Frequently Asked questions
You must register in person, and present two pieces of identification indicating your current address in order to obtain an Elizabeth library borrower's card (the ID may include a New Jersey driver's license, a New Jersey Motor Vehicle registration, a utility bill, a property tax bill and so on)
Children from birth to age 12 are eligible for library card if registered by parent or guardians who are residents of Elizabeth. Children at age of 13 are eligible to receive an adult library card, but the parent or guardian remains responsible for the use of the library.
Persons who do not reside in Elizabeth, but employed in the city are eligible for a library card. He or she must have a letter on his or her employers' letterhead stating that he or she is an employee of that company, as well as two pieces of identification as outlined above.
Persons who do not reside in Elizabeth, but attend school in the city are eligible for a library card. The student must establish that he or she must present a student identification card, a badge, a current tuition bill, or a current report card. Also, the student must establish his or her home address in the same manner as someone applying as a resident.
Persons who own real property in Elizabeth, but do not reside in the city are eligible for a library card upon presenting a current tax bill, and another piece of identification as outlined above. the local taxpayers immediate family members are eligible for library cards as well.
Call the Circulation Desk. The phone number is 908-354-6060, x7212
Fines are charged at a rate of 10 cents for each day an item is overdue including Sundays, Holidays, and any other day that the library my be closed. A book drop is located at the left of the main library's Rahway Ave. entrance, which is open for your convenience whenever the library is closed.
Books may be borrowed for 28 days ( unless otherwise indicated). The limit on the number of items to borrow is twenty-five.
Yes.
1. Adults over the age of 18, having a valid Elizabeth Public Library card, or a MURAL library borrower's card may borrow videocassettes and dvds by siging the designated line on the back of the library card application indicating that they gave received and agree with the library policies for borrowing video items..
2. Borrowers will be charged the full retail replacement cost in case of loss or damage, plus a processing fee of $5.00
3. Borrowers may borrow a total up to five and/or dvds videos at any one time.
4. The loan period is two days. (If the date due should fall on a Sunday, Holiday, or any other day the library may be closed, the video will be due on the following day that the library is open.)
5. No reserves are taken for videocassette and dvds titles.
6. A nonrefundable rental fee of $1.50 per video is charged for all feature films borrowed from the Elizabeth collection. ( Educational, documentary, instructional, fitness, sports, literacy and certain other videos may be borrowed free of charge.)
7. Overdue fines of $2.00 per day per cassette, will be charged for all videocassettes returned late.
8. Videocassettes and dvds may not be left in the book drop.
9. Videocassettes and dvds must be rewound before they are returned.
10. Videocassettes and dvds are not renewable.
11. Videocassettes and dvds may not be borrowed on Interlibrary Loan.
12. Videocassettes and dvds are licensed only for non-commercial private exhibition in homes. Any other use, or copying is strictly prohibited by law.
Your Elizabeth Borrower's card may be used at Elmora Branch, La Corte Branch and the library's bookmobile. It may also be used at the Hillside Public Library and most libraries located in Union and Middlesex counties except for the East Brunswick, Summit, Westfield, and Woodbridge Public Libraries).
* You need to be 16 years or older.
* You need to have a library card with barcode number.
* You need to have a PIN number which you can apply for at the first floor Circulation Desk.
* Access the Internet by entering the internet address: http://www.njpublib.org/catalog, and then click "Guest" button.
* Enter your library barcode number and your PIN number. Click "My Account" button.
* Information you'll see under your account includes: Items checked out to your accounts; Titles on request by your account; Fees/Fines due for your account.
* You can renew your checked out books yourself at this point as long as the books are not overdue.
Do the steps as "How to access my account through the Internet". Click "Easy Search" on the top left corner of the page, and enter the search word in the empty box. After you find the title you want, click "Request Title"(in red). You will see options for the library location at which you would like to pick up your book. Select one and then click "Submit Request" button. You then will see a message "your request has been successfully processed"(in blue). If you are experiencing any problems on this, call 908-354-6060x7203.
The fees:
Video rental for two days $1.50
Non-resident library card (one year) $35.00
Photocopies (per page) $0.15
Microfilm reader printouts (per page) $0.25
Computer printouts (per page) $0.15
The fines:
Overdue fine per item per day--non-video $0.10
Overdue fine per item per day-video $2.00
Maximum fine per item $30.00
Replacement fee for lost library card $1.00
Replacement fee for lost adult book Cost of book plus $10.00
Replacement fee for lost children's book Cost of book plus $2.00