Frequently Asked Questions

Answers to questions concerning:

NEW – Automatic Renewals
Getting a Library Card
Your PIN
Borrowing Materials from the Library
Borrowing Limits
Loan Periods
Placing Holds
Fines
Getting Referred to Collections
Privacy and Confidentiality at the Library
How to Use the Catalog

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

It is quite simple. Stop in at one of the 18 area Bucks County Libraries and show us your driver’s license with your Bucks County address. We’ll ask you to complete a brief application and you’ll receive your new card before leaving the library!

Can’t stop in to a library in person? No problem, apply for a card online here! Your application may take up to three days to process. After it has been processed you will have three months to pick up your card at your library.

What do I get with my library card?

Hmm, lets see: the ability to gather information, build knowledge, gain power, and travel to worlds beyond your imagination. By that we mean:

Access to any book, movie, CD, video game, etc. available at any of the 18 Bucks County libraries
The ability to place holds on all of the items mentioned above, from home!
The ability to bring in books not owned by the Bucks County Library System through our Interlibrary Loan service
Access to many online databases (either in the library or from home!)

What is my PIN number?

Your pin number is a 4 digit number either chosen by you or assigned randomly at the time your card was issued. It is needed to check out materials on our self-service kiosks and to access many of our e-resources.

What do I do if I do not know my PIN number?

You have two options:

Log in to My Account using your library card and password. Choose My Account Details and then the Edit link to Update your PIN. You will be able to choose your 4 digit PIN and enter it here.
Stop in at the library with your library card and a staff member can access your account and change your PIN. To provide added security, old PINs are not available to staff and you will need to create a new one.

Borrowing Procedures

You must have an active library card from any Bucks County library and your account must be in good standing in order to borrow materials. You must bring your library card OR a valid Pennsylvania driver’s license to borrow materials. Lost cards and changes of address should be reported promptly. There may be a $3.00 charge to replace a lost card.

Our book drop is open 24 hours a day and is located on the side of the building facing Upper Holland Road.

You may return books from our library to any of the 18 Bucks County libraries.
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Borrowing Limits

Per card:

100 books
20 music CDs
20 Magazines
100 audio books
20 DVDs or BluRays
6 Video Games

Loan Periods

21 days

Most books
Audio books
Music CDs
Magazines and pamphlets
TV Series DVDs
Most DVDs and Blu-rays

14 days

New fiction books
Reading Olympics books

7 days

Video games
New DVDs and Blu-Rays
Hotspots
Launchpads

Placing Holds

Placing holds from home is quite easy:

Begin by searching for an item in our catalog. Once you have found an item you would like to place on hold, click the “Place Hold” link, as seen below:

You will be directed to the following screen. At this point, grab your library card and locate your card number (it begins with a letter of the alphabet followed by seven numbers). You will also need your Password. Follow the directions outlined below:

Make sure you choose Northampton as your pickup location.

If we have your e-mail address, we will send you an e-mail when your hold is ready to be picked up. If we do not, we will give you a phone call.
You may place up to 15 items on hold per card.

What Goes Into Placing a Hold?

Renewals

Most borrowed library items may be renewed a maximum of two (2) times. Please see our Loan Rules Table for additional details.

If there is a hold on an item, it may not be renewed.

* The patron should always confirm they have received NEW DUE DATES for renewed items. *

You may renew items over the phone or in person during the library’s operating hours. Do not expect items to be renewed by leaving a voicemail for library staff. You may also renew your items 24 hours a day by accessing your online account.

NEW SERVICE – March 1, 2025

When will this change take place?

Automatic Renewals will begin on March 1. That means all eligible borrowed materials due on March 2 will be renewed automatically at 9 PM on March 1.

What is Automatic Renewal?

You no longer need to manually renew some of your library items – our automatic renewal service will take care of the renewals for you! All items eligible for renewal will be automatically renewed one day before their due date (up to maximum number of renewals). Please be aware that not all items will auto-renew.

How does it work?

Any items on your account that are eligible for renewal will be renewed automatically at 9 PM one day before their due date.

How will I know an item was renewed?

You can check your due dates via your online account. Please note automatic renewals run at 9 PM the day before items are due.

If you have an email address associated with your account, you will receive an email notification the evening before your items are due. The email will list which items were successfully renewed and which items were not, if applicable. You can make changes to your email notifications via your online account, or by calling or visiting a Bucks County Library.

Which items are eligible for renewal?

Most physical items are eligible for renewal, as long as another patron has not placed a hold on the item and your account is in good standing. The number of allowable renewals differs per item type.

Items will NOT renew automatically if:

There is a hold on the item by other patrons.
The item has already been renewed the maximum number of times.
Your account has over $20 in bills, or your account is blocked or expired.
The item is part of a non-renewable collection, such as Lucky Day, magazines, etc.
The item was requested from outside Bucks County through Interlibrary Loan.

Can I still renew manually?

Yes. If you wish to renew an item prior to its automatic renewal date, simply renew it through your online account or speak to a staff member at any Bucks County Library. Manual renewals will extend the borrowing period from the date of renewal.

Can I opt-out of automatic renewals?

No, patrons cannot opt out of automatic renewals. If you do not want your items to auto renew, you can return them before the due date.
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Fines

Overdue fines are charged only for days the library is open.

$.25 per day for all items except movies and video games.
$1.00 per day for DVDs, Blu-rays, and video games.

Paperback books have a maximum fine of $3.00 per item. All other items have a maximum fine of $5.00 per item.

If an item is lost or damaged, the borrower is responsible for paying the full replacement cost of the item.

Parents are responsible for items borrowed by children.

As of June 2022: If a customer’s account has a balance of $25 or more, from either overdue fines or Lost Item replacement costs, for more than 59 days, the account will be sent to our Collection Agency for additional attempts at resolving the overdue account balance. The customer’s account will be charged an additional non-negotiable fee of $12.00.

We thank you for your support as this change takes effect.

Collection Agency

If an item is overdue for more than 59 days, your account will be forwarded to a collection agency and you will be charged a non-negotiable $12.00 fee. The collection agency will continue to attempt to collect the overdue items or the replacement costs of the items.

Privacy and Confidentiality

Privacy is essential to the exercise of free speech, free thought, and free association. Courts have upheld the right of privacy based on the Bill of Rights of the U.S. Constitution. Confidentiality of library records is a core value of library service nationwide. The Free Library of Northampton Township (FLNT) endorses the American Library Association’s Code of Ethics which states: “We protect each library user’s right to privacy and confidentiality with respect to information sought or received and resources consulted, borrowed, acquired, or transmitted.”

FLNT is governed by the Pennsylvania Library Code, Title 24, Chapter 16, which states:

The library and its staff do not disclose or distribute borrower circulation records, computer signup information, or other personal information to outside parties except as required by law or with the user’s authorization

This includes disclosure or distribution of information upon request by a parent or guardian for a child’s records or a family member for another family member’s records.