Borrowing Policies

Services

Get a Card

  • You must be a resident of West Hartford
  • You must present a valid form of identification with your name and current address (driver’s license, checkbook, cancelled mail, or see a librarian for additional forms of verification)
Apply for a West Hartford Public Library Card
Student Residents

Student residents living in West Hartford may apply for a card one semester at a time with a student ID and proof of residence. Cards are valid only while attending school in West Hartford.

Non-Residents

Material may be borrowed with a hometown library card from any public library in Connecticut. West Hartford residents may use their cards at any public library in Connecticut. Most borrowed items may be returned to any Connecticut public library.

Renew Your Card / Replace a Lost Card

Library cards are valid for 3 years. Your card can be renewed at any customer service desk with your photo ID (required) which displays your West Hartford address. There is a $1.00 fee for the replacement of a lost card.

Loan Periods

Rapid Reads1 week
DVDs/Blu-Rays (entertainment & children’s)1 week
Adult & Teen Magazines1 week
NEW Adult Fiction & Non-Fiction2 weeks
Music CDs3 weeks
DVDs/Blu-Rays (instructional/educational)3 weeks
Adult Books3 weeks
Audio Books3 weeks
Children’s Books, Magazines & Realia3 weeks
Computer software (CD-ROM, DVD-ROM, USB)3 weeks
Day Care Loans (Licensed)3 weeks
*Rapid Reads Best Sellers go out for 1 week only. There are no holds, no renewals; $1-a-day late fines and a limit of 3 Rapid Reads per person.

Renew Materials

Materials may be renewed twice if there are no reserves on them. You may renew in person, over the phone, or through the online catalog with a library card.

  • Click on Login at the top right of the page
  • Enter your Library Card # and Pin
  • After logged in, click your name at the top right of the page
  • Select items to renew by clicking in check boxes to the left of title
  • Click on Renew Marked
  • Click Yes on the next screen to complete renewal
  • Note which items have been renewed

Note: You can set or reset your Pin # in person or through the online catalog.

Place Holds

The fastest and easiest way to place a hold on an item is through our online catalog.

  • Search for the item in the WHPL Catalog
  • Select Request it button on desired item
  • Log into your account (see above)
  • Select the specific library item you’d like (if applicable)
  • Select the pickup branch
  • If you have a specific date you need the item by, check the Deadline box and enter the deadline date (note: if you do not receive a hold by this date, your request will be deleted)
  • Click Submit

Note: There is a maximum of 25 holds per library card.

To place a hold by phone, call:
Faxon 860-561-8202
Bishops Corner 860-561-8212
Noah Webster 860-561-6990

You can also place holds in person when we are open by filling out a reserve card at one of our libraries.

Pick Up Holds

Materials on hold in the adult department of each library are shelved in a self-service location near the Circulation Desk for patrons to pick up directly.

To protect patron privacy, items will be shelved alphabetically using a unique code: the first 3 letters of your last name & the first letter of your first name, plus the last 4 digits of your library card number. Example: SMI, K 6789

After picking up your hold, you may check out your materials using our Self Checkout stations, or wait in line at the desk for a staff person to check you out.

Interlibrary Loan

Materials not owned by WHPL may be requested by calling the Information Desk at 860-561-6990. For more information on our Interlibrary loan service, click HERE.

Check Your Patron Record

  • Access the WHPL Catalog
  • Select Login at the top right of the page
  • Enter Library Card # and Pin #
  • After logged in, click on your name at the top right of the page
  • Encore will display all current materials checked out

Change Your Address/Phone/Email

You can only change your email address through our website. To update this, log into My Account and select Edit Account. If you need to update your address or telephone number, please contact the circulation department at 860-561-6960 during normal library hours.

Pay Fines Online

  • Go to My Account
  • Select Login at the top right of the page
  • Enter Library Card # and Pin
  • After you’re logged in, click on your name at the top right of the page
  • Encore will display your fines on the left-hand side of the screen
  • Click on $ in Unpaid Fines and Bills
  • Click on Pay Online
  • Select the items you wish to pay for and then enter your billing address and credit card information
  • Click Submit
  • Verify info is correct and click Submit again

Fines and Fees

Overdue Fines

$.15 per day for all materials
$1.00 per day for overdue Rapid Reads
Borrowing privileges will be suspended if one accrues fines in excess of $25.00

Library Cards

$1.00 charge for replacing a lost card
Out-of-state borrower’s card: $20 refundable deposit

Lost or Damaged Materials

Charge for replacement cost, plus overdue fines, plus $2.00 processing fee for paperbacks and magazines
$5.00 processing fee for hardback books, CD’s, DVD’s, audio books and videos

Copying

Photocopy: $.10/page
Computer printout: $.10/page black & white
$.25/page color