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Frequently Asked Questions

What is my Password/PIN?

You have a Password/PIN number:

When you register for a library card, the default PIN is the last 4 digits of your library card number. We strongly encourage you to change the PIN in the Account area. The PIN is a security measure between you and the library. Upon receiving the library card number and PIN, the system looks up the PIN on record and compares it with the received PIN. If they match, then you are granted access.

How can I change my Password/PIN?

Click “Account” from the Allegany County Library System website
Click “Log In” in the top right corner of the page.
Enter your library card number (Barcode) and pin number (PIN number is defaulted to the last four digits of your library card) or custom password in the designated areas.
Click “Log In” button below
At the bottom of the webpage, click on the blue “My Bookshelf” and the “Profile” tab.
Go to “Edit Profile” and click the “Change Password or PIN” box at the bottom of your profile.
Type in your current password, then type in and confirm a new password.
Click “Change Password or PIN.”

How long may I keep library materials?

	Loan Period	Renewal Limit	Quantity Limits
Adult Books & Audiobooks	21 days	3
Teen Books & Audiobooks	21 days	3
Children’s Books & Audiobooks	21 days	3
Interlibrary Loan	21 days	2
DVDs	21 days	3	40 per card
Magazines	21 days	3
Newspapers	Do not circulate
Paperbacks	21 days	3
Library of Things	7 days	0	2 per card
Chromebooks	14 days	2	1 per card

How can I renew items?

Please have your library card number available ready when renewing.

You can renew in-person, by phone and online.

Auto Renewal – Starting April 2, 2025!

We’re excited to introduce Auto Renewal, a new feature that will automatically renew eligible items on your account! Any item that is eligible for renewal will be automatically renewed before its due date.

Most items can be renewed up to three times.

Interlibrary loan (ILL) items can be renewed up to two times.

What prevents a renewal?

On your account: If you’ve reached the maximum number of checkouts or if there’s a block (such as an expired card or maximum library fine).
On the item: If it has already reached its renewal limit or another patron has requested it.

Best of all, Auto Renewal applies across all three regional library systems, so it will work no matter which county owns the item.

While Auto Renewal is a valuable convenience tool, patrons are still responsible for monitoring their accounts, checking for items that cannot be renewed, and for returning items on time. We encourage all patrons to log in to their library account to view their checked out items. See the login instructions in the “Online” section below.

In Person
Items can be renewed at the Circulation Desk of any Allegany County Public Library branch. Materials do not need to be with you to be renewed.

By Phone
Items can also be renewed by phone. To renew by phone, simply contact any branch and be prepared to give the librarian your library card account number so that he/she can access your record.

Online
You can renew books online from any computer with internet access:

Click “Account” from the Allegany County Library System website
Click “Log In” in the top right corner of the page.
Enter your library card number (Barcode) and pin number (PIN number is defaulted to the last four digits of your library card) or custom password in the designated areas.
Click “Log In” button below
At the bottom of the webpage, click on the blue “My Bookshelf” and the “Checkouts” tab.
A screen will appear with a list of items checked out on your account. On the right side of the screen click “Renew” for each item you would like to renew.
A green “Renewed Successfully” message will appear under the renew button to indicate that your item/items have been renewed. The due date will also be updated. If the item cannot be renewed, you will see a red message indicating why the item is not allowed to be renewed.

Can I renew at another branch?
You can renew materials at any Allegany County Library System location.

How long will my requested items be held for me to pick up?

Once your requested items are checked in at your chosen pickup branch the items will be held for you to check out for 10 days. After 10 days your items may be cancelled and made available for other patrons to check out. If you have any questions about your holds please contact the library branch.

Can I return borrowed items at any branch? Does the library have to be open to return items?

Library items can be returned at any branch in the Allegany County Library System. However, this does not apply to Chromebook or Library of Things loans, please return this equipment to the library that you received it from.

Book drops accessible from the outside of each library are available for your convenience 24 hours a day. All borrowed items can be returned in the book drops except for Chromebooks and Library of Things equipment. Please return Chromebooks and Library of Things equipment to a staff member at the circulation desk.

Does the library charge overdue fees?

The Allegany County Library System is fine-free, making library services more accessible to everyone. Research shows overdue fines discourage people from using the library while doing little to ensure materials are returned. By eliminating fines, we help more people access books, technology, programs, and other library services.

Will the library lose money by not collecting fines? No. Overdue fines account for less than 0.1% of the Library’s revenue. Patrons will still be responsible for the cost of lost or damaged items, and the staff can spend less time managing fines and more time serving the community.

What if I lose library materials?

An overdue notice will be sent for overdue materials. If the cost of the lost item exceeds $20.00, the patron’s library card privileges will be suspended until the replacement cost is paid. You can pay replacement cost for lost material at any time.

Are programs available for children at the library?

The library offers a variety of programs for children of all ages. For more information, please visit our Story Times and Events & Classes pages.

Can I access the internet at the library?

All branches of the Allegany County Library System have free public computers with internet access available during regular hours of operation.

