Woodstock Public Library

Blood Drive - Today February 8th

Heartland Blood Centers will be conducting a blood drive in the library parking lot from 4-7 p.m. Walk in donors are welcome, you must present a driver's license or state ID to donate.

Food Drive - February 8-13

When you come to the library this week please bring a can of food or two for the Library's Annual Have a Heart Food Drive. All food donated will be given to the Woodstock Food Pantry for distribution to McHenry County families in need.

Food for Fines

On Saturday, February 13th the Library is offering Food for Fines - up to $5.00 in overdue fines will be cleared in exchange for your donation to the food drive. Recommended minimum donation: one can of food per dollar of fines.

LOVE MY LIBRARY SURVEY

Share why you love your library! On Wednesday, February 10th the library, along with libraries across the state will be participating in "Snapshot: One Day in the Life of Illinois Libraries". To promote how Illinois citizens use their local libraries every day. Library staff will be keeping statistics of library use throughout the day, taking photographs, and customer comments.

As part of this statewide effort we encourage you to take our quick survey to share why you appreciate your library: Love My Library survey

How will I find the book I requested?
Items will be shelved alphabetically using a unique code for each patron. For privacy labels will cover the entire item.

What is my code?
3 – the first three letters of your LAST name
1 – the first letter of your FIRST name
2 – the last two digits of your library card number

How will I know when I something I requested has come in?
Customers will be called or emailed when their item is ready for pickup. Talk to a staff member about adding your email to your library account in order to receive emailed library notices.

How long do I have to pick up my item?
Seven days.  After seven days any unclaimed items will go on to the next person on the waiting list. If no one is waiting for the item then it will be re-shelved or returned to the library that we borrowed it from.

How do I check out my item?
 You are welcome to check out your own materials using the Self Checkout Station directly behind the Holds Pickup Station or wait in line for a staff person to check you out.

What if someone else checks out my book?
Each item is on hold for a specific customer. Only that customer’s library card can be used to check out the item on the Self Checkout Station.

What if I want to pickup the book someone in my family requested?
 If you want to check out an item that is on hold for a family member you will need to bring their library card to the library or request a staff member to assist you.

Why is the library offering this now?
As the library has become more and more busy wait time to check out has increased. This new service allows customers to pickup and check out their own books and other library materials without waiting in line. It also allows for those customers who prefer not to interact with staff to take their library experience to a more independent level.
 

The library will be offering Online Program Registration for its Adult Programs and Computer Classes for the first time beginning on Monday, January 4th.

Online Registration is easy:
1) Click on the Calendar link at the top of the website.
2) Locate the program you wish to attend.
3) Click on the Sign Up for [program name] link.
4) Fill in the requested information.
– The email address field is required. You will receive a signup confirmation and a reminder email.
– If you do not wish to enter an email address or do not want to receive a confirmation emails, then use [yourname]@librarysignup.com as an email address.
– If you are registering two or more people for the same class, you need to use separate emails for each registrant, or opt to use the [yourname]@librarysignup.com option.

If the class that you are registering for has a cost associated with it, the charge will be added to your library card account. If you prefer to register in person or by phone you may do so. The library hopes to make online registration available for the youth programs later this year.

In order to save the library hundreds of dollars a month in postage the Woodstock Public Library will no longer be mailing the 7 and 14 day overdue notices by mail.

Instead of printed notices the library's automatic telephone notification system will notify households that they have an item(s) overdue. If you are a Woodstock Public Library customer and have given the library your email address you will still receive email overdue notices with the new system.

For privacy reasons, the automatic telephone call will not list the items that are overdue.

To find out what is overdue there are two options:

a) you can call the library at 815-338-0542 and ask what is overdue. Please have your library card barcode number available, the staff person will need it to confirm your identity before sharing this information. Some overdue items maybe renewed unless there is someone else waiting for the book or if it has already been renewed the maximum number of times.

b) you can also see what you have checked out by accessing your library account on the NIC Computer Catalog and see what you have checked out and the dates the items are due back. If it is the first time you are logging in to your account, follow the on-screen instructions. If you have any problems please call or email the library for assistance.

If you share your email account with the library you can save money! Customers who list their email address with the library receive emailed alerts to tell them when they have items that will be due back at the library two days before the due date.

To add your email address to your account:
1) Login to your account
2) Click on "Update Contact Info"
3) Add or Change your email address
4) Click the bullet in front of the "I would like to receive my notices from the library by -> EMAIL.
5) Click SUBMIT

If you have changed your email address or telephone number be sure to change it on your library card account so that you do not miss any notices.