Library Services

The Library is under the authority of a five-member Board of Trustees. One member is elected each year at the annual election in May. The term of office is five years. The library budget is proposed by the Board and is voted upon by the residents.

The Board of Trustees generally meets on the third Wednesday of each month at 7:00 PM at the Library. Please call the Library at 223-6228 to confirm the time and date or check the Community Calendar.

Members of the Board of Trustees are:

The Library is pleased to announce a new service that offers a quick and easy way to host a book discussion group: Book Club in a Bag. Each kit contains ten copies of a popular book and information about the author and book, including some discussion questions. Everything you need to help you run your own book discussion group is in the bag!

Click here for more information about this service. Call the Adult Reference Desk at 223-6228 with any Book Club in a Bag question.

BOOK DISCUSSION GROUPS

Monday Evening Group:

This Book Discussion Group will meet at the Library at 7:30 pm on the third Monday of the month (September through June).

This Book Discussion Group will meet at the Library from 2:00 pm to 3:30pm on Wednesdays once a month.

Limited copies of the books to be discussed will be available at the Library's Circulation Desk during the month prior to the meeting. Join the group - new members are always welcome! For a list of books and dates, see Adult Programs.

For suggested web sites about books, book reviews and book discussion guides, click here.

BOOK DROPS

We have convenient 24-hour book drops located around Baldwin, to save you time and gasoline. In addition to a new book drop, the Library parking lot entrance has a drop for audio-visual materials. Please do not place oversized books in a book drop but return them to the Library. Click here to see locations.

The Adult Computer Room and Teen Zone are now equipped with computers with access to the Internet and Microsoft Office 2003. There is also a dedicated computer for users who are visually impaired.

All users must register before using the computers. Baldwin and Nassau County residents may show their library card or a valid New York State ID with an address. Persons under 18 are required to have a parent or guardian register for them.

To improve your access to the Library's public computer terminals for Internet and word processing, software called SAM has been installed on the Library's computers.

SAM allows you to log on to our public computers with a library card from any Nassau County public library. You will be asked to create a PIN number which will become your personal account number along with your library card barcode, to use whenever you use the public computers at the Library.

If you don't have a library card, the Computer staff can print a guest pass for you to allow you a computer session when visiting the Library.

SAM tracks your computer session time and printing activity. As always, patrons can enjoy up to two one-hour computer sessions per day. Printing charges are 10 cents a page.

SAM requires prepayment of printing charges by allowing you to add money to your SAM account at the Department's Reference Desk or in the Adult Computer Room. Charges are automatically deducted from your SAM account.

Patrons may save documents to a floppy disc, cd or flash drive, or e-mail documents to their home to save printing charges.

If all of the computers are in use when you visit the library, SAM allows you to place your name on the waiting list at a computer terminal designated for this purpose.

We hope you enjoy easier access to the Library's public computers with enhancements that SAM provides.

We've expanded our computer training sessions!
In addition to Internet instruction, we now offer instruction in basic computer operation and training in Microsoft programs such as Word, Excel and PowerPoint. These one-hour sessions with a Library staff member are open to Baldwin Library cardholders 18 years of age and over. These user-friendly sessions will be paced according to your needs. Bring your questions!

Registration is required. Please make an appointment by calling Dennis Hernandez at 516-223-6228.

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The Baldwin Public Library is proud to announce that its Community Room has been named The Kevin B. Kamen Community Room to honor its outgoing President, who has retired from the Board of Trustees after 30 years of service. The Board voted unanimously to dedicate the Community Room in honor of Mr. Kamen at its June 2008 meeting as he was the person most instrumental in making possible the beautiful, full-service center of community activities that the Library has become today. Naming this space for him is a fitting recognition of his more than three decades of unwavering commitment and dedicated service to both the Library and the Baldwin community.

A dedication ceremony took place Saturday, October 4, 2008 during the Library's Fall Harvest Festival. See the pictures here.

