Augusta County Library Membership:

Patrons who register at any Augusta County Library location will be issued a Valley Libraries Connection (VLC) card. Patrons may use the VLC card at all Augusta County Library locations as well as the Staunton and the Waynesboro Public Libraries. Patrons who request a personal identification number (PIN) will be able to renew items and place holds from any computer via the Internet.

Library cards are free to all Virginia residents. If a child is under the age of 12, a parent or guardian must also apply for a library card. A parent or guardian must sign a child's application card if they are under the age of 12. The VLC card is good for two years.

The Library permits children access to all materials in the system. If you desire to limit your child's access to any library services, you should make this desire known to your child.

Books, CDs & Audio Tapes: Lending Period 3 weeks; Grace Period 1 week; Renewals: Once.

Videos (VHS & DVD): Lending Period 1 week, Grace Period 2 days; Renewals: Once.

Renewals: One time only. May be made in person, by phone call, or via the Internet (if the patron has a PIN number.)
Click on this link to renew. (If there is a hold (reserve) on an item, you will not be able to renew it.)

Limits: Books - 100; Videos - 6 DVDs and 10 VHS; Music CDs - 10; Audio books - 10; CD-ROMs - 3; Playaways - 3; Puppets and Kits - 3,
Leap Frog - 1 per card. Adult magazines DO NOT circulate.    top

Returning Materials:

Materials may be returned to any Valley Libraries Connection library--Augusta County Library in Fishersville, the Churchville Branch, the Deerfield or Craigsville Library Stations as well as Waynesboro Public Library and Staunton Public Library. There is now a book drop in the drive-through lane at the Augusta County Government Center in Verona.

Exception: Interlibrary loan (ILL) materials must be returned to the main library circulation desk in Fishersville.          top

Fines:

The day after the grace period ends, fines are charged at a rate of 10 cents per item for each day past the original due date.  The maximum fine per item is $2.

The day after an item is past due, e-mail notices are sent to patrons with e-mail accounts. (If you signed up for e-mail notification, you will not receive a printed notice.)

Patrons without e-mail accounts are mailed an overdue notice when an item is 2 weeks past due.

When an item is 4 weeks past due, patrons are mailed an invoice for the replacement cost of each long overdue item. If you find an item after you paid the replacement cost, the library cannot reimburse you.

Patrons are blocked from checking out materials at all Valley Libraries Connection locations if any item is 6 weeks or more past due and/or if they owe more than $6. Begining March 1, 2007, any account 60 days past due and owing $25 or more will be turned over to a collection agency and a $10 service charge will be added to the balance.top

Holds (Reserves): Limited to twenty per card and three per subject area.

Holds may be placed on materials owned by any Valley Libraries Connection library. To place a hold, call or visit the VLC location where you want to pick up the item. Patrons may also place holds via the Internet by using a personal identifican number (PIN) to access their patron account. Patrons who list an email address when they register for their library card will receive instant email notification. All other patrons will receive a telephone call. Holds not retrieved within one week of notification will be re-shelved.

Click on this link for instructions to place a hold on-line. top

Interlibrary Loans (ILL)

The Library accepts requests for interlibrary loans for books, magazine articles or microfilm/microfiche. The Library does not accept requests for videos, audio books, music cassettes, CDs or CD-ROMs. The Library requires $3.00 paid at the time of the loan request. The usual turn around time is 3-4 weeks. Interlibrary loan materials must be returned to the main library circulation desk (Fishersville).        top      

Computer Services:

The main library has wireless Internet access as well as broadband Internet access. There are six Internet stations, one Internet Express station, one word processing station, and three game stations. Only library-owned software may be used on the game stations. Three laser jet printers are connected to the public stations--printing costs 10 cents per page. Color printing is not available. Please see the Churchville, Craigsville, and Deerfield library web pages for computer services available at those branches.

Patrons must present their library card or driver's license to library staff before using the public Internet Stations, word processor, or game station in the main lobby. Patrons are not allowed to use instant messaging chat rooms on the Internet stations.

Time limits are: 10 minutes for the Internet Express station, 30 minutes for Internet stations or game computers, and one hour for the word processor.

Patrons are welcome to bring their own USB flash drives or 1.44 MB floppy disks. Patrons may purchase a floppy disk at the Reference Desk for $1.00. Hardware blocks patrons from saving files or downloading files from the Internet onto the hard drive. None of the public stations are equipped with Read/Write CD-ROM drives. The word processing station is the only station equipped with a zip drive. The library does not supply headphones to patrons--patrons may bring in their own headphones to listen to audio formats on the Internet.

The Library's Internet Policy requires filtering software on all Internet computers. top

Two early literacy computer stations are available in the main library's children's department.

Photocopier: Available at all Augusta County Library locations.
Copies are 10 cents per page. No color copying is available.top

Microform Reader-printer: Available at the Main Library in Fishersville.
A microform (fiche and film) reader-printer is available for public use. Copies are 10 cents per page.

FAX : Available at the Main Library in Fishersville and the Churchville Branch.
Patrons may send faxes at one dollar per page; a cover sheet counts as one page. Patrons may not receive faxes at the library.top

Art & Exhibits:

If you are interested in displaying your art, special exhibit, or crafts, ask at the Reference Desk, or call (540) 949-6354 or (540) 885-3961  or TTY: (540) 949-6144  top

Public Meeting Rooms:

Meeting rooms are available at the Augusta Main Branch on a first-come, first-serve basis for use by nonprofit cultural and civic organizations only. There is no charge for meeting rooms but donations to the Friends of the Augusta County Library are welcomed. Please call 949-6354 to check on availability.