Library Cards
Library cards are free to residents and taxpayers of Belfast, the children of Waldo County 18 years of age and younger. Others may purchase a card for an annual fee of $35.00. Seasonal cards good for six months may be purchased for $20.00. To apply for a library card one must present a valid ID and proof of residency. We only take cash or check for payment.
Circulation Policies:
Borrowing Periods: All Books, Audio books, DVDs and magazines check out for 3 weeks.
Borrowing Limits: 25 total items per card; with limits of: 5 DVDs, 5 Audio books and 5 new books per card.
Renewals
You may renew items yourself by using our online catalog (MINERVA), or you may renew items at the front desk or by phone. If you renew by phone, please be prepared to give us your library barcode number. As long as there are no reserves on an item, it may be renewed up to three times.
Requests, Reserves, and Interlibrary Loan
Any item that can be checked out at the Belfast Free Library or any of the other libraries in the MINERVA or MaineInfoNet systems may be placed on reserve by library cardholders from our online catalog. On finding the title that you want, click on the REQUEST button and submit the required information. If you are not familiar with the online catalog or the requesting procedures, feel free to contact library staff for assistance.
You will be notified by phone or e-mail when the item is available and will have one week to pick it up. There is no charge for reserves or interlibrary loans. Items borrowed from other libraries may be renewed one time for two weeks if there are no reserves on the item.
Patrons may request that a title be purchased for the library’s collection by completing a “Request for Purchase” card at the Main Circulation Desk. The request will be carefully considered and the patron notified of the purchase decision in a timely manner.
Overdue Materials
A fine of 10 cents per day overdue is charged on all items except juvenile material. Overdue fines are not charged for items from the children’s collection. Sundays and holidays are not counted as days overdue.
Patrons will be notified by mail or e-mail when they have overdue items. Replacement charges will be assessed for items that are not returned.
Return of Materials
Please return borrowed items at either the Main Desk located on the First Floor or, for after hours return, at the book drops located at the front entrance of the Library. (Please note the separate slot for video returns.)