Borrow Books
How many books can I borrow?
You can borrow up to 20 books at a time from our Print, Audio book and “Curiosity” collections.
You can additionally borrow up to 7 DVDs at a time.
How long can I borrow books?
Use the table below to find out how long you can borrow items. You will have to pay a fee for overdue items. To avoid fines, you can renew non-reserve items.
| Item type | Loan period | Overdue charges | Maximum fines |
| Print books | 2 weeks | $0.10/day | $10.00 |
| Audiobooks | 2 weeks | $0.10/day | $10.00 |
| DVDs | 1 week | $0.10/day | $10.00 |
| Curiosity Collection items | 2 weeks | $0.10/day | $10.00 |
Borrowers are responsible for all materials borrowed on their card and any charges, including fines and replacement costs, resulting from the late return, damage or loss of materials. Any fees owing must be paid prior to annual Library card renewal.
Get a PIN (Personal Identification Number)
If you to choose to opt-in for digital content, library staff will register a six-digit PIN (Personal Identification Number) on your Library account. A PIN is required to access your Summersville Public Library account from any computer with internet access. By having a PIN, you can find out what materials you have checked out, what may be overdue and what materials you’ve requested by placing a hold. You are also able to renew items that you currently have checked out. A PIN is also required to use the digital catalog through WV Reads and the Libby app.
Forgot your PIN? You can either stop by the library or call us at (304) 872-0844 and speak to a staff member at the Circulation Desk. You’ll need to either show them your Library card or confirm the physical address or phone number linked with your account.
Please remember: Your Library card is like a credit card and your contact information needs to be kept up-to-date. Let us know if your address or phone number changes by contacting SPL.
Renew an Item
You can renew your items in-person, by contacting the library over the phone, or by logging into your Library Account through the catalog.
- Visit our catalog, located at https://mlnapp.raleigh.lib.wv.us/
- Under ‘My Library’ on the top-left corner of the page, select ‘My Account’ from the drop-down menu.
- You will be asked to login. Enter your first and last name, your barcode number located on the back of your library card, and your six-digit PIN number.
- Once you have accessed your account, you will see a list of the items you have checked out.
- To renew items, choose the ‘Renew’ button. You will be asked to confirm the renewal.
- A new due date and the number of times the item has been renewed will appear next to the item.
Library materials cannot be renewed when:
- You owe $10.00 or more in overdue fines.
- Another patron has requested the item.
- The renewal limit of 2 has been exceeded.
Request an Item
Place a Hold
You can place a hold on books that are checked out to other patrons in-person at the Circulation Desk or by telephone. You will be notified when the book has been returned and is ready for you to pick up.
Request an item not in the catalog
If you are unable to find a specific book or item through the WVLN catalog, ask one of our staff members at the Circulation Desk or call us.
SPL will make every effort to purchase your request, but if unsuccessful, we will request it from an outside library.
Interlibrary Loans
What is an Interlibrary Loan?
To interlibrary loan an item means to borrow it from one of the 100+ participating libraries outside of the Summersville Public Library library system. Anyone with a library card who’s account is in good standing may request an ILL.
There is currently no charge for ILLs, but donations to the library are always appreciated due to rising postage costs. However, if the item you borrow is returned damaged (or is not returned at all), you will be billed for the cost of the book as determined by the lending library.
Loan periods and renewals are set by the lending libraries and are out of SPL’s control. If you would like to renew an ILL, you must talk to a staff member at the Circulation Desk, either in-person or by phone*. Staff will contact the lending library and get a renewal date for you (if granted).
*Please call before due date.
Every library has their own rules for their interlibrary loans, but in general, most libraries in our network won’t lend newly released books, any audio/visual materials or any reference materials.
How to Request an ILL
- Provide staff at the Circulation Desk with the title and author of the book you’d like to request, either in-person or by phone.
- Staff will search for a participating library that owns a copy of the title you want, and will send them an ILL request.
- If approved, the lending library will mail the book to us for you to borrow. Processing times vary depending on the location we request it from.
- When it arrives at the library, you will be contacted and the book will be held for you at the reference desk. We will hold the book until the due date set by the lending library.
- When you pick up your ILL, show staff your library card and sign the ILL form provided at the Circulation desk.
- Please return the borrowed book at the Circulation Desk (NOT the book drop) by its due date. Staff will then mail the book back to the lending library.
Glossary of Terms
| Borrow / Check Out | The same as issuing or charging a library item. To borrow books for a specific period of time at no cost. |
| Call Number | A call number is a series of numbers and letters that is a book’s address on the shelf. Each book has a call number. Call numbers also keep books on similar topics close together on the shelves. |
| Catalog | The library catalog is the library search engine. You use it to search for books and ebooks. |
| Circulation desk | The circulation desk is where you go to check out books. It is located near the entrance of the library. |
| Hold | A service that allows you to request a checked out item as soon as it is returned to the library. When the item is returned, you are notified and the book is kept behind the circulation desk for a few days for you to pickup. |
| Loan Period | The length of time that you can borrow a library item. |
| Renew | The same as “re-issue.” A service that allows you to extend the time you have to keep a book for an additional loan period. |
Summersville Public Library 