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Card and Catalog Help
Page
Frequently Asked Questions about the Catalog:
Where is the library catalog?
How do I search the Baltimore County Public Library
Catalog? (AquaBrowser)?
How do I search the
Baltimore County Public Library Classic View Catalog, our former traditional
catalog?
How can I
limit my search results to a particular language, date, or format such as DVDs?
How do I
renew material?
Why won't my item renew?
How do I reserve or place a hold on an item?
How do I reserve more than one item at a time?
How can I cancel an item I have on reserve or hold?
Can I have material sent or transferred to my library from
another Baltimore County Public Library branch?
If Baltimore County Public Library doesn't own the
item I want,
how can I get it? Direct Loan service or Interlibrary Loan service
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Frequently Asked Questions about your Library Card and
Library
Account:
How do I get a
library card?
Can I apply for a library card online?
Can my child get a library card?
Does my library card expire?
How do I renew my library card and can I renew
it online?
What should I do if my name or my address has changed?
What should I do if my library card is damaged, lost or stolen?
Can I use my
library card from another Maryland public
library? What is an MPOWER CARD (Statewide public library
card)?
I live or go to school outside of Maryland.
Can I get a library card?
How many items may I check
out?
How long can I keep library materials?
Where is
the due date for material I checked out?
Can I return items to another Baltimore County
Public Library branch?
Can I return items to another
Maryland public library system than Baltimore County Public Library?
How do I renew material and how many times
can I renew it?
How can I review my fines and fees?
What is the overdue fine rate?
How do I find out what I checked out,
reserved, or have overdue?
Is there a
special card for
Baltimore County public or private school media specialists and teachers,
day care centers, child care providers, home school teachers with
Baltimore County School identification, employees and volunteers of
Baltimore County agencies or non-profit groups sharing library materials in
groups for educational purposes?
How do I reserve or place a hold on an item?
What is the Shelf Help Line automated
service, and what can I do if it is not
working?
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Where is the library catalog?
There are two versions of the Baltimore County Public
Library catalog. They are called the
BCPL Catalog and the
BCPL Classic View Catalog, our former traditional catalog. Each has its own unique features.
BCPL Catalog
The
BCPL Catalog can be
found in many ways. Click on the Search the Catalog button above, or use the "Catalog Search" box at the top of
this page or our Home Page. Also, under Card and Catalog on the left side
of this page or our Home Page, click on "Search the Catalog".
For
information on how to search for items using this catalog, see
How do I search the Baltimore County Public Library Catalog. We
hope you will find our newest library catalog exciting and fun to use.
BCPL Classic View Catalog
If you feel more comfortable using the more
traditional catalog, click on the Search the Catalog button above, or use the "Catalog Search" box
at the top of this page or our Home Page. Then click on the "Classic View" tab
at the top of the BCPL Catalog
screen. You can also choose Card and Catalog on the left side of
this page or our Home Page. Click on "Search the Catalog". The BCPL Catalog
will appear, now click the "Classic View" tab at
the top of the screen.
The
BCPL Classic View Catalog must be used if you want to
reserve more than one item at a time without having to enter your
library card identification number for each reserve or if you wish to create a Personal
List.
For information on how to search for items using this catalog, see
How do I search the Baltimore County Public Library Classic View Catalog.
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How do I search the
Baltimore County Public Library Catalog?
You can get to the BCPL Catalog
from our Home Page. After entering the
BCPL Catalog, type a word or words in the search box that describes
what you are interested in, click the "Search" button or press
Enter on your keyboard. You may use upper (capital) or lower case (small)
letters. To enter a new search, highlight your old search and click the
spacebar or "Delete" button on your keyboard.
In the center of the screen, are the results of
your search sorted by relevance, which is determined by how often and where
your search words are found in our records. Click the down arrow to
re-sort the results by year of publication, by title, or author. Use the drop down box
under Select Location on the top right side of the screen to find the items owned by
a specific library branch.
On the right side of the screen, is a list of
options to help you find exactly what you want.
You can not only find the exact information you are looking for but also
the exact kind of item you would like, for instance a DVD, children's
material, or other options. Use the Refine menu and the listed links
to pick an exact format, author, subject, geography, time period, and other
possibilities. Note the number next to each category, this is the exact
number of items available. Don't forget to check the "more" hyperlinks for more
options.
Are the results of your search not exactly what you were
looking for?
Use the color-coded "word constellation or cloud" on the
left side of the screen. The larger a word, the more relevant it may be to your
search. The position of the word in the constellation has no meaning.
The color-coded words are suggestions for you to
click on to discover new information and to help you with your search. These suggestions include related terms, called Associations,
that may have something to do with your search. You will also see
Spelling suggestions that will correct spelling mistakes or offer words
that can be spelled in more than one way and translations to another language.
The
Discovery trail shows the terms you have already searched. You can go
back to these previous search results.
Click on any of the
words in the constellation to add them to your original search terms.
The constellation and results will change with each new search term you add.
For additional information on how to do a basic search,
click on the Help link at the top of any screen in the BCPL Catalog, or
phone or
seek assistance at the Information Desk at your local library.
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How do I
search the Baltimore County Public Library Classic View Catalog, our former
traditional catalog?
There are several ways to find
the BCPL Classic View Catalog from our Home Page. The "Catalog Search"
box at the top of this page or our
Home Page does not automatically search the BCPL Classic View Catalog.