The Library has three black and white photocopying machines and one microfilm/microfiche reader/printer available for public use. A fee is charged for each copy. An electric typewriter is available on a "first-come, first-served" basis. Please feel free to ask for assistance in using these machines.

Come see exhibits of art by members of the community and collections displayed in our showcase. Click on the What's New page to see who is displaying this month. If you are interested in having an exhibit or display at the Baldwin Public Library, please contact Sharon Bernard at 223-6228 for information.

Can't come to the Library? E-mail us your questions at info@baldwinpl.org. We'll respond to your questions within 48 hours (excluding weekends). We can provide short, factual answers to questions or give referrals to other sources where answers may be found. For assistance with more detailed or lengthy inquiries, please come into the Library, or contact the Reference Department at 223-6228. This service is for Baldwin Library cardholders only. Please include "Reference Question" as your subject and your library barcode number within your message.

Please look through our growing ESL collection, located in the Main Reading Room, which is down the aisle from the Reference Desk. Please ask if you are cannot locate these materials. The Baldwin Public Library is happy to offer assistance to anyone learning the English language. For beginning speakers, books and tapes are presented both in English and in respective native languages. For Spanish speakers, we have the entire 12 volume set entitled Inglés sin Barreras, an interactive resource that has both video and compact disc learning aids. We have color-coded--an index key is on the top of the ESL collection--other audio-visual materials by language. Please help us build our collection. If you have any suggestions for acquisitions, leave a note in a suggestion box and be sure to mark it "ESL". There are two suggestion boxes; one is near the Reference Desk and another is at the Circulation Desk. Help yourself to a copy of the crossword puzzle from the ESL newspaper entitled Easy English News (we have the editor's permission to distribute these to our patrons). The puzzle is on display on one of the ESL shelves. The newspaper is a good read, too!

Located on a shelf display within the ESL Collection are free copies of bulletins for the TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language) examination. These bulletins contain general information and 2008-09 registration forms for this test, which is sometimes required by schools and employers. For more information, please visit the TOEFL website at www.ets.org/toefl.

Please explore our "Adult Learning" books located within the ESL collection (in the Main Reading Room). These books help adults who have not learned how to read English, and can be used to complement materials from the general ESL collection. If you have any suggestions for items you wish the library to purchase, please drop a note in a suggestion box (there's one near the Reference Desk and another at the Circulation Desk.)

The Reference Desk can borrow books for you from the World Language Collection at the Hempstead Public Library. This collection contains books written in many different languages. If you are interested, please ask at the Reference Desk.

For assistance in finding or using these materials, call librarian Scott D'Accordo (223-6228) or stop at the Adult Reference Desk.

EXPRESS COLLECTION FOR BALDWIN PUBLIC LIBRARY PATRONS

As part of our effort to bring popular new titles to you, we have created a special collection of books called The Baldwin Express Collection. These books are located in the new Reading Gallery and have a gold star on the spine. The Baldwin Express Collection replaces our Rental collection.

FAX MACHINE

There is a public fax machine near the Adult Reference Desk. You may only send outgoing faxes; it cannot receive faxes. Payment can be made by debit or credit cards--we also sell prepaid fax cards at the Circulation Desk, in denominations of $1.50 (one domestic page), $3.50 (3 domestic pages), and $6.50 (6 domestic pages). International faxing is available as well. Unused balances on fax cards are good for 180 days from first use. Money cannot be reloaded on the cards. We cannot make refunds. Reference staff can assist you in the use of the machine.

Consider a gift for a special occasion, to honor a relative or friend's birthday or anniversary or in memory of someone special.

Give a gift of $10-50 to purchase a book, compact disc, magazine subscription or other item of your (or the library's) choice. Give a larger gift of $100 or more to help buy a special item. Establish a memorial fund in memory of someone special or make a bequest in your will.

