Northland Public Library Welcome Brochure

Welcome To

NORTHLAND PUBLIC LIBRARY

Northland Library enables, empowers, and encourages lifelong learning and discovery.

Connecting Our Communities 412-366-8100 • www.northlandlibrary.org

Who We Are Northland Public Library is the second

WELCOME TO NORTHLAND PUBLIC LIBRARY

largest library in Allegheny County. The geographic area we serve, our population base, collection and circulation are second only to the Carnegie library system in Allegheny Country.

We receive the majority of our funding from five municipalities which we directly

On behalf of Northland Public Library, I would like to welcome you.

We are pleased that you are joining our ever-growing family, which now numbers close to 39,000 cardholders.

For over 40 years, Northland Public Library has been providing our area residents with library services for leisure and learning.We feature an extensive collection of books, electronic resources and other items for adults, teens and children. We provide programming for people of all ages. If you need a quiet place to study, we have that too.

Our highly trained staff is ready to assist you at all times. We’ll be happy to help you find materials that you need, or answer any questions you may have.

We look forward to serving you.

Amy Steele

Executive Director Northland Public Library

serve: the Borough of Bradford Woods, Franklin Park Borough, Marshall Township, Town of McCandless and Ross Township, as well as Regional Asset District (RAD) and the Common Wealth of Pennsylvania.

Approximately 50 full-time equivalent staff work at Northland Library in a variety of areas, including circulation, reference, technical services and administration.

Northland Library has over 200,000 items in our collection, including books, audio books, eBooks, eAudio, DVDs, and CDs. Our newspaper collection includes daily and Sunday editions of the Pittsburgh Post Gazette, the Pittsburgh Tribune Review and the New York Times, the Sunday Washington Post, as well as weekly newspapers from the region.

Hours of Operation Summer Hours (Memorial Day to Labor Day) Sunday CLOSED Monday through Thursday 9am-9pm Friday 9am-6pm Saturday 9am-5pm

Winter Hours (Labor Day to Memorial Day) Sunday 1pm-5pm Monday throughThursday 9am-9pm Friday 9am-6pm Saturday 9am-5pm

Bookmobile Service Marshall Elementary School Fridays

3:30pm-4:30pm

Northland Library Card Overview Your Northland Public Library card will give you access to print and electronic library materials, and online reference databases.

When you receive your library card, you accept responsibility for all activity on the card, including the care/condition of the items checked out, fines and charges based on library policies, and payment for lost or damaged items. Report lost/stolen cards immediately so no one else can use your card. You remain responsible for any activity prior to your notifying us of the lost card. We reserve the right to ask for identification to verify a cardholder is using the proper account.

Obtaining a Library Card Account

It’s fast and easy to

obtain a Northland Library card. Just stop at the customer service desk on the lower level of the library. You will be asked for a photo ID along with proof of address. A valid driver’s license or utility bill are among the identification types that we will accept. Library cards are free to residents of Allegheny County, college students residing in the county during school, and people with an ACCESS PA sticker on their card from another library. Nonresidents will be charged $20 for three months or $70 per year per family.

Northland library cards are nontransferable. If you change your address or lose your card, please stop by the customer service desk as soon as possible. Replacement cards are $1.

Access Your Account Online

You may access your Northland

Library account online. Just visit our website at www.northlandlibrary.org. Click on ‘My Account’. You will be asked to enter your library card number and PIN. From there you will be able to check your personal account information, including your address and phone number, books charged to your account and items on hold. You can also search for and reserve items from libraries throughout Allegheny County, or renew items already on your account.

Managing Your Account

We recommend that you monitor your

account regularly via our website at www.northlandlibrary.org. Click on ‘My Account’. By entering your account number and Personal Identification Number (PIN) on the “My Account” page, you can view your checked-out material and review due dates and fines.

Your Account Information

Please report any changes to your

account information to the library. To change your name or address you will need to provide a valid PA driver’s license, PA car registration card, car insurance card, utility bill, bank statement, or rental/mortgage agreement. To change your phone number please call 412-366-8100 ex: 116. You may change your email address and the method in which you receive your library notices online at www.northlandlibrary.org through the “My Account” page.

Caregiver Cards for Minors

A child may obtain a library card when he/she comes to the library with a daycare provider, neighbor, or grandparent, etc. This card will have a three-week expiration date but can be renewed when the parent/guardian comes into the library with valid identification. The parent/guardian’s signature will also be required to renew this card.

Creating a PIN for Your Account A PIN (Personal Identification Number) is required to place requests for items in The Catalog and to access My Account at www.northlandlibrary.org

Creating a PIN when placing a request: A valid email

Creating a PIN through My Account: A valid email address is

1. Find your item and place a request.

2. Click ‘I forgot my PIN’ or ‘I don’t have my PIN’.

3. Enter your library card barcode.

4. A message will be sent to your email account from helpdesk@einetwork.net. Click on the link and a web form will display.

