Library FAQs (non-frames)

1. Who uses the library?
2. Aren’t libraries just for leisure?
3. But with the Internet, aren’t fewer people using libraries?
4. Don’t libraries only have musty old books?
5. Do libraries help families?
6. Can you ask questions at the library?
7. Can libraries help the economy?
8. Where do you get funds?
9. Money is tight: aren’t libraries just a “nice-to-have,” not a “need-to-have”?
10. What's the deal with parking? Library parking should be free!
11. You actually have paid employees? Aren’t you all volunteers?
12. Who’s in charge?
13. How can people get involved or help?

14. How do I get a library card?
15. How long does a library card last?
16. Will I be notified when my card is about to expire?
17. What if I lose my card?
18. Should I notify you if I change my address?
19. May others use my card?
20. May I use my card at other public libraries?
21. May I check out if I don't have my card with me?

22. Why is there a limit of only 10 items on hold?
23. How long may I keep library materials?
24. How many things may I check out?

Holds, etc... cont...
25. How will I know when my materials are due?
26. May I renew library items?
27. How much is an overdue fine?
28. Is there a grace period for overdue items?
29. How will I know I have fines or overdue items?
30. How do I get my notices by email?
31. May I return materials to another library?
32. Where do I pick up items I placed on hold?
33. Why can’t I pick up holds for other members of my family?

34. What are the rules for using public computers in the library?
35. How does the library's WiFi connection work with my laptop?

The library is a center of community life: services are free, everybody is welcome and you see everybody. It’s our most democratic institution, and provides a general gathering place for people as well as meeting rooms for community groups. About 80,000 people have Appleton library cards – it’s a cross-section of the whole population.

The library is THE place for education, supplementing school media centers with in-depth materials, and is the only library for many alternative school and home school children. And more adults learn things independently than learn via formal education.

3. But with the Internet, aren’t fewer people using libraries? back to top

Some people think the Internet is making libraries less busy, but just the opposite is true.

Librarians are way-finders on the information highway, libraries provide access to great value-added databases, and libraries provide Internet access for those who don’t have their own.

The Appleton Public Library creates databases and online resources with local history and community information. With the Internet, people use the library differently, but they use it more!

The library collects and gives access to a wide range of media for all ages: books are still the biggest part of libraries (and we get many new ones every week), but there’s a great collection of DVDs, music on CD, books on tape and CD, downloadable books and audiobooks.

Libraries are places families can use together; we work with parents and families to help children love reading and learning. We encourage families to use the library together. Kids who read succeed!

You can ask us (almost) anything, in person, on the phone, via email or online chat! We’re here to help you find the information and knowledge you need.

Libraries promote community development and growth. People starting a business, people running a business and people looking for work all use and benefit from library resources. Many people look at the public library when deciding where they want to live -- and access to libraries helps people prepare for higher paying jobs.

Studies have shown that for every dollar invested in libraries, there is at least a $4 return on investment to the community.

The library needs donations, and gets grants every year from the Appleton Library Foundation’s endowment and help from the Friends of Appleton Library – two organizations which need support! But over 95% of the money spent at the library comes from local tax dollars – mostly from City of Appleton property taxes. But counties pay their share, too.

9. Money is tight: aren’t libraries just a “nice-to-have”, not a “need-to-have”? back to top

While not a critical service, like police or fire, libraries are still an essential service. Communities that demonstrably value families, education, social inclusion and culture are stronger, healthier, better places to live, work and create opportunities.

10. What's the deal with parking? Library parking should be free! back to top

Parking is free in City streets and lots on Sundays, but at other times, ramps and parking meters reflect the supply and demand of being part of a busy downtown. The meters in front of the Library are City meters; the parking lot is maintained and operated by the Appleton Public Works Department. The City receives all parking revenue and parking tickets, and the City Council controls the rules for parking meter enforcement.

11. You actually have paid employees? Aren’t you all volunteers? back to top

The library needs volunteers and uses hundreds of hours every month for special projects, data entry, help with programs and children’s activities, delivery of books to the homebound, shelving materials and more.

Apart from our volunteers, the library is operated by staff. There are nearly 100 employees under the direction of professional librarians (who hold at least one master's degree). They work seven days a week, sometimes from six A.M. to midnight, and staff five service points, answer questions, run programs, check-out and re-shelve material, and maintain a facility used by over a thousand people daily.

The library is governed by a citizen Board of Trustees, including one alderperson, one school district representative, and seven other citizens appointed by the Mayor.

The Board makes budget and policy decisions and oversees the staff. Board members are happy to talk to others about their work making the library work for the community!

In many ways: sharing ideas, time and money. Use the library and let us know what you think: we value and need thoughtful feedback.

The Friends of the Appleton Library need active members and are involved in many library services and operations, including advocacy by contacting elected officials and writing letters to the editor.

There are many jobs for volunteers at the library. You can donate materials or money for the collection. And the Appleton Library Foundation’s endowment fund relies on many contributions to help the library have the “edge of excellence” beyond tax support.

Library cards are free to Wisconsin residents. Identification and proof of residence are required for adults when the card application is completed. Minors need a parent's or guardian's signature on their application. There is no minimum age requirement to obtain a library card. A newly registered patron may check out only 4 items until complete information is entered in our database. This could be up to a week.

