HOW DO I GET A LIBRARY CARD?
Library services are provided to anyone who lives or works in Hancock County and residents of adjacent communities. To obtain a Library Card, complete a Library Card Application online or at any library branch and provide the following:
IF YOU ARE A RESIDENT, PLEASE PROVIDE ONE OF THE FOLLOWING:
Valid state-issued photo identification, such as a driver’s license or ID card
Valid federally issued photo identification, such as a passport
** When completing an application online, you will be emailed a temporary 30-day digital card. To retain this digital-only account you must email your photo ID displaying your mailing address to digital@hancockcls.org. If you live or work outside our service area you can pay $15 for a digital-only account for one year.
AND PROOF OF RESIDENCY OR LOCAL EMPLOYMENT, SUCH AS:
A local city/county property tax or vehicle registration receipt
A local gas, water, or electric utility bill
Employment letter or pay stub
Some other documents with your name and residential/work address
IF YOU ARE JUST VISITING, PLEASE PROVIDE:
A valid driver’s license or valid picture ID
Current mailing address and contact email address or phone number
Payment of a $15 per year user fee for digital-only access or $25 per year user fee for access to all library materials
IF YOU ARE RECENTLY RELOCATED:
A valid driver’s license
A property tax receipt, automobile tag receipt, OR utility bill with local address
**Military families are exempt from residency requirements with proof of military service
How do I Renew my Books?
Most materials will be automatically renewed for an additional 14-day period (or 7 days for new DVDs), up to two times, unless another customer has the item reserved. Specialty items like interlibrary loans, Library of Things, and equipment may not be renewed.
TO CHECK AN ITEM’S DUE DATE BY COMPUTER
1. Use your Internet browser to connect to the library catalog at https://hancocklibraries.booksys.net/opac/hcls/
2. Click "Log On" at the top right
3. Enter your library card number and PIN
4. Click the "Items Out" tab to view the due date or manually renew
5. If your item is overdue and you have reached the automatic renewal limit you will have to bring the item in to begin a new check-out.
USING MOBILE APP
1. Download the Librista app (from Book Systems, Inc.) on your mobile device from the Apple or Google Play app store
2. Use the Library Locator map and search options to find Hancock County Library System
3. Enter your library card number and PIN
4. Click on “Account” in the menu
5. Under “Items Out” you can view the due date and manually renew by clicking “Renew All”
IN PERSON
If you have reached the renewal limit and your item is overdue, you will need to bring the item in for library staff to check it in, ensure there is not a hold on the item, and check it out for a new lending period. We cannot override the renewal limit for overdue items by phone.
Library Q & A
Q: DO I NEED A LIBRARY CARD TO USE MATERIALS INSIDE THE LIBRARY? A: No, you can use any items that do not require separate media to play within the library. Place items on marked return carts when you are finished so staff can reshelve. Certain items, such as reference books, periodicals, newspapers, and other research and non-circulation materials can only be used in the library.
Q: HOW DO I GET A LIBRARY CARD? HOW MUCH DO THEY COST? A: Children (0-11), teens (12-17), and adults (18+) can pick up an application at any branch at the Customer Service Desk. Youth aged 17 years old and under are required to have parent or guardian approval and the responsible adult must also have a library card. If all information and identification is provided, a card can be issued on the day of application up to the last 15 minutes of the business day. You may also complete an application online and you will be emailed a temporary digital-only library card number and PIN. You must email your photo ID displaying your mailing address to digital@hancockcls.org or access will expire in 30 days. You may also visit a library branch at any time after completing an online application with appropriate ID to get a physical library card for full access. Library accounts are free for anyone who lives or works in Hancock County and adjacent communities. Out-of-area applicants may pay $15 per year for digital-only accounts or $25 per year for access to all library collections.
Q: DO I NEED A SPECIAL CARD TO CHECK OUT EBOOKS? A: No, you do not need a special card to access our ebooks. You will use your regular library card number and PIN to access OverDrive at https://hancock.overdrive.com/ or from the Libby app on your mobile device to access electronic books, audiobooks, and magazines.
Q: WHAT IF I FORGET MY CARD OR LOSE IT? A: If you forget your card, you may use your photo ID to check out materials with your account. If you have lost your card, you will be issued a new library card free of charge. You are responsible for any items checked out with your library card, so you should report it lost immediately.
Q: WHO CAN USE MY CARD? A: A library card should not be loaned out or items checked out for others.
Q: CAN I USE MY CARD AT OTHER LIBRARIES? A: You may use your library card at any of the five branches of the Hancock County Library System. If you can’t find what you want in the HCLS catalog, you can request an interlibrary loan. Interlibrary loans allow libraries to lend materials to other libraries participating in the resource-sharing program.
