Show All Answers

1. What do I need to get a Waterford Township Library Card?

You need to be a resident of or own property in Waterford Township or Lake Angelus in order to obtain a Waterford Township Public Library card.  Library cards are issued at the circulation desk. A valid ID showing your current Waterford or Lake Angelus address is needed at the time of registration. If your ID has not been updated or if you have not received your Michigan ID, we will accept documentation showing that you own or reside in Waterford or Lake Angelus or a utility bill dated within the last 30-days. All documentation must be in your name and show your current address.  

You can register for a library card remotely by completing this online application. Library cards issued remotely are valid for thirty days, but they are valid for three years upon on-site renewal.

2. What is my PIN?

All cards registered after May 29, 2018 have an assigned PIN of the last four digits of the telephone number that was provided upon registration.  If you cannot remember your PIN, please contact the library at 248-674-4831 and select option 2 from the menu to speak with a member of our Circulation Department.  Staff will need your library card number in order to reset your PIN. 

3. How old do you have to be to get a library card?

The decision to sign a minor up for a library card is at the discretion of the child’s parent or legal guardian (guardianship paperwork required at time of registration).  The parent or legal guardian must be present at the time of registration.  In situations where a parent is unable to bring their child into the library, the child may bring in an application completed and signed by their parent or legal guardian giving library staff permission to issue a library card to them.  Parents and legal guardians are responsible for items checked out on their children’s accounts and any fees incurred. 

4. Do I need to have my library card with me to check-out items?

It is a good idea to have your library card in case our computer system is ever down and we are operating in offline back-up mode.  However, most of the time, we can call up your account using a valid photo ID.

5. If I live in another community may I get a card to use your library?

Residents outside of the Waterford and Lake Angelus area that reside in a community whose library is a reciprocating member of The Library Network (TLN) cooperative can use their home library card at the Waterford Township Public Library.  In some circumstances, a 30-day temporary card can be issued to residents of such reciprocating communities to allow time to get a card from your home library.  For information on whether or not the library in your community is a member of our cooperative, please visit The Library Network website. 

6. May I return Waterford library items to another library, and may I return another library's items to the Waterford library.

Yes, you may return items to another library in The Library Network cooperative.  One consideration to keep in mind when returning items to a library other than where they were originally checked out is that not all library utilize the same computer system.  Patrons returning materials to a library that does not directly link with us could see a delay in the check-in process resulting in fines.

7. If I lose a book and have to pay for it, why do I also have to pay overdue fines?

If a Waterford item is checked out and lost, we will not ask you to pay any overdue fees associated with that item at the time of payment.  If materials borrowed for you from another library are lost, the decision to bill your account for the lost item and overdue fees is at the discretion of the owning library for that material.

8. Does the library accept donations of used books?

To learn what types of donations are and are not accepted by the library, please visit our Book Donations page.

Book Donations page.

9. May I check out the books that are on display in the lobby?

Books on display are able to be checked out with 1 exception. The books that are showcased behind the locked glass doors are sometimes unavailable because they are either from someone's private collection, or they are an integral part of the display. Any of the other books in the lobby area are available to be checked-out. Ask a librarian if you have any questions about the availability of any item. 

10. I am going on vacation. Is it possible to get a longer check-out period?

Yes. Tell the clerk at the Circulation Desk that you are going on vacation and will need the materials for a specific period of time. Most of the time we can accommodate your request, depending on the length of time requested, the popularity of the item(s), and whether or not they are owned by our library.  If the item was inter-loaned from another library, you will have to request a longer loan period through the owning library.