The
BCPL Classic View Catalog presents a
Basic Search
screen to construct a search. Enter a word or words into the search
box that describes what you are interested in finding.
You may use upper (capital) or lower case (small) letters. Do not include a,
an, or the. If you are unsure of the exact title or subject, type in
the words you know. Click the "Search" button.
The results match the words, called "keywords", that you entered in the search box with
the words found in our title records, in
an author or name, or in our subject
headings. The results also offer links that allow you to browse an alphabetical listing of
names, subject headings or titles beginning with the word you entered in
the search box. If no matches are found, the "Check Spelling" button may
help you.
By clicking on the "Limit by branch and
availability" button, limit your search to items owned by a
specific Baltimore County Public Library
branch. If
you want to limit your search further to only items that
are available, that is "not checked out", at a particular library,
click "Yes" to the
question, "Only display items available in the branch selected below?".
Your search
can be limited to a specific type of search, for example, a subject
search only, author only, title, by call number, or ISBN. Use the drop down
menu on the
"Select a search type"
box, located beneath the search box. Enter a word or words into the
top search box.
For additional information on How to Search, Search Tips and Search Results,
click on the Help button at the top of any screen within the Catalog.
Ask at
or phone the Information Desk at your local library for assistance.
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How do I renew material?
Eligible
material may be renewed one time.
Please note that
not all materials are eligible for renewal.
Special rules apply to renewing
videos and DVDs.
Eligible material may be renewed at any Baltimore County
Public Library branch or through our
SHELF
HELP Line at 410-494-9063, press 5. You
will need your library card identification number to renew material.
There are several ways to renew items
online. Use this Check Your
Card link or
use the "Check Your Card"
tab at the top of this page or our Home Page. You can also select Card and Catalog from
the left side of this page or our Home Page and then click on "Renew
Material". From the
BCPL Catalog,
select the "My Account" tab at the top of the page.
Next,
enter the validation
information requested.
You will need to enter the 14 digit number on your library card without spaces.
If your validation
information is not accepted, visit or phone any
Baltimore County Public Library branch and explain the problem.
Press 3 for library account information. Staff can check the information
attached to your card and assist you in renewing the item.
To protect the confidentiality of your library
account, you will need your library card identification
number and you may be
asked additional identification information.
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When your account information appears, click
the "Checked out" link on the Patron Information Summary page. A list of all the items
currently checked out on your card will appear. From this Checked Out Summary screen, click the "Renew all items" button on the left of
the screen to renew all of your checked out items. To select only one or
more titles to renew, click on the box to the left of the item number for
the title. Click
"Renew
selected items". A confirmation screen will appear to confirm your renewal.
If you
have problems renewing materials, please contact your
local library
for assistance. |
Renewals allow you to extend the original
loan period for an item already checked out to you. Renewals vary from two days
to 21 days depending on the items checked out. The new due date is calculated
from the original due date. Items eligible for renewal may be renewed one time
only. If your item is already late when you renew it, appropriate late
fines will
be applied to your library account.
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How do
I reserve or place a hold on an item?
Entertainment or feature
two-day DVDs, children's
entertainment videos, and
video games cannot
be reserved.
All eligible material may be reserved,
that is placed on hold, at
any Baltimore County Public Library
branch either in-person, by phone or online through our website. There is
no charge for placing a hold on an item, with the exception of
"On Order" items. You will be notified
when your material is available at your pick up location. Reserves are held
to be picked up for 7 days. There is a $1.00 per item charge if a held item
is not picked up within the 7 day period following notification. There are several ways to
check the status of your holds.
You must have a
library card
registered in Baltimore County in order to place a reserve online.
A
temporary library e-card number valid for thirty days is available by
registering online.
1. To reserve a title online, first search for the desired item.
- Search the
BCPL Catalog by
using the "Catalog Search" box at the top of
this page or our Home Page. Or, under Card and Catalog on the left side
of this page or our Home Page, click on "Reserve Place a Hold"
or on "Search the Catalog". For information on how to
search for items using this catalog, see How
do I search the Baltimore County Public Library Catalog.
Your search results will
appear in the center of the screen. The results are sorted by
relevance, which is determined by how often and where your search words
are found in our records. Click the down arrow to re-sort your results by
year of publication, title, or author.
After you find the item you want to have held, click on the title
hyperlink. Now click on the Place Hold hyperlink above the title.
If the item is listed as "Not checked out" and you are willing to pick up
the item at the owning library, you can
phone the owning library and request that they check their shelf and
hold the item for you. The item will be held for you to pick it up for
three days.
-
If you prefer, search the
BCPL Classic View Catalog
by using the "Catalog Search" box
at the top of this page or our Home Page. Then click on the "Classic View" tab
at the top of the BCPL Catalog
screen. You can also choose Card and Catalog on the left side of
this page or our Home Page. Click on "Reserve Place a Hold" or
on "Search the Catalog". The BCPL Catalog
will appear, now click the "Classic View" tab at
the top of the screen. For information on how to
search for items using this catalog, see How do I search
the Baltimore County Public Library Classic View Catalog.
After you find the item you want to reserve, click on a title hyperlink. Now
click
the Place holds button on
the left side of the screen.
If the item is listed as "Not checked out" and you are willing to pick up
the item at the owning library, you can
phone the owning library and request that they check their shelf and
hold the item for you. The item will be held for you to pick it up for three
days.