Special Gift Collections at the Library are the Baldwin History Collection, the George Rothstein Memorial Music Collection (books, audio tapes, compact discs) and the Jennifer La Spina Memorial Puppetry Collection (puppet theatre for children).

Homebound Service is a free, personalized delivery of library materials to persons confined to their homes due to physical disability or illness. A Library staff member delivers and picks up items once a month. There is no "due date" and therefore, no overdue notices or fines on materials loaned to the homebound.

There are no age restrictions for eligibility, but you must have a Baldwin Public Library card in good standing. You must be temporarily or permanently homebound and unable to visit the Library. In cases of permanent disability, a doctor's note may be required.

You may borrow both regular and large type books, fiction and non-fiction. Specific books can be requested by title and we can assist you in choosing books based on your preferences. No bestsellers and no videos may be borrowed. Up to 12 items (subject to availability) may be borrowed at one time, but no more than three books on one subject (as determined by the call number) may be borrowed at one time.

Please call Betty Holup at (516) 223-6228 to get more information or to request Homebound Service.

When the Baldwin Library does not own books, recordings, books-on-tape, periodical articles or other Library materials that you need, an interlibrary loan system allows us to request them for you from other libraries. Receipt of the requested material varies from a minimum of three days to several months. As always, the Library staff is ready to assist you in making your request.

By having your library card "punched" for direct access, you may use any of the 54 libraries in Nassau County subject to certain restrictions. To qualify for direct access, you must be a registered borrower in good standing at the Baldwin Library. For more information ask at the Circulation Desk.

CIRCULATION POLICY

Approved: December 15, 1999
Adopted August 20, 2008
Amended September 17, 2008
Amended May 20, 2009

Every person who resides or owns real estate property in the Baldwin Public Library Service Area (Baldwin Union Free School District) is entitled to a free library card with all the benefits that may apply at any given time.

Acceptable forms of identification:

The following items are acceptable proofs of residency if they indicate a Baldwin Union Free School District address. Two forms of ID are required with name and address, together with a photographic ID. All IDs must be current.

--NYS motor vehicle license & state non-driver ID
--Alien registration
--NYS motor vehicle registration
--Armed Forces ID
--Employee photo ID
--Social Services ID
--School ID, bus pass, report cards (student)
--Utility bill (electric, gas, telephone)
--Credit card statement
--Bank statement
--Tax bill or receipt
--Rent receipt with address
--Mortgage statement
--House deed
--Paycheck with home address
--Passport

Warning: It is illegal for a person who is not a resident of the Baldwin School District to falsely claim a Baldwin residential address in order to obtain a Baldwin Public Library card.

1. Adult borrower cards are issued to residents 18 years of ages or older. Responsibility for the use of the library card rest wholly with the individual to whom it is issued (or if a minor, his parent).

2. Only you can use your library card, library cards are not transferable. Report the loss of a card immediately. A charge will be made for the replacement of a lost card.

3. If items are not returned in good condition you will be held responsible for the full cost of replacement, plus processing fees.

4. If a person returns a non-renewable item, another person from the same residence may not immediately borrow it.

5. You must be 18 years of age in order to borrow VHS/DVDs, CD-Roms, museum passes, and video games.

6. Direct Access - a punch on your library card will validate your card for Direct Access. This means that you may borrow library materials from other public libraries in Nassau County if permissible according to the lending library and return them to any Nassau County public library.

7. The Baldwin Public Library, in accordance with the Nassau Library System's Plan of Compliance to the Commissioner's Regulations 90.3, will allow card holders in good standing from other member libraries and those who hold a state mandated access card, the use of and borrowing privileges of its collection. Exceptions to this are:

A. DVD collection less than 6 months old
B. The Express Book Collection
C. Museum Passes
D. Magazines (except for Oceanside residents - reciprocal agreement)
E. Video Games
F. CD-ROMs

Juveniles:

1. A juvenile card may be issued to any child who can either sign his/her name or is between the ages of 4 and 18. A parent or legal guardian must sign the registration card and accept financial responsibility for all materials that are charged on that card (juveniles may not borrow VHS/DVDs, CD-Roms or museum passes). The parent or guardian must provide acceptable forms of identification for themselves (see 3.1) and must provide a birth certificate, baptismal certificate, adoption papers or school identification for the child.

