Borrowing / Renewing

Most items can be borrowed for three weeks and will automatically renew twice in three week increments if there are no holds (for a total of nine weeks). You can also renew items yourself in your Library Account.

After the loan period is over, items have to come back to the library for at least 24 hours before they go out to the same patron again. This allows library resources to be available to everyone on an equitable basis.

Note that some items (Museum Passes, Library of Things items, and VOX books) must be returned inside our building directly to our Circulation Desk. These items are clearly labeled. Other library items, including DVDs, may be returned to our outdoor book drop, or to any other Mid-Hudson Library System library.

Overdue/Damaged/Lost items

Almost all of the libraries in the MHLS, including EFCL, do not charge overdue fines for most items, however fees will be assessed to your account if items are lost, damaged, or are returned missing part. If any library item has been out for too long, we will charge you for its loss. Note that special items: Museum Passes, Library of Things items, and Vox Books DO still accrue late fees. These items are clearly labeled.

If you cannot find an item, alert us so we can extend the due date to give you additional time to try to locate it. If it turns up, the replacement fee will be removed from your account. If the item is truly lost, you will be charged for its replacement along with additional processing fees.

If you damage a book please do not attempt to repair it. We have staff trained in book repair, and special glues/tapes/etc. that should be used. If it is our item, will see if we can repair it. If not, we’ll most likely ask you to pay for the item as well as some additional processing fees.

We do not accept replacement items without approval from our Librarians. Please do not purchase a replacement for a lost or damaged item without first reaching out to us.

Lost or damaged items owned by other libraries will be sent to the owning library for their staff to evaluate.

Account Privacy

In order to protect your privacy, we will always ask you for your library card number. In person, we can use your Driver’s License in lieu of the card. Over the phone, we need the library card number. We take your privacy very seriously and go to great lengths to protect your right to read anything without anyone else knowing specifics. This even extends to your family members.

All of the information that you provide to us is kept for library use only. We do not retain a record of what you have borrowed (though you can track your own reading history by opting in at the bottom of your library account). Even your account’s PIN combination is not visible to library staff.

If you have the library card and PIN number, you can access any card in your family. If you are a parent or guardian, you will be linked to the minor’s account. We can link adult accounts (ie: husband/wife, adult/caregiver) with both present to give consent.