5. Type in your library card barcode.

6. Type in a 4-digit PIN and confirm.

1. Go to http://www.northlandlibrary.org 2. Click on ‘My Account’.

3. Click on ‘I need to get a PIN for the first time’.

4. Enter your library card barcode.

5. Click ‘Request PIN Reset’.

6. A message will be sent to your email account from helpdesk@einetwork.net.

Click on this link and a web form will display.

7. Type in your library card barcode.

address is required for this service*

required for this service*

To Modify your PIN: 1. Go to http://northlandlibrary.org 2. Click on ‘My Account’.

3. Click on ‘Modify your PIN’.

4. Enter your current PIN. 5. Type in your new PIN.

Your email address:

We encourage you to include an email address in your record. It is now possible to provide an email but still be notified for overdue and requests pickups via automated telephone or postal mail.

1. Click on ‘My Account’.

2. Enter Card Number and PIN 3. Click ‘Edit Profile’ 4. Enter a valid email address and choose how you would like to be notified (email, telephone, postal mail).

Email Notification

If you forget your PIN:

A valid email address is required for this service* 1. Go to http://northlandlibrary.org 2. Click on ‘My Account’.

3. At the bottom of the page click on ‘I forgot my PIN’ or ‘I don’t have a PIN’.

4. A Request PIN Reset Form displays.

5. Enter your library card number.

6. Click ‘Submit’.

7. A message will be sent to your email account from helpdesk@einetwork.net.

Click on this link and a web form will display.

8. Type in your library card barcode.

9. Type in a 4-digit PIN and confirm.

By providing your email address, you understand that your courtesy overdue and reserve notices may be sent via email. We encourage you to include an email address in your record. It is now possible to provide an email but still be notified for overdue and request pickups via automated telephone or postal mail. A Personal Identification Number (PIN) is necessary to place requests for items in the catalog and to access the “My Account” page. ***Note: Bounced email notices do not override your responsibility for getting material back to the library on time.

Key Things to Know Card Privileges

Each card issued has access to all the materials and resources

available (within policy guidelines). The library does not place restrictions on minor accounts.

Most accounts expire every two years and must be re-activated with proper ID. Minor children’s accounts require a parent/guardian’s ID for renewal. ***Note: You will not be issued a new library card. The information is just updated in the computer.

Borrowing Privileges

All borrowing policies may be viewed on our website www.

northland.org. Please note that libraries in Allegheny County may have different policies for their materials.

Overdue Fines

Fines are charged to maintain the library’s collection and provide equal

access to all cardholders. Northland Public Library assesses the following fines:

• Videos, DVDs, Blu-Ray: $1.00/day • Lucky Day Books: 50¢/day • All other library materials: 25¢/day

Items from other libraries, which are checked out at Northland Public Library, will follow Northland’s fine structure and loan rules. All fines should be paid as promptly as possible. Fines totaling over $10 will prohibit you from borrowing materials. If you owe more than $2.00, you may use VISA, MasterCard or Discover to pay any fines or fees online. To use your credit card at the library you must owe a minimum of $5.

Damaged Items

Customers are responsible for the care of library materials in their

possession. Items deemed damaged beyond repair will be billed to the customer’s card as a replacement charge. The item must be paid for before borrowing privileges are restored.

Lost Materials

Library materials that are lost or remain unreturned after six weeks

from the due date are billed to your account. A lost item must be paid in full to restore borrowing privileges. In-kind replacements are not encouraged and cannot be guaranteed to be accepted.

The library reserves the right to accept only payment and not a replacement item.

Refund Policy

Northland will be happy to refund the cost of any Northland owned

item you have paid for minus any late fees associated with this item within one year of the date of the transaction. Should you locate the item, please bring it, along with your receipt to our Customer Service Desk for a refund. Northland will apply eligible refunds to any outstanding balance on the account first before mailing a check to the address listed on the library account.

Prepaid Late Fee Card

When late fees are assessed, have your card punched to cover the amount. For each $10 card purchased, we’ll give you an extra $1 towards late fees - that’s 11 punches - an $11 value!

• Fees rounded to the nearest dollar • No cash value or refunds • NPL is not responsible for lost cards

Confidentiality Your Confidentiality at Northland Public Library

To protect

your privacy and in accordance with Pennsylvania statute and our policies, we cannot discuss your library account with any other individual. If you wish another individual to pick up your reserve items, please fill out the “Items on Hold (confidentiality)” Proxy form in your welcome packet and give it to a Customer Service Representative. The individual(s) will not have access to view the items on your account and will not be able to checkout anything other than your reserve items. If you need to discuss your account by phone, you will be asked to provide your card number and verify your address and/or other information. ***Note: Requests for changes to the proxy list must be done in person with proper identification.

