Ask Abby

Ask Abby

If you have a question about the library and what it has to offer, Abby probably has the answer. Below, you can find frequently asked questions at Tangipahoa Parish Library. If you have a question for Abby, you can send it to her here.

How do I get a Library card?

• Visit your local branch to fill out a registration card and bring your Driver’s License or State I.D. for proof of residency of Tangipahoa Parish.
• If the address on your photo I.D. does not match your current address, please bring a receipt for payment of rent or utility charges.
• Juveniles under the age of 18 must be registered by a parent or guardian who already has a library card.
• For non-resident individuals, adults and minors, who are Louisiana residents but do not reside within Tangipahoa Parish, a library card may be obtained with a valid Louisiana driver’s license as well as a letter from the individual’s home parish library stating the individual is in good standing with that library system.

How do I check my account?

• Call any Tangipahoa Parish Library branch and state your first and last name and they will be able to tell you information about your account.
• To check your account online:
  • Visit our catalogue page by clicking on the BOOKS, DVDs, or AUDIO bubble under the main slide.
  • Click on the LOG IN tab in the upper right corner of the catalogue home page
  • Enter your library card number as your username
  • Your PIN should be the first four letters of your last name, all lower case letters. If you have trouble with your pin, please call any of our branches and have them check your account and pin.
  • Once you are logged into your account, you have the option of viewing your account activity, meaning you can see what items you have checked out and when they are due.
  • You can also renew your items from your online account by clicking on the small check box on the right hand side and clicking RENEW.
  • While logged into your account, you may browse the catalogue and request items from any branches in the Parish and have the option to have the item sent to your preferred location.

Do I need to bring my Library card to the library to check out books, DVDs, audio-books, or to use the public computers?

• Yes, you must present your library card in order to check out materials and use the public computers from the Tangipahoa Parish Library. Anyone who lives in the parish is eligible to sign up for a library card. Library cards are FREE if you do not currently have a library card application on file with us.

Where Can I Use My Library Card?

• Your Tangipahoa Parish Library card is valid to use at any of our six locations: Amite, Hammond, Kentwood, Loranger, Independence, and Ponchatoula.

How Do I Get A New Library Card?

• As soon as you realize that your library card is missing, please contact on of our Tangipahoa Parish Library branches immediately. This way we can block your card in the event someone else finds it and attempts to use it.
• As soon as you are able to, visit one of our library locations to have a new library card issued to you. You will need to bring a valid driver’s license or State I.D. showing your current mailing address.
• Replacement cards are $1.00.

How Long May I Have A Book Checked Out?

• Books and audio books (books on CD) check out for two (2) weeks. DVDs and Magazines check out for one (1) week.

How many items can I check out at one time?

• For a library card that has an Adult status, you may check out up to twenty (20) total items. However, there is a five (5) DVD checkout limit. For example, you may check out 15 books, audio-books, or magazines and then 5 DVDs to reach your limit of items.
• Juvenile cards can only check out ten (10) items that include: books, audio-books, or magazines. Persons under 18 years of age are not permitted to check out DVDs.

Can I Return My Books After The Library Closes?

• Yes. Each library location has a book drop. Simply place your items in the book drop and we will check them in for you the next day.

Do I Have To Return My Books To The Branch Where I Checked Them Out?

• No. You may bring back your books to any location of the Tangipahoa Parish Library. Bring your books to the circulation desk or drop them in the outside book drop.

What Are the Library’s Late Fees?

• For all library materials, there is a 10 cent-per-day fine for each item not returned to the library on time (excluding laptops which are $10.00 per day it’s late). This fine accrues per item per day to a maximum of $5.00 for each item. If you renew your items, library fines will accrue again once the new due back date is reached.

Does the Library have laptops to check out?

• Yes. Each branch has both in-house, and take-home laptops. The in-house laptops are available for check out for a maximum of two (2) hours at a time, per day. The take-home laptops are available for check out for three (3) days.

How do I check out a laptop?

• You must have your Tangipahoa Parish Library card and your current Louisiana Driver’s License or State I.D. to present to the Library Assistant to check out.
• All library fines must be paid before checking out a laptop.
• Once cleared, the Library Assistant will have you fill out paperwork with a list of the rules and regulations of the laptops.

How much is the fine if I return the laptop late?

• For every day that the laptop is late, it will add $10.00 to your account. If it is not returned at least 3 days past the due date, law enforcement will be contacted to retrieve the laptop.

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