Check-outs FAQs

  • General Questions

    cloudLibrary titles check out for 21 days.

    You can check out 10 titles at a time from the cloudLibrary.  You can have 10 titles on hold at any one time.

    hoopla titles check out for the following loan periods:

    • Movies and TV episodes 72 hours (3 days)
    • Music albums 7 days
    • Audiobooks, Comics and eBooks 21 days

    You can check out 10 titles every month from hoopla.  Your monthly check out limit resets on the first day of every month.  Unused checkouts do not roll over to the next month.

    The Express Collection features a selection of popular, in-demand books and movies that are available for immediate checkout.  Holds cannot be placed on Express Collection items and these items check out for a shorter period of time to increase the chance that they will available at the library.

    Copies of Express Collection titles will also be available in the regular book and movie collections.  Holds are allowed on those regular collection copies and they will check out for a longer time period (28 days for books and 7 days for movies).

    Woodlands Overdrive titles check out for 7 or 14 days.

    You can check out 8 titles at a time from the Woodlands Overdrive library.  You can have 5 titles on hold at any one time.

    Screenshot of undetermined itemsWhen viewing the items checked out to your library account you may see some items without an author or title.  Those items will be labeled as "Undetermined Item."  We've included a screenshot of a library account showing this phenomenon.  

    These entries appear when you have MeLCat items checked out on your account.  Since these are titles that ELPL does not own there is not an entry for them in our database.  So when our web catalog shows you the items checked out to your account, and it can't find an entry for those MeLCat items, it lists them as an Undetermined Item.  The correct due date will show up.  

    These items are still eligible for the one renewal allowed under the MeLCat system.

    When you check these items out from the library, or when they are checked out for you using our 24/7 Lockers, the title will display on your printed or emailed receipt.

    Yes.  There is a drive-up book return on the south-west side of the building.  Pull in the half circle drive on the south-west side of the library.

     

    You can check out 6 titles every month from Kanopy.  Each Kanopy film equals 1 play credit and you have 6 play credits every month.  Your number of play credits resets on the first day of every month.  Unused play credits do not roll over to the next month.  When signed into your Kanopy account you can add films to a list for later viewing by clicking the +My List button.

    Kanopy offers thousands of documentaries, indie films, classic and silent films, and educational film series, as well as quality programming for children with Kanopy Kids.  All Kanopy film titles are streamed using your computer, mobile device, or compatible TV/streaming device.

    There is no limit on the number of Express books that can be checked out at once.  3 Express movies can be checked out at a time.

    Express books check out for 7 days.  Express movies check out for 3 days.

    Yes.  Haven House residents are welcome to use the library's public computers, wifi, maker studio and to attend library programs.  Haven House residents wanting a library card should bring picture ID and documentation from Haven House to the Service Desk where they can get a library card good for 12 months from the date issued.

    $1.00/day for:

    Express DVDs and Blu-Rays

    $1.50/day for:

    Mobile Hotspots
    Tools

    A MAP Pass or Michigan Activity Pass, allows you to use your library card to check out a pass for one of Michigan's cultural attractions, state parks or recreation areas.

    To find and check out a pass visit:

    https://miactivitypass.org

    You may check out up to 5 physical items, 2 of which can be DVDs*.

    * The teen card limits your DVD selection to those found in the children’s area.

    Damaged Items
    Patrons are responsible for the condition of all materials checked out onto their cards and will be charged for any damaged items if it is determined that an item was not already damaged upon the initial checkout.

    Patrons will be charged a preset amount for the repairs of any items.
    If an item cannot be repaired and must be withdrawn, patrons will be charged the replacement cost of the item.

    Patrons do have the option to purchase a replacement copy on their own as long as it is in brand-new condition and the ISBN matches the original.
    Patrons will need to ask about purchasing replacement copies for items ordered thorough MeLCat, as not all libraries will accept them.
    There is a $5.00 processing fee charged for replacement copies.

    Lost Items
    If a patron loses an item and cannot find it, they will be billed for the replacement cost listed in our system.

    Patrons do have the option to purchase a replacement copy for ELPL items as long as it is in brand-new condition and the ISBN matches the original.
    Patrons will need to ask about purchasing replacement copies for items ordered thorough MeLCat, as not all libraries will accept them.
    There is a $5.00 processing fee charged for ELPL replacement copies.

    Refunds may be given for lost items that have been paid for, if they are returned within 60 days of the date paid.

    A HotSpot portable WiFi device allows you to carry a portable internet source with you wherever you go.  It can provide wireless internet access for up to 10 devices at a time.  It does not need to be plugged into a data port and you do not need a wireless or internet subscription to use it.  Just your library card!

