The Circulation Department

The Circulation Department is committed to providing excellent customer service. You may borrow, return or renew items at either of our two circulation desks. We can give your library account a PIN to maximize your privacy and to allow you to access your account online. 

Please provide us your email address so that we can send you reminder notices two days before your library items are due and let you know when your reserved items have arrived.  We will hold reserve items for you at the circulation desk.

It is our pleasure to welcome you to the Winchester Public Library and to introduce you to the many services the Library offers. We can direct you to a particular area of the Library and to the appropriate staff to assist you.

The Circulation Staff is dedicated to making your visits to the Library very enjoyable ones. Please let us know how we can best help you.

Getting a Card

Getting a library card is easy and there is no charge. Simply present photographic identification which includes your name and current address. At age four children accompanied by a parent or legal guardian can receive a library card. Please do remember to bring your library cards with you whenever you visit. Library materials are very valuable, and we do require that you present your library card to borrow materials or to use the Internet.

We take your legally protected right to library privacy very seriously. Therefore, we require that you use only your own card and recommend that you do not give your card to others. This is also why we cannot discuss any details of your account over the phone or share that information with family members.

PIN (Personal Identification Number)

We strongly recommend that you attach a PIN to your library account. A PIN provides another layer of security for your privacy, and enables you to access your account over the Web even during hours when the Library is closed. You can add or change your email, see what you have out, renew your materials and place requests. Applying for a PIN is quick and easy, but must be done in person at the Circulation Desk.

Loan Periods, Renewals, and Extended Use Fees

Feature Videos & DVDs, TV Series and Express books circulate for one week. Books, magazines and most other material circulate for three weeks. We do not offer a long term loan. However, our renewal policy is generous and if you are going to be traveling, or have extenuating circumstances, we can usually design a loan period to accommodate you.

Books: 3 weeks loan, 2 renewals, fee: adults’ 20 cents/day – children’s 10 cents/day

Friends Express Books:  1 week loan, no renewal, fee: 1 week free, 25 cents/day after that week.

Express Books are a service provided by the Friends of the Winchester Public Library. The extended use fees for Express Books benefit the Friends.

Magazines: 3 weeks loan, 2 renewals, fee: 20 cents/day

Music CDs: 3 weeks loan, 2 renewals, fee: 20 cents/day

Videos, Feature: 1 week loan, 1 renewal, $2/day

DVDs & Videos, Nonfiction: 3 weeks loan, 1 renewal, fee: $2/day

DVDs, Feature / TV Series, New / TV Series: 1 week loan, 1 renewal, fee: $2/day

Books on CD: 3 weeks loan, 2 renewals, fee: 20 cents/day

Books on Playaways: 3 weeks loan, 1 renewal, 20 cents/day

CD-ROMS: 3 weeks loan, 1 renewal, 20 cents/day

Museum Passes: 1 day loan, no renewal, $5/day

Express Books

A service provided by the Friends, Express Books are a collection of bestsellers available for browsing. You may avoid any wait and take these titles immediately for one week. Express titles are not renewable. The extended use fee is 25 cents per day and benefits the Friends.

Museum Passes

Passes are paid for by the Friends of the Library. Please reserve these popular passes online or by contacting the Reference Staff at 781-721-7171 x20. Passes are usually due within 24 hours and may be returned in the book drop after 5:00 p.m. and all times that the Library is closed.

Renewals

Most library material is renewable as long as no reserves are pending. Feature films may be renewed one time. All other regular, circulating material may be renewed twice. Renewing has never been easier! With your library card handy, you may renew your materials on or before the due date - in person, over the phone, or on the Web with a PIN. To renew items online click here Overdue materials may also be renewed for you by the staff; however, extended use fees will apply for the days the materials were late. Please check the chart above to see about renewals for specific material formats.

Reserves

If you want an item that is currently out or only available at another Minuteman Library, you may place a reserve yourself, using your library card number and PIN. You can do this on any computer in the Library and from home over the Internet. You can also call the Reference staff and ask that a hold be placed for you: 781-721-7171 x20 for Adult Services; x26 for the Children's Department.

Returns

You may return any Minuteman item to the Winchester Public Library and conversely, any Winchester item to other Minuteman libraries. However, the transfer of items between libraries is expensive. If it is equally convenient for you to return your items to the library from which you checked them out, we would appreciate it.

Our book and audiovisual drops in the parking lot are open every weekday evening beginning at 5:00 p.m., all day Sunday and whenever else the Library is closed. Please be aware that the fine structure of the library from which you originally borrowed your materials will apply no matter where the items are returned.

Lost Materials

You will be assessed the replacement price listed in the item record for lost or seriously damaged material, or when the items are are missing parts or artwork.

Lost Library Cards

You are responsible for all materials taken out on your card until the date when you report the card lost. Please tell us immediately if your card is lost. You must have identification to receive a replacement card and the cost is $2.00.

Other Minuteman Libraries

This is a list of the public and academic libraries in our network. You may request materials from them through our catalog. And when you visit any Minuteman Library in person, you can use your network library card to check out materials and, then, if you prefer, return them to the Winchester Public Library. Please be aware that the late charge schedule of the library where you originally borrowed the item will apply. However, the transfer of items between libraries is expensive. If it is equally convenient for you to return your items to the library from which you checked them out, we would appreciate it.

 

Accessble free eBooks for students and others who are print disabled

This library, in partnership with Bookshare and OverDrive (our technology partner for this site) is pleased to introduce you to LEAP - the Library eBook Accessibility Program. If you are a print disabled Minuteman Digital Media Catalog patron, sign in below to learn if you may qualify for a free LEAP subscription at Bookshare.

To sign into your library account and learn more, click here.

(If you are a qualifying US student, you are entitled to access the Bookshare.org catalog for free through the support of the U.S. Department of Education and OSEP. To learn more and apply for free membership, click here.)

Guides For Non-English Speakers

"Welcome to the Winchester Public Library" is available in Chinese, Russian, and Spanish. Also available are two handouts: "Finding Chinese language and Russian language materials in the library catalog" and "Library and other resources for learning English and other languages." Please ask in the Reference Department for copies of these items.

The Minuteman Library Network, of which the Winchester Public Library is a part, has a brochure to help bring library services to speakers of Spanish, Russian, Chinese and Portuguese. This brochure tells in these four languages and in English: how to get a library card; what materials and services are available to library card holders; and which libraries in the Network have particularly strong collections in these languages.

Applications for library cards are also available in these languages. If you know someone for whom this information might be helpful, please pick up a copy of this brochure for him or her next time you're at the Library.