Borrowing
Our library offers books, both regular and large print, audiobooks on CD, Playaway audiobooks for young adults, read-along books for children, DVDs, and music CDs.
We also offer audiobooks and ebooks through Libby and Hoopla. Hoopla also has movies and music available to borrow. To learn more about these click here.
You can search for items in our online catalog. This offers you access to all items in the Four County Library System. If you need help finding an item you can contact us.
Items can be put on hold online through your library account, or by calling us.
You will be contacted by the phone number or email address that is listed on your account. if you have an email address on file, you will be contacted by email. If you just have a phone number listed, you will get a phone call.
Books and magazines: unlimited
Audiobooks on CD and Playaways: 5 items per card
Music CDs: 5 items per card
DVDs: 5 items per card
Books and magazines: 3 weeks
Audiobooks on CD or Plaways: 3 weeks
Music CDs: 3 weeks
DVDs: 3 weeks
If an item is able to be renewed, we will automatically renew it before its due date. You can also renew an item through your account or by contacting us.
Items can be renewed twice unless they are on hold for someone else. If you want to renew an item for a second time you will need to contact us. Items cannot be renewed for a second time through your account.
Items can be returned to any of the libraries in the Four County Library System. BCPL provides return boxes outside our building and an area for returns at our circulation desk.
We are fine free! You will not be charged for an overdue item. We will only charge you if an item is lost or damaged.
Any book that is not returned will eventually be labeled as lost. This means your account will be charged and you will lose access to borrowing privileges. However, that fine will disappear once you return the item.
Sometimes you might receive a letter about your account being sent to collections due to fines. Don't panic! Once you return the item, all fines will be removed.
Fines can be paid in the library at the Circulation Desk. You can pay with a check or cash. We cannot accept debit or credit cards.
You can also pay your fines through your account. You can access your account here.
You can sign into your account using the ‘My Account’ button at the top of the website's homepage or the ‘Log In’ button on the top of the library catalog page.
You will need to enter your library card number and your pin number. Your library card number is the 13-digit number on the back of your library card. This is the number you will enter in the User ID box. Your pin number, for most people, is the last four digits of your phone number.
If you need help accessing your account, you can contact us.
Your account allows you to place a hold on items, renew items, check the due dates of items you have out, review your holds, change your pin number, and pay fines. You can only pay fines online with a credit or debit card. To pay for fines with cash or a check, come into the library.
We offer Interlibrary Loan, ILL, for items we do not have in our system. ILL borrows items from libraries around the country. We cannot guarantee we can get an item.
To request an item fill out this form or contact the Information Services Desk.
We will contact you to let you know if we can process your request.
You need a BCPL library card to be able to request items through ILL.
ILL costs $5 per item. You can pay when you pick up the item. We can only accept cash or checks.
Borrowing times depend on the item.
Items cannot be renewed.
You can also request that we purchase an item for our collection.
Technology
Desktop computers are available to the public. They all come equipped with internet, Microsoft Office software, and access to some of our in-library use-only resources. No reservation is required to use the computers. Our computers do not have disc drives.
If you have a library card, you can use the computer for 5 hours a day. If you do not have a library card, you can get a guest pass and use the computer for 90 minutes a day. You will need to show ID to obtain a guest pass.
We have one copy machine available for use. Copies cost $0.25 per black & white page. Our machine cannot make color copies. You can only pay for copies with small bills or coins.
The library has a scanner with the ability to send internet faxes for free. You will need the fax number and a personal email or phone number. You can send faxes, but you cannot receive them at the library.
You do not need a library card or guest pass to access wireless printing print jobs. You will use your email address to access them.
- Go to print.princh.com and enter 110523 as the printer number.
- Upload your document(s) and tap the gear to change the settings if needed.
- If you changed the settings, tap Accept.
- Check the Terms & Conditions box and tap Continue.
- Type in your email address and tap OK. Wait for In Progress to change to Ready.
- Pay and print your pages at a Print Station. Follow the instructions there to print your pages
Printing costs $0.15 per black & white page and $0.50 per color page. You can only pay for printing with small bills or coins. You do not need a library card or guest pass to print from your phone or laptop. Our printers cannot print two-sided documents. The library only has 8.5” x11” sized paper; you cannot bring your own paper to put into the printer.
All public library computers offer printing. After logging in with a library card or guest pass, you can print directly from the computer by clicking on the print icon or typing CTRL + P. Your documents will be sent to one of our two printers. You will need your library card or the guest pass to access these print jobs.
Printing costs $0.15 per black & white page and $0.50 per color page. You can only pay for printing with small bills or coins. Our printers cannot print two-sided documents. The library only has 8.5” x11” sized paper; you cannot bring your own paper to put into the printer.
The library has a scanner for public use. You can scan documents and send them to an email, save them to a USB drive, or transfer them to your Google Drive. Scans can be saved as PNGs, PDFs, or Word documents. You can scan in color, grayscale, or black & white.
Scanning is free, but if you choose to print your scans you will need to pay $0.15 per black & white page and $0.50 per color page.
We have free public Wi-Fi available. You can access it under the name bclibrary when you go to connect your device. It is not protected Wi-Fi. It cannot be used outside of the building.
Get a Card
In order to get a library card, you need a form of ID or paperwork with your full name. The library will also ask for address information. The address does not need to be a permanent address. It can include addresses like dorms, friends' houses, or a local shelter. You do not need to present proof of address. See below for acceptable forms of identification. To print out a paper copy of the application, click here. You can also pick up an application at the circulation desk. Once your application is complete, bring it to the Circulation desk.
Acceptable forms of identification:
Picture ID:
- Driver’s license (any state ID, whether it’s NY or not)
- Sheriffs ID
- Prison discharge ID
- Passport
- School ID
- Green card
- Military ID
- EBT card
Non-picture ID:
- Credit card
- Checkbook
- Report card
- Lease agreement (paper or on phone)
- Social security card
- Birth certificate
- Pay stub
- Interim license
- Non-picture EBT card
- Insurance card
*MaiI is NOT acceptable as ID, even if it's official business mail.
To renew your library card, you will need one of the above forms of ID and your library card. To replace your library card, you will need one of the above forms of ID.
Library card information:
- Library cards expire after 3 years and then need to be renewed.
- People ages 13+ can get a library card on their own. For children under 13, they need to sign-up with a grown-up. The grown-up will need to present one of the above forms of ID.
- There is a $1.50 replacement fee for lost cards.
Email bcpltempcard@gmail.com with your full name, address, phone number, and birth date to receive a temporary electronic card that can be used for electronic media, including databases and digital content providers, such as Hoopla and Libby. To change a temporary card to a physical card, you'll need to come into the library with an acceptable form of ID and sign a registration form.