Using the Library

Long Hill Township Residents

Long Hill Township residents and property-owners are entitled to a library card. Just bring in a document, such as a valid driver’s license, utility bill or tax receipt with your name and address to get your card.

Children living in the Township and entering kindergarten are eligible for a library card. In addition, any child attending school in the Township is eligible for a student card. We love kids!

Your library card is good at all libraries in the MAIN Consortium (MAIN-Morris Automated Information Network), Open Borrowing libraries and MUF (Morris Union Federation) libraries. Long Hill Township residents can borrow materials from the MUF libraries of Berkeley Heights, New Providence, and Summit. Just present your Long Hill Library card at any of these libraries and check on out!

New Patron Welcome Kit

Welcome to Long Hill Township Public Library! Your Long Hill library card is valid in all 49 public libraries in the Morris Automated Information Network (MAIN) consortium. Member libraries are located in Hunterdon, Morris, Somerset, and Warren Counties and you can request items in the catalog and pick them up in Long Hill. Long Hill cardholders in good standing are also welcome to use the MUF (Morris-Union Federation) libraries in Summit, New Providence, and Berkeley Heights.

Downloadable/Printable Welcome Brochures

Accessing and Searching the Catalog

Library Catalog – Search the catalog here. This link takes you to see Chatham’s items as well as search the other MAIN libraries items and place hold requests.
My Account – Access your account to see what you have checked out, renew items, and see your hold requests. To log in, enter your library card number with no spaces and the PIN chosen or given to you at registration.
How to Access MAIN’s Online Catalog Flyer – Click to download/print this informative flyer from MAIN.

Have questions about your account or need help? Call or email us:
Phone: 908-647-2088
Email: librarians@lhtlibrary.mainlib.org

Digital Resources and Databases

There are many great resources available to you 24/7 with your library card.

eNewsletter Sign Up – Our weekly newsletter includes updates, events, and other information.
Digital Content – Enjoy eBooks, audiobooks, magazines, comics and graphic novels, movies, music, and crafting classes for all ages.
Databases – Access databases for research or learning in many categories including art and music, business, education and career, genealogy and history, health and science, language learning, literature, and more.
Business Success Hub – Targeted recovery resources for small businesses.
CCMLibGuides: Business Development Resources for Northwest NJ – created via a partnership between the MAIN Library Consortium and the County College of Morris for businesses, entrepreneurs, and job seekers

Download the Mobile App

With the new app, you have access to the diverse shared collection of MAIN resources, plus a digital library card with linkable accounts, downloadable electronic resources, full catalog searching and ability to place holds, multi-language support, self-checkout, and more. Click here for more information.

School Support Services

MAIN Resources for Students and Independent
Learners Flyer – Click to download/print.
MAIN Resources for Families Flyer – Click to download/print.
MAIN Resources for Teachers Flyer – Click to download/print.

My Account

You can manage your library account online through the catalog! You can see what items you have checked out and when they are due, renew items, see what you have on hold and remove holds you no longer want. To access your Patron Account, go to our Library Catalog, choose Patron Account and log on with your library card number and PIN. Forgot your PIN? We can reset it for you. Call or stop by. (Tip: The PIN is often the last 4 digits of your phone number.)

Do you prefer email or text message notifications for due dates, items coming due, overdue items and materials on hold? Sign-up for email notification! Stop by the front desk next time you’re in and we can update your account. Or update your account online.

Holds

Holds may be placed on most materials. To place a hold:

search our Library Catalog
locate the title you want
click on Place Request. You’ll be prompted for your library card number and PIN

When your holds are ready for pick-up, we will notify you via phone or email (whichever you selected). Items will be held for you for 5 days before being sent back.

If you’d like to request materials that are not in the catalog you can request an Interlibrary Loan.

InterLibrary Loan

Items that are not found in our catalog may be ordered through our Interlibrary Loan Department. We will search all libraries in New Jersey to try and locate a title for you. Please ask at Adult Services if you would like to request an Interlibrary Loan.

