Show All Answers

1. Can I access the Library Catalog online?

Yes, using the Library Catalog online is the same as using it in the Library. Email Library Support with any questions, comments or concerns.

2. How long can library materials be kept?

Item	Quantities	Loan Period
Books	up to 99	21 days
Audio books (CD)	up to 12	21 days
DVDs	up to 12	7 days
Downloadable items	up to 10	7 days or 21 days
Interlibrary Loan		See your receipt, determined by lending library

Quantities

This is the number of items you can have on your library card at a time.

Renewing your materials:

Items owned by the Garland Libraries can be renewed up to 6 times provided no one has placed a hold on the item.  If you need to renew an Interlibrary Loan, please email the ILL Department and request an extension at least 7 days before the item is due.  

Online Renewal

Go to My Account on the Library Catalog page, enter your Library Card number and PIN and click Log In. Click on Checkouts, select the items you want to renew and click Renew.

Telecirc Telephone Renewal

Call 972-205-2514 to access the automated phone system. It will ask you for your Library Card number and PIN to access your account. This is an automated system and will not get you to a staff member.

Neither of these methods will renew your books if they are overdue. If you need assistance from a Circulation staff member call 972-205-2524.

Returning your materials:

Books, DVDs and audiobooks checked out from a Garland Library can be returned to any Garland Library.  Items are checked in automatically when they are placed in our automated return system.

Materials downloaded from OverDrive will return themselves on their due date. Please visit the OverDrive page for more information on downloadable books.

Overdue Fines

The library will no longer charge late fees on materials returned after their due dates. Library staff do ask that users be considerate of other patrons and return or renew borrowed items at their earliest convenience. Items can still be overdue and items that are not returned or renewed will be considered lost. The charge for a lost item is the replacement cost, plus a five-dollar processing fee and you will not be able to use your library card until the item is returned or paid for and cleared from your account.

If you lose, damage or do not return an item you will be charged the cost to replace it plus a $5 processing fee.  Replacement fees for interlibrary loan books are determined by the lending library. We do not accept replacement copies for damaged or lost materials.          

3. How do I renew my library materials?

Online

Go to My Account on the Library Catalog page, enter your Library Card number and PIN and click Log In. (If it goes back to the main page click My Account again.) Click on Checkouts, select the items you want to renew and click Renew.

Telecirc

Call 972-205-2514 to access the automated phone system. It will ask you for your Library Card number and PIN to access your account. This is an automated system and will not get you to a staff member.

Neither of these methods will renew your books if they are overdue. If you need assistance from a Circulation staff member call 972-205-2524.

4. Can I renew my items over the phone?

You can call the 24-hour TeleCirc Service at 972-205-2514 to renew titles, hear a list of what you have checked out, and access other information on your library account. You will be asked to input your library card number and PIN.

5. Can I renew my items online?

Yes, you can check your account by clicking on Library Catalog, choosing the My Account tab, enter your Library Card number and PIN and click Log In. From here you can see what you have on hold, what you have out and when it is due as well as renew any items you have out (provided no one else has requested them and you have not renewed them more than 6 times). Email Library Support with any questions, comments or concerns or call the Circulation Desk at 972-205-2524.

6. Where can I return library materials?

Books, DVDs and audiobooks checked out from a Garland Library can be returned to any Garland Library. Materials downloaded from OverDrive will return themselves on their due date. Please visit the OverDrive page for more information on downloadable books.

*Beginning Oct. 1, 2018, library materials will be checked in immediately upon return by our automated system. Materials must be returned by 11:59 p.m. on the due date to avoid a late fee.

7. How much are overdue fines?

We are happy to announce that the Garland Public Library will be fine free as of October 1, 2021!  This means will we discontinue charging fines for overdue material starting immediately.  

We are working to clear accounts of overdue fines, which may take a few weeks. In the meantime, you can request to have your account cleared of overdue fines for returned materials when you visit. 

In the future, when an item is 7 days overdue, the account will be made inactive until the overdue items are returned.  The replacement cost of the item plus a processing fee will be charged to the account.  These charges will be cleared, and the account reactivated, as soon as the item is returned.  

