The South Plainfield Public Library is a member of STELLA (Sharing and Technology Enhancing Local Library Access), formerly LMxAC. Our online catalog allows you to request items directly from any member library, pick them up in South Plainfield, and return them to any member library. You can also use your South Plainfield library card at more than 30 STELLA member libraries in Middlesex, Union, and Monmouth Counties. You can download a free mobile app UPDATED! that will let you check on your account, browse the library catalog and place holds from your phone. You can also pay fines with a credit card.

LIBRARY POLICIES

Library Cards

PLEASE REPORT A LOST OR STOLEN CARD IMMEDIATELY!

GETTING A LIBRARY CARD:

PLEASE NOTE: You can apply online for a library card. Your online registration will be forwarded to the library. You must present valid proof of address when you pick up your library card at the library.

You are eligible for a library card free of charge if you live in South Plainfield. With the resident's card, you can borrow all types of library materials and use the library's computers free of charge. See Computer Use & Internet Access Policy for more details on using the library's computers.
A resident's card must be renewed every three years.
Valid proof of address must be presented when obtaining or renewing a library card (resident or non-resident).
There is no minimum age to apply for a library card. Signature of a parent or guardian is required when applying for a juvenile library card.
Borrowing agreements with other local libraries allow residents of South Plainfield to borrow at nearby libraries that are part of the Open Borrowing program.
Non-residents living in a town with a STELLA (formerly LMxAC) member library should get a library card from the library in that town. You can use your STELLA library card at over 30 libraries in Middlesex, Union, Somerset and Monmouth Counties, including South Plainfield.
Non-residents living a town which is not part of STELLA or MURAL may apply for a one-year non-resident's library card free of charge. With this card, you can borrow all types of library materials and use the library's computers.
Some of our resources, such as databases, audiobook & eBook downloads, and interlibrary loans, may require a South Plainfield Library barcode.
There is a $2.00 replacement fee for a lost library card. Please report a lost or stolen card immediately.
Key chain cards are available.

Examples of acceptable identification:

Name Verification

Driver's License
State I.D.
Passport
Student I.D.
Birth Certificate
Military I.D.

Address Verification

Driver's License
State I.D.
Passport
Pre-Printed Check
Lease Agreement
Utility Bill
Recently Postmarked Mail
(within the past 90 days)
Voter Registration Card
Bank Statement
Pay Check
Car Registration Papers
Insurance Card
Property Tax Receipt

Circulation Chart

Library materials may be checked out as follows:
(Click on an underlined heading in the chart below for more information on renewals, holds, and fines policies)

ITEM TYPE	LOAN PERIOD	CHECKOUT LIMITS	NUMBER OF RENEWALS PERMITTED*	HOLDS PERMITTED?	OVERDUE FINES (per day)
New books	14 days	No limit	2*	Yes**	$.10
Books (not new)	28 days	No limit, unless needed for school assignments	2*	Yes**	$.10
Magazines	14 days	No limit.	2*	Yes**	$.10
Audiobooks (on CD or Playaway)	14 days	4 titles per library card	2*	Yes**	$.25
Music CDs	14 days	No limit	2*	Yes**	$.25
CD-ROMs	14 days	No limit	2*	Yes**	$.25
Older DVDs	7 days	8 DVD titles per library card	2*	Yes**	$2.00
New DVDs	2 days	4 NEW DVD titles per library card	1*	No	$2.00
Playaway View portable videos	7 days	2 titles per library card	1*	Yes**	$2.00
Video Games	7 days	4 titles per library card	1*	Yes**	$2.00

BOOKS - NEW
- 14 day loan period
- No limit on how many you may check out at once
- Max. renewals: 2*
- Holds permitted**
- $.10 fine/day
BOOKS - NOT NEW
- 28 day loan period
- No limit on how many you may check out at once (unless needed for school assignments)
- Max. renewals: 2*
- Holds permitted**
- $.10 fine/day
MAGAZINES (Back issues only. Current issue may not be checked out.)
- 14 day loan period
- No limit on how many you may check out at once.
- Max. renewals: 2*
- Holds permitted**
- $.10 fine/day
AUDIOBOOKS (on tape, CD or Playaway)
- 14 day loan period
- Checkout limit: 4 titles per library card
- Max. renewals: 2*
- Holds permitted**
- $.25 fine/day
MUSIC CDs
- 14 day loan period
- No limit on how many you may check out at once
- Max. renewals: 2*
- Holds permitted**
- $.25 fine/day
CD-ROMs
- 14 day loan period
- No limit on how many you may check out at once
- Max. renewals: 2*
- Holds permitted**
- $.25 fine/day
OLDER DVDs
- 7 day loan period
- Checkout limit: 8 DVD titles per library card
- Max. renewals: 2*
- Holds permitted**
- $2.00 fine/day
NEW DVDs
- 2 day loan period
- 4 NEW DVD titles per library card
- Max. renewals: 1*
- No holds
- $2.00 fine/day
PLAYAWAY VIEW PORTABLE VIDEOS
- 7 day loan period
- Checkout limit: 2 titles per library card
- Max. renewals: 1*
- Holds permitted**
- $2.00 fine/day
VIDEO GAMES
- 7 day loan period
- Checkout limit: 4 titles per library card
- Max. renewals: 1*
- Holds permitted**
- $2.00 fine/day

*If another patron has placed a hold on an item you have checked out, you cannot renew it.
For more information on renewal policies and procedures, see the Renewals page.

