“Every morning, our system automatically renews everything that is due — two days after that date,” librarian Katie Fink said.

There are a few reasons why an item cannot be renewed: if it is on hold for another library user, met its limit (books can only be renewed twice, and movies and magazines only once), or if it is part of the Lucky Day Collection, which are popular titles that can only be checked out for 10 days and can’t be renewed, due to high demand.

“We wanted to make it easier for people to use the library and sometimes overdue fines limit people’s use of the library. I know people forget or things come up,” she said.

When materials are very late, the library sends out letters in the mail. Fink said the best way to keep up to date on your account is to access it online. You can also sign up for email notices by stopping in at the library.

Fink

To place an item on hold, you may do so through the online catalog system, by calling the library, or at any service desk at the library.

The staff at the library would like to see more people sign up for cards. September is Card Sign-Up month, sponsored by the American Library Association.

“It encourages school kids or really anyone to sign up for a library card as the most important school supply,” Fink said. “We have a lot to offer people.”

The library allows access to computers with Wi-Fi. Youth can play on tablets with pre-loaded educational games. A play area in the youth department is complete with a toy castle, train display, building blocks and Giant Legos. Board games, puzzles and coloring books are also available for usage. Digital products through online services such as Hoopla, are accessible with a library card. It allows people to check out television shows, movies, music albums, comics, eBooks and eAudio to download and stream on digital devices, even when the library is closed.

The ALA encourages people to participate in its #GetLibraryCarded Promotion. Snap a picture with your library card and post it to Instagram or Twitter with the hashtag #GetLibraryCarded. You will be automatically entered in a drawing to win a $100 Visa gift card. Entries may also be submitted by posting on the I Love Libraries Facebook page.

The library will be closed for the Labor Day holiday, August 31 and September 1 and 2. It may be reached at 641-754-5738. For more information, visit www.marshalltownlibrary.org.

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Contact Sara Jordan-Heintz at 641-753-6611 or sjordan@timesrepublican.com