About the Carthage Public Library

Materials - Services -Policies

Missions Statement:   
Carthage Public Library enhances the quality of life in our community by offering resources, experiences, and services for lifelong learning and enjoyment; providing the space and opportunities to gather and connect; and fostering a love of reading.

---

Library Cards
    Residents of the Carthage Public Library District (people who live in the Carthage Elementary School District) and persons who own property within the district support our Library with their property taxes. There is no additional charge to receive a library card.  The Carthage Public Library also accepts valid library cards from other public libraries in Illinois.
      Individuals who live in an area that is not served by a
public library may purchase a card from the Carthage Public Library, or from their nearest IL public library, fees vary library to library. The current (July 2022-June 2023) cost for a Carthage Card is $147.
    As of 2/13/2023, students who are not served by a library, and for whom Carthage Public Public Library is their closest library can apply for a Carthage Public Library card free of charge.  

You need to come into the library to fill out an application and sign up for a library card. You can then check out materials that day.

On-Line Services
   Including an email address when registering for a library card will enable patrons to receive automatically generated email notifications when materials are due or overdue, or when requested items are available. You can also sign up for our newsletter!

   The Library's card catalog is on-line, so you may search our collection, and that of other libraries in our system, over the Internet.  Through the card catalog, you may log into your personal account by using the barcode number from your library card and setting up a PIN number or password at the library.   This allows you to see what items are checked out, when they are due, if you owe any fines, and to renew most items on-line. You may also place holds on materials that the Carthage Library owns, but which are currently checked out, or on materials owned by other libraries in our system.  Of course, you may also stop in or call the library and the staff will be happy to renew your items, or place a hold on materials for you.

   Your Library barcode number and PIN are also used to log into ADML (Alliance Digital Media Library) and eReadIllinois, to check out and download ebooks for your Nook, Kindle, iPad, smartphone, etc. 

InterLibrary Loan Services
   The Carthage Public Library participates in RAILS and OCLC Interlibrary loan systems. This is at no cost to patrons. 
​
To use the RAILS interlibrary loan system you can call the library to make a request or place a hold from home using the card catalog and your pin number (see above) 
If an item is not available in the card catalog please contact the library. Your librarians can often times get materials through OCLC. 

Other Services
 Homebound Delivery - if one of our local patrons is physically unable to come into the library, even if it is a temporary situation due to an injury, call us and we will arrange to have books delivered to the home.  A valid Carthage Library card is required for this service.

Federal Talking Book Program - we will assist qualified patrons in applying for this federal program, which provides a special machine and audio books for visually impaired individuals.  The audio books are sent by mail from the Illinois Talking Book Center.  Since this is a Federal program, even individuals outside of the library's service area may apply.


Meeting Room - The Library has a meeting room upstairs, which may be reserved for use by outside groups.  There is no charge for approved non-profit organizations.  There is a $50 fee for other entities.  View complete policy here. 

​Materials

• Reference and nonfiction books.
• Fiction books for all ages - classics as well as current bestsellers
• some books in Spanish
  
• Large Print Books
• Newspapers - (Journal Star, Hancock County Journal Pilot, Mcdonough Vocie, Daily Gate City, Quincy Herald Whig, Wall Street Journal, Burlington Beacon, LaHarpe Quill)
• Magazines - about 45 titles
• DVDs, VHS tapes, BlueRays. Families (people who live at the same address) may check our 4 dvd's at a time) 
• Audio books on CD, cassette, and playaway
• Read-along books with CD or cassette
• Music CDs
• Kindle ereaders, pre-loaded with an assortment of books. (Click here for our Kindle lending policy.)
• Fishing Poles (from the Dept. of Natural Resources)
• Income Tax Forms (limited, most on-line)
• Local newspapers on microfilm dating back to 1853, other Genealogical resources
• On-line resources

FAX Machine
   The Library's Fax number is:  217-357-2392.  You do not need to be a library member to send/receive a fax.

• Cost to recieve a fax is $.25 per page
• Cost to send a fax is $2.00 for the first page an $.50 for each additional page
• The library does not accept credit or debit cards as a form of payment

Photocopies and printing, Scanning

• Front and back copies count as 2 pages. 
• black and white copies or printouts for a computer cost 20 cents per page. ​
• Copies with a small amount of colored text cost 25 cents per page.  
• Color intensive copies or prints of photos or graphics cost $1.00 per full page.
•  Photos or documents may be scanned to a computer, or your email at no cost.
• The library does not accept credit or debit cards as a form of payment

Computers, Internet Access & WiFi
   The Library has a wireless hotspot, which the public may use to connect their own laptops or devices to the Internet.  Simply ask for the password.  
   The Library also has 7 computers with Internet Access available for public use.  You do not need to have a Library card in order to use the computers.  Users are asked to adhere to our Library Policy for Responsible Usage.
   Students 5th grade & older must have a signed parent authorization form on file.  Children younger than 5th grade may not use the Internet unless accompanied by a guardian.   

---