2. The Baldwin Public Library does not attempt to censor juvenile materials borrowed by a juvenile borrower. The Library Board believes it is the right of the parent or guardian, not the Library to place limitations on materials their child may borrow.

"Works in Baldwin" Library Card:

To receive a "Works in Baldwin" library card, a person must provide two forms of identification with home address and prove employment in Baldwin with either a paycheck or letter from the employer. The card must be renewed yearly.

"Works in Baldwin" library cardholders are entitled to:
1. Borrow books, magazines, pamphlets, CDs, and audiobooks (excluding Playaways).
2. Receive reference service.
3. Use of the computers.

"Works in Baldwin" library cardholders are NOT entitled to:
1. Direct access stamp from BPL
2. Interloan service.
3. Reserves.
4. Borrow Express books.
5. Borrow Museum passes.
6. Borrow Playaways
7. Borrow VHS or DVDs (will loan materials older than six months with a library card from a Nassau County public library).
8. Video Games

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Access to the database of most Nassau County Public Libraries is currently available through ALISweb Millennium, our online catalog. The database contains more than 800,000 titles and 5.8 million items and tells users whether items are available or not. When using ALISweb Millennium, you can limit searches by keyword, author, title and subject to Baldwin holdings. ALISweb allows you to view your account using your Library card number and your PIN number. Baldwin patrons, with no outstanding fines or overdues, can electronically place reserves on items from any computer - 24 hours a day, seven days a week. For directions on how to place a reserve, click here.

To view your account, click Online Catalog on the homepage and then My Library Account. You will be asked for your name, your 14-digit library card barcode and a PIN number. The first time you log onto My Library Account, you need to select a PIN number, which is any combination of letters and/or numbers of your choice (we recommend at least four characters). At this time, enter your name, library card barcode and the pin number you want. Click "Submit."

Another page will open and you will be asked to type the pin number two more times to verify the number.

No food or beverages
No loud talking or disturbances
No cell phones except in book sale area and vestibules
No loitering
No running
No sleeping
No smoking
No spitting
No bare feet
No bare chests
No panhandling
No soliciting
No gambling
No bicycles, scooters or skateboards in building
No skateboarding on Library property
No abusive or obscene gestures or language
No radios, cassettes, TVs, etc. (headphones may be used as long as no ambient sound comes out of the headphones).
No destroying or defacing Library property
No animals except guide dogs and "hearing ear" dogs

Any behavior that is disruptive to Library use is prohibited. The Library reserves the right to ask any patron to show identification. Identification is not transferable.

People who violate these rules will be asked to leave the Library.

LIVE LIBRARIAN

Live Librarian is a service provided by the Nassau Library System to assist you with your Internet Search or questions regarding the use of our electronic resources. It is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Click on the above logo to begin.

The Library is both an educational and a recreational institution serving all ages and interests in the Baldwin Community. Its goal is to provide residents of the school district with a comprehensive collection of books, print and non- print materials, housed for ease of access. It seeks to provide all patrons with requested materials as expeditiously as possible. Through guidance and stimulation, the Library hopes to promote an enlightened citizenship and to enrich personal lives.

Baldwin Union Free School District residents have access to selected local and metropolitan museums. Some of the museums have provided the Library with a limited number of one-time only passes. In other cases, passes must be borrowed and returned just like a book. To make use of the program, individuals must have a valid Baldwin Public Library card in good standing and sign the Museum Pass User Agreement. To check on availability of the passes, please call the Adult Reference Desk at 223-6228. Click here for the list of museums and the borrowing policy.

