Loan Policies and Services
of Skokie Public Library
| Loan periods | Lost materials |
| Loan limits | Lost Library cards |
| Renewals | Material barcodes |
| Reserves | Interlibrary loan |
| Non-Skokie residents | Library Express |
| Extended loan fees | LINKin |
Loan Periods
- Books, audiobooks, Playaway Digital Players, CDs, CD-ROMs, audiovisual kits, puppet/book sets, maps, and pamphlets: Three (3) weeks
- New adult books and new travel books: Two (2) weeks
- "Most Wanted" books, DVDs, Blu-rays, videotapes, video games, comic books, and magazines: One (1) week
- Browsing paperbacks: Six (6) weeks
Loan Limits
- "Most Wanted" books: Limit of two (2) per Skokie resident cardholder
- Puppet/book sets: Limit of two (2) per Skokie resident cardholder
- Video games: Limit of one (1) per Skokie resident cardholder
- CD-ROMs: Limit of five (5) per Skokie resident cardholder
- Magazines: Limit of ten (10) per title
- CDs: No limit
- "Hot Pick" DVDs: Limit of two (2) per Skokie resident cardholder
- DVDs: Limit of ten (10)
- Blu-rays: Limit of ten (10) per Skokie resident cardholder; not available to reciprocal cardholders
- Videotapes: No limit
- Playaway Digital Players: Limit of two (2) per Skokie resident cardholder; not available to reciprocal cardholders
Renewals
All books (except Most Wanted and six-week browsing paperbacks), compact discs, Playaway Digital Players and audiobooks may be renewed twice if they have not been requested by another person. Nonfiction DVDs, Blu-rays and videotapes may be renewed once if they have not been requested by another person. Other materials may not be renewed.
- With a touchtone phone, you may renew titles from home. Have your library card and materials (with their barcodes) ready when you dial 847.673.2675. An automated voice will give you instructions. The system will advise you if an item is non-renewable. Please listen for new due dates.
- You may also renew items online via our catalog, available at catalog.skokielibrary.info. Select the option for Account Sign In, then enter the barcode from your Library card. When you select Display record, your personal record will appear with an option to show My checked out items. Choose this option to view your list of checked-out items at the bottom of the screen; you may renew all items or select those to be renewed individually.
Reserves
All circulating library materials may be reserved by Skokie Public Library cardholders except “Most Wanted” books, “Hot Picks” DVDs, and paperbacks in the six-week browsing collection. Up to three titles may be reserved over the telephone. A maximum of fifteen titles are allowed on a patron card at any one time.
Cardholders may reserve items online via our catalog, available at catalog.skokielibrary.info. Search for the title you would like and, if all copies are currently checked out, click on the RESERVE ITEM link at the top of the page. You will then be prompted to enter your last name and Skokie Public Library card barcode number.
Patrons will be notified that their reserve items are ready by email if there is a valid email address in their patron record. If there is no email address, an automated telephone calling system will notify patrons that their items are ready. Due to the large volume of reserved items, please be advised that reserves will not be ready for pickup until you have been notified by telephone or email.
Email notification will provide the title of the reserved item. The automated telephone calling system is unable to give this information. Please inform the Circulation staff of any changes in email addresses or telephone numbers.
Non-Skokie Residents
Skokie Public Library will lend all materials (except new arrival DVDs, "Most Wanted" books, Blu-rays and "Hot Picks" DVDs) to any patron holding a valid library card from a North Suburban Library System member library. Other patrons, including Chicago residents, may purchase a Skokie Public Library card for the cost of taxpayer support of north suburban libraries. As of September 1, 2007 the fee is $300 per year, or $150 for a six-month card.
Extended Loan Fees
- Adult materials: books, audiobooks, Playaway Digital Players, compact discs, magazines, interactive multimedia CD-ROMs: 15¢ per day
- Most Wanted books: 25¢ per day
- Youth materials: books, compact discs, magazines, a-v kits, interactive multimedia CD-ROMs, puppets: 10¢ per day
- Adult and Youth videos, DVDs and Blu-rays: $1 per day
The maximum fine on most overdue items is $5 or the price of the item, whichever is less. The fine limit for videos, DVDs and Blu-rays is the cost of the item.
Lost Materials
Patrons who lose library materials will be charged the replacement cost of the item. Patrons will receive receipts when paying for lost materials, and must present this receipt to receive a refund, minus overdue charges, should they locate and return the materials within six months.
Lost Library Cards
Lost or stolen Skokie library cards should be reported to Skokie Public Library. If the card has also been used to check out materials at other North Suburban Library System member libraries, please notify those libraries as well. There is a $1 charge for replacement of Skokie Public Library cards.
Material Barcodes
There is a fine of $3 for any barcode or interlibrary loan wrapper which is defaced or removed from Skokie Public Library material.
Interlibrary Loan
Materials not owned by Skokie Public Library may be requested by Skokie patrons at the Information Services Desk, the Readers' Services Desk, or in Youth Services. Patrons can also search other libraries to find materials available for checkout at libraries in neighboring communities.
Interlibrary loan requests may be made online via our catalog, available at catalog.skokielibrary.info. Search for the title you would like and, if Skokie Public Library does not own the item, click on the Can't find it? link at the top of the page. Follow the directions for Interlibrary loan to place your request.
If the item is less than six months old, click on the Library purchase suggestion link at the top of the Can't find it? page. Follow the directions to have the item considered for acquisition by the Library.
Library Express
Library Express is a service that allows Skokie Public Library cardholders to have reserved items delivered to their door via the U.S. Postal Service. Delivery is $2 per item.
LINKin
LINKin is a partnership between Skokie Public Library, Arlington Heights Memorial Library, and Gail Borden Library that provides quick access to the collections of the partner libraries when materials are checked out or not available at Skokie Public Library. Items can be borrowed from the partner libraries and sent to Skokie Public Library within three or four days. Patrons will be notified by phone or email when the item is ready for pickup.