Confidentiality of Library Records

Pennsylvania law mandates that

“records related to the circulation of library materials which contain the names or other personally identifying details regarding the uses of the State Library or any local library which is established or maintained under any law of the Commonwealth or the library of any university, college or educational institution chartered by the Commonwealth or the library of any public school or branch reading room, deposit station or agency operated in connection therewith, shall be confidential and shall not be made available to anyone except by a court order in a criminal proceeding. ” (PA 24 P.S. Section 4428)

www.northlandlibrary.org Manage your library account, register for library programs, read our monthly newsletter, download books, magazines, music, videos - and do so much more on our website.

Privacy at Northland Public Library Your Right to Privacy

Privacy is essential to the exercise of free speech, free

thought and free association. The right to open inquiry without having the subject of one’s interest examined and scrutinized by others has deep roots in the ethics and practice of librarianship. The Northland Public Library (NPL) recognizes your right to privacy regarding the questions you ask, programs you attend and the materials you borrow or access through Northland’s electronic resources.

How Northland Public Library protects your information Northland Public Library will not collect or retain your private and personally identifiable circulation information without your consent. NPL will keep your private and personally identifiable information confidential and will not sell or license personal circulation information to any third party without your consent, unless we are compelled to do so under the law or to comply with a court order. Only those authorized by NPL have access to the information for the purpose of performing library work. For library administration purposes, information may be shared with third parties, such as agencies utilized in the collection of overdue library materials and outstanding fees.

In such circumstances, Northland Public Library will provide only that information needed to effectuate collection. As a public institution, NPL is legally obligated to comply with the information request requirements of the USA PATRIOT Act. Should library records be requested under the Act, the law states that library staff shall not inform the person about whom the information is requested about the inquiry.

What you should know

Library staff members may only provide information

about specific titles of checked out materials, hold requests, fines and fees due to the ACCOUNT HOLDER or with a court order. The ADULT account holder may give permission for another ADULT to have access to the above information by completing a “Waiver of Right of Confidentiality of Library Records.” The waiver only applies to the individual cardholder listed. You may pick these up at out customer service desk or visit our website at www.northlandlibrary.org.

The record of a child has the same confidentiality protection. If material is not overdue, staff may provide only the number of items checked out to parents or legal guardians. Staff may give parents or legal guardians title information when material is overdue or when fines or fees are due. Parents or legal guardians may access their family members’ account(s) through the public catalog, either at the library or remotely.

The parent or legal guardian has the responsibility to maintain the needed information (card number and PIN) that permits access to the account for their minor children. Adults are free to share their access information as they see fit.

Additional Information:

• Telephone inquiries or renewals- If you are renewing items or making an inquiry into an account that is not your own account - Library staff cannot divulge specific titles on any material unless it pertains to a juvenile card with over-due items and/or fines.

• Parents or legal guardians may not change existing PIN numbers or e-mail addresses for minors, aged 15 to 18. Parents or legal guardians may add PIN numbers or e-mail addresses to new accounts or existing accounts where that information is absent.

Hold Proxies

Hold proxies permits pickup of hold items by the designated proxy. Proxies do

not permit access to any other account information not related to a hold being picked up.

Privacy Waivers These are available for patron who wants to allow specific individuals information pertaining to their account. Revocations are also available.

For more information please visit out website at www.northlandlibrary.org. Click on our link “Policies” under “About Northland” and scroll down the pagr to find the CONFIDENTIALITY POLICY.

Renewing Items Online

Items checked-out on your account may be renewed

online by accessing the “My Account” page on our website. Items that cannot be renewed include Best Seller Collection items or items on reserve/hold for another patron. Overdue items cannot be renewed online. Overdue items may be renewed by calling 412-366-8100 ex: 116. Items can also be renewed in person with or without the item.

Accessing the Collection: Borrowing materials within Allegheny County All library materials are available to all cardholders. You may checkout or return materials at any Allegheny County Public library.

Borrowing materials outside Allegheny County Materials requested from libraries outside Allegheny County must be borrowed through the Inter-Library Loan process. Please visit our website under “Collection” for details. Items returned to libraries outside the county borders may take longer to be received by the owning library. It is recommended that you ask about the return policy for those libraries to ensure that you are not incorrectly charged overdue fines.

Reserving or Renewing Within policy limits, you may reserve or renew materials online or by phone. Some materials are not renewable. Items that have reserves waiting are NOT renewable. To renew by phone call, 412366-8100 ex: 116 during library hours. Items that are over due cannot be renewed online.