Your card expires after three years if Appleton Public Library is your home library (versus another library in OWLS). At that time, we’ll check your address and phone number and notify you of any charges on your account. If your card is in good shape, you will keep the same card and the same number.

No, you will not be notified directly. However, if you access your InfoSoup account online, you will notice that it displays the expiration date in the area where your contact information is displayed.

Expiration dates are not uniform throughout the many libraries in the OWLSnet consortium, and libraries may use different lengths of time depending on circumstances. For example, when non-resident students sign up for a card, the expiration date is set for the end of the current school term.

If you find that your card is restricting you from using some online services, you may call the library at 832-6179 and request a temporary extension. The new date will be set for a short time in the future, and you'll be asked to present your card and confirm the information we have on file the next time you come in.

If your card is lost, you will need identfication, you will be asked to fill out a new registration form, and you may have to pay $3 for a replacement.

Let us know right away so that we can "stop" your card to prevent others from using it. You may have one free replacement. After that, the cost is $3.

YES! Let us know whenever you change any information on your library card application.

Yes! You may use your card at the public libraries in these counties: Outagamie, Waupaca, Shawano, Door, Florence, Oneida, Marinette, Kewaunee, Menominee, Oconto, and the Oneida Reservation.

It is best (and fastest!) to use your card. We will make an exception if you show identification with your current address.

Library staff has worked hard to keep up with the demands for materials, but the new online catalog has made placing holds so easy and popular that the workload is getting beyond us. Although total staff is decreasing, the number of items reserved has gone up 160% in the last six years. Many people reserve things even though they are on the shelf, and the next day we get a notice and need to retrieve the materials. This new service of pulling thousands of items off the shelf is a great service but very labor intensive. In order to keep going, we had to create stricter limits.

23. How long may I keep library materials? back to top

All videos	7 days
Magazines & Short Loans	14 days
Everything else	28 days

The total number of library items that you may have on your account at one time is 75. You may check out 25 CDs and 25 movies (VHS and DVD format) at any one time.

Unless there is a waiting list, all materials may be renewed twice. Renewal will extend an item's checkout from the date it is renewed, not from the original due date. Renew online at InfoSoup.org using My Account. Interlibrary loan due dates are determined by the owning library; they do not renew. Items become overdue on their due date as soon as the library closes.

27. How much is an overdue fine? back to top

Interlibrary Loans & Equipment	$1/day	$25 Maximum
Everything else	10¢/day	$5 Maximum

We are no longer able to offer a grace period. All materials are due on their due date before the library closes.

When you check out materials, you will be given a slip listing what you have checked out and when those items are due back at the library. Materials are due before the library closes on the date indicated. If your library account includes your email address, you will receive a courtesy notice one day before you items are due. You may also use the My Account feature of our catalog to check your due date and fines.

Sign up here to receive notices from Appleton Public Library by email! We will send you reserve notices when an item you reserved is available for checkout, an overdue notice when an item is past due, and a courtesy notice one day before your items are due.

Yes, your materials may be returned to the public libraries in these counties: Outagamie, Waupaca, Shawano, Door, Florence, Oneida, Marinette, Kewaunee, Menominee, Oconto, and the Oneida Reservation. And you can wait until the day they are due, since they will be checked in that same day at those libraries.

Patrons may pick-up their own reserves from an area just right of the circulation desk. Reserves are filed in alphabetical order by a code that is made up of the first two letters of your first name, the first two letters of your last name, and the last four digits of your library card number (John Doe, library card number 21389001234567: JODO4567). You will need the library card used to place the hold in order to find and check out the item(s).

Many of the reserves may be checked out on the self-check machines, but items in locked cases must be checked out at the circulation desk.

33. Why can’t I pick up holds for other members of my family? back to top

You can, if you have their library card with you. If you don’t have the card that the hold was placed under, we can’t be certain that you have the permission of the person who placed the hold. We take your privacy seriously, and now that holds are out in public view we have to be even more careful. That is why we file holds using a code that doesn’t result in family members having all of their materials together, and also why we require that you have the card that the hold was placed with in your possession when you pick up a hold.

35. How does the library's WiFi connection work with my laptop? back to top (PDF version)

High speed wireless internet (WiFi) is now available at the Appleton Public Library. By using the WiFi service at the Library you agree that you are subject to the Library’s Internet Policy. Copies of the policy can be found at www.apl.org/policies/ipolicy.html.

How to Connect:
A laptop computer, PDA or other device with WiFi capability that supports the WiFi standard IEEE 802.11b or g may be used to access the network. Your device should automatically detect a new connection. If your SSID is set to Any, you will be able to connect. If needed, the SSID is aplpublic. No user names or passwords are required. Wireless access points are located throughout the building, although signal strength may vary.

Please note: The Library expects patrons to be able to configure their own equipment to access the wireless network and cannot guarantee that you will be able to connect. The Library is not responsible for any loss or damage to personal equipment. WiFi is less secure than a wired network. The Library does not offer any laptops or peripheral equipment (power strips, wireless network cards, cables, printers, etc) to the public. Staff may require patrons who fail to comply with the Library’s Internet Policy to terminate their wireless session and leave the Library building.