Lafayette Public Library

In order to borrow materials from Lafayette Public Library’s (LPL) collection, you must have a current library card. Library cards are issued at all LPL branches. You must show proof that you currently live, work, or attend school in Lafayette Parish. Be prepared to show a valid driver’s license or a work or school I.D. If your current address is not on your I.D., you may need to show a printed check with your current address, or mail with your address, or a current rent or lease receipt showing your address. Children from birth through 8th grade can apply for a card with a parent present. Parent must bring ID proving residency in the parish. Optionally, the parent may also present the child’s Social Security number. All other persons need proof of residency, and optionally, a Social Security number may also be presented. LPL cards may be used at any branch library in the parish.

Can I apply for a library card online?

Yes! Right here!

What do I need to get a library card?

A patron wishing to borrow library materials, use a library computer workstation, or have remote access to the library’s electronic resources must have a valid library card. A patron with a valid library card and in good standing with the library may check out library material in accordance with material type restrictions, and use computer workstations and electronic resources following the Lafayette Public Library’s Electronic Resources Policy.

Children: Children from birth to 8th grade are issued their own library cards. A child’s parent, grandparent, or legal guardian must apply for the card and provide current proof of residency, employment, or attendance of school in Lafayette Parish. A person other than parent, stepparent, grandparent or legal guardian cannot make application. The child and guardian must be present when applying for the card. Exceptions are made for homebound parents or children, and specific groups with prior library permission.

Adults: Individuals from the 8th grade and above may get a library card on their on recognizance. In the summer before they enter high school, eighth graders may apply for a card without a parent being present. The individual must provide current proof of residency, employment, or attendance of school in Lafayette Parish. The patron must apply for the library card in person. Exceptions are made for homebound individuals or specific groups with prior library permission.

For specific information on qualifying for a library card, please call 261-5785. The card is free. We also issue library cards to cardholders of surrounding Bayouland member library systems with proper ID.

Can the same library card be used at all of the branch libraries?

Yes, the bar-coded library card can be used at any branch in the Lafayette Public Library system.

What happens if my library card is lost or stolen?

Notify the library immediately by calling 337-261-5785. The cost for a replacement library card is $2.00.

Checking Out

How long are your check-out periods?

• Most books, magazines, audio books and CDs check out for three weeks.
• Bestsellers and high demand titles check out for two weeks.
• Videos check out for three weeks.
• DVDs check out for one week.
• Materials can be returned to any Lafayette Public Library location.
• Library materials can be renewed for a limited number of times as long as there are no outstanding requests for an item. Items can be renewed on line at our Web site; by calling 261-5771 for 24-hour renewal service; or by calling 261-5784 during regular business hours. Items can be renewed after the due date; however, late fees are charged.

How long can I keep a book?

Most books check out for three weeks. Bestsellers and high demand titles check out for two weeks.

How long can I keep a video or a DVD?

Videos check out for three weeks. All DVDs check out for one week.

How many items can I borrow?

Currently you are allowed to have up to 50 items checked out on your record at any one time. Some collections have specific limits, such as, our DVD collection, music CD and audio books collections. These limits are based on the size of certain collections and public demand.

Current items with limits:
DVD   10
Music CD’s   10
Audio Books 10
Magazines 10
Wii Games   1

How do I request an item (place a hold on an item) that is currently checked out?

There are several ways a patron can “place a hold” or request an item that is currently checked out:
Find the item in our on-line catalog , search for your title(s) and then click on the “request item” button to proceed.
Call the Information Services desk and ask a librarian to place your hold (Adult: 261-5787 or Children’s 261-5779).

Returning

Can I return my items at a branch library?

Yes, your items can be returned at any library location in the Lafayette Public Library system regardless of where the item was checked out. All locations have an after hours book return.

Renewing

How do I renew library materials?

Library materials can be renewed for a limited number of times as long as there are no outstanding requests for an item. Items can be renewed on line at our Web site, by calling 261-5771 for 24-hour renewal service or by calling 261-5784 during regular business hours. Items can be renewed after the due date; however, late fees are charged.

Fines

What are the fines for books and videos? For a lost library card?

5¢ per day up to a $2.00 maximum per item for most books, music CDs and CD-ROMs.
25¢ per day up to a $2.00 maxium for interlibrary loan items (Items borrowed from another library)
25¢ per day up to a $5.00 maximum per item for DVD and Videos
$1.00 per day per Wii Game.

Additional Charges
•$2.00 for a replacement library card
•$1.00 per removed or damaged barcode
•$1.00 per damaged bag or case
•For lost items you are charged the price of the item plus a $5.00 replacement/processing fee.

At this time, the Library cannot take credit/debit cards.
Effective 8/15/05: “In accordance with Ordinance O-198-2005 of Lafayette City/Parish Council, if any payment is made to the Lafayette Public Library for any fine, permit, license or other fee or service with a check which is returned as unpaid by reason of insufficient funds, the drawer of the check shall be charged a service charge of $25.00 or 5% of the face amount of the check, whichever is greater.”

Card Catalog

I am having problems using the online catalog.

Online catalog users – we are having some problems with our online catalog and are currently troubleshooting over the next few days. You may have a problem logging in or searching. We apologize for the inconvenience and are working to correct the problem as quickly as possible.

Renewal or checking your account is available via the Telecirc system, 261-5771. Library Staff can also assist you during regular hours with renewals or placing holds. Please contact your local branch or call the Main Library staff at 261-5785 (renewals), Information Desk staff at 261-5787 (requesting adult or teen books), or Children’s staff at 261-5779 (assistance with Children’s books).

I have an AOL browser and I can’t place more than one request.

Most AOL users are able to use the iPac library catalog successfully with their AOL browser. Some AOL users cannot place more than one request on the iPac library catalog without logging out and logging back into iPac. A solution to this problem is to use a different browser while you are using iPac. You can change back to your AOL browser when you are not using iPac.

AOL 9.0 and Topspeed: AOL 9.0 has a feature called TopSpeed which uses web page caching to speed up web surfing. (This means that the AOL browser stores copies of web pages on your computer and uses those copies instead of going back over the internet to get a new page to display. This speeds up or accelerates your Internet connection because it reduces traffic.) We believe it is TopSpeed that causes the problem with placing requests.

If you do not want to use a different browser, we recommend that you turn off TopSpeed and clear the AOL browser cache. The following instructions are from the AOL help screens on TopSpeed (you will be leaving the library system’s web site).

To turn off TopSpeed:
• Click Settings on the AOL Toolbar.
• Click Internet (Web) Options on the Essentials tab.
• Then clear the TopSpeed check box.

To clear the AOL browser cache:
• Click on either the AOL icon or the Dialer icon on the right of the system tray.
• Click System Information.
• Click the Utilities tab.
• Click Clear Browser Cache.
• This procedure clears both the TopSpeed cache and the Internet Explorer cache. However, clearing the Internet Explorer cache using the normal Internet Explorer method will not clear the TopSpeed cache.

Help — I can no longer access the library’s online catalog (iPac).

After successfully using iPac for months, you find you can no longer search or access your account. You may have heard the ads from some ISPs about surfing “faster.” The way an ISP allows you to surf faster is to have an “accelerator” in its software. The accelerator enables faster downloads. Unfortunately, these accelerators can cause a problem accessing iPac due to the way they split the files you are downloading (to gain a faster download overall). This is a problem for iPac, particularly because we use the nontraditional “http” port of 8080 instead of 80.

This could be the problem if:
• You recently downloaded an accelerator or something to help speed up your Internet downloads.
• You recently changed Internet providers.
• You downloaded an upgrade to your ISP’s software. Upgrades often include an accelerator.

To use iPac you will need to disable the accelerator. Usually, you can do this without entirely disabling the accelerator feature. After you’ve done this, clear your browser cache (temporary Internet files and history), and then restart the browser (with the accelerator disabled) to see if you can now get to iPac.

• This is a known problem with Eatel and AT&T.
• It is also a problem with the AOL 9.0 software, which includes an accelerator. You can also try minimizing AOL and using a different browser to search the iPac.

If you still encounter problems, please e-mail Computer Services and include the following information:
• Your operating system (e.g. WinXP, WinME, Mac, etc.)
• The web browser and version you use (e.g. IE 8.0, Safari 4.0, etc.)
• Your Internet Service Provider (e.g. AOL, Cox, AT&T, LUS, etc.)
• If you have dial-up service, DSL or a cable connection

Computer Usage

How much does it cost to print?

The first 5 black and white pages are free.
There are NO free color pages.

• Black and White = 5 cents per page after the first 5 free prints
• Color = 25 cents per page

Can you print in color?

• Main – Black and White Only
• Broussard – Black and White Only
• Butler – Black and White Only
• Chenier – Black and White Only
• Duson – Black and White Only
• Milton – Black and White Only
• North Regional – Black and White and Color
• Scott – Black and White Only
• South Regional – Black and White and Color
• Youngsville – Black and White Only

Do you have wireless Internet?

Yes, there is free wireless internet at all 10 locations of the Lafayette Public Library.
Library WiFi

Miscellaneous

Does the library accept donations?

The Lafayette Public Library gratefully accepts monetary contributions as well as donations of books and other library materials. Contributions can be made to the library in memory of or in honor of a particular individual or organization. A designated book or other material will bear a book plate to include the name of the individual, providing a lasting token of their legacy.
Donations of used books and other library materials are also appreciated. These donations are either added to the library’s collections or resold during the Friends Book Sales. The profits from the Friends’ sales generate funds for various library programs. For more information on how and where to make your generous donation, please call 261-5775.

Can a patron buy a book on the shelves?

No. Books on our shelves are not for sale. Library books can be borrowed. After an item has outlived its usefulness to the library, the library requests permission from City-Parish Council to remove it from the collection. Once approval is given, the books are donated to the Friends of the Library for sale at their Book Sale, at which time you may purchase any discarded library item that is offered.

What is the name of the mural on the second floor of the Main Library?

There comes a time when canvas simply cannot express what you want to say. Murals were the answer.
I have completed several murals, but the commission to paint for the Lafayette Parish Public Library is the most important and the largest and certainly the most exciting.
I’ve named the painting “ELIPSE”. Because it is an abstract, contemporary painting, free of a hard and fast message, the viewer is left to think and see for himself. “ELIPSE” suggest familiar shapes, but will allow the viewer to simply enjoy colors and form. I think it’s important to see that tradition and new ideas both have a meaningful place in the culture of Lafayette. When businesses, clubs and private citizens can see the freshness and value of “something different”, there’s hardly a chance Lafayette will be just an ordinary city.
— Tina Cook, Artist

BIOGRAPHY: Justyna Kurijlas Cook

–From El Dorado, Arkansas
–Graduated from Henderson State College, Arkadelphia, Arkansas
–Listed in “Who’s Who in American Colleges and Universities” for 2 consecutive years.
–Have had 4 one-man shows in Arkansas and Lafayette and New Orleans
–Exhibited in juried state shows

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