Library Card

Your Luzerne County Library Card may be used to borrow material at the Osterhout Free Library, any of our branch libraries, or other public libraries which are members of the Luzerne County Library System. If you live in Luzerne County, you qualify for a free library card. You may visit the Osterhout to fill out a registration application, or you may print out a registration application from the link above and bring it with you to the Central Library or any of our branches. You will be asked to show proof of residence. Once the required identification is presented, you will be issued a library card. You will be able to use your card immediately.

General Card (ages 18 or over)
You must present identification that shows your current address, for example, a driver’s license, utility bill, or a credit card bill. The card is valid for 3 years, at which time it may be renewed.

Children’s card (ages 17 or below)
The signature of a responsible adult is required on the application, and proof of current address must be shown. By signing the application, the responsible adult agrees to accept full responsibility for material borrowed, lost, or damaged, and any fines incurred. If the responsible adult is not present, the new cardholder will be limited to checking out 2 (two) items until proof of current address of the responsible adult is provided.

Persons Living Outside Luzerne County
Your Luzerne County Library Card may be used to borrow material at the Osterhout Free Library, any of our branch libraries, or other public libraries throughout Luzerne County: Back Mountain Library (Dallas), Hazleton Area, Hoyt (Kingston), Kirby (Mountain Top), Mill (Nanticoke), Pittston Memorial, Plymouth, West Pittston, and Wyoming Free Libraries. NO MATERIAL MAY BE CHECKED OUT WITHOUT A LIBRARY CARD. The blue ACCESS PENNSYLVANIA sticker on your card gives you statewide library privileges.

Anyone who lives outside Luzerne County, but inside Pennsylvania, can get a free library card if he/she can present a current library card from another library in Pennsylvania with the blue “Access Pennsylvania” sticker on it. If this card does not contain the person’s address, then some form of identification such as a driver’s license must also be presented to verify the address given. The card is valid for 1 year.

Anyone who lives outside Luzerne County, but inside Pennsylvania, who does not have an Access Pennsylvania library card, can purchase a library card for a $25.00 fee. This card is valid for 1 year.

No material may be checked out without a library card.

Responsibilities
You are responsible for the use of your card. Lost or stolen cards should be reported immediately. There is a $3.00 charge to replace a lost card.

Online Library Card Application
This application is for NEW accounts. The library card will be sent to the address provided. Before you start to borrow material, a valid state-issued ID with proof of current address will need to be provided. For a replacement card or to update information on an existing account, please contact the library for more information.

Policy for Borrowing Material

Loan Period

Adult Books 3 weeks and 2 renewals
New Adult Books 2 weeks and 2 renewals
Children’s Books 3 weeks and 2 renewals
Audio Books 2 weeks and 2 renewals
Music 2 weeks and 2 renewals
DVDs 1 week and 1 renewal
Library of Things (excluding adult puzzles) 1 week and 2 renewals
Adult Puzzles 3 weeks and 2 renewals

Patrons may renew material by calling any Luzerne County Library System library or by accessing their patron record online.  Material may not be renewed if there are holds on the item. If the Item is overdue or the library card has expired, the patron may not renew it online. They will have to call a LCLS library for a renewal.

Hold/Reserves
Holds may be placed on material currently checked out or on order. The only requirement is that the person making the request must have a valid library card with current address and telephone number. Once the items become available, the patron will be notified, usually by phone. The items may be picked up at the Library’s circulation desk within 3 days.

Returning
For your convenience, you can return books, CDs, and DVDs even when the library is closed by placing them in one of the library’s BOOK DROPS. There is a drive-up book drop in front of the Central Library on South Franklin Street and a walk-up book drop in front of the Plains Branch.

Material borrowed from either the Osterhout Central Library or any of its branches may be returned to any other public library in the Luzerne County Library System. Likewise, items borrowed from other member libraries may be returned at any other member library.

Library of Things
All Library of Things items must be picked up and returned at the main branch of the Osterhout Free Library and must be handed directly to a staff member. Two items from the Library of Things collection may be checked out at a time and only one item from the Library of Things: Valuable Items collection may be checked out at a time. To check out a Valuable Item, patrons must be 18 years of age or older, present a valid photo ID and proof of address if it is not correct on his/her ID at the time of checkout, sign the Library of Things: Valuable Items Lending Agreement, and provide a refundable down payment if required.

Click here to view the Library of Things Circulation Policy and Procedure and the Library of Things: Valuable Items Lending Agreement.

Fees and Fines

FEES

Library Card Free
Replacement Card $3
Lost and Damaged Item Cost of the item plus $10 processing fee
Holds/Reserves Free
Interlibrary Loan Free
Self-Serve Photocopying 20¢ per page (b&w) / 50¢ per page (color)
Computer Printouts 20¢ per page
Microfilm/Microfiche Printouts 20¢ per page

FINES

Material returned after the due date will accrue the following charges:

Adult Books 25¢ per day
Children’s Books 10¢ per day
Audio Books 25¢ per day
Compact Discs 25¢ per day
Interlibrary Loan Items 50¢ per day
DVDs $1.00 per day
Library of Things $1.00 per day
View What Items I Have Checked Out
Renew My Checked-Out Items