Library Q&A Page

Have you checked out the "About Our Library" tab on the front page? It's full of information. Browsing the other tabs on the home page will lead you to different information about the library that might not be covered under "About Our Library," such as our summer reading program schedule or the meeting dates of our Board of Trustees.

Q: What do I need to do to get a library card?

If you are a Dunellen resident, work in town, or own property in town, library cards are free. Just bring in two forms of identification with you and we'll set you right up with your very own card.

Children (defined in our policy manual as persons under the age of 18) who wish to sign up for a library card, must bring a parent with them at the time of registration. The parent must bring with them two forms of ID.

If you do not live, work, or own property in Dunellen, getting a Dunellen Library card costs $10, and the privilege lasts for 3 years.

Note! We are a part of the Libraries of Middlesex Automation Consortium (LMxAC). If you are a resident of another town in the LMxAC system, you can use your home library's card here!

Circulation

Q: What is the library's circulation policy?

New books, magazines, and CDs circulate for two weeks.

All other books circulate for three weeks.

Videos and DVDs circulate for two days.

Video games and computer software circulate for one week.

Q: What about late fees?

All books, magazines, audio books, video games, and CDs cost 10¢ per day if they are overdue.

All videos and DVDs cost $1.00 per day if they are overdue.

Q: Can I check out and return other libraries' books here?

Yes! We are part of the Libraries of Middlesex Automation Consortium (LMxAC), which connects libraries all across Middlesex County. We can put books on hold for you that we don't have in our collection, and a library that does will send it to us for you, usually within a week. You can also return books here that you checked out at another library, and we will ship them back to their home library free of charge.

You can access the online LMxAC library catalog at the top of the page by clicking on the picture of our library. You can even put a book on hold, right from your home computer! All you need is your library card's barcode number and the PIN that was assigned to you when you got your card. If you don't know what your PIN is, please call the library, and a staff member will look it up for you.

Other Library Services

Q: Are there newspapers available for me to read?

The Dunellen Library is subscribed to six papers, which are kept behind the circulation desk. If you would like to read one, just ask a staff member at the circulation desk. We also keep approximately one month of back issues for each paper, including Sunday Editions.

We keep the following papers available: The Courier News, The Home News Tribune, The Star Ledger, The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, and The USA Today.

Q: Who are the Friends of the Library? How do I join?

Click here to be redirected to the Friends' page.

Q: Can I fax something to or from the library?

Yes! The Dunellen Public Library offers a fax service for our patrons. The costs are as follows:

In-State Faxes	$1.00 per page
Out of State Faxes	$3.00 for the first page, $1.00 for each additional page.
Receiving Faxes	$1.00 per page

Cover sheets supplied by the library are free. The library's fax number is: 732-424-1370.

Donations

Q: Does the library accept book donations?

Yes! We accept book donations with the following stipulations:

-- Books must be in good condition - no water warped, moldy, dirty books, please!

-- We do not accept encyclopedias, Reader's Digest Condensed books, or textbooks.

We do accept DVD donations and VHS donations, but please be advised we are not adding any new VHS tapes to our collection, and they will be put immediately onto our sale table to benefit children's programming.

Q: What about Best Sellers?

Each week we post The New York Times' "Best Sellers" list by the circulation desk. You can help us by purchasing a title and donating it to the library. In return, after we process the book (with a special "donated by" book plate), you will be number one on the list to read it.

Q: What is Adopt-A-Book?

Adopt-A-Book is a program through which you can donate a book to the library. We have a Wish List you may browse on the reference counter, and we would greatly appreciate your contribution to our collection. Adopted books will have a commemorative book plate placed inside the front cover with your name, or an "In Memoriam" message. You will also be the first person to have access to the book you have donated, should you wish to check it out. You can also choose to make a generic adoption, in which we will purchase a book of our choosing in the genre or age range you would like.

Q: I'd like to make a monetary donation to the library; how do I go about doing so?

Thank you in advance for your consideration. If you wish to make a monetary donation in the form of cash, please give it to the circulation staff, and let them know that's what it's for. If you would like to make a larger donation, we do accept checks. Please make checks out to the Dunellen Public Library. Thank you!

We have established a Benefactor Gift Program to help supplement our yearly book budget. Donors can become any of the following:

Gold Member Benefactor:	$100
Silver Member Benefactor:	$50
Bronze Member Benefactor:	$25
Library Supporter	gift of any size

Monies received under this Benefactor Program will go to a general fund and used to buy books during the current fiscal year.

You may also make the generous decision to remember us in your will. People who use their public library regularly know how important it is to the fabric of the community. Please consider the library when you are reviewing your estate planning; it is a legacy to be proud of.

Programs & Events

Q: What kind of special programs do you offer at the library?

We offer a wide variety of programming here at the library; there's bound to be something for everyone's taste. We produce two calendars every month for you to take and plan which programs you would like to attend. At the top of the screen, you will be able to find a link to the Adult & Family Program calendar, and the Children's Corner calendar. You can also pick up hard copies of both of these calendars in the library.

Computers at Your Library

Q: Does the library have computers available for public use?

The library has ten public computers, located in the center of the library.

Q: How do I get the chance to use one of these computers?

In order to use one of our public computers, you must have a library card. It can be from any library, but it must be valid. Please show your card to a staff member at the circulation desk, and you will be assigned a terminal. In order to share our resources fairly, patrons are limited to a 30-minute session if other patrons are waiting to access a computer. You must sign up at the circulation desk in order to use a computer. If you have not signed up, you will be kicked off the computer and will have to wait until another is free.

Q: I'm worried about my kids seeing something they shouldn't.

Don't worry! Five of the computers are specifically geared towards kids, and have a higher level of internet filtering than the others, so nothing offensive can get through.

Q: What software is installed on the public computers?

All of the computers have the Microsoft Office applications installed - Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Publisher. All of the computers also have access to the internet.

Q: What if I want to print something out?

All of our public computers are connected to a printer up at the circulation desk. Printing costs are as follows:

Black and White page	$.15 each
Color page	$.25 each

No exceptions! If you print out something you do not want by accident, you must still pay for it.

Click for the Rules of Computer Usage

Workstations have a 30 minute time limit per user. All users must register at the Circulation Desk before sitting.

Children below the age of 18 years may only use the Children's computers. Children must present a library card to use a computer.

Users may not alter or attempt to alter the set-up of the Library's computers. If they do, then their privilege of using library computers will be revoked or suspended.

Users may not copy computer programs that are protected by copyright laws.

The Library is not responsible for any damage to computer user's disks, data, hardware or software by any virus which may have been contracted on or through Library equipment. The Library has installed virus protection but it cannot be guaranteed.

The Library is not responsible for any damage to users' disks, data, hardware or software as a result of the malfunctioning of library hardware or software.

Users are liable for damage to equipment caused by inappropriate or unauthorized use. Misuse of Library computers will result in the loss of the privilege of using the computers.

Users are asked to respect the privacy of others. This includes not representing oneself as another user, trying to gain access to someone else's data or search history, or "hovering" over another user while waiting to use a computer.

Library computers are set up for the use of one individual at a time. However, a parent, guardian or tutor may work with another patron.

Time permitting, Library staff will try to help with basic computer problems, but the Staff is not able to offer extended explanations or provide in-depth training on demand.

The Library reserves the right to terminate computer use at any time.