    Checking out a HotSpot

    HotSpots can only be checked out by patrons 18 years and older.  Display boxes for the HotSpots will be placed on library shelves.  Simply pick up a display box and take it to the front desk to check out a HotSpot.  A library staff member will retrieve a HotSpot, explain how it works, and ask you to sign a user agreement, acknowledging your responsibility to return or replace the contents of the HotSpot kit, and your willingness to abide by the library's HotSpot policy.  If no HotSpots are currently available for checkout, holds can be placed on the devices by anyone 18 and older, with a library card in good standing.

    Hotspots will check out for 14 days.  One, 14-day renewal is allowed if there are no holds on the HotSpot.  If you have placed a hold on a HotSpot, you will receive a notice when it is ready for pickup.  Please do not return HotSpots to a book return.  Please return them to a library staff member at a public service desk so as not to damage the device and its accessories.

    You can update your email address on the Library Dashboard, opens a new window.

    1. Log in, opens a new window to your account
    2. Click the Settings icon on the right side of the screen, or from the My Account drop-down.
    3. Under Account Information click Email Address.
    4. Enter your new Email Address.

     

     

    Items placed on hold can be picked up inside the library at the Self-Pickup Hold Shelves.

    Holds are shelved in order, using a secret code, comprised of:

    • The first three letters of your last name
    • The first three letters of your first name
    • The last 4 digits of your library card number

    Items will stay on the hold shelf for 7 days.

    Yes, you can pause a hold that is “not ready for pickup.” While your hold is paused, you will continue to move ahead on the waiting list, but the hold will not be sent to your pickup location while it is paused. Use this option to manage your holds when you are away or don't have time to read.

    To pause a hold, log in to your account and click the On Hold box under the My Borrowing section of your Library Dashboard.

    We take cash, check, and credit card (Visa, Mastercard, Discover).

    You can also pay with a credit card over the phone and online once you've logged into your account.

    You can authorize other people to pick up your holds by visiting the Service Desk or giving us a call and providing your library card number.

    1. They didn't actually renew. Don't just hit the renew button and walk away. Look at the new due date to make sure the renewal went through. Our system will tell you if it can't renew the item(s) you want.

    2. They were renewed after the due date. If an item is renewed after it was due, our system will look at how many days late it was and add the appropriate amount to your account.

    For example,  let's say a tool you borrowed that has a $1.50/day late fee was due back on a Monday and renewed on a Wednesday. Wednesday is the second day it is late, so, while the item will still renew, $3.00 in late fines will be added to your account.

    There could be a few different reasons you may not be able to renew an item(s) from home:

    1. It has a hold (someone else is waiting for it)
    2. You have already renewed the maximum number of times -- Twice for ELPL items, once for MeLCat items
    3. Your card has expired
    4. You owe at least $15.01 in fines
    5. The item has been overdue for at least one month and has been billed to your account

    To find out which reason(s) may apply to you, call the Service Desk at (517) 351-2420 ext. 0

    • 10 DVDs
    • 10 Magazines
    • 1 Wifi HotSpot
    • 50 items total

    • Books, Audio books, music CDs -- 4 Weeks
    • DVDs -- 1 Week
    • Magazines -- 1 Week
    • Lit Kits -- 8 Weeks
    • Science/Family Activity Kits -- 2 Weeks
    • Internet Hot Spots -- 2 Weeks
    • MeLCat Materials -- 3 Weeks

    There could be a couple of reasons for this:

    1. We don't have your current email address. If you would like to provide one for us or make sure we have your most recent address, stop by the library, or call us at (517) 351-2420 ext. 0.

    2. Your email service is marking our emails as SPAM or sending them to another folder. Please make sure elplcirc@cityofeastlansing.com is in your address book so it is recognized.

    As a reminder it is, ultimately, up to the individual to keep track of when their materials are due,
    and the Library is not responsible for late or non-delivery of notices.

    Every day we send out five different types of notices (four, if we don't have your email address)

    1. Courtesy notices are sent:
    Three days before each item's due date (only to patrons who have provided an email)

    2. Overdue notices are sent:
    The day after an item is due (only to patrons who have provided an email).
    Four days after an item is due.
    12 days after an item is due.

    3. Library Fines/Bills notices are sent:
    Whenever a fine totaling at least $3.00 is added to your account.

    4. Hold Pickup notices are sent:
    When an ELPL or MeLCat item you have requested has become available.

    5. Hold Cancellation notices are sent:
    When a requested item requested is not available.
    When a requested items has been waiting on the hold-pickup shelf for more than seven days.