FAQs • Waterford, MI • CivicEngage

May I check out the books that are on display in the lobby?: Books on display are able to be checked out with 1 exception. The books that are showcased behind the locked glass doors are sometimes unavailable because they are either from someone's private collection, or they are an integral part of the display. Any of the other books in the lobby area are available to be checked-out. Ask a Circulation Clerk if you have any questions about the availability of any item.

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Library

1. What do I need to get a Waterford Township Library Card?: You need to be a resident of or own property in Waterford Township or Lake Angelus in order to obtain a Waterford Township Public Library card. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, library cards are only being issued remotely at this time. To register for a library card, contact our Circulation Services Coordinator, Jonathan Deahl, at 248-618-7678 or complete this form.

2. What is my PIN?: All cards registered after May 29, 2018 have an assigned PIN of the last four digits of the telephone number that was provided upon registration. If you cannot remember your PIN, please contact the library at 248-674-4831 and press 2 to speak with a member of our Circulation Department. Staff will need your library card number in order to look up and modify account information.

3. How old do you have to be to get a library card?: The decision to sign a minor up for a library card is at the discretion of the child’s parent or legal guardian (guardianship papers required at time of registration). Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, library cards are only being issued remotely at this time. To register your child for a library card, contact our Circulation Services Coordinator, Jonathan Deahl, at 248-618-7678 or complete this form.

4. Do I need to have my library card with me to check-out items?: It is a good idea to have your library card in case our computer system is ever down and we are operating in our offline back-up mode. However, most of the time, we can call up your account using a valid photo ID.

5. If I live in another community may I get a card to use your library?: Residents outside of the Waterford and Lake Angelus area cannot apply for a Waterford Township Public Library card. However, if the library in your community is a reciprocating member of The Library Network (TLN) cooperative, your home library card can be used at the Waterford Township Public Library. For information on whether or not the library in your community is a member of our cooperative, please visit The Library Network website.

6. May I return Waterford library items to another library, and may I return another library's items to the Waterford library.: Yes, you may return items to another library in The Library Network cooperative. One consideration to keep in mind when returning items to a library other than where they were originally checked out is that not all library utilize the same computer system. Patrons returning materials to a library that does not directly link with us could see a delay in the check-in process resulting in fines.

7. If I lose a book and have to pay for it, why do I also have to pay overdue fines?: If a Waterford item is checked out and lost, we will not ask you to pay any overdue fees associated with that item at the time of payment. If materials borrowed for you from another library are lost, the decision to bill your account for the lost item and overdue fees is at the discretion of the owning library for that material.

8. Does the library accept donations of used books?: Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the library is not currently accepting donations.
Book Donations page.

9. May I check out the books that are on display in the lobby?: Books on display are able to be checked out with 1 exception. The books that are showcased behind the locked glass doors are sometimes unavailable because they are either from someone's private collection, or they are an integral part of the display. Any of the other books in the lobby area are available to be checked-out. Ask a Circulation Clerk if you have any questions about the availability of any item.

10. I am going on vacation. Is it possible to get a longer check-out period?: Yes, tell the clerk assisting you before check out that you will need materials for a longer period of time. Most of the time we can accommodate your request, depending on the length of time requested, the popularity of the item(s), and whether or not they are owned by our library. If the item was inter-loaned from another library, you will have to request a longer loan period through the owning library.