2. Enter the validation information requested. Enter without
spaces the 14 digit number on your library card or your
temporary library e-card number.
If your validation information is not
accepted, visit or phone a
Baltimore County Public Library branch and explain
the problem. Press 3 for library account information. Staff can check the information attached to your card and
assist in placing the reserve.
To protect the confidentiality of your library
account, you will need your library card identification
number and you may be
asked additional identification information.
3. Select the branch where you want to pick up the
item.
Reserves may be placed by
Mobile
Library Services' bookmobile customers. Select
"Library on the Go" to pick up the reserve on the bookmobile.
Two-day and
twenty-one day videos or DVDs and video games cannot be reserved for pick up on a bookmobile.
4. Click the Place Hold button at the bottom of
the screen. A confirmation screen will appear, indicating whether or not the
hold was successfully placed.
If a hold cannot be
placed on one or more of the items, you will get a message
indicating why, and be instructed to contact
your library.
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How do I reserve more than one item at a time?
Entertainment or feature two-day DVDs,
children's
entertainment videos, and
video games cannot be reserved.
All eligible material may be reserved,
that is placed on hold, at
any Baltimore County Public Library
branch either in-person, by phone or online through our website. There is
no charge for placing a hold on an item, with the exception of
"On Order" items. You will be notified
when your material is available at your pick up location. Reserves are held
to be picked up for 7 days. There is a $1.00 per item charge if a held item
is not picked up within the 7 day period following notification. There are several ways to
check the status of your holds.
You must have a
library card
registered in Baltimore County in order to place a reserve online.
A
temporary library e-card number valid for thirty days is available by
registering online.
To reserve several items online at one time without having to
reenter your library card identification number for each item, you
must
use the BCPL Classic View Catalog.
1.
Begin searching for your first item by using the "Catalog Search" box
at the top of this page or our Home Page. Then click on the "Classic View" tab
at the top of the BCPL Catalog
screen. You can also choose Card and Catalog on the left side of
this page or our Home Page. Click on "Reserve Place a Hold" or
on "Search the Catalog". The BCPL Catalog
will appear, now click the "Classic View" tab at
the top of the screen. For information on how to search for items using this
catalog, see How do I search the BCPL Classic View Catalog.
2. Do a search for the item you want to reserve. If you click on
the title hyperlink you can see more details about that item and a list of
owning library branches.
If the item is listed as "Not checked out" and you are willing to pick up
the item at the owning library, you can
phone the owning library and request that they check their shelf and
hold the item for you. The item will be held for you to pick it up for three
days.
3. To place a hold or reserve, make a list of what you want to reserve using the Personal List
Manager option on the left of the screen. |
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When you find an item that you want to
reserve, add it to your Personal List Manager. Click on the check box
to the left of the title, then click the "Add checked
records from this page to list" button on the left of the page. You can also select all titles
from the displayed page by clicking "Add all records from this page to
list" button.
Repeat your search for
any other titles you want and add them to your Personal List Manager. |
4. After completing your
list in the Personal List
Manager, click on "View personal list" button.
5.
You can
now place a hold on any or all items.
To reserve all the titles on your list click the "Place holds on all
items from this page" button on the left. You can also select individual titles,
by clicking on the checkbox to the left of the title you want. Click on the
"Place holds on checked items from this page" button.
6. Enter the
validation information requested.
Enter without spaces the 14 digit number on your library card
or your
temporary library e-card number. If your validation information is not
accepted, visit or phone a
Baltimore County Public Library branch and explain the problem. Press 3
for library account information. Staff can check the information attached to
your card and assist in placing the reserve.
To protect the confidentiality of your library
account, you will need your library card
number and you may be
asked additional identification information.
7. Select the branch
where you want to pick up the items. Reserves may be placed by
Mobile Library Services' bookmobile customers. Select "Library on the Go" to
pick up the reserve on the bookmobile. Two-day and twenty-one day videos
or DVDs and video games cannot be reserved for pick up on a bookmobile.
8. Click the
Place Hold button at the bottom
of the screen. A confirmation screen will appear, indicating whether or not the
holds were successfully placed.
If a hold cannot be placed
on one or more of the items you have selected, you will get a message indicating
why, and be instructed to contact
your library.
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How do I cancel an item I have on reserve or hold?
The Information Desk at
any Baltimore County Public Library branch
can help you cancel your reserve, also known as a hold. In most cases, you can cancel your hold
online as well.
However, if the item is listed as "in transit" or "ready for pick up", you cannot cancel the
hold online. You must
contact the
branch to which you requested the item be sent.
Press 3 for library account information.
There are several ways to cancel your
hold online. You will need your
library card to cancel your reserve online.
1.
Use this Check Your
Card link or
use the "Check Your Card"
tab at the top of this page or our Home Page. You can also select Card and Catalog from
the left side of this page or our Home Page and then click on "Check
Your Card". From the
BCPL Catalog,
select the "My Account" tab at the top of the page.
2.
Enter the validation information
requested to see a Patron Information Summary screen of your account.
Enter the 14 digit number on your library card without spaces.
If your validation
information is not accepted, visit or phone any
Baltimore County Public Library branch and explain the problem.
Press 3 for library account information. Staff can check the information
attached to your card and assist you in canceling the item.
To protect the confidentiality of your library
account, you will need your library card
number and you may be
asked additional identification information.