Q: DOES MY LIBRARY CARD EXPIRE? A: Yes. Regular library cards expire after three years, and you will be asked to update your address and other contact information to renew your borrowing privileges. Digital-only and guest cards expire after one year. You can renew your expired library card in person, on the phone, or by logging in to your account.
Q: WHAT DO YOU DO WITH MY REGISTRATION INFORMATION? A: We collect only information needed to provide you with access and borrowing privileges. As a government agency, we use personal data to prevent fraudulent use of your identity.
Q: HOW MANY ITEMS MAY I CHECK OUT? A: Lending limits are based on material type, with some age restrictions. All patrons may check out twenty-five (25) books plus five (5) DVDs and five (5) audiobooks (CDs or Tonies). Digital services include five (5) ebook, audiobook, and magazine check-outs from Libby, five (5) play credits on Kanopy, and unlimited access to various online databases and learning resources. Special restrictions apply to the following materials:
Three (3) interlibrary loan items by teens (12-17) and adults (18+)
Two (2) multimedia kits
One (1) gaming controller/headset
One (1) Thing
Q: IS THE LIBRARY’S CATALOG ONLINE? A: Yes, the library system’s catalog is available via our website or mobile app, to view our catalog click here. With the catalog, you have 24/7 access to the library’s collection print and non-print resources. You can search for items, place items on reserve, renew items, pay fines, and review your library account.
Q: WHAT IS AN INTERLIBRARY LOAN AND HOW DOES IT WORK? A: An interlibrary loan (ILL) is a request for materials from outside Hancock County Library System—often from another library in Mississippi. Patrons may request an interlibrary loan for items not in the HCLS catalog by visiting the service desk. HCLS will search available materials and request the loan on your behalf, receive, and check the item out to you for a two (2) week period. When your item is ready for pick-up, you will be notified and have no more than four (4) days to pick the item up—after this window the item will be returned to the lending library. Because of the nature of interlibrary lending, the due date is absolute, and HCLS staff cannot renew or extend the loan. Please do not remove the temporary paper slip on the item and return the item by its due date. Fines incurred by the lending library will be assessed for patrons returning ILL items late. Failure to return an ILL item will result in a $50.00 lost item fine.
Q: HOW LONG CAN I KEEP AN ITEM? HOW DO I KNOW WHEN IT IS DUE? A: Our regular checkout period is fourteen (14) days. New DVDs check out for seven (7) days. A receipt will be provided for checked-out items stating the due date. You can choose to receive notices of your item’s due date via email or text message by providing us with your contact information upon registration or updating your account preferences online.
Q: WHAT IF MY ITEMS ARE OVERDUE? A: Hancock County Library System does not charge late fines for most materials. To ensure all patrons have access to our collections, patrons are expected to return items when they are due, after the allowed renewals, and promptly when another patron has reserved an item. Specialty items, including multimedia kits, interlibrary loans, and Library of Things items are charged a late fine. For multi-media/learning kits and interlibrary loan materials, a late fine of one dollar ($1) per day will be assessed up to a maximum of five dollars ($5) per item. For Library of Things items, a late fine of five dollars ($5) per day will be charged up to a maximum of twenty dollars ($20) per item. Patrons who return specialty items within three (3) days of being overdue may have these fines waived.
Q: CAN I REQUEST AN ITEM THAT IS ALREADY CHECKED OUT? A: You may reserve items that are currently checked out by requesting them in the library’s online catalog or by calling. We will notify you by phone when the item is available. You will have three (3) working days to pick up the item.
Q: WHAT HAPPENS IF I DON’T RETURN AN ITEM? A: Please make every effort to return materials on time. If you fail to return an item on time, you will receive an email message (if you have supplied an email address). Persons failing to return items, defacing or damaging them, or stealing them will be responsible for the replacement cost of the item and can, by state law, be charged $500 in fines and may face a jail sentence.
Q: WHERE DO I RETURN THE ITEMS I BORROWED? A: You can return items to any branch of the Hancock County Library System. After hours, you can use the outside book return receptacles.
Q: WHAT IF I LOSE OR DAMAGE AN ITEM? A: Please report lost or damaged items to the library as soon as possible. Items not returned within forty-two (42) days or twenty-one (21) days for new DVDs will be charged replacement costs. Lost and damaged item fines will be waived if you provide an identical (same ISBN for a book or EAN for electronic media) replacement copy of good quality. Interlibrary loan items will be assessed a fifty-dollar ($50) fee.