for verification. Then type in your barcode and click on "Submit." This will save your PIN in your patron record.
Donate Books
Book donations may be made at Adriance Memorial Library. We prefer that donations be brought to the Noxon Street parking lot on Saturdays from 10:00 a.m. until 12:00 p.m. A custodian will be available to assist donors as the books will be put directly into the Library District's van for transport to the Friends' sorting facility on High Street. However, we will accept donations at any time at the Circulation & Check-Out Desk on the Ground Floor.
As of November 1, 2010, book donations can no longer be received at the Arlington Branch Library.
If you have any questions about donations to the Friends, please call the Library District's Administrative Office at 485-3445 x 3306. Material should be in sellable condition and not include magazines, please.
Donate to the Library
We are pleased to announce that we can now accept donations to the Library District and the Friends of PPLD Annual Appeal through PayPal. To donate, please click on the PayPal icon to be directed to the secure PayPal site.
Find Out What's Going On
Our friendly and knowledgeable staff members are always ready to help you. And here are some other sources of information:
If you have a Poughkeepsie zip code, you're automatically on the mailing list for our quarterly newsletter,The Rotunda. If not, sign up at the check-out desks.
Check out the calendars on the Programs & Events page of the PPLD web site for upcoming programs for adults, teens and children.
Look for the flier entitled This Month at The Library at the Adriance Memorial Library and Arlington Branch Library.
Get a Library Card
A free Poughkeepsie Public Library District card is available to people who live, work, own property, or go to school in the City or Town of Poughkeepsie, with proof of identification and status. Just stop at one of the checkout desks at Adriance or Arlington, and present valid photo identification and evidence of your current address (such as a recent bill). If valid photo identification is not available, two forms of i.d. may be required, such as a bill or a report card addressed to you. Your Library card is renewable every two years.
Your card allows you to borrow materials from any library in the Library District or in the Mid-Hudson Library System. It also allows you access to the resources provided via the Internet at www.poklib.org.
Please note that you are responsible for all items checked out on your card. Call the Library District immediately if your card is lost or stolen. Treat your library card like a credit card. First card replacement is $1; each subsequent replacement card is $5.
Pay Fines Online
Now you can pay your library fines and fees online! All major credit, debit and check cards may be used. Just visit the online catalog and click on "Log into My Record". Enter your library card number and PIN. Click on "Unpaid Fines," and then on "Pay Online." See more information about paying online with your credit card.
Request a Book
To request an item while searching the catalog, click "Request It," or the green "Request-a-Title" button, if it is visible on your screen. If you find more than one title you'd like to request, create a list by clicking on "Save It" for each title. Then click on "View Saves" at the top of the page. Click "Request List," and then you can now "Request All" or "Request Selected." Be sure to choose your pick-up location from the drop down menu at the top.
Another way to request multiple items without entering your library card number and PIN each time is to log into your record first. Go to the online catalog from the Poughkeepsie Public Library District's homepage and click Log into My Record. Enter your card number and PIN, and then click on "Search the Catalog." Once you are logged into your record, there is no need to enter your card number and PIN again when searching the catalog.
Unclaimed holds incur a $1 per title fee. You can freeze your holds from within your holds list in your record. If you have questions, please consult with staff.
Request an Inter-Library Loan
If you would like to request an item that is not owned by any of the libraries in the Mid-Hudson Library System, you can do so by making an Inter-Library Loan request. This can be done at either the Reference Desk at Adriance Memorial Library, or at the Circulation Desk at the Arlington Branch Library. Inter-library loan requests may also be accepted by phone at (845) 485-3445 x3308, or by email. All requests require your name and library card number.
Patrons can search outside of the Library District from home by using the SEAL and WorldCat databases. When making a request, please have the author and/or title of the item: the more information you provide, the easier it will be for us to fill your request.
Please note that requests from outside the Mid Hudson Library System take longer to arrive.
Save My Reading History
You have the option of saving your Reading History through the online catalog. Once you have logged in to your patron record, click on the “My Reading History” button on the left, and choose to “Opt In.” Your Reading History will consist of everything you check out from the time you choose to enable this feature. You can delete titles in your history and/or choose to “Opt Out” at any time.
Search the Online Catalog
Use these helpful tips to Search the Online Catalog for all materials available from the Poughkeepsie Public Library District and the collections of the entire Mid-Hudson Library System, including books, large print, magazines, videos, DVDs, music CDs, CD-ROMs and more!
You'll also learn how to place a hold on items from other libraries using the Request-A-Title option and how to Check Your Record.
Use Extension Services
Extension Services is a home delivery program of library materials. The service is offered to residents of the city and town of Poughkeepsie who, because of age or physical disability, cannot access the library. All materials that circulate to the general public are available, including books, books on tape, videos and CDs.
To apply, call the Adriance Memorial Library at (845) 485-3445 x3307 and ask for Extension Services or click here for an application.
If you do not live in the city or town of Poughkeepsie, call your home town library to ask if they provide this service.
Use the Online Databases
Log on to the Library's web site at www.poklib.org
On the Reference & Research page, select the option for Online Databases.
You can search for a databases by subject, or view an alphabetical list of available databases.
Click on the link for the database that interests you.
When prompted, enter the barcode number from the back of your library card, and click on the "Submit Query" button.
Please note that only PPLD cardholders can access databases remotely from our web site. Others in the Mid-Hudson Library System service area can find “Home Access” databases through their local library’s web site. Cardholders from all Dutchess County libraries can access additional databases through the Dutchess County Information Portal.
If you need help with these electronic resources, call a Reference Librarian at (845) 485-3445 x3308.
Volunteer
If you have some time to give to the Library District, both Adriance Memorial Library and the Arlington Branch Library can use your help.
Volunteers can "read" the bookshelves to ensure correct shelving of materials, work with the Children's Room staff on programs for our youth, mend books and other library materials, help straighten the periodicals room and more. In addition, the Friends of PPLD always need volunteers to help with their gigantic annual book sale.
To volunteer, fill out an application at Adriance or Arlington, or send an email to volunteer@poklib.org.