For more information on renewal policies and procedures, see Holds (Reserves).

Holds (Reserves)

For instructions on placing holds online, see: Check availability, place a hold, or access a resource.

The STELLA (LMxAC) online catalog allows you to search for library materials in all STELLA (LMxAC) member libraries, place & view holds, see a list of your currently checked-out items & due dates, see & pay your current fines, save multiple lists of favorites, and more. To log in to your account, you will need to enter your library card barcode number, and PIN. You may use the online catalog at the library, or access it from your home computer or mobile app.

You may place a hold on most library materials in person, by phone (call 908-754-7885; press 3 for the Reference Department), or from our online catalog. PLEASE NOTE:

There is no charge for placing a hold (or reserve) on any library material (book, CD, DVD, etc.).
If you would like to be notified by email when materials you have placed on hold become available, please stop at the circulation desk to give us your email address.
Holds are NOT PERMITTED on some library materials. See CIRCULATION CHART above for specifics.
We no longer allow holds to be placed on new DVDs.
We no longer take requests by phone to place holds on movies which are not currently checked out.

Fines

See CIRCULATION CHART above for information on what overdue fines are charged for different types of library materials.
Overdue fines shall not exceed the price of the item.
Cardholders are responsible for all items checked out on their library card and any fines or charges. If your card is lost or stolen, please report it to us immediately.
Parents (or legal guardians) are responsible for all items checked out on their minor children's library card and any fees/fines.
Fines accumulate from the first day the item is overdue.
If you would like to be notified by email when materials are overdue, or receive emails notifying you in advance of an approaching due date, please stop at the circulation desk to give us your email address.
Lost or damaged materials will be charged the original purchase price.
If you pay for a lost library item, your payment will NOT be refunded if you find the lost item. The full price of the item must be paid.
If you owe fines or other charges of $25 or more, your account will be blocked and you will not be able to borrow library materials or use library computers until it is paid. If you owe fines of $35 or more, your account will be turned over to a Collection Agency.

Interlibrary Loans

For more information about interlibrary loans, please read our Interlibrary Loans page.

Other Charges

$2.00 Replacement of library card
$15.00 Collection Agency fee for accounts which exceed $35.00 in fines

AV (Audio & Video) Policies

See CIRCULATION CHART above for information on how many AV items may be checked out and for how long.
Waiver of liability: The library assumes no responsibility for any damage to your own audio, video, or computer equipment that may occur while using library AV materials.
Copyright laws: Patrons agree to adhere to all federal copyright laws and/or performance restrictions that apply to audiovisual materials. UNDER NO CIRCUMSTANCES shall any video, film, software, recording, or other audiovisual material be copied by any process, electronic or mechanical, in whole or in part. The borrower is solely responsible for any legal action that may result from possible copyright infringement.
Fines are $2.00 per day for DVDs and Playaway View™ portable videos; see FINES section, above, for more information.
Children : Beginning May 1, 2013, children may not borrow ANY materials from the library's audio/visual collection until their parent or legal guardian signs the new J/AV/JVID audio/visual permission slip. The parent/guardian must come to the library and show identification to library staff in order to sign one of the new slips, and must sign a separate slip for EACH CHILD. On the permission slip, the parent/guardian will choose what types of audio/visual materials the child will be allowed to check out as follows :
- JNOAV - can borrow print materials only.
- JAV - can borrow all materials EXCEPT video games.
- JVID - can borrow everything (just like an adult card).
For a child to use library computers, a parent/guardian must sign the computer access form which is located on the back of the J/AV JVID form.

COLLECTION AGENCY

The South Plainfield Public Library has contracted with a collection agency, Unique Management Services, Inc., to help us collect unpaid fines and recover unreturned books, dvds, cds, and other materials, because:

Materials which are not returned to the library are not available for others to use.
Replacing lost materials is costly for the library and for taxpayers.
All unresolved accounts over $35 will be turned over to the collection agency.

A service charge of $15.00 will be added to the balance owed. Please help us to serve all library patrons by returning overdue materials today.

CELL PHONES

If you need to use your cell phone while at the library, please be considerate of other library users:

Turn down the volume on your phone, or set it to vibrate mode.
Keep your cell phone conversations brief and and quiet when inside the library.
Conduct longer and/or louder conversations outside the library building.

Attendance at programs and events that are sponsored by the South Plainfield Public Library may be recorded through photographs or video. This includes programs and events that are held on library premises, or at other locations. Recordings may be used to promote SPPL programs, promotions and community outreach efforts (not for commercial use). Recordings may be posted on the library's website or Facebook page. Patrons are welcome to step out of the recording if they choose.