Using the Library:
Applying for a Library Card • The use of other Libraries • Borrowing, Renewing, Placing Holds & Fines • Browsing the Library Catalog • ICONN.org • Lending Policies
Library Patrons and Cards
The Stonington Free Library is open to the public and anyone can use our materials and services in the Library. If you live in the Town of Stonington, including Pawcatuck, Old Mystic, and the Stonington side of Mystic, we are your hometown library. Identification which shows you live in Stonington (driver's license, utility bill, lease, etc.) is required to get a Library card. Residents of other Connecticut towns may be entered in our system and borrow materials when they bring their hometown library card and identification with them. If you are not a resident of Stonington or Connecticut you may get a card to use at the Stonington Free Library for an annual fee of $25.00 (effective January 1, 2008).
Use of Other Libraries
Stonington residents who have a Stonington Free Library card may, through the ConnectiCard system, be allowed to borrow items from any other public library in the state. Borrowers must present their current Stonington Free Library card and some proof of identification (such as a driver's license) to borrow materials at another library. They will be subject to the rules and requirements of whatever library they borrow materials from. Books borrowed at other Connecticut libraries may be returned to the Stonington Free Library, and Stonington Free Library books may be returned at other Connecticut libraries. We request that video and audio tapes be returned to the library from which they came. Stonington residents are also eligible to obtain library cards at the Westerly, Rhode Island, Public Library.
Borrowing Books
Books and other library materials must be checked out at the upstairs circulation desk. The length of time for which each library material may be borrowed is listed below:
- Books, Audio Books, e-books, & Magazines (back issues) - 21 days
- High Demand Books - 10 days
- DVDs - 2 days
- Videos - 10 days
- SWAP & FLIC DVDs (in sleeves) - 2 days
- Reference Books, Local History & Magazines (current issue) - do not circulate
- Staff Big Books - 21 days (only by school teachers)
Renewing & Placing Holds on Books
You may renew your books or place holds on books either in person, over the phone, or using the on-line Library Catalog and clicking on My Account. If you call us after hours and leave a message, please be sure to give us the cardholder's first and last name and phone number. In order to use My Account, you must have your library card number and PIN. Your PIN is a four-digit number created when you received your library card. If you do not have a PIN, please come to the library in order to create one.
Fines
Books are charged 10¢ per day.
DVD's are charged $1 per day; Videos are charged 50¢
The Stonington Free Library has an on-line circulation system that you may use to access the Library's catalog from home. You can see if the Library owns an item, check whether the item is in, and even place a hold on the item. To place holds, to see what materials you have checked out, or to renew items on-line, you will need to call or visit the Library to get a PIN (Personal Identification Number). The Catalog can be accessed through the menu at the left or by .
This system was funded in part by a grant from the Community Foundation of Southeastern Connecticut. The remainder of the funding came from a bequest from one of our patrons and memorial donations. Thank you to everyone who made this system possible.
Inter-Library Loans
The Stonington Free Library borrows and lends materials throughout the State of Connecticut via the ConnectiCard system. Patrons may request books from other libraries in the State, and, if available, they will be borrowed free of charge to the patron and shipped to Stonington. Patrons can now request books directly from other libraries in the state using the Connecticut Library Network's Interlibrary Loan process on the Internet. You can get there by or by following the link from our catalog. For more information on using this process, contact a member of the Library staff.
The State of Connecticut has made available to you a rich array of electronic information databases as well as the . These resources are available now over the Web at. Access them from any public library or from home using your library card number. See the Library staff for a list of the available databases or check them out at the web site.
Lending Policies
Members of the Library in good standing (less that $5.00 owed in fines and no overdue or lost materials) may borrow Library materials and request materials from other Connecticut libraries (Inter-Library Loan). The date items are due are stamped on the items borrowed; you may also request a printed list from the Circulation Desk staff. Some items borrowed from other libraries may have different due dates.
Independent Book Groups that register with the Library may request multiple copies of books for their members. . Back to Top