3. Click the Holds
hyperlink. A Hold Summary screen will appear listing the titles you
currently have on reserve.
4. Click on the link of the
title you wish to cancel. This takes you to the Hold Detail screen.
5. Click the "Cancel this
hold" button on the left.
6. A confirmation screen will appear to confirm
any online cancellation. To
cancel another title, click on the “Return to hold summary” button
on the left and repeat the process.
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How can I limit my search results to a particular
language, date, or format such as DVDs?
If you are using the
BCPL Catalog, also
called AquaBrowser, from the top of the BCPL home page, click in the Catalog
Search box, enter a title, author or keyword and then click the Go button.
- To limit your search by year of publication, author or
title use sorted by relevance which is located directly under
the search box. Click on the arrow next to sorted by relevance box,
a drop down menu will open, now select year of publication,
author or title.
- To limit your search by format use the
Refine menu located along the right side of the screen. This gives a
list of other options such as author, subject, series and format. Types of
formats include book, DVD, Spoken CD, Musical CD, Cassette, Game,
Juvenile, and Video (VHS tape). This will help you to find the exact kind
or format of material you would like.
- For more information on searching the BCPL catalog, see
How do I search the Baltimore County Public
Library Catalog.
If you prefer to use
BCPL Classic View Catalog,
our former traditional catalog, from the BCPL home page click the Go button
located next to the Catalog Search box. Then click the gold tab labeled
"Classic View".
- Basic Search: enter a word or
words into the search box on the
Basic Search
screen of the BCPL Classic View Catalog. You may use upper (capital) or lower case (small) letters.
If the first word in your title is a, an, or the, do not
include these words in your search terms. If you are unsure of the exact title or
subject, type in the words you know.
- You can now limit your search by format or media type,
language, date or branch availability by clicking on the Advanced
search option
button in the left menu. This takes you to the More Search Options screen
which allows you to limit your
search by media format, by language, date, or branch ownership and availability.
- To Limit by media type or format use the drop down
arrow to
select the media type you want. "Media types" include Books on
Tape, Compact
Disc, Children's, DVD, Video Games, Videos and Websites. For example, to
find the DVD of "Gone with the Wind", enter "gone wind" as the keywords,
then scroll down and click on the "Limit by media type" arrow and choose
"DVD". Then click the "Search" button next to the search box.
- The Limit by Language option includes Korean,
Russian and Spanish. Limit by Language option is only available for author
or keyword searches of the catalog.
- The Limit by Date option allows you to limit your search to
items published within the date range you entered.
- The Limit by branch and
availability button limits your search to
items owned by a specific
Baltimore County Public Library branch. To limit your search further to items that
are available, or "not checked out", at a specific library, answer "Yes"
to the question, Only display items available in the branch selected below?
- For more information on how to search the Classic View
catalog, see How do I search the
Baltimore County Public Library Classic View Catalog.
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Can I have material sent to my library from another
Baltimore County Public Library branch?
Recently we changed the way we locate and move items to you. Just place
a hold on the item you want and tell us to which library you want it
sent. There is no fee for this service. You will be
notified when the
item you want is available to be picked up at your desired location. Most
items showing on the catalog as "Not checked out" will arrive in 2 to 3
business days, excluding weekends and holidays.
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If
Baltimore County Public Library doesn't own the item I want, how can I get
it? Try the Direct Loan service or Interlibrary Loan service
1) Direct Loan service
Public library Systems who offer Direct Loans: Anne Arundel County,
Baltimore
County, Carroll County, Cecil County,
Frederick County,
Harford County
and Enoch Pratt Free Library in Baltimore
City.
- Books on the New York Times or Publishers Weekly best
seller lists will not be sent.
- Search the catalog of the library systems
listed above. The Information Desk staff can assist you.
- Write down
the title, author, and
the owning library's call number. The Information Desk staff can help you identify
these.
- Call the owning library branch. Calls to some of
the participating library
systems could be long distance for you. Tell the staff member that you will need a DIRECT LOAN.
- Give the title, author, and
the owning library's call number to the staff
member.
- If the material is available, you can go to that library and pick it up or
have it sent to any branch in one of the participating public library systems listed
above.
- There is no charge for this
service.
- Allow 3 to 7 business days for delivery, excluding weekends and holidays.
- You will not be notified
when the item arrives. The items will be held
for 5 days. We suggest that you
call the
receiving library
to see if your material has arrived.
- DIRECT LOAN applies only to
materials that are available when you call the library. To reserve a
title that is not available or for other library services, please see the Information Desk
staff.
- Books may be returned to ANY branch in the above listed public library systems.
- Direct Loaned items cannot be
renewed.
- Fines for late return are
collected at the branch to which the material is returned, according to
that library system's fine rules.
- The Enoch Pratt Free Library's
Sights and Sounds
Department may agree to direct loan videos/DVDs from their Video/DVD Reserve
Collection to a Baltimore County Public Library branch. Contact the
Sights and Sounds Department directly at 410-396-4616 to request an
available video. See the tutorial on
how to find
audiovisual materials in the Pratt online catalog.
- Baltimore County Public Library
will not Direct Loan audiocassettes, books on tape or compact
discs, compact discs, videos or DVDs, and video games to other library systems.
