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<< Policies Summary: Requirements for obtaining and maintaining an Omaha Public Library card. All applicants who wish check-out privileges will need to provide photo ID and current address verification. You may Register for a library card online in either English or Spanish - Not for Lost/Stolen Cards Residents of Douglas County If you are a resident of Valley, Waterloo, Bennington or Ralston or anywhere in un-incorporated Douglas County, just bring in a photo ID and address verification. Who can get a library card? Anyone who lives or owns property within the boundaries of Douglas County or anyone who has a business within the boundaries of Douglas County is eligible to receive an Omaha Public Library card without cost. A mailing address of Omaha, Nebraska is not sufficient to determine eligibility for free privileges. The resident address of the applicant or the property/business owned by the applicant must be within Douglas County for free library privileges. Funding for the Omaha Public Library is supported by the taxpayers of Douglas County only. The Omaha Public Library also has reciprocal borrowing agreements with the Lincoln City Libraries and the Council Bluffs Public Library. Cardholders in good standing with those library systems may apply for reciprocal privileges with the Omaha Public Library, and cardholders in good standing with the Omaha Public Library may apply for reciprocal privileges with those library systems. All applicants who wish full library privileges must provide photo identification and current street address verification. Verification of a post office box in Omaha is not sufficient proof of residency. (See “Forms of acceptable identification” section below.) You may register for a library card on line in either English or Spanish, if you are a resident of Douglas County. (Do not use the online form to register if your library card has been lost or stolen. Do not use the online application if you wish to purchase a non-resident membership. See instructions below.) Lost or Stolen Library Cards Lost or stolen library cards must be reported immediately in person or by telephone to prevent unauthorized use or access. Patrons are responsible for all use of their library cards and all items checked out on their accounts. Lost or stolen library cards can be replaced with photo identification at any Omaha Public Library location. A patron is allowed three free replacements per year, after which a fee of $2.00 per card is assessed. Homebound Program If you have a physical impairment which prohibits you from visiting the library, you may be eligible for the Library Homebound Program. To apply, please call the Circulation Department at 402-444-4809 or 402-444-4806. Once you are registered in the Homebound Program, you may order any materials that the library circulates by calling the Library Information Desk at 402-444-4800. The library will mail the items to you with a receipt showing the date by which the items should be returned. A return mailing label will be enclosed for your convenience. Simply seal the items back in the same padded envelope in which they were delivered and tape the Omaha Public Library address label over your address on the envelope. Your postal carrier will deliver them back to the library free of charge. Homebound customers are not charged fines if the items arrive late. However, homebound customers are responsible for paying fees for lost or damaged items. Non-Douglas County residents Anyone who does not live in Douglas County and is not eligible for reciprocal privileges can purchase a non-resident membership which entitles each member of a household to library privileges for the amount of time purchased: 4 months/$25 12 months/$75 Please register in person at any one of the Omaha Public Library locations. Each household member must be present to receive his/her library card. If you reside outside of traveling distance to the Omaha Public Library and wish to purchase a non-resident membership, please call 402-444-4874 for assistance. If you do not wish to purchase a non-resident membership, your home library system may be able to order Omaha Public Library items for you through your library’s inter-library loan system. You will need to check with your home library system to see if this service is available. These locations (with the exception of Baright) consider borrowing items from Omaha Public Library to be Interlibrary Loan. You may choose to wait for the items to be delivered to your local library or arrange to pick them up at any OPL location. Valley Public Library 210 N. Locust Street Valley, NE 68064 402-358-2251 Waterloo Public Library 205 Washington Street Waterloo, NE 68069 402-799-4171 Baright Public Library 5555 S. 77 Street Ralston NE 68127 402-331-7636 Bennington Public Library 15505 Warehouse Street Bennington , NE 68007 402-238-2201 Forms of acceptable identification (Photo ID required for check-out privileges):
Library cards for resident adults and juveniles are renewable every two years. At the time of account renewal, the patron must appear in person and re-verify all account information with proper documentation, as well as pay any fines/fees due. A parent can show identification and address verification for his/her child, but the child must also be present to renew the child's account. **Checkout privileges are suspended if a patron owes more than $10.00 or has more than 10 items overdue. All fees due should be paid in full at the time of library card renewal. However, if you cannot pay your balance in full, we will be happy to set up a monthly payment plan for you. An initial payment of 10% of the total amount due is required to begin a monthly payment plan. What is a PIN? PIN stands for Personal Identification Number. Each patron selects that four-digit number when he/she registers for a library card. If you do not know or cannot remember your PIN, photo identification must be provided to library staff in order to reset your PIN. A PIN cannot be disclosed, changed or added by telephone. A patron can change his/her PIN on line if the patron knows the current PIN. Library staff can only reset a patron’s PIN if the patron appears in person with photo identification. Why do I need a PIN? The PIN acts as a security feature. Library records are confidential by law in the State of Nebraska. A PIN allows a patron to quickly and easily access information about his/her library account over the telephone and over the Internet. The PIN is also required to gain computer access at the library. It is the patron’s responsibility to change the PIN and/or report a lost or stolen library card immediately if the patron wishes to restrict access to the account. Remember... A PIN cannot be disclosed, changed or added over the phone. A PIN can only be changed in person and current identification must be provided. In addition, it is the patron's responsibility to change the PIN or declare his/her card lost if he/she wishes to restrict access to his/her account. |
