Frequently Asked Questions

How do I find out what I have checked out?
Why can't I renew some items?
How do I get a library card?
What storytimes do you have for kids?
What magazines do you have to check out?
What are the loan periods?
What if I can't find a book (or movie, or cd) at the library?
Who can use the Internet?
How do I print my documents?
Historical Society Information

How do I find out what I have checked out?

Change your PIN - Your default PIN is CHANGEME. Please login using CHANGEME as your PIN. If you want to change your PIN click My Account and follow the instructions.

Renew items - You can renew items online as long as they have not been renewed before and as long as there is no reserve on the item. Go to My Account and follow the instructions to renew.

Review your account - You can see what you have checked out, when those items are due and what you have on reserve. Go to My Account and click on Review My Account.

Sign up for email notices - You can receive notices by email. Go to My Account and click on Get Library Notices Faster.

Why can't I renew some items?

Items that are on reserve for another patron cannot be renewed. Items that have been renewed once cannot be renewed again. If you have fines of over $10.00 the computer will not let you renew. If you have an item checked out that is six weeks overdue, the computer will not let you renew.

How do I get a library card?

To get a library card you must come in person to the library with the following IDs.

If you live within the incorporated Village of Glen Ellyn (you or your landlord pay property taxes to the Glen Ellyn Public Library) you will need:

Photo verification of your identity
Examples: valid school ID, valid drivers license, State ID card, passport
Documents with the same name, and current address (within the Village of Glen Ellyn) to establish residency in the incorporated Village of Glen Ellyn Examples: valid IL State drivers license, current utility bill with your name and address, checkbook with your name and street address (not P.O. box)

If you live outside the incorporated Village of Glen Ellyn (you or your landlord don’t pay taxes to the Glen Ellyn Public Library)

Verify that you do not live in an area that already provides tax-supported library service to you as a local benefit.
We can assist with this verification. Most library resources are available for loan to residents of other surrounding communities that provide library service.
Bring your current property tax bill or current rent receipt, with current address, to the Library.
The Library utilizes the "tax bill" method for calculating annual charges for full local library privileges, comparable to the tax bill paid by local residents. We can calculate this charge for you immediately.

For further information, contact the Circulation Services Department
at 630-469-0879.

What storytimes do you have for kids?

"Jump Start" (for babies 6 – 23 months old & parent) features classic nursery rhymes, finger plays, songs and books, all designed to help children develop listening and motor skills while learning language and story patterns. Since this is a one-on-one child & parent interaction, other siblings, cannot be taken into the story time. Children must be the correct age on January 17th.

3 – 5 Year Old Storytime is designed for children to attend alone. Because we gear this program for specific ages, please do not ask us to make exceptions.

4 – 7 Year Old Storytime is designed for young school age children, and includes stories, educational activities, and fun.

All Ages Drop-In Storytimes* (Parents and Siblings Welcome) are designed for families with multiple age groups to come together. This is an alternative for children who wish to attend storytime with a parent.

Toddler Time Drop-In* (Parents and Siblings Welcome) is a flexible storytime with more songs to appeal to a younger age group, although all ages are welcome to attend.

*Children under 3 must be accompanied by an adult.

click for more information...

What magazines do you have to check out?

Find an alphabetical list of periodicals owned by the library.
Search the magazine index General Reference Center(note: you must have a Glen Ellyn library card to search the index)

What if I can't find a book (or movie, or cd) at the library?

We have a variety of means to assist you! First of all, if you are looking in the online LINC catalog from our webpage, be sure to choose “All LINC Libraries” from the drop-down box next to “library” under the search box. This will check all of our local consortium libraries, and you can use your Glen Ellyn card online to reserve the item and have it sent here.

Is this a new item, by chance? The Library is unable to request new items (usually defined as 6 months or newer), however, we are always happy to consider your requests for purchase! You can speak to the Adult Services Reference Desk or click “Contact Us/Purchase Request” from the LINC catalog.

Not available on the LINC online catalog? You can also search other local libraries, such as Wheaton, College of DuPage, and Helen Plum (Lombard), by choosing “Other Resources” from the top of the page and then selecting “Other Library Catalogs”. You can use your Glen Ellyn card at any local library as long as you are in good standing (no fines and not expired).

Is the item you are looking for unavailable locally, and you’d like to research it yourself? Then try the Statewide Illinois Library Catalog (SILC) or WorldCat, which searches library catalogs across the United States. You can access these catalogs as above, from the "Other Library Catalogs" link. If you’ve identified an item, call the Adult Services Reference Desk and we can place an Inter-Library Loan for you, where the item is sent here and you can check it out almost as if it was an item we owned! The time that it takes to arrive and the check out time varies on these items.

You can also place your own hold through WorldCat, which will be forwarded to the Library. When you have identified an item you would like, click the link in the record which says “Borrow this item from another library (Interlibrary Loan)”. Fill out the form, and this will submit a request for us to follow up on.

Any time you need assistance, please contact the Adult Services Reference Desk, we’re always happy to help you locate an item!

Who can use the Internet at the library?

All Glen Ellyn library cardholders over the age of 18 may use the internet for up to 2 and a half hours per day. Glen Ellyn library cardholders under the age of 18 may use the internet with parental/guardian permission. Users of the internet under the age of 11 must be accompanied by an adult 18 years of age or older.

Nonresidents over the age of 18 may use the internet for up to 30 minutes a day. Stop at the reference desk on the second floor to get a guest card.

All users with a laptop may sign on to the library's wireless connection during normal library hours. Click here for more information about using wifi at the library.

How do I print my documents?

From the wireless:
It is possible to send a print job to the library from a laptop inside and outside of the library. Click on this link http://www.printspots.com/library-glenellyn
Cost to print is 10 cents per page for black and white copies and 50 cents for color copies. Prints are released from a print release station in the library. Print jobs will remain available for 24 hours.

In the library: On the print release screen, type in your computer name where it asks for the USERNAME (your computer name is located on the lower left corner of the computer monitor from which you sent the print job), then select OK.

Select by highlighting/checking each print job you would like to print.

Select PRINT in the top left corner, then scan your Library/Guest Card with the barcode reader.

Next, at the Keypad Device, enter your 4-digit PIN number, then press ENTER.
Note: The first time you are using your card to print, it will ask you to create a PIN. Enter a 4-digit number and press ENTER, then re-enter the same 4-digit PIN and press ENTER again.

Select YES or No to confirm cost of print job. Job is deleted after printing.

Cost to print is 10 cents per page for black and white copies and 50 cents for color copies.