2) Interlibrary Loan (ILL) service
- If Baltimore County Public Library does not own
the material you want, see or
call your branch's Information Desk
to request the item through our Interlibrary Loan (ILL) service.
- Information on requesting
audio visual items owned by the Enoch
Pratt Free Library/ State Library Resource Center is found below.
- You must have a
valid
library card from the Baltimore County Public Library in order to
request material through our Interlibrary Loan service.
- The request may take 7 to 14
business days to fill.
- You will be
notified when the
item is available at your pick up location. Unless a shortened loan period
is set by the owning library, items are held
to be picked up for 7 days. There is a $1.00 per item charge if a held item
is not picked up within the the time period specified.
- The usual loan period is 21
days, but the length of the loan period is determined by the lending
library. Some lending libraries may require a shortened loan period or
other restrictions on use of their material.
- Each item received through Interlibrary
Loan is subject to a $1.00 processing fee plus
any additional costs charged by the lending agency.
- Some Interlibrary loans may have
additional fees that are set by the lending library. Every attempt is made
to find a lender that does not charge any borrowing fees. At the time you
make the request, you will be asked if you want to pre-authorize
additional charges up to a stated amount, for example, "up to
$10.00”. You may choose to limit our search for the item only to those
libraries which have no fees. The Baltimore County Public Library
Interlibrary Loan staff will contact a customer before submitting any request
for material with a lending fee over $10.00.
- All unfilled Interlibrary loan requests
are cancelled after 30 days. You will be notified of the cancellation. You may resubmit the request.
- Items received through Interlibrary Loan
cannot be renewed.
- Baltimore County Public Library will lend
books through Interlibrary Loan to other library systems as long as they are not in high demand in
Baltimore County and are older than one year. We do not lend any non-print
materials.
- This service is
available to
Mobile
Library Services' bookmobile customers.
3)Audio-Visual Material
from Enoch Pratt Free Library
- The Baltimore County Public Library's Interlibrary Loan
Department will attempt to acquire the following from the Enoch Pratt Free
Library/ State Library Resource Center's
Sights and Sounds Department : 16
mm film, slides, videocassettes and DVD from their Video/DVD Reserve
Collection only, audiocassettes and CDs.
- A
valid
library card from the Baltimore County Public Library is required to
request audiovisual material. Enoch Pratt requires that customers be age
18 and over to borrow 16 mm films and videos and DVDs.
- Search the Enoch Pratt Free Library catalog to find the
title. See these tutorials on
how to find
audiovisual materials in the Pratt online catalog and
how to find
audiobooks in the Pratt catalog.
- See or
call your branch's Information Desk
to request the item through our Interlibrary Loan service.
- Items may be requested for a future showing one or more
weeks in advance.
- You will receive phone confirmation if your request can be
filled.
- Items must be picked up and returned to the same
Baltimore
County Public Library branch.
- Items received through Interlibrary Loan
cannot be renewed.
- Length of loan period and maximum number of items available
for borrowing is determined by the Enoch Pratt Free Library.
- Many of these titles are purchased with "public performance
rights," which means that they can be shown at free public programs where no
admission is charged or no fund raising is taking place. They may not be shown
on television unless clearance is obtained by the copyright holder.
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The Kid's
Catalog Web
not only searches our own catalog for items
selected for children, it also provides links to related information on the
Internet. The
books and web pages are selected by children's librarians, and evaluated for
age-appropriate content and readability. Due to the dynamic nature of the
Internet, changes in content may occur. Parental supervision of a child's
use of the Internet is very important.
From home you can get to the Kid's
Catalog from the left side of our Home Page under Kids or under Card and
Catalog. From within out
BCPL Catalog, you can also click on the "Kids Catalog Web"
tab at the top of the screen.
 Explore lets you search predefined subjects such as History, Famous
People, Sports and Recreation, Science, etc. Type Search lets you search by Title, Subject or Author. Use
Type Search to enter their own search terms.
Best Stories lets you search by Award Winners, Picture Books, Chapter
Books, etc. Find It! lets you search by Subject, Author, Series or
Famous People.
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How
do I get a Baltimore County Public Library card or an MPOWER CARD?
To apply for a Baltimore County Public library card
or an MPOWER CARD, visit the
Circulation or Borrower Services Desk at
any
Baltimore County Public Library branch or at any
Mobile Library Services
bookmobile stop. Phone registration is not available.
A temporary
library card number valid for 30 days is available by
registering online.
To get a permanent library card, you must
visit any
Baltimore County Public Library branch. You will need to complete a brief
registration form [PDF] (also
available in Korean
[PDF], Russian [PDF] and
Spanish [PDF]), bring
valid identification, and agree to abide by the rules and
regulations of Baltimore County Public Library. Your signature on the card is
required and indicates agreement.
If you already signed up for a temporary
library card number online, you do not need to fill out a registration form at
the library to get a permanent library card. Just bring valid
identification showing your current mailing address to any Baltimore County Public Library branch. If you are
17 years of age or under and do not have valid
identification, a parent/guardian must be
present to show a valid picture ID and sign a registration form to allow you to get a
permanent library card.
Your
first permanent library card is free. Once registered, your card can be used at
all Baltimore County Public Library branches.
Other public libraries in Maryland may accept a
permanent Baltimore County Public
Library card, a library card from any
Maryland public library, or a MPOWER CARD for use in
their libraries, subject to their current regulations. Your Baltimore County
Public Library card will need to be registered at
each public
library system before checking out their materials or using their subscription research databases subject to
their current policies and procedures.
