IF YOU ARE A FREEPORT RESIDENT:

The Freeport Community Library is supported by the taxpayers of Freeport. Freeport residents and/or property owners are eligible for a free library card. Library cards can be obtained in person during regular library hours and are valid for one year. Proof of residence (drivers license, lease, utility bill or current tax bill), valid picture ID, and adult application form are required for a library card. Children age 5 and older may be issued a card when in the company of parent/guardian with appropriate ID and a completed child application form. Children age 13 and older may be issued a card without the company of a parent/guardian.

The Freeport Community Library will not issue a library card if the applicant owes over $10.00 in fines or any billed items to any other Maine library. All outstanding fines and fees must be resolved before a Freeport card can be issued.

IF YOU LIVE SOMEWHERE ELSE:

The Freeport Community Library allows nonresidents to buy a library card for the approximate amount paid by Freeport taxpayers for library services. Nonresident memberships (adult application form) may be purchased and used by anyone living in the household. There are three membership options for nonresidents: 3 months for $15, 6 months for $30, or 12 months for $60.

• Nonresident children under the age of 18 who attend a Freeport school are eligible for a student card (child application form) free of charge.The school must be located in Freeport. Student cards are to be used by the student only and are limited to Freeport’s collection.
• Teachers who live out of town but who teach in a Freeport school are eligible for a teacher card (adult application form) free of charge. Proof of employment (school ID, current paystub, letter verifying employment) is required for a library card. The school must be located in Freeport. Teacher cards are to be used by the teacher only and are limited to Freeport’s collection.

All library card applicants agree to obey the rules and policies of the library, to return items in a timely manner, to promptly pay all charges against the account for damage to or loss of library items. They also agree to notify the library immediately in the event that a library card is lost or stolen or if an address, phone number, or email address changes.

No one is allowed access to another person’s library card or account information without the consent of the library card holder. (PARENTS–please, be aware that your child’s library information is not available to you regardless of the age of your child.) The Freeport Community Library protects the privacy of ALL its patrons.

As part of the Maine InfoNet Consortium, Freeport Community Library is a Minerva library. Minerva is a shared library system that brings together nearly 60 libraries of all types from across the state. Its catalog includes over six million items that are available to Freeport Community Library patrons. This means you can request books, audiobooks, magazine, DVDs, music CDs, and video games from across the state.

Students and teachers may place holds on items in FCL’s collection in person, on the phone, or online via our Request Form. Interlibrary loan is not available for these cards.

Request an item:

• IN PERSON: Simply present your card, then tell staff which materials you would like placed on reserve.
• PHONE: Call the library (865-3307) during regular business hours. When calling, please have your library card number handy.
• ONLINE: Search the online catalog. Once you have located what you’re interested in, click on the title to bring up the item’s record. Click the Request button and enter your name and card number.
• You can also borrow items from Maine libraries outside of the Minerva consortium directly through the catalog. If the item you are looking for is not at any Minerva library, click on the Search MaineCat button and click on the REQUEST THIS ITEM link.
• When a reserved item becomes available, you will receive an email or a phone call to let you know that the item can be picked up.
• All reserved materials will be held at the front desk for 7 days.

Renew an item:

• IN PERSON: Simply ask a staff person at one of our service desks that you would like to renew your item(s).
• PHONE: Call the library (865-3307) during regular business hours. When calling, please have your library card number handy.
• ONLINE: Log in to your library account with your name and library card number. Once there, select “Items currently checked out.” You will be able to select which items you want to renew. Note, if an item says it has a hold on it, you will not be able to renew.

What is it?

Freeport Community Library participates in the Minerva Shared Borrowing Group. The MSBG allows anyone with a valid library card from a participating library to visit other participating libraries and check out materials in person. It’s referred to as “walk-in” borrowing because it essentially turns your local library card into a “statewide” library card! Patrons will need to show their library card at the participating library in order to checkout items.

Guidelines:

• Borrowers will be asked to show their physical library card in order to check out materials.
• Cards need to be current and in good standing.
• If an item does not normally circulate via ILL, such as telescopes, museum passes, etc., it will not be eligible for circulation to Borrowers through the MSBG.
• Materials may be returned to any participating MSBG Library.

Participating Libraries:

For the most up to date list of participating libraries, visit: https://tinyurl.com/MinervaSharedBorrowing

You may also “Opt In” to enable Reading History 

Reading History is a feature that lets you collect and view your checkout history. By default, all patrons must enable Reading History by logging into their patron account, clicking on the Reading History link, and clicking the Opt In link. Just like with the text message notification option, no patron will have this feature automatically turned on. After you enable your Reading History by opting in, the system starts collecting a list of items checked out from that time forward. Items currently checked out at the time of opting in are not added to patron reading history, nor is anything prior to clicking Opt In.

• You may Opt Out at any time. You must first remove all entries from your history using the Delete All function.
• You can permanently delete all circulation history or select titles by checking the box in the Mark column.

Want to receive text messages or update your account information?

All you have to do is log in to your library account and click on the “Modify Personal Information” option. From there you can opt in to receive SMS Alerts. Minerva will send you text messages to bring an event to your attention, such as an overdue item or a hold ready for pickup. Only basic information will be sent via text (a hold is waiting, not the title) and you will still receive an email notification if you currently do. You are given the option to renew items via text message but we strongly suggest that you DO NOT use this feature because the system will renew ALL items that are eligible for renewal on your account. This means that items you may not be ready to renew will renew at that time and will not be eligible for renewal at a later date.  We recommend logging in to your library account online (The text message will also feature a link) to manage your items.