Prefer to search on your own? You can also search all NJ Libraries and place your own request through Jersey Cat. JerseyCat provides access to the catalogs of all participating NJ Libraries.

Loan Periods & Fines

Loan Periods for Long Hill Library materials:

Fiction & Non-Fiction Books: 28 days
New Fiction & Non-Fiction Books: 14 days
AudioBooks: 14 days
Fiction DVD’s: 7 days
Museum Passes: 3 days
Non-Fiction DVD’s: 14 days
Video Games: 14 days
Magazines: 14 days

Note: Other libraries may have different loan periods. Please check your receipt.

Auto Renewal
Our library and the other MAIN libraries have the convenience of Auto-Renewal. This means that items you have checked out currently and in the future will automatically renew if they are eligible.

Fine-Free: The LHT Library will no longer charge late fees for overdue materials or materials returned past their due date on items we own.

Late Fees: Some items still have late/overdue fees. This include- hotspots & Museum passes.

Please note: Fines may still be charged for materials borrowed from another library that still imposes fines.

Renewing Your Items

Which kinds of items automatically renew?

Most physical items checked out from a library that already allow at least one renewal may be eligible for auto-renewal(s). Digital materials like eBooks are not auto-renewed.

Which conditions prevent items from being automatically renewed?

• Materials that are never allowed to renew
• Items that have reached their renewal limit
• Items with a hold or outstanding request
• Digital items, such as eBooks
• Interlibrary Loan (ILL) items from libraries not part of MAIN
• Accounts with fines and fees that exceed $10

What happens to items not eligible for auto-renewal?

They keep their original due date.

Do I need to sign up for auto-renewal?

No. All patrons, present and future, will have their eligible items automatically renewed.

What if I don’t want my items automatically renewed – can I opt out?

No. There is no way to opt out of this system-wide feature. If you don’t want to keep your items past the original due date, you can just return them as you usually would.

Additionally

Materials may be renewed by phone, in person, or by accessing your Patron Account. Go to our Library Catalog, choose Patron Account and log on with your library card number and pin.

Circulating materials can be renewed provided they are not on hold for another Patron and you have not reached the renewal limit.
Items may be renewed by phone (908-647-2088) or via the Internet through the Library’s online catalog.

Computers & Technology

Public Computers, Wi-Fi, Printing, Faxing & Scanning

The library has public Internet computers with the full Microsoft Office 2010 Suite.
Unsecured free Wi-Fi is available throughout the building. Just connect to the Library Wireless network for free Internet access on your personal device.
The library has 5 mobile Hotspots with monthly 2G data at 4G speed on the T-mobile network. These Hotspots are available for checkout to LHT residents. Please ask at the circulation desk if you are interested.
The library has 10 Chromebooks available for checkout to LHT residents. Please ask at the circulation desk if you are interested.
Computer users must abide by the Long Hill Library Computer/Internet Code of Conduct.
The public computers shut down automatically 15 minutes before closing.
Copies printed from the computers are $.15/ sheet for B/W and $.50/sheet for Color.
Faxing is available. Fax Charges: $1.00 for each page outgoing (local, long distance, toll free).
A scanner is available for public use via the copier . A thumb drive is required for scanning.

Display Cases

The Library has three display cases that may be reserved by members of the Long Hill community to display collectibles, artwork and other objects of interest. If you wish to reserve one or more of our display cases, stop by the front desk the next time you are in the library. Due to the popularity of the display cases, it may be several months before an opening is available, so it’s best to reserve your spot as early as possible.

Note: The Library has an art wall that may also be reserved by members of the Long Hill community. Ask at front desk and see if your art may fit there.

Note: A display case is also available in the Children’s Room for kids to display their treasures. Sign up for this display @ the Children’s Desk.

Meeting Rooms

Meeting rooms are available only when the library is open. Meetings must end fifteen minutes prior to closing. Meeting rooms are available to the public for public gatherings of a civic, cultural, vocational or educational nature which is of benefit and value to Long Hill Township residents. All events must be open to the general public. A meeting room request must be submitted in advance by a Long Hill Township resident. No commercial enterprises are permitted.The Library has: