Services

Fines

Fines are charged for overdue materials based upon the current fee schedule.

Rates

• Fines for overdue library materials are $.20 per item, per day.
• Fines per item will accumulate to a maximum of the item cost or $5.00, whichever is lower.

Four-day grace period

• If overdue items are returned before the fifth day overdue, the patron will not be fined for the first four days.

Maximum fines

• Patrons may continue to check out library materials until they have accumulated $15.00 in fines.
• Once a patron accumulates $15.00 in fines, library privileges will not be permitted until fines are brought below $15.00.

I live or own property within the city limits of Albany

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I live outside the city limits of Albany

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I live outside the city limits of Albany, but I have a valid library card from another city in Oregon

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I live outside the city limits of Albany, but I only want to use the public use computers

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I need to renew my card

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I would like a library card for my school, business, or agency.

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Interlibrary Loan (ILL) requests

Items not owned by the Albany Public Library may be requested from another institution by submitting an Interlibrary Loan (ILL) request.

For each ILL request, there is a nonrefundable $3.00 fee.  Although the Library will make every effort to fill your request, there is no guarantee that it will be possible to do so.  Please allow 1 to 3 weeks for requests to be filled.

You must have an Albany Public Library card to request an item through Interlibrary Loan. Passport, Linn Library Consortium, GAPS cardholders are not eligible for ILL

For more information, or to submit an ILL request, please visit the Reference desk or call 541-917-7582.

Internet Acceptable Use Policy

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Library Rules of Conduct

It is the Library’s mission to provide free and easy access to its facilities, resources, and services for all people of Albany.  To this end, the Library has established rules of conduct that promote a safe, comfortable, healthy, and barrier-free environment.  Library staff shall make every effort to apply these rules in a fair, humane, and positive manner for the benefit of all.  The Rules of Conduct cover activities inside and outside the Library building, including the Library grounds and parking lots.  We ask your cooperation in maintaining an environment conducive to enjoyable use of the Library for all.

While at the Library we encourage you to:

1. Ask for help when you need it.
2. Give us your suggestions about how we can improve our services, collections, and facilities.
3. Enjoy the time you spend here.
4. Have the expectation of reasonable privacy to read, view, and listen to library materials.

So that everyone may have a safe and enjoyable experience, the following are prohibited:

1. Using E-Cigarettes/vaporizing/ smoking on either Library property. This includes inside vehicles. (Per City Council Policy updated October 12, 2016.)
2. Using tobacco or Marijuana products in the Library or near the front door. Use may include:  chewing, spitting, etc.
3. Eating – except in approved areas by authorized groups.
4. Sleeping, loitering, or lying on the floor.
5. Being in the Library without shoes, shirts, or other appropriate clothing. Children too young to     walk do not need shoes.
6. Violating other user’s expectation of reasonable privacy.
7. Bringing pets or other animals, except service animals, into the Library.
8. Bathing or washing clothes.
9. * Being under the influence of, consuming, or possessing alcohol or illegal substances
10. Leaving children ten years and younger unattended.
11. *Bringing into the Library anything that is unsafe, including firearms or other weapons, unless the individual is licensed to carry a firearm, or anything that creates an obstacle or takes up seating, including bicycles, carts, or large backpacks.
12. Running.
13. Talking or playing audio equipment at a volume that disturbs others.
14. *Being disruptive, disorderly, or harassing patrons and/or staff or otherwise interfering with any person’s comfort or safety.
15. Cell phone use in the Library.
16. Disturbing others because of poor personal hygiene.
17. Conducting surveys or distributing printed material.
18. Panhandling or soliciting for sales or charity.
19. *Destroying, defacing, or abusing Library property.

In addition to the above, violation of any federal or state statute or local ordinance will be regarded as a violation of Library rules.  The City of Albany reserves the right to eject or refuse further admission to those individuals who violate Library rules, create disorder, or engage in illegal activity, immediately and may have violators trespassed for one month, six months, or a year at both Library locations. The Library’s procedure, in most cases, will consist of a verbal warning first, but conduct listed under numbers 9., 11., 14, and 19., may immediately warrant a year trespass. Violators are subject to arrest for trespass under Section 7.40.040 of the Albany Municipal Code.  These sanctions are not exclusive and any other remedies available by law or equity to obtain compliance with these rules will be pursued. Patrons may appeal their trespass to the Library Board. The trespass will remain in effect during the appeal process.

Linn Library Consortium

Click here to learn more about the Linn Library Consortium

Loan Periods

Meeting Rooms

The Albany Public Library is pleased to make available to not-for-profit, noncommercial, nonsectarian, and nonpolitical organizations meeting room facilities.