What identification do I need to get a Baltimore County Public
Library card or an MPOWER CARD?
Adult, ages 18 years and older,
may be issued a card immediately if:
You have a current Maryland driver's license,
learner's permit, provisional license or
Maryland Motor
Vehicle Administration identification card showing the
same name and address as on the library registration form. A Motor Vehicle
Administration update must
accompany your driver's license or Identification card if there has been a change of
address.
Or, you may present a photo identification card plus one additional piece of
valid identification showing the same name and address as on the registration form.
If the above identification is not available,
you will be mailed an Identification postal which states that it must
be returned to any Baltimore County Public Library Branch within 30 days. You
will need to bring
one piece of valid identification showing both your name and address
with the identification postal. The library
card will be issued when the postal and valid identification is presented.
Examples of valid identification that
can be used along with a photo identification or Identification Postal
- Current vehicle registration
- Current vehicle insurance card
- Official mail, for example utility
bill, bank statement, insurance bill, et cetera,
with postmark not older than one month.
- Lease dated within the last month
- Check book
with printed address
- For children in group homes, verification of identity and
address by the staff of the home is acceptable.
Between the
ages 14 to 17
You may be issued a card immediately
if you have a current Maryland driver's license,
learner's permit, provisional license or
Maryland Motor
Vehicle Administration identification card showing the
same name and address as on the library registration form. A Motor Vehicle
Administration update must
accompany your driver's license or Identification card if there has been a change of
address.
If you have a photo
identification card, you must have one additional piece of valid
identification. The name on the valid identification may be that of a parent or legal guardian and the same address as on the
registration form. You may sign your own library card.
If you are
17 years of age or under and do not have valid
identification, a parent or guardian must be present to show a valid picture ID
and sign a registration form to allow you to get a permanent library card.
Library users between the ages of 14 to 17 must have parental permission to
check out videos, DVDs and
video
games
that are not reviewed for children. A parent or guardian
must authorize at the time of
library card registration whether a child may use his or her library card to
borrow all DVDs, videos and video games or only Juvenile DVDs, videos and video
games. Juvenile DVDs, videos and video games have a J before the call number. The registration form can be
taken home to get the parental authorization and signature for card. If the
parent or guardian does not sign and authorize this permission, only DVDs, videos
and video games having a J before the call number may be borrowed.
Under 14 years old
A parent or legal guardian must be 18 years old or older to apply
for a library card for a child under 14 years of age. The child does not need to
be present.
Children under that age of 18 must have parental permission to check out
videos, DVDs and
video games not reviewed
for children. A parent or guardian must authorize at the time of library card
registration whether a child may use his or her library card to borrow all DVDs, videos
and videogames or only Juvenile DVDs, videos and videogames. Juvenile DVDs, videos
and video games have a J
before the call number. If the
parent or guardian does not sign and authorize this permission, only DVDs,
videos and video games having a J before the call number may be borrowed.
The parent or guardian signing for the card is accepting
financial responsibility for materials borrowed or any charges incurred on a
child's card, and must sign the card before it may be used. The child may
initial or sign the card as well if space permits.
There is a special first library card, the
My First Library
Card, for children from birth to five years. Ask at the Circulation or Borrower
Services Desk at your local
Baltimore County Public
Library branch.
If the parent or legal guardian is present, a card may be
issued immediately if the parent or guardian has
- A current
Maryland driver's license, learner's
permit, provisional license or
Maryland Motor
Vehicle Administration identification card showing the same address as on
the library registration form. A Motor Vehicle Administration update must
accompany your driver's license or Identification card if there has been a
change of address.
- Or, a photo identification card
plus one additional piece of valid identification showing the same name and address as on the registration form.
If the parent or legal guardian does
not have above identification, an Identification postal will be sent in the
child's name, care of the parent. The postal states that it must be returned
within 30 days to any Baltimore County Public Library branch. You will need to
also have one
piece of valid identification having both a parent's name
and address as it appears on the Identification postal.
If a child is accompanied by a non-custodial guardian,
including grandparents, aunts and uncles, adult siblings, foster parents, etc.,
who lives at the same address,
the staff at the Circulation or Borrower Services Desk will provide a registration form. The guardian
must be 18 years old or older. The non-custodial guardian must show identification as noted above that verifies
the address on the registration form. The guardian must sign the child's card.
If a parent, legal guardian or
non-custodial guardian is not
present, the staff at the Circulation or Borrower Services Desk will give the child a registration
form and Parental Permission flyer to take home. When the registration form is
signed by the parent or legal guardian and returned, a library card is issued
and the child can check out two print items. After the library card is signed by
the parent or guardian, the card may be used again without restriction. This
process also applies to a child accompanied by a non-adult sibling, a
babysitter, tutor, etc.
Can I use my
library card from another
Maryland public library systems?
A library card or an
MPOWER CARD from another Maryland public library system
must be registered at the Circulation or Borrower Services Desk at any
Baltimore
County Public Library branch in order to borrow our materials or to use
our subscription research databases. Only if your current library card's
identification number is
not compatible with our circulation software will a new library card need to be
issued. Valid identification is required. Online
registering of another public library's card is not available.
Non-Residents of Maryland
A non-resident is a person who does not live, work, attend
school, or pay taxes in Maryland.
