The complete policies of the New Hartford Public Library (NHPL) are available for public review at the circulation desk.

Fines for overdue items.......................20¢ per day
Videotape fine................................$ 2.00 per day
Maximum Fine................................$ 6.00 per item or the cost of the item

All overdue fines are automatically calculated when an item is returned. Fines will appear on your record until they are paid. Fines for New Hartford items may be paid at many Mid-York Library System libraries.

Lost and damaged library materials must be paid for by the borrower - including fines incurred on interlibrary loans.

Borrowers with fines over $5.00 will have their borrowing privileges suspended at NHPL and all Mid-York Libraries until fines are paid. Large fines / charges may be referred to a collection agency whose fees will be added to the fines already owed.

Please return all books and other materials by placing them in the return slots located at the end and front of the circulation desk.

You may also return items in the beige backdrops located on either side of the Library entrance. When returning books-on-cassette, videotapes, CDs and cassettes in the book drop they should be placed in a small plastic bag or secured with rubber bands to avoid damage.

Videos should be returned to the library at which they were checked out.

Materials borrowed from NHPL may be returned at any public library in Oneida, Madison or Herkimer counties. Materials borrowed from other public libraries in the Madison, Herkimer or Oneida counties may be returned at this library.

Books owned by the NHPL are loaned for the following periods:

New Books................................14 days Cassettes + CDs.........................14 days Records......................................14 days Books on Cassette.......................14 days Videotapes....................................2 days Educational (Blue Dot) Videos.......7 days Circulating Encyclopedias...............7 days

Most other materials circulate for 21 days.

A printed list of all checked out materials or date due cards are provided with books and other materials to remind you when the item is due.

Most books owned by NHPL are renewable, as long as no one else is waiting to borrow the item.

Interlibrary loans are generally not renewable. If you think you may need to renew an interlibrary loan please let us know before the item is actually due.

You may renew books owned by NHPL by phone. Please limit your requests to four (4) renewals per phone call and have your card number ready when you call.

Library cards are free to residents of Oneida, Madison and Herkimer counties. Adults must fill out a registration form and provide an acceptable ID (ex. NYS drivers or non-drivers' ID, recent utility bill, telephone bill, printed checks, etc.).

Children and young adults under the age of 18 must have a parent or guardian sign the registration form. Children should be able to print their full name.

Parents / guardians are responsible for any items borrowed by their children or young adults.

You are responsible for all items checked out on your card -- don't let anyone else use your library card!

Library cards issued by this Library are valid at any public library in the Mid-York Library System.

If a book or other material you want is not owned by this library, or another public library in the Mid-York System, we will attempt to borrow it from outside the system. This service is free. The loan period and conditions of lending for interlibrary loans are established by the owning library and we will respect their lending conditions. In many cases this means that interlibrary loaned material is not renewable. Please give us advanced notice if you may want to renew interlibrary loaned material and we will try to have it renewed by the owing library.

Any fines and/or damage charges for interlibrary loans are established by the lending library and will be respected by NHPL.

The Library subscribes to over 90 magazines and newspapers. The current issues are displayed in the magazines reading area, about one year of back issues are kept behind the current issue (the display shelf pivots up). Current issues do not circulate; back issues circulate for 14 days. Consumer Reports does not circulate and is kept at the Information Desk.

Our computerized catalog list books and other materials owned by the New Hartford Public Library and all the other libraries in the Mid-York Library System. Books owned by public libraries in Mid-York may be reserved directly on the computers in the Library, by phone or by dialing in to Mid-York's computer system using your home computer or on the Mid-York Internet site.

Public restrooms are located in the entry hallway, as is a public drinking fountain.

A coin operated public use photocopier is located at the center of the library. If you have problems or need help with the copier please ask at the desk. Copies are 10¢ per page.

The Library has 16 computers available for public use, both IBM-PC and MacIntosh. B&W (10¢ per page) or color (50¢ per page) laser printing is available. Several programs, including MS Office 97 and Apple Works are installed on the computers. Please ask at the desk for more information on the public use computers. Work may be saved on diskettes from computers dedicated to office software. You may supply your own diskette or purchase one from the library for 50¢.

The Library has 13 public computers that provide access to the Internet. Their use is governed by the Library's Internet Policy which is displayed near the computers. There is a 30 minute limit on using the computers when someone is waiting to use them. Please ask a staff member if you have any questions relating to use of the internet.

We accept donations of used books. Donated books may be added to our collection, be sold by the Friends of the Library at their ongoing book sale, be donated to other area non-profit organizations and institutions, or disposed of as necessary. The books should be clean and dry. No donations of Reader's Digest Condensed Books, National Geographic magazines, please. Please call ahead to make arrangements with the staff to drop the books off.

Over 70% of the funding for the Library comes from the Town of New Hartford.

The Library is governed by a Board of Trustees made up of citizens appointed to five year terms by the Town of New Hartford.

The Library was founded in 1976 and is chartered by the New York State Board of Regents to serve the residents of the Town of New Hartford. We moved into our present building in April of 1999.

The Library is a member of the Mid-York Library System.