How Do I?

Get A Library Card?

Anyone who lives, works, goes to school, or owns property in Plainfield may obtain a Library card.  Proof of any of the above will be satisfied by showing such documents as a driver’s license, utility bill, phone bill or an envelope mailed to your address.  Children in elementary school must have the signature of a parent or legal guardian to obtain a card.

Literacy Tutors and Students
All tutors and students in the Literacy Volunteers of America-Plainfield Literacy program are eligible for a Library card at no charge, regardless of residence.  Identification and proof of relationship to LVA-Plainfield is required.

"Reciprocal" Borrowers
For a list of  M.U.R.A.L. -- Middlesex Union Reciprocal Agreement Libraries click here.

Residents of Non-Reciprocal Communities
Residents of Westfield, and other communities whose libraries do not have an exchange agreement with Plainfield, may obtain a Plainfield Library card for an annual fee of $35. The card is valid for one year from date of payment.

All Plainfield Library cards are valid for two (2) years from date of issue.

LOAN PERIODS
Books and Audiocassettes (aka “Audiobooks" or “Books on Tape”)
14 days

Videos & DVDs
3 days for DVDs @ $3.00 per item
7 days for videos; most are $3 per item; There is a $1 charge for all JUV Videos.

Music CDs
7 days; no charge
                       

Renewals
Most books and materials may be renewed in person or by telephone for a two 2-week extension, except for high-demand fiction, DVD’s and videos.

Print Copies

The first two pages are free of charge, In order to print additional pages it is 25 cents per page. See the circulation desk to add money to your library account.

Put A Book On Hold?

Call 908-757-1111 x111 or see the circulation department.

Pay A Fine?

Adult books, ten cents per book per day
Juvenile books, five cents per book per day
Audiobooks, ten cents per audio per day
DVD’s and Videos, $1.00 per dvd or video per day

These charges include Sundays and holidays. When the Library is closed, books may be returned via the Book Drop located near the entrance. These fines should be paid at the circulation desk.

Do An Interlibrary Loan?

1. Go to the reference department and give them your name, address, the title of the book, and/or author.  You must have a Plainfield Library Card and reside in Plainfield.
2. The reference department will place a request to order the book from another library.  
   
   

Get a Pin?

To access your library account through the catalog:

1. On the iBistro Home Page, enter your Library Card Bar Code number in the box in the top right corner of the page.
2. In the box for PIN, enter the words CHANGEME as one word using all uppercase letters; do not use spaces.  If you received a PIN with your library card, use your assigned PIN instead of the words CHANGEME.
3. Click on the blue Login Bar located beneath the boxes for Library Card No and PIN.
4. Click on the "My Account" link in the menu bar at the top.
5. Under the bar reading "My Account," click on the "User PIN Change" link.
6. Your Library Bar Code number should appear in the box indicated.
7. Skip the "or, Alternate ID" box.
8. In the box, "PIN," once again enter the words CHANGEME (in all uppercase letters) or your assigned PIN; do not use spaces.
9. In the box, "Enter New PIN," type in a PIN number of your choice, 4-10 characters in length, using all numbers. DO NOT USE spaces, dashes or underscores.
10. Re-enter your new PIN in the box indicated.
11. To finish, click on the "Change PIN" button.
12. Click OK.

You can now use your Library Card number and PIN to review your account (click Review My Account on the My Account page) or renew items (click Renew My Materials on the My Account page).

To access the internet on the public computers in the library:     

1. Go to the reference department and give them your library card.

2. You create a unique 4 to 5 digit PIN (Personal Identification Number) that you can easily remember.

Send A Fax?

The library does not provide faxing services.  There are two services nearby:

Rapp’s Pharmacy 611 Park Avenue, Plainfield  Phone: 908-756-0008
US Speedy Printing 321 Park Avenue, Plainfield  Phone:  908-755-6660

Use A Meeting Room?