A temporary library e-card number valid for
thirty days is available by registering online for
residents of neighboring states.
A person must
apply for a permanent non-resident card at the Circulation or Borrower Services
Desk at any Baltimore County Public Library branch. A card can be issued immediately if the customer agrees to abide by the rules and regulations of Baltimore
County Public Library,
signs the library card, and has a current out of state driver's license showing the same name and address as on the registration form, or
has photo identification
plus one additional piece of valid identification.
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Does my library card expire? Do I have to renew
my library card?
A temporary Baltimore County Public Library e-card number will
expire 30 days from the date of online registration.
All permanent Baltimore County Public Library cards must be renewed every 3
years.
You must renew your library card at
the Circulation or Borrower Service Desk at
any
Baltimore
County Public Library branch or at any
Mobile Library Services
bookmobile stop. Please bring your current library card and a Maryland Driver's
License or
Maryland Motor Vehicle Administration identification card. A Motor
Vehicle Administration update must accompany your driver's license or
Identification card if there has been a change of address. If identification is unavailable, please bring one of the valid identification
items with your library card.
Online renewal of library
cards is not available.
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Can I
apply for or renew my library card online?
An
Online Sign-Up Form is available for a
temporary Baltimore County Public Library e-card number. An e-card
number can be used immediately but expires in 30 days. Use this
temporary number to:
To check out
material from our library and to use our many other services, you will need
to apply for a permanent library card in-person at
any Baltimore County Public Library branch.
With a temporary
library card number, you do not need to fill out a registration form to get a
permanent library card at
the library. Just bring valid
identification showing your current mailing address. If you are
17 years of age or under and do not have a valid
identification, a parent/guardian must be
present to show a valid picture ID and sign a registration form to allow you to get a
permanent library card.
Online renewal of library cards is not available.
How to renew your
permanent library card.
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What should I do if my name or my
address changed?
Your library card can be corrected in-person or by phone at any
Baltimore
County Public Library branch. Press 3 for library account information.
Unfortunately, an online option is not available at this time.
At your next library visit, you
will need to bring your current library card and a Maryland Driver's
License or
Maryland Motor Vehicle Administration identification card. A Motor
Vehicle Administration update must accompany your driver's license or
Identification card if there has been a change of address. If this
identification is unavailable, please bring one of these valid identification
items with your library card.
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What do I
do if my library card is lost or damaged?
If you lost your
library card, you should report it lost immediately
in-person or by phone at
any Baltimore County Public Library
branch.
Press 3 for library account information.
You are responsible for any items checked out on your library card until it is
reported lost.
To get a replacement card, you will
need to complete a library card application form at the Circulation or Borrower
Services Desk when
you visit the library. You will need valid
identification. Replacement cost for a lost or damaged library card is $2.00.
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What do I
do if my library card was stolen?
If your
library card was stolen, you should report it immediately
in-person or by phone at
any Baltimore County Public Library
branch.
Press 3 for library account information.
You are responsible for any items checked out on your library card until it is
reported stolen.
To get a replacement card, you will need to
complete a library card application form at the Circulation or Borrower Services Desk when you visit
the library and present some valid identification.
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What is an MPOWER CARD?
The MPOWER CARD is a statewide public library card. It
allows holders to check out
materials from any Maryland public library. The MPOWER CARD takes the
place of having multiple library cards.
You will need to
visit any
branch of the public library system that you want to use and have your MPOWER CARD
registered with that library system. Since all public library systems in
Maryland use different circulation systems with their own user database, each library system needs to add
the MPOWER CARD identification number and your name to its user database. Once registered as a user of
that library system, you should be able to check out items from that library
system as well as use most of their subscription research databases.
You are not required to have an MPOWER CARD to borrow
material at another public library system. You can also register your permanent Baltimore
County Public Library card or any library card from another Maryland public library system.
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How many
items may I check out?
- Unlimited: Books,
music CDs, Instructional (non-fiction, twenty-one day) videos or DVDs,
Talking Books on CD (also called Books on CD) and Talking Books on Cassette
(also called Books on Tape).
- Limited:
Entertainment (feature length, two-day) DVDs or videos and Storyville
Collection items are limited to ten (10) per customer. Baby Booster Kits are
limited to three (3) per customer. Video Games are limited to two (2) per
customer.
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How
long can I keep library materials?
Library materials, except
two-day
children's entertainment or feature length
videos and all entertainment or
feature DVDs
geared to adults and children and
all video games, are loaned to you for 21 days. Video games are loaned for 7 days. Most materials can be
renewed one time.
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Where is the due
date for material I checked out?
When you check out, every item you check out
and its due date is listed on a handy
receipt. This timesaver reduces the length of lines and makes check out
quicker for you.
Two-day children's entertainment or feature length
videos and all entertainment or
feature DVDs geared to adults and children
that are checked out on Friday are due at a branch or in a
Book Drop by 5 p.m. on Sunday. Items must be returned by closing time on the due
date to avoid late fines.
You can find out what you have checked out and its due date, as well as renew eligible material,
24 hours a day by calling the SHELF HELP Line at
410-494-9063. Press 2. You will need your library card.
You can get this
information by visiting or phoning any
Baltimore County Public Library
branch. Press 3 for library account information.
To protect the confidentiality of your library
account, you will need your library card
number and you may be asked
additional identification information.
There are several ways to find the
due date of items you borrowed online.
