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FAQs

Also known as Frequently Asked Questions.

If you don't find the answer to your question here, please call the Library at 826-3712, or send an email.

Library Hours

Monday - Thursday     9:00 a.m. - 8:00 p.m.
Friday and Saturday    9:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.
Sunday                     1:30 p.m. - 5:00 p.m.

The Library is closed the following days:
Easter Sunday, Memorial Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, Boxing Day (the day after Christmas), New Year's Eve, and New Year's Day

The Library may be closed additional days throughout the year as are necessary. Other closings will be publicized on this website and through the local media.

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How to get a library card

Library cards are free to any resident or non-resident property owner in Henderson County, and are issued immediately to patrons with proper identification. Library cards with full borrowing privileges are issued in person only. You may register for a library card online to use services in the library's Research Center (must live in the library's service area as defined below). All persons wishing to apply for a library card must be at least 18 years of age and must be legally responsible for themselves. Please bring the following to the library:

Children must be at least 5 years old to receive a library card. Those who are 5 years old to 17 years old, or those not legally responsible for themselves, may apply but must be accompanied to the Library by a parent or legal guardian in order to obtain a library card. The parent or legal guardian will need to take responsibility for the applicant and sign a statement to that effect in addition to providing proof of residency if they do not have a library card themselves. They will also be required to verify to the Library staff's satisfaction that they are the parent or legal guardian of the applicant. The parent or legal guardian will be assuming liability for the applicant. Exceptions to this may occur in the case of legally emancipated minors (under age 18) or married minors (under age 18) upon the presentation of proper documentation.

The library has a large collection of videos and DVDs. Patrons must be at least 16 years old to check out these items. Patrons that are 16-17 years of age must have written consent of a parent or legal guardian in order to check out videos or DVDs.

People who do not live or own property in Henderson County, Kentucky, may apply for a library card if they live or work within the library's service area. The library's service area includes western Kentucky, southern Indiana, and southern Illinois. These people may obtain a non-resident library card with full library privileges by supplying valid identification and paying a $25.00 annual out-of-county library card fee. The library cannot issue or renew library cards for people who live outside of Henderson County or its surrounding service area for the sole purpose of accessing resources in the Research Center. The library's contracts with those resource providers do not allow the library to "sell" library cards to people outside its service area for the express purpose of accessing the resources.

Professional Courtesy library cards are issued to teachers and other educators working in Henderson County. These cards offer extended borrowing periods and are intended to be used to checkout materials for classroom instruction only. There is no charge for these cards. View the Library's Professional Courtesy Card Policy.

Internet Courtesy library cards are issued to non-resident patrons who would like to use the Internet at the Library but not checkout materials or use the Library's online Research Center. There is no charge for these cards.

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If your card is lost or stolen

Please contact the Library immediately. Your account will be flagged so that anyone who finds your card cannot use it to check out materials. You will be held financially responsible for all items checked out on your card if you fail to notify the Library that your card has been lost or stolen. The library can issue you a replacement library card when you provide valid photo identification. The library will issue the first replacement card free of charge, however, subsequent replacement cards will cost $5.

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Borrowing limits

Patrons with valid library cards may checkout 12 books, 4 videocassettes, 8 DVDs, 4 books on tape, 4 books on compact disc, and 4 music compact discs at one time. Patrons may not check out more than 4 books on any single subject at the same time.

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Borrowing periods

Books, books on tape, books on compact disc, and music on compact disc may be checked out for 3 weeks. Videos and DVDs may be checked out for 3 days.

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Overdue fine rates

Overdue fines are $0.10 per item per day for the following items: books, books on tape, books on compact disc, and music on compact disc. Overdue fines are $1.00 per item per day for the following items: videos and DVDs.

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If you lose library materials

When a patron loses an item, the Library will charge the patron for the retail price of the item. However, the Library gives patrons an opportunity to continue to look for the item(s) before paying the lost charges. Oftentimes library materials thought lost will reappear after a few weeks. At that time, we ask that patrons bring in the item(s) and pay the overdue fine.

If patrons have significant fines, they may still check out items from the Library if they pay at least 20% of the total fine each time they checkout.

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Renewing library materials

Most items may be renewed for up to two additional loan periods. Items that are on reserve for other patrons may not be renewed. Items that are more than 2 days overdue may be renewed if you bring the items to the library and pay the accrued fines. You may renew items while visiting the Library, by phone, or by using the Library's online catalog, Pac, to access your account.

You may renew items by phone before or on their due date or 1-2 days past the due date provided the items are not on reserve for other patrons. When you call the Library to renew your items, the staff person will ask you for your library card number. This number is only on your library card, it is not on your receipt, so please have your library card ready when you call. If you are under 13 and your library card is at the Library, the staff person will look up your library card number for you.

You may renew items online using Pac, the Library's online catalog. Simply click on the My Account link on the Library's main page at www.hcpl.org. Enter your library barcode number, a 14-digit number on the back of your library card, and your password (contact the Library at 826-3712 if you do not know your password). You can then view the items you have checked out. Select the item you would like to renew by checking the box next to the item, then click the "Renew" button at the bottom of the screen. If the item is not more than 2 days overdue or reserved for another patron, it will be renewed for another loan period. You will be able to tell the item renewed by looking at its due date. If the item is overdue a late fee will be applied to your account.

