Minors need a parent 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.

Personal identification is required to check out library materials if a card is forgotten.

The replacement charge for a first lost card is free; subsequent cards will be issued for $3.00. Please notify the Circulation staff  with a change in name, address or telephone. Most library cards are valid for three years.

Please see our Library FAQ for more questions about loan periods, renewals, fines, and lost materials or call the circulation section at 832-6179.

Library Collections
The Children's collection includes hardcover fiction and nonfiction books as well as a popular reading paperback collection. There are book-cassette kits, compact discs, puppets, pamphlets, videos, cassettes, and CD-ROM materials. The reference collection includes encyclopedias, dictionaries, atlases, indexes, biographical materials and other helpful children's literature resources.  The periodical collection contains over 20 magazines for children as well as periodicals for parents and care givers on children's literature and reading.  The parent collection provides materials on first experiences for children and a children's literature collection that assists parents and care givers in evaluating and selecting materials for children.  Large print materials, described videos, braille materials, talking books, and story bag kits are also a part of the collection.

The Teen collection includes fiction books, books on CD, Manga, Comic Books, magazines, and a media display.

The Adult collection includes a wide variety of educational and recreational materials both in print and in various media formats. There is a wide selection of news and general interest magazines as well as many area and national newspapers. The library offers spoken audio books (on cassette and CD), video, DVD, music on compact discs, microfilm, online databases, and Internet reference sources. Special collections include the Wisconsin Collection, Large Print books, and genre fiction such as Science Fiction and Fantasy, Romance, Mystery, Western and Young Adult. There is also a collection of audiovisual equipment for circulation, amplification systems for the hard of hearing, and equipment for use by the blind and physically handicapped.

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Library web site - www.apl.org
The Appleton Public Library had the first public library web site in Wisconsin.  Every day, hundreds of people at the library or in their homes and offices use the library's web site as a starting point for the Internet, to search a variety of library catalogs and databases, or find community information.  Many people use the library's "Quickref" page as the home page for their Internet browser software.  Library staff has compiled lists of some of the most useful web sites in the world and arranged them in ways to make it easy to find quality information. The web site also contains a great deal of information about the library, including policies, lists of new materials, program schedules, and the ability to suggest materials for purchase or ask a reference question.

Public Access to the Internet and Wifi
The library provides public access to the Internet at terminals located on the second floor and in the children's section. A library card is required to logon to Internet stations, although visitors from out-of-state may request a guest pass at the Reference Desk. From the library's homepage, users can search for information on the World Wide Web. In addition to Internet terminals, the library offers Wifi service throughout the building. Click here for more details.

CD-ROM Reference Sources
Many information sources for adults and children are available in the library on CD-ROM. Specific titles vary, but include encyclopedias, business databases, and more.

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Contact the Circulation section at 832-6179 if you: change your name, address, or phone number; lose your library card; have a question about a notice you've received; have a question regarding the reserve process. See the Library FAQ if you want to know more about the library's borrowing rules.

Reference & Information Services
Telephone and walk-in reference and information services are provided at the Reference, Information, and Family Reader's Advisory desks. Staff answers all types of questions and helps patrons use the library's collections and facilities.

Reader's Advisory Services
Help in selecting reading materials on a particular topic, by a favorite author, or at a certain reading level is provided at the Reference, Information, and Family Reader's Advisory desks. Booklists on selected topics are available throughout the library.

Young Adult Services
Young adult services provides materials and programs to young adults and their parents as well as individuals and organizations that serve young adults.

A teen advisory board, summer library program for young adults, the Teen webpage, and young adult programming promote the active involvement of teens in library services.  School group tours and instruction plus teen reading lists are available to area students and their teachers.

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This staff also coordinates acquisition of materials for the library's collections, works to provide a balanced collection of books, periodicals, media, and other materials in response to the broad range of community needs, and develops and maintains the best possible public library collection for the Appleton area. They maintain records of materials received, process suggestions for items to be purchased, and process materials donated to the library.