1.
Use this Check Your
Card link or
use the "Check Your Card"
tab at the top of this page or our Home Page. You can also select Card and Catalog from
the left side of this page or our Home Page and then click on "Check
Your Card". From the
BCPL Catalog,
select the "My Account" tab at the top of the page.
2. Enter the validation information
requested to see a Patron Information Summary screen of your account.
Enter the 14 digit number on your library card without spaces.
If your validation
information is not accepted, visit or phone any
Baltimore County Public Library branch and explain the problem.
Press 3 for library account information. Staff can check the information
attached to your card.
To protect the confidentiality of your library
account, you will need your library card
number and you may be
asked additional identification information.
3. Click
on the "Checked out" link on the Patron Information Summary page. This will take
you to a list of all the items currently checked out on your card.
The due date appears on the Checked Out Summary screen. Click on each linked
title for additional information about that item.
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Can I return items to another Baltimore County
Public Library branch?
Yes, you can return Baltimore
County Public Library materials
to any
Baltimore County Public Library branch. All branches except the Loch Raven
Library have a Book Drop. Items must be returned by closing time on the due
date to avoid late fines.
Two-day children's entertainment or feature length
videos and all entertainment or
feature DVDs geared to adults and children
checked out on Friday are due at a branch or in a
Book Drop by 5 p.m. on Sunday.
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Can I return items to another
Maryland public library system than Baltimore County Public Library?
Yes,
all public
library systems accept materials borrowed from any Maryland public library
systems for return subject to that library's current fines and fees, policies and
procedures. It is recommended that you ask for a receipt showing what you
returned and what fines were paid, if any. Since the item must be sent from the other library system back to
Baltimore County Public Library before it can actually be checked in as
returned, your library account may reflect that delivery delay.
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How do I
find out what I checked out, reserved, or have overdue? Can I review my
fines and fees?
You can obtain this
information by visiting or phoning any
Baltimore County Public Library
branch. Press 3 for library account information.
To protect the confidentiality of your library
account, you will need your library card
number and you may be asked
additional identification information.
You can also get this information by calling our
SHELF HELP Line at 410-494-9063,
Press 2. You will need your library card to get to your account information.
There are several online options for checking your library account.
1.
Use this Check Your
Card link or
use the "Check Your Card"
tab at the top of this page or our Home Page. You can also select Card and Catalog from
the left side of this page or our Home Page and then click on "Check
Your Card". From the
BCPL Catalog,
select the "My Account" tab at the top of the page.
2. Enter the validation information
requested. Enter the 14 digit number on your card without spaces.
If your validation information is
not accepted, visit or phone a
Baltimore County Public Library branch and explain the problem. Press 3 for
library account information. Staff can check the information attached to your
card and assist you with your library record. To protect the
confidentiality of your library account, you will need your library card
number and you may be asked
additional identification information.
3. Click
on the "Checked out" link on the Patron Information Summary page. This will take
you to a list of all the items currently checked out on your card.
The Checked Out Summary screen gives you the due date of all items you borrowed.
Click on the linked titles for more information on that title.
4. From the Patron Information Summary
page you will also be able to:
- Use the Holds hyperlink to check if you have already
reserved a title.
- Use the Holds hyperlink to check the status of items you have
placed on reserve.
- Use the Holds hyperlink to
cancel a reserve you no longer want.
- From the Checked Out hyperlink, review items already
checked out to you.
- Use the Checked Out hyperlink to
renew eligible
items. If items are overdue, appropriate
fines will be assessed to your
account. Not all items can
be renewed.
- Review any
overdue items or
lost items. Items automatically
are set lost when they are 28 days or
more overdue.
- Use the Fines hyperlink to review any
fines or fees attached to your
record. You may have returned the item after its due date and late fees were
owed.
Customers receive
notification of
reserves, also called
holds, that can be picked up, of overdue
items, late fines and
fees
attached to their library account and materials automatically set as
lost.
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What is
the SHELF HELP Line automated service, and what can I do if it's not working?
Baltimore County Public Library's
automated phone service, SHELF HELP Line, allows you to get the following information
about your library account or to renew items
by dialing 410-494-9063 on a touch-tone phone. You will need your library card
identification number.
Press 1
For library information such as branch hours, addresses, phone numbers, and
holiday closings.
Press 2
To Check Your Library Card and for information about your library
account's status. Here you can find out if your card is in good standing. This is
the only place you can go to hear how much you owe us in dollars. See
information on fines and
fees.
Press 5
To go directly to Renewals. This feature allows you to renew items
already checked out to you. You can renew all checked out items or only one item
from a list of what you have checked out. Renewed items will be due three weeks
from the original due date.
Not all material can be
renewed. Items eligible for renewal may be renewed one time only.
If the item is overdue, fines will be added to your account.
Press 6
To check on Reserved Items. You will need your library card number. This
will tell you which of your reserves, called holds, are available for pick up or
still waiting to be filled.
For all menus, press *, the asterisk
symbol, to return to the previous menu.
If for any reason the SHELF HELP Line is not working, it is the customer's
responsibility to
visit or
phone a
branch library to renew their materials.
Press 3 for library account information.
To protect the confidentiality of your library
account, you will need your library card
number and you may be asked
additional identification information.
You can use Baltimore County Public Library's
Home Page to access your library card and library
account information and to renew items online as well.
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