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Reserving materials

If an item you are wanting is checked out, you may place a hold to reserve the item. You may do this in several ways. But before you place a hold, please read this important announcement first.

When the item is available for checkout, you will receive either a phone call, email, or letter notifying you that your item is in and that you have 2 days to pick it up at the circulation desk. You can set your notification preference by calling the Library.

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Requesting materials

There are two ways that you may request material that the library does not own. You may either request that an item be purchased and added to the library’s collection or you may request an item from another library via Interlibrary Loan.

If you want to make a suggestion for purchase, please speak with a staff member or complete the online Request Form. The Library Director reviews all requests and makes purchasing decisions in accordance with the Material's Selection Policy. If an item is purchased, you will be notified by phone or email when it is available to be checked out. You will also be notified if the item is not going to be purchased at which time you may request it via Interlibrary Loan.

There is no charge to borrow material from another library in Kentucky. However, patrons who borrow material from a library out of state will be asked to pay any necessary postage for returning the item(s) back to the lending library. If you would like to borrow an item through Interlibrary Loan, please speak to the Interlibrary Loan Librarian, or fill out our online form.

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Text Messages

The Library offers text message notification for holds in addition to other types of notification. By supplying a mobile number to the Library, you authorize the Library to send text messages, and the Library is not responsible for text messaging fees. To sign up for text messages, please follow the instructions below:

  1. Go to http://explore.hcpl.org.
  2. Click on the My Account tab.
  3. Log into your account by typing your barcode and password and pressing the Log In button.
  4. Click on the Contact Information and references section.
  5. Type your full cell phone number into the three boxes under the Mobile phone label.
  6. Select your cell phone carrier from the Carrier drop-down menu.
  7. Click on the Submit Change Request button.

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Returning items when the Library is closed

You may return all items, including books, videos, DVDs, books on tape, books on compact disc, or music compact discs to the Library 24 hours a day, 7 days a week by using the Drop Slot located in the wall of the library building, to the right of the main entrance on Washington Street.

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Reserving a meeting room

The Library has 2 meeting rooms which may be used for meetings or programs by organizations whose membership is open to the public. An adult or adults must be present and in charge at all times. No games or activities will be permitted which will damage the grounds, building or equipment.

Reservations may be arranged by calling or stopping by the Library. A Meeting Room Reservation Form must be completed by the group's representative. The Director of the Library makes the final decision on all scheduled meetings. Click here to read the Meeting Room Policy. The Meeting Room Reservation Form may be be downloaded (requires Acrobat Reader), but must be mailed, faxed, or hand-delivered to the Library.

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Pac – the Library's online catalog

The Library's online catalog, Pac, is a user-friendly, graphical interface for searching and reviewing patron records. Patrons with access to a personal computer with Internet access can connect directly to Pac any time, day or night from the library's website at www.hcpl.org. This convenient feature allows you search the library database and conduct business with the library from the comfort of your own home or office, 24 hours a day! You may search for items in the catalog, place holds on items and check your personal library record.

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Internet use at the library

The Library provides Internet use for the public in the Adult Computer Lab and the Children's Computer Lab. Patrons 8 years of age or older with a valid library card may use the Internet terminals in the Adult Computer Lab. Patrons who do not have a valid library card or are under the age of 8 years may access the Internet in the Children's Computer Lab. All patrons accessing the Internet in the Adult Computer Lab must sign and agree to abide by an Internet Computer Network Acceptable Use Policy. Patrons under the age of 18 must have a parent or legal guardian sign the Internet Computer Network Acceptable Use Policy before using the Internet in the Adult Computer Lab.

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Computer and Internet classes

The Library currently offers a wide range of hands-on computer and technology classes for all ages and abilities. The schedule changes monthly so click here for the class schedule and to register. You may also register by calling 826-3712 or by visiting the library. You may also want to check out other local classes available through the Henderson Community College.

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Children's programming

The Library offers programs for preschool children throughout the year, a summer reading program for children in grades 1-8, and programs for children of all ages during school intercessions. Visit the Children's Services page for more information.

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Discarded materials

The Library maintains a sale table year-round for discarded materials and equipment. Items that are withdrawn from the Library's collection are placed on the sale table, as well as donated items that cannot be used by the Library. Occasionally the Library will sell used computer equipment as well. Most books and magazines can be bought off of the sale table for as little as $0.25.

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Research by librarians

The Library has professional Reference Librarians on staff to help you with your information needs. The Reference Department is stocked with many current resources in the areas of medicine, finances (investing, taxes, etc.), car buying, legal and government (Kentucky Revised Statutes), careers, literature, and biography. The Reference Department also houses numerous general and specialized encyclopedias and dictionaries, telephone books from major metropolitan areas in the United States, and state, local, and nationwide maps and atlases. If you need reference assistance, please call the Library or email the reference librarians. Research fees may apply.

The Library has a Genealogy/Local History Archivist on staff to assist patrons with family and local history research. The Library collection includes many resources about the history of Kentucky and Henderson County, as well as surrounding counties. Many resources are also devoted to the genealogy of families in Henderson and Kentucky. To inquire about information in the library's collection, patrons may call the Library, email the Genealogy/Local History Archivist, or fill out the Genealogy Research Request Form. Research fees may apply. Please read our Genealogy and Local History Research Policy for more information. To learn more about the Library's collection and access online resources, visit the Genealogy and Local History web page.

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