Library Card Registration
To borrow books and other materials, all that is needed is a valid hometown library card. Southbury cards are available to residents 5 years old or older with proof of Southbury residency. Parents are responsible for their children’s choice of reading material. Non-residents may use their valid library card from their hometown. If you forget your library card, then proof of identification, i.e. driver’s license, will be accepted to borrow materials. Library cards expire every three years from the date of issue. To renew your card, bring it to Adult or Children’s Circulation Desk.
Check-out periods
THREE DAYS – Museum passes. One pass per Southbury household at a time, no renewal and a fine of $2.00 per day for late returns.
ONE WEEK – DVDs/videos – maximum 4 per person, no renewals. There is a $2.00 per day charge for each overdue movie with a maximum of $10.00.
TWO WEEKS – E-Readers: Kindle & Nook, Southbury residents only, no renewals. E-Readers have books preloaded for everyone to read. No other books may be downloaded. There will be a charge for ebook titles downloaded by a patron. There is a fine of $2 per day for late returns with no maximum.
TWO WEEKS – New fiction, new nonfiction, magazines
THREE WEEKS – All other materials.
Renewals
There is a limit of two renewals on the following items: Children and Adult materials
With the following exceptions: books with holds on them, reference books, Interlibrary Loan books, museum passes, DVDs/videos, Kindles and Nooks.
Fines
The Library does not charge fines for overdue books; however, there is a “conscience” box. Overdue movies are $2.00 per day per movie. Overdue Museum passes are $2.00 per day. Overdue E-Readers are $2.00 per day. There is a replacement charge for lost/damaged material.
Self Checkout
There are two machines located at the main circulation desk and one located at the Children’s Circulation Desk. Instructions are available at each location.
Placing a Book on Reserve
An item that is currently unavailable may be put on reserve through the Public Access Catalog (PAC) or through a staff member. Reserves may not be placed on DVDs and videos. When the item becomes available the patron will be notified by phone or email (based on preference). All items being held on reserve may be picked up at the Main Circulation Desk. Items on reserve are held at the Main Circulation Desk for 1 week from the time of patron notification. Please limit your reserves to 5 at a time to help staff process your items in a timely fashion.
Interlibrary Loan
Through the interlibrary loan system we offer access to books (more than 1 year old) not owned by the library. See a Reference Librarian for assistance making a request.
Finding Books and Other Materials
Items can be found by searching the Public Access Catalog (PAC) by author, title, keyword or subject. Results will indicate whether the item is available at the Southbury Public Library and its location within the library. There are PACs in the Adult area and Children’s area.
The Library offers on-line services, My Account, which allow for direct access to your account from anywhere with an internet connection. You can search the collection, renew books, place books on hold that are checked out at the time of your request and request from other libraries books not found in our collection. The first time you log-in your username is your library card number and the password is the last 4 digits of your phone number. If you have trouble logging-in please contact the Reference Department.
Book Locations
New Books are located in bookcases near the Circulation Desk. Fiction and Mysteries are filed alphabetically by the author’s last name just beyond the New Books. Large Print Books are located in the same area in front of adult fiction. Biographies are filed at the beginning of the nonfiction section by the subject of the biography, followed by Nonfiction. Oversized (Q) books are located in the Reference area beginning with the shelves facing the Circulation desk. Juvenile (J, JB or JP) and Teen Books are located upstairs in Youth Services.
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