Policies
General Services
- Public access to the Internet is provided. (For our full Internet policy, click here.) A periodicals database provides access to thousands of periodicals and trade and professional journals.
- Copy-machine service is available for 15 cents per page. Copies may be enlarged or reduced.
- FAX service is also available. (Call library for rates.)
- Requests for materials we do not own may be made through interlibrary loan with the Electronic Information Network.
- Free income-tax assistance is available for senior citizens and low-income young adults.
- Friends of the Library meet the first Monday of the month at 7 p.m. at Harrison.
Membership
- Library membership is free to all Allegheny County residents.
- Residents of Westmoreland, Butler and other counties beyond Allegheny County may become members and check out materials at no charge, providing that a valid library card with a Pennsylvania Access sticker is shown.
- Non-resident fees, for non-Allegheny County residents without an Access sticker or for out-of-county residents desiring Internet access, are $25 for a personal membership and $30 for a family membership.
Borrowing Policy
- Most books are loaned for three weeks.
- Videotapes, audiotapes, new bestseller fiction, and high-demand nonfiction are loaned for one week.
- Back issues of most magazines may be borrowed for one week.
- Current issues of magazines do not circulate.
- Newspapers do not circulate and must be used in the library.
- Most books may be renewed once.
- Seven-day nonfiction books are high-demand books and may not be renewed.
- Books with a waiting list may not be renewed.
- Fines on books, audiotapes, and magazines are ten cents per item per day overdue.
- Fines on videos are one dollar per video per day overdue.