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Reserves
Staff will check library shelves for materials requested by phone and will set aside those materials for pickup at the Circulation Desk. To make a request, call the Reference Desk (832-6173) for nonfiction materials, the Information Desk (832-6177) for media or fiction materials, or the Children's Services Desk (832-6187) for children's materials.  A hold may be placed by a patron or staff member to reserve a particular title that is checked out at APL or owned by another library. Patrons may have ten titles on reserve at one time. A notice will be mailed or emailed when the reserved material is available, after which time you have seven days to pick up the reserve. We are unable to extend this time.  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 your library card to find your reserve.  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.

For materials requested by phone, staff will first check APL's library shelves for an available copy and can set found materials aside for pickup at the Circulation Desk. For nonfiction materials call the Reference Desk (832-6173); for media or fiction materials call the Information Desk (832-6177); for children's materials call the Children's Services Desk (832-6187).

Email Notices
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.

Interlibrary Loan
Books and media owned by libraries outside the OWLSnet area can often be obtained through  interlibrary loan. Photocopies of periodical articles are provided via interloan for a fee. A notice will be mailed when the requested material is in. Call the Reference desk at 832-6173 for help with Interlibrary Loan.

Voter Registration
Many library staff are deputized to provide voter registration for the City of Appleton residents.  Ask at the Information, Reference, or Circulation desks.

Notary Public
Several staff members are Notaries Public.  Although we cannot guarantee that one will be on duty at all times, they are often available.  Please call ahead if you wish to use this free service. Please call the Reference desk at 832-6173 for more information.

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Conference rooms
Three conference rooms are available for small group use on the second floor. They can only be booked in advance at the Reference Desk by tutors working with the Fox Valley Literacy Coalition. They are available on a first come basis to other users. For public meetings needing larger rooms, see Meeting rooms

Walking Books
A homebound delivery service is provided by volunteers to shut-in library patrons. Contact the Administrative offices at 832-1695 to arrange for this service or to volunteer to deliver library materials.

Poster display/Brochure Disbursement
Posters which advertise events presented by local nonprofit groups are displayed in the first floor hallway. Brochures produced by local nonprofit groups are distributed in literature racks on the first and second floors of the library. Posters and brochures can be dropped off for display and disbursement at the Information desk on the first floor. Contact administration at 832-6170 for questions about posters and brochures.

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Adult programs
Book and video discussion series are available throughout the year. Classes on how to use the library and library tours are offered monthly. Internet classes are offered at regularly scheduled times throughout the year.

Youth programs
Infant/parent programs, toddler and preschool story times, oral storytelling for the school age child,  and the Book Bunch club for kindergarten through second grade students are provided throughout the year. Three reading programs are provided annually to encourage families to read together. Internet and homework help classes run during the school year. Daycare, preschool and elementary class visit programs are given during the school year. First Grade Celebrate acquaints new library users with the Children's Services section. Call 832-6187 for further information.

Teacher Packs
Teacher packs contain 20-30 age/level appropriate books gathered by the literature specialists on the children's staff as a courtesy service of the Appleton Public Library. They are a handy way to provide students and children with additional reading materials related to curriculum or just for fun.  Children's Librarians will gather packs of materials in a subject area or by a specific author. While unable to pull titles from lists you provide, a Librarian would be happy to instruct you on how to place holds on specific titles or to use one of the library's other teacher services. Call 832-6187 for further information.

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Volunteers
The library welcomes volunteer help. Volunteers deliver library materials to the homebound, help staff the Summer Library Program in Children's Services, and organize the annual used book sale. Many members of the FOAL serve as volunteers. Others are matched with library tasks that suit their interests. Volunteer application forms are available at all of the library service desks. The volunteer program is coordinated by Marketing & Development. Contact the Administrative Office at 832-1695 for further information.

FOAL Endowment Fund
This endowment provides funds for library programs and projects of interest to the entire community. The Fund is supported by gifts and bequests.

Appleton Library Foundation
The Foundation was formed in 1985 by a group of Appleton citizens to nurture broad-based support for the library and to enhance library resources. The Foundation supplements the community's library needs in areas not supported by tax dollars.

Library Newsletter
The library, FOAL, and the Appleton Library Foundation publish a quarterly newsletter called Fine Print. Call the Marketing & Development office at 832-1695 to be put on the mailing list to receive the newsletter.

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