MY READING HISTORY

Can’t remember if you already read a certain book? Want to make a favorites list? MY READING HISTORY is now available online through the ALISweb catalog. This feature allows you to track your personal reading history. Simply log onto the Library’s website, www.baldwinpl.org, click ONLINE CATALOG and then click MY ACCOUNT. After logging into your account, click the OPT IN link to activate the Reading History option. The system will keep track of items checked out to your account. You have the choice of managing your list by deleting items, or choosing OPT OUT if you decide to discontinue your participation. For detailed instructions on accessing your library account, click Reserves and Renew.

netLibrary is a collection of eBooks (electronic books) available to Baldwin Public Library patrons via the Internet. Users can search, borrow, read, and return eBooks over the Internet 24 hours a day, 7 days a week!

The Nassau Library System and netLibrary have arranged a trial of netLibrary eBooks for cardholders at all Nassau County public libraries. Baldwin patrons must register at the Baldwin Library's Reference Desk. netLibrary is available to patrons at Internet terminals in the library and from Internet-connected computers anywhere. Stop at the Reference Desk for more details about netLibrary, to request a demonstration of netLibrary, or to register for a netLibrary User Account.

The staff of the Baldwin Public Library can search for an obituary of a person who died in Baldwin if we are given the following information:

Any request without this information cannot be honored because the Library does not have enough staff for extensive searches in its town newspapers, which have to be searched manually.

Please e-mail requests or questions to Mr. Daly at info@baldwinpl.org, or call 516-223-6228.

With seven book clubs to choose from, there's something for everyone. Patrons can read Fiction, Non Fiction, Romance, Teen, Horror and Mystery. There's even a PrePublication Club - you can start reading books in your e-mail before they're even published. Now you can discover great books, even if you're too busy to visit the Library. To sign up for this service, click here.
For more information, please call Cathy Overton at 223-6228.

The fine for print and audio materials (books on tape or CD and music CDs) is 10 cents per day for adult materials, and 5 cents per day for children's and young adult materials.

Overdue fine for adult Express collection books is 25 cents per day after 7 days.

The maximum late fine for all print and audio materials (books on tape or CD and music CDs) is $5.00 in the adult, young adult and children's departments.

The late fine for adult and children's videos (VHS and DVD) and video games is $3.00 per day.

The maximum late fine for adult and children's videos (VHS and DVD) and video games is $24.00.

The daily overdue fine for museum passes is $5.00 with no maximum fine.

Failure to return materials and/or pay the fines on overdue materials will result in loss of borrowing privileges.

REFERENCE/INFORMATION ASSISTANCE

Reference assistance is available at the Baldwin Public Library whenever the Library is open. Please ask for help at the Reference/Information Desk.
Much of our reference service is also available by telephone. If you are unable to come into the Library and are in need of some answers, please call 223-6228. Although some reference work is best accomplished in person, we are willing to help out by telephone when we can.

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RESERVES (Baldwin Residents Only)

All materials, except new videos and DVDs (less than six months old) and Express books, may be reserved for your use. The Library Staff at the Reference Desk will be happy to place a reserve for you. Your first reserve will be free of charge. However, because of the costs incurred with this service, the Library must charge a small fee for each additional reserve payable when you place the reserve. The fee for reserves (after the first one, which is free) will increase to 25 cents effective July 1, 2007, due to the increase in postage rates.

Baldwin patrons, with no outstanding fines or overdues, can electronically place reserves on items from any computer - 24 hours a day, seven days a week. All reserves placed online will have a 25 cent postage charge. Continue reading for directions on how to place a reserve.

RESERVE ONLINE

Baldwin patrons, with no outstanding fines or overdues, can electronically place reserves on books, audio books, music CDs, and older (more than six months old) videos and DVDs from any computer - 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

1.   Click on ONLINE CATALOG, ALISweb Millennium, on our homepage, www.baldwinpl.org.

2.   When you find the title you wish to reserve, click "Request."

3.   Enter your name, 14-digit library card number and PIN number (click if you need directions to enter a PIN number for the first time).