8. What happens if I lost or damaged an item I borrowed from the Library?

If you lose, damage or do not return an item you will be charged the cost to replace it plus a $5 processing fee. Replacement fees for interlibrary loan books are determined by the lending library. If you have any questions, call the Circulation Desk at 972-205-2524.

9. How do I pay fines online with a credit or debit card?

You can now pay library fees online through your library account. We accept Visa, MasterCard and Discover credit or debit cards. All credit/debit transactions must be done through the library website. We do not charge a transaction fee and payments are handled via a secure website.

1. Visit the Library Catalog and click on My Account
2. Enter your Library card number and PIN.
3. Click on the "Fines" tab.
4. "Current Fines/Blocks" should be displayed.
5. Click the Pay Fines Button
6. Review the total. Fines must be paid all at once when paying online.
7. Check the “email me a receipt” box and enter a correct email address. A correct email address is required to receive a receipt.
8. Enter your information and submit payment.
9. ProPay will process your payment and update your library account in real time.
10. A receipt will be sent to the email address you provide and will appear on your bank/credit card statement as “PP*Nicholson Memoria.”

If you experience difficulty signing in to your account, call the Circulation Desk at 972-205-2500 or stop by any Garland Library.

The Details

• All credit/debit payments must go through the Library website. Library staff can assist with the website but cannot handle credit/debit cards or input customer information to process payments online.
• A third party provider (ProPay, Inc.) is used to process fines, fees or otherwise initiate credit/debit card transactions via the library’s website.
• This transaction is protected by SSL certification, a protocol for transmitting data securely and complies with PCI-DSS standards (PCI-DSS stands for Payment Card Industry Data Security Standards).
• The Nicholson Memorial Library System does not collect or store any personal information or credit or debit card processing data.
• Library fees are cleared in real time from your library account during the payment process.
• If your account continues to display outstanding fees please contact the library for assistance.
• Library processing fees on items that were previously paid for are not eligible for a refund.
• Lost item costs, minus the processing fee of $5 per item, can be refunded if the item is found within 90 days after payment. You must have your receipt.
• A failed transaction may leave a pending charge on your account. These "pre-authorized" amounts normally clear within 24 hours.

10. How do I place a hold?

• Enter your search terms in the Library catalog search box, choose the fields you want to search and click search. 
• To the left of your search results are facets that allow you to refine your search. 
• When you find a title you want to reserve, click on Place a Hold, enter your library card number and PIN and click on Login. 
• Select the pickup location (CEN = Central, NGB = North Garland Branch, SGB = South Garland Branch and WCB = Walnut Creek Branch) and click on Place Hold. If you are already logged in you will only be asked for the pickup location.

11. Does the Library have downloadable books? Videos?

We have downloadable books through OverDrive. You can download books from the library catalog, from OverDrive or from either the OverDrive app or Libby app. Use of OverDrive does require a valid Garland Library Card without any fines that would prevent checkout. We do not have downloadable or streaming videos at this time. Email Library Support with any questions, comments or concerns.

12. Do you have Garland Independent School District (GISD) textbooks at the library?

Yes, the Central Library has Garland ISD textbooks in the Children's Reference Department. They cannot be checked out but can be used inside the library. Call the Children's Desk at 972-205-2517 for more information.

13. Does the Library have a Cole (Criss-Cross) Directory?

Yes, this is kept in Reference at Garland's Central Library and must be used in person. Lease agreements with the publisher do not allow us to give information from this directory over the phone or via email.

14. Can I donate old books and magazines to the library?

Yes, newer items and items in good condition will be considered for the library collection. If not added by the library, items are passed along to the Friends of the library for their annual book sale. Items the Friends will take include:

• Books for all ages
• Books in foreign languages
• Books of all kinds: fiction and non-fiction
• Books on all subjects
• CDs
• DVDs
• Puzzles and games

Donated items may be dropped off at any Garland library location. If you need assistance carrying in your donations, please ask for help at the Check-out Desk. Any books not used by the library or the Friends will go to a special recycler and all funds earned from recycling go to the Friends of the Library to be used for the benefit of the Garland Libraries.