The Plainfield Public Library has meeting rooms of different sizes that are available to Plainfield residents and local groups without charge. An application for meeting room use may be obtained from the Young People's Room of the library or CLICK HERE FOR APPLICATION. The completed form can be faxed to the library at 908-754-0063.  This application specifies applicable fees and charges based on the nature of the event.

There are three types of rooms available:

1.  The Anne Louise Davis Room seats 100 to 120 people, depending on the room layout.  This room is heavily used for performances, exhibits, film and Power-Point showings, panel presentations, lectures and workshops.

2.  Conference Rooms accommodating 10 to 20 people are used mostly for committee meetings, board meetings, etc.  Assignment of rooms is made based on availability and the size of the group.

3.  Study Rooms.  These small rooms may be used by one to four people at a time for quiet study, tutoring, or other similar activities.  They are available on a drop-in basis.  Each room must be signed up for prior to use.  In order to sign up visit the Young People's Room on the lower level of the library. 

Meeting Room Regulations

1.    Rooms may be engaged for educational, civic, and cultural purposes, but not for sectarian, religious, or partisan political meetings.  Rooms are designed to meet general interests, such as lectures,  discussion groups, panels, concerts, readings, committee meetings and similar activities.  They are not suitable for classroom-style arrangements.

2.    Applicants must be adults and must be a member of the group making application.  A responsible adult must be present at all times.

3.    Rooms are not available for public use when the Library is closed to the public.  The library maintains a referral list of local meeting sites for those who find the library rooms unavailable or unsuitable.

4.    No admission may be charged under any guise.  Fundraising is not permitted on Library premises with the exception that books related to author talks and book signings may be sold.

5.    Groups engaging the meeting rooms may be charged a fee sufficient to defray the costs of equipment use, cleaning, etc.  Fees and rates(listed on the Meeting Room Application) shall be set by the Director and may be waived at the discretion of the Director.  Payment must be received one week before the event.

6.    The Anne Louise Davis Room will be set up with one head table and 50 chairs.  Groups making changes to this layout must put the room back in order at the end of their meeting.  Groups needing additional furniture must indicate this when making application; chairs and tables will be provided.  Each group will be responsible for doing their own setup unless they have requested custodial setup.  Groups using additional custodial assistance during a meeting will be charged for time.  The Library reserves the right to divide the Anne Louise Davis Room when necessary, but will make every effort not to inconvenience any group.

7.    All meetings must end no later than ½ hour before closing.  The meeting room must be vacated within 15 minutes after the ending time recorded on the Meeting Room Application, in order to clean and reset the room or for the Library to close.  Failure of attendees to vacate the room in a timely manner may result in an assessment for custodial overtime and may jeopardize future room-use approval.

8.    Approval for regular use of the room will be granted for once-a-week for a maximum of one month or once a month for a maximum of six-month intervals.

9.    Barring inclement weather or other natural disasters, cancellation by the booking group must be made no later than 24 hours prior to the scheduled event.  Should the Library close due to a weather or facility emergency, every effort will be made to notify the booking group, and fees already paid shall be reimbursed.  The Library shall bear no responsibility for costs incurred by the booking group.

10.    The Library does not allow food to be served in carpeted areas  Fees are based on the cost of cleaning, maintenance and undue wear-and-tear. The Library does not provide food service equipment.  A list of area caterers familiar with this facility is available but does not represent any endorsement of individual caterers.  Food carried into the carpeted ALD room from the lobby may result in a $450 assessment for professional carpet shampooing.

11.    Applicants are responsible for any damage to Library property.  The Library shall be the sole judge of the cost pertaining to damage or theft.  

12.    Misrepresentation by any applicant concerning the sponsors, content, purpose and/or audience of any scheduled event will be cause for barring future use of the space by that applicant and group.

13.    All flyers must specify that event attendees must park in the 9th Street lot.  Please cooperate in keeping the 8th Street lot available for regular library users.

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