You can type your library card number and PIN number in the spaces provided on the computer’s Welcome screen. You can also bring your own laptop, tablet, or other wireless device to use in the library. Please visit our Computers with Internet Access page for more information about using the computers and WiFi at the library.

Can I print or make copies at the library?

Each library location offers a self-serve photocopier. The George’s Creek and Westernport library photocopiers are able to perform the following functions:

Black & White Copies
Single Sided Copies
8.5×11” (letter) Copies

The Frostburg, LaVale, South Cumberland, and Washington Street libraries offer photocopiers with the following functions:

Black & White Copies
Color Copies
Single Sided Copies
Double Sided Copies
8.5×11” (letter) Copies
8.5×14” (legal) Copies

Copies are priced per side.

Black & White Copies: $0.25 per side
Color Copies: $0.50 per side

Please see our photocopying service page for more information.

Do I need a separate library card for each branch I may visit?

The Allegany County Library System library card will work at all six locations.

How can I access my patron account?

You can access your account 24 hours a day from the log in link located on the upper right corner of our website. Type your library card number and PIN number in the spaces provided. Your name will now appear in the upper right corner and you can click on your name to drop down the option to select ‘Account Portal’. Your account portal will show your contact information, items checked out and requested as well as saved searches and bookmarks.

How can I access my reading history?

Enable Reading History from your account by clicking on the pen icon next to your name in “Account“:

Click the checkbox for ‘Reading History’ to start keeping track of the items that are checked out on your account:

Click the Save button at the bottom of the window:

You can access your reading history 24 hours a day from the Checkouts & Requests link located in your account:

How can I order a book or DVD?

Books and DVDs can be put on reserve with a library card. To order a title you have found, Contact Us or follow the instructions below with your library card.

To place a hold using our online catalog at https://acls-wmrl.na.iiivega.com/ :

Search for the item you wish to place by using the search box at the top of this screen
Find the item you wish to place on reserve
Click the “Place Hold” button
Log in (if you haven’t already) with your library card and pin number (the default PIN is the last 4 digits of your library card number).
Choose the preferred pickup location from the drop-down list and click: “Confirm Location.” Once you have confirmed your pickup location, your request has been placed.

You will either receive an email or text message that your hold has arrived at that particular branch depending on your notification selection. Please Contact Us if you have any questions.

How will I know when an item I requested has arrived for me to pick up?

You can choose email or text notifications for your hold requests when you sign up for a library card at your branch. You will receive a notification when your requested item has arrived for you to pick up at your chosen pick up branch.

If you would like to change your notification method please stop in and speak to a staff member at the circulation desk.

You can also check your library account and see all your requested holds on our website:

Click “Account” from the Allegany County Library System website
Click “Log In” in the top right corner of the page.
Enter your library card number (Barcode) and pin number (PIN number is defaulted to the last four digits of your library card) or custom password in the designated areas.
Click “Log In” button below
Click your name in the upper right corner of the page.
Click “Holds” from the drop down menu.
Your Hold Requests with your place in line will appear for all items you have requested.

What is Interlibrary Loan?

Didn’t find it in our library catalog? Marina is the state of Maryland’s Interlibrary Loan service. Best of all, it is a free service! Interlibrary loan materials are checked out for 21 days at no charge with a valid Allegany County Library System library card.

If the library doesn’t own an item you want, you may be able to borrow it from another library system through an Interlibrary Loan in three easy steps:

Login to the Marina catalog
Find it! Search for the title, author, or keywords to find what you are looking for.
Get it! Place a request for it and wait for notification from us when it arrives!

Some materials cannot be requested through Interlibrary Loan:

Books on new and bestseller lists
Books that have not yet been published
Most reference materials
Multiple requests for a single title
Photocopies of magazine or journal articles over 50 pages in length

Audio-visual materials such as audio books, movies, and music are not available from several library systems in Maryland. Every effort will be made to obtain the material you request where available.

OCLC Requests:
If a title cannot be found by MARINA or if your request comes back unfilled, you may ask a library staff member about obtaining your materials from sources outside the state. These requests may be subject to a return postage fee.

For more information about Interlibrary Loan services, please see a library staff member.

Can I volunteer at a library branch?

Please see our volunteer page for information regarding volunteer opportunities at Allegany County Library System.

Can I donate items to the library?

Materials donated to the Library are received with the understanding that they are subject to the same selection, evaluation, and disposal criteria as materials acquired for purchase. Donated materials not added to the collection are not returned to the donor. Unused materials may be recycled or placed on the “Free to You” shelves. Generally, the library will not accept donations of textbooks, periodicals or reference works superseded by later editions.

Please contact the library branch before bringing any donations to a branch to arrange the donation of materials.

The library encourages contributions in memory of a person or persons. The donor may specify the general type of material that would be appropriate, the amount of contribution, and persons to be notified of the donation. An acknowledgement letter, recognizing the donor will be sent by the library. Each item will have a gift plate indicating the donor and in whose memory or honor the item is given. More information here: https://www.alleganycountylibrary.info/gifts-donations-and-memorials/