Meeting room (Main Library)

• The meeting room is available to groups for educational, civic, and cultural functions that are open to the public and free of charge.
• The room has a maximum capacity for 312.
• Meetings must begin during regular Library hours and must be scheduled in advance.
• The meeting room at the Main Library has 26 tables and 100 chairs that a group may organize as they choose. Organizations using the room are responsible to re-stack tables and chairs after each meeting.
• Projection and sound systems are available within the room.
• There is a small kitchenette for preparing and serving refreshments. Groups are responsible for clean up and any extra costs associated with unanticipated maintenance necessitated as a result of their meeting.
• Reservations are necessary and may be made by contacting the Main Library at 541-917-7590.
• Facility Use Policy
• Facility Use Agreement
• Meeting Room AV

Study rooms (Main Library)

• The Main Library also has study rooms that may be scheduled or used on an as-available basis.
• The rooms will comfortably accommodate one to four individuals.
• Check at the Reference Desk for more information, or call 541-917-7582.

Other options

Sometimes it is difficult to find a space to conduct a meeting. The following locations are known to accommodate groups in search of a space. Each hosting location will have its own policies regarding hours, costs, and services. Please make local inquiry.

Meeting Room List

Photography Policy

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Public Use Computers

The Albany Public Library provides computers for Public Use, as well as Wi-Fi connectivity.

• Wireless Access is available within the Albany Public Library. There is no charge and there is no password. The network will appear as COA. Wireless users are expected to comply with the Rules of Conduct and Acceptable Use.
• Public Use computers have a limit of  one hour/day – Main Library or Downtown Library
• The cost of black and white copies is $.15. Color copies are $.50.
• It is against Library Policy to display obscene materials; ORS 167.060 ~ 167.100
• Failure to comply with the Acceptable Use Policy will result in immediate loss of computer use privileges for 30 days or longer.
• Library Rules of Conduct and Acceptable Use

Renewing items

• Renewals may be requested at the Circulation Desk in the Library, over the telephone, or through the “My Account” feature in the Catalog.
• Items may be renewed two times for their normal checkout period.
• The renewal period begins on the day the item is renewed.
• No item with an outstanding reserve may be renewed.
• No item overdue more than seven days can be renewed except when searching for a lost item.
• Nonrenewable items must be reshelved before they can be checked out again.

Renewing items online

• Login to your library account using your library card number and birth date as shown, and click “LOG IN.” (need help?)
• Click on the “Items Checked Out” tab.
• Click on the box to the left of each title you wish to renew.
• At the top of the list of your checkouts, click the “Go” button next to the “Renew Selected Titles” drop down menu. A pop-up message will appear asking if you’re sure you want to renew; select “OK” or cancel.
• A message will appear at the top of the list of check-outs stating how many items were successfully renewed, and/or how many items failed to renew (in red).

Request a Library Card

• Request a Library Card

Study Room Policy

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Suggest an item for purchase

The Library welcomes suggestions for the collection.  Patrons with a valid Albany Public Library card may submit purchase requests online.  While we would like to be able to accommodate all requests for purchase, we are limited by budget constraints, item availability, and the Library’s policy for collection development.

All new items may be requested within 2 months of publication date.

If the library purchases your request, you will be placed on the Holds list for the item.

In the 2019-2021 biennium city budget, our collection budget – from which we buy the books, DVDs, magazines, newspapers, and more – dropped by 70% in 2019-2020 and by 100% in 2020-2021. Starting in July 2020, no city money is available for purchasing these items. We will rely entirely on fundraising to purchase all library items.

To comment on city budget cuts, contact your city councilors. For more information on the city budget process, visit the City of Albany Budget Committee website.

If you are interested in helping support the library during these difficult budget years, please visit our website’s Support Your Library page to find out how. We appreciate your support!

Terms and Conditions

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Test Proctoring

The Albany Public Library offers test proctoring services to patrons with a current Albany Public Library card.  If a student does not live within the Albany city limits the student will need to purchase a $50 nonresident card before the Library can administer proctoring services.  (Oregon Library Passport cards cannot be used for test proctoring.)  The student needs to make an appointment to take the test – any open hours are suitable, as long as the student will have time to complete the test before the Library closes.

For more information or to make an appointment please call the Reference Desk at 541-917-7582 or email: libraryproctor@cityofalbany.net

Unattended Children Policy

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Vacation loans

Vacation loan periods may be requested at the time of checkout and they are double the usual loan period. Items that normally check out for one week will be checked out for two weeks, and items that normally check out for three weeks will be checked out for six weeks.

Call or e-mail us for an extended loan – 541-917-7581.