How Do I...

Answers to Common Library Questions

How do I get a library card?
Can my child get a library card?
What if I live outside of Andrew and Buchanan counties?
Can I use my St. Joe Public library card here?
So can I return books here that I got at another library?
I go to more than one library. How do I tell which books are yours?
What do I need to do to be able to use the internet computers?
Can I use my laptop to get on the internet?
What is my PIN number?
How can I see what I have checked out?
Do you have a list of what I've checked out in the past?
Can I renew my materials from home?
How do I place things on hold?
How do I use the library catalog?
How do I know what DVDs you have?
I want a book you don't have. Is there any way to get it?
I need some magazine and journal articles for a report. How do I find them?

Q. How do I get a library card?

A. Bring an ID into either branch of the library and fill out a registration form. In addition, if your ID does not have your current address on it, you will need to bring something that does. Even a piece of mail addressed to you will work.

Q. Can my child get a library card?

A. It is up to the parent as to what age their child can get a card. There is no set minimum age requirement. Children must be present to get a card and be able to sign the registration form. Individuals who are not legal guardians can not get a child a card.

Q. What if I live outside of Andrew and Buchanan counties?

A. Rolling Hills is funded by property taxes. Therefore, if you do not live or own property inside Andrew or Buchanan counties, there is a non-resident fee of $25 per year per household. We do have a reciprocal borrowing agreement with certain library districts in the area, so if you have a library card elsewhere check with us to see if your local library is on the list.

Q. Can I use my St. Joe Public library card here?

A. No. We are a separate library system. You will have to get a different card.

Q. So can I return books here that I got at another library?

A. The Belt Branch and the Savannah Branch are both part of Rolling Hills- you can return things at either branch. If you checked out things at Carnegie, Washington Park, Downtown or East Hills, they will need to be returned to St. Joseph Public Library.

Q. But I go to more than one library. How do I tell which books are yours?

A. All of our materials are marked with our address. Books are usually stamped on the title page. Other media will have a sticker on the front of the case. You can't go by the name of the library-- both Rolling Hills and St. Joseph Public libraries own books that are marked "River Bluffs Regional Library". The only way to tell the difference is to look at the address.

Q. What do I do to be able to use the internet computers?

A. If you have a Rolling Hills Library card, you can log in to our internet computers with your library card number (the long number on the back of your library card) and your password or PIN number. Minors under 17 will need to have a parental permission slip signed before they are able to log on. Patrons who do not have a Rolling Hills Library card can get a guest pass. An ID is required.

Q. Can I use my laptop to get on the internet?

A. Yes, we have wireless access throughout the library. You will be prompted to enter your library card number and password or PIN number on a log in page. If you don't have a library card, you can use your ID to get a guest pass.

Q. What is my password or PIN number?

A. Your password or PIN number was assigned to you when you got your card. Many of them were set to the word "password" by default. You can change your password yourself online or we can reset it for you if you do not know it. To change it yourself, follow the instructions on the front page of our library catalog.

Q. How can I see what I have checked out?

A. Go to our library website at www.rhcl.org and click on the catalog link at the top of the page. From there, click on "Log in to Your Account" in the top right corner of the page. You will be prompted to enter your user ID (library card number) and password or PIN number. A list of what you have currently checked out will be displayed once you log in.

Q. Do you have a list of what I've checked out in the past?

A. Yes. Log in to your account on our library catalog. Once you are logged in, click on the tab on the left side of the screen labeled "my reading history". The last 50 items you've checked out will be displayed. There is also a tab at the top that when clicked will list ALL items that have been checked out. The history will only go back until the date we got our new computer system- around September 1st, 2010. Staff can not access your account history. It can only be done by you through our library catalog.

Q. Can I renew my materials from home?

A. Yes, as long as they are not on hold for someone else. There is a limit of two renewals per item. Log in to your account on our library catalog. You can then click the "Renew" link next to any of the items you would like to renew or click on the "Renew All" button at the bottom of the list. If an item can't be renewed, there will be the words "Not Renewable" in the place of the "Renew" link.

Q. How do I place things on hold?

A. You can place things on hold from home by logging in to your account on our library catalog. From there, search for the item you are interested in. When you find it, click on the "Place Hold" link at the top right corner of the page. You can also call the library and we can place a hold for you over the phone. You MUST call the library to place "on order" materials on hold- you can not do this through the computer.

Q. How do I know what DVDs you have?

A. You can either browse the shelves or search the library catalog for "DVD" as a title. A list of our DVDs will appear with the titles most recently added to our collection at the top. We own thousands of DVDs, but they are very popular. If you want a certain title you will probably need to put it on hold.

Q. I want a book you don't have. Is there any way to get it?

A. It depends on how old it is. If the book was published in the last six months, you can fill out a card at the circulation desk requesting that we order it or make a purchase suggestion online through your library account. Then the librarian in charge of that section will decide to order it or not based on price, reviews, etc. If the book is older than six months, we can try to get it through interlibrary loan. This could take a couple of weeks and not all items are available. Forms for this are available at the circulation and the reference desk.

Q. I need some magazine and journal articles for a report. How do I find them?

A. There are several different ways to find magazine articles. If you are searching from home, the easiest way is to use one of our subscription databases. Click for a listing of our databases. Some will require you to enter your library card number and others can only be accessed from inside the library.