4.   Click "Submit."

5.   Click "Submit requested item."

6.    The screen should then say, "Your request was successful."

You will be notified by mail when your item is available for pick-up. There is a charge for postage for the notice, due at time of pick-up. Reserves placed online will have a 25 cent postage charge.

Please note: The computer system automatically deletes a filled reserve after seven days. Please pick up your reserve at the Circulation Desk by the date on the card that is mailed to you or you will lose your reserve. We are sorry for any inconvenience.

There could be a considerable wait for bestsellers or popular items. If you are in urgent need of an item, it would be better to come into the Library to place the reserve.

If you have any questions, please stop by the Reference Desk, call 223-6228 or e-mail us at info@baldwinpl.org.

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New Service: Renew From Your Home!

Baldwin patrons who have no outstanding fines or overdue items can now renew books from anywhere electronically - 24 hours a day - seven days a week

To renew an item:

1. Go to the Baldwin Library’s homepage, www.baldwinpl.org, and click on “Online Catalog.” Click on “My Library Account.” The system will ask for your name, library card number, and PIN* (Personal Identification Number).
2. When you are in your account, the screen will have a link to the list of items you currently have checked out on your card. Click on this link. If there is a box next to the title of an item, it is renewable. Click on that box and then click on “Renew Selected Items.” You may also choose “Renew all.”
The system will not renew an item that has a reserve, or if it is non-renewal, such as videos or books on tape. It won’t renew an item more than once.

If you have any questions, please call the Reference Desk at 223-6228, or e-mail us at info@baldwinpl.org. We hope that you enjoy this added library service.

*PIN (Personal Identification Number)
The first time you log onto “My Library Account,” you need to select a PIN number, which is any combination of letters and/or numbers of your choice (we recommend that you use at least four characters). At this time, enter your name, library card barcode and the PIN number you want. Click “Submit.” Another page will open and you will be asked to type the PIN two more times to verify the number or word. Please call the Reference Department at 223-6228 if you are having difficulty with your PIN.

SERVICES FOR THE DISABLED

Books in Large Print
Magnifiers (Optelec)
Comtek Audio System
Talking Books
Homebound Delivery
Loud R - Hearing/Amplification Device

Special amplification devices are available for your use during Library programs. If you require this service, an American Sign Language (ASL) translator or other accommodation, please notify us three days in advance of the program. Call Catherine Overton at (516) 223-6228. The Baldwin Public Library is fully accessible to the disabled.

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SPANISH LANGUAGE BOOKS/LIBROS EN ESPAÑOL

Our collection of books in Spanish is located near the "ESL" section in the Adult Reference Room. Here you'll find popular novels, autobiographies and books on a wide range of subjects such as medicine, health and childcare.

Nuestra coleción de libros en español está localizada cerca de la sección "ESL" en el Cuarto de Referencia. Aquí se encontrarán novelas populares, autobiografías y libros de un gran variedad de asuntos como medicina, salud y cuidado de niños.

Algunos títulos nuevos son:

Inés del alma mía, una novela, por Isabel Allende

Para salvar el mundo, una novela por Julia Álvarez

La Huella, un nuevo caso de la Doctora Scarpetta, por Patricia Cornwell

La Isla de los amores infinitos, una novela por Daína Chaviano

El Mañana, memorias de un éxodo cubano por Mirta Ojito

Un Poco de ciencia para todo el mundo por Claude Allégre

We hope you'll visit our "Books in Spanish" section the next time you come to the Library.

Esperamos que visiten nuestra sección "Libros en español" la próxima vez que vengan a la biblioteca.

TALKING BOOKS

The Long Island Talking Book Library services all of Nassau and Suffolk Library Systems Talking Book patrons. Service to the patrons is by mail directly through LITBL. You can contact them at their toll-free number 1-866-833-1122 from 9 AM to 5PM, Monday through Friday or visit their website at www.litbl.org.

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