For reference questions or to place a reserve, call 412-366-8100, ex: 113 (Adult Services) or ex: 123 (Children/Young Adult Services)

Remember! You need to:

• Bring your card with you on each visit.

• Report lost/stolen cards immediately.

• Report changes in address/phone/email.

• Be aware of library borrowing policies including limits and lending periods.

• Monitor your account and report any concerns in a timely manner.

We promise to:

• Protect the confidentiality of your record in accordance with the law and our policies.

• Provide equal and fair access to all cardholders.

• Work with you to resolve account issues in a fair manner.

• Provide and maintain a collection of materials to meet our customer’s needs within our resources to do so.

How to Find an Item

There are several ways to find an item in the Northland Library collection. You can look up the

item in our electronic catalog on computers located throughout the library. You can also access the catalog from your home computer via our website. If you need further assistance, stop by the reference desks in the adult services department or the Children’s/yYoung Adults Department.

Holds

There is often a heavy demand for items in the Northland Library collection. You may put

your name on the waiting list for the book or for any other material in the countywide online catalog system.

• If the item you want is not available in any public library in Allegheny County, it can be requested from a library outside of the county.

Programs and Services: Using Northland Library’s website, www.northlandlibrary.org, you may:

• Search the catalog (look for books, CDs, DVDs, and more)

• Access your library account to see what items you have out or have on hold, or renew material.

• Search our exclusive database for a wide variety of infomation: magazine articles, car repair assistance, genealogy data, and hundreds of other subjects.

• Honor someone special in the Memorial or Honor Book Giving Programs.

• Find out about and register for library programs for all ages.

• Download from our eBook, eAudio, eMusic, eMagazine, and eVideo Collection.

• Access local history and Northland’s Historical Image Collection.

Playful Parenting Room The Playful Parenting Room is a place for young children and their parents or adult caregivers to relax, play, read and socialize. The Playful Parenting Room is part of Northland Library’s Family Place™ commitment.

Rules:

• Children must be accompanied and supervised by an adult.

• The room is meant for parents and children from birth to age five.

• Please put away the toys when finished playing.

• No eating or drinking.

(Nursing is permitted.)

• No diaper changing. (Diaper changing facilities are provided in the restrooms on the far side of the lobby.)

• Rough play (throwing toys, etc.) and excessive noise are not permitted. **If your child puts a toy in his/her mouth, please put it in the YUCKY BUCKET so that we can clean it and get it back into service.

Computer Center: IMPORTANT: As of July 7, 2014, you MUST have a library card in good standing in order to gain access to a public computer. Patrons will be prompted to enter in their library card number in order to start the session.

• Adult patrons will each have three hours available per day, to be used in one or multiple sessions. During all sessions you will see a notification box that will display a countdown clock showing how many minutes you have remaining for the day. The policy will still remain in effect that when the Computer Center is full, patrons must vacate a computer after one hour.

• Children’s Department patrons will have a maximum of two hours available per day.

• You cannot combine usage across areas of the library.

Patrons may use any of the following resources:

• 23 All-In-One Desktop computers running Windows 7

• 1 Apple iMac Desktop computer running OS X 10.9 (Mavericks)

• 3 Touch-Screen Desktop computers running Windows 8.1

• 2 scanners connected to the Windows 8.1 computers

**All of the computers have DVD/CD drives, slots for SD memory cards and multiple ports for USB / “flash” drives**

• 2 black and white laser printers – printing costs 15¢ per page

• 1 inkjet color printer- printing costs 50¢ per page

• A help desk with knowledgeable staff available during library hours.

Please call 412-366-8100 ex: 131 if you have questions about the Computer Center or if you would like to register for a computer class.

Book Nook The Book Nook is located on the upper level near the elevator. We sell gently used books and magazines for adults & children. Also available are drinks both hot & cold including cappuccino!

Funds generated from sales help to support Northland Library.

Copies/Print Printout/copy cards are available for purchase at the Book Nook for $5 =35 B/W copies or 10 color copies. The card can only be used for computer printouts or the copy machine. Northland is not responsible for lost cards.

Volunteer Opportunities Northland Library’s reputation as a community treasure is heightened by the commitment and character of volunteers who are matched by their interests with the Library’s current and future needs. If you’re interetsed in giving back, making new friends or learning something new, contact the Volunteer Coordinator at 412-366-8100, ext. 135 or puffk@einetwork.net for more information.

Questions, Comments, Suggestions The staff and management at Northland Library are committed to making the time you spend with us both pleasant and productive. If you have any questions, comments or suggestions about the library or its services, please contact us at:

Northland Public Library 300 Cumberland Road Pittsburgh, PA 15237 412-366-8100 www.northlandlibrary.org

• Knowledge • Quality • Customer Focus• • Teamwork • Integrity • WelcomePacket/WelcomeBrochure2014.indd