Library Services

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To receive a library card, you must live within the boundaries of the West Sangamon Public Library District, which are roughly the same as those for Community Unit School District #16. Any adult may come in and register, but kids 15 and under need to bring Mom or Dad.

The best option would be to go to your local library and apply for a card. If you don't live within a library district, you may pay the non-resident annual fee of $35.00.

To receive a library card, you must come into the library and fill out a short application with your full name, address, phone number and date of birth. There is no application fee for residents of the library district. The following forms of identification are accepted: driver's license with current address, tax bill, utility bill or voter's registration card. A parent or guardian must accompany a child age 15 or under to receive a library card.

Materials such as books and audiobooks have a loan period of two weeks.  DVDs are one week. Seasonal restrictions may apply.

The West Sangamon Public Library has a wide collection of books for all ages, as well as audio books on CDs and DVDs for all ages, including new hit films and current subscriptions to popular magazines. There is also a genealogy reference collection and local history collection. Large-print books and Talking Books are available for the visually impaired.

All overdue library materials are charged a fine of 5 cents per day. The maximum overdue charge for a book that is eventually returned is $1.00 for children's materials and $3.00 for adult materials. Renewals may be made in person, by phone (217-488-7733) or online, unless the book has been requested by another patron.

Outside of library hours, books may be returned in the book drop located in the north parking lot of the library. Books may be returned at any time in the book drop in front of the Loami Town Hall. You may also call the library and leave a message to renew items.  Check-in of books will be back dated to the last time each book drop was emptied to avoid overdue fees.

Library materials may be renewed in person, by phone or online. To renew materials online, one must set up an online account in person at the library. See "How can I check my account?" or use the link in the Common Questions area on our home page.  Only one renewal via our website is allowed.

Materials can be requested by filling out a request slip in person, by phone or online after setting up an online account in person. The West Sangamon Public Library belongs to the Illinois Heartland Library System, which is a consortium of approximately 594 libraries in downstate Illinois. Heartland covers 28,141 square miles. There are 38 Academic, 231 Public, 260 School and 65 Special libraries in our system.  Materials can be requested and usually arrive within a week.

The West Sangamon Public Library offers many special services to the community.

• A meeting room (13' x 17') may be booked free of charge to library patrons and their non-profit groups. Please call the library at 217-488-7733 to reserve the room. 
• Five computers with Internet access are available to the public with both black and white and color printing at $0.25 and $1.00 respectively per page.  
• A black and white photo copier is available at a cost of $0.25 per copy. 
• A fax machine (217-488-7744) is available to receive faxes for $1.00 per page and send faxes for $1.00 per transaction. 
• The library also has access to a collection of over 40,000 eBooks available online and on your home computer. Ask the circulation assistant on your next visit for more information on how to access the online eBook collection. 
• Home-bound Delivery service is available by calling the library at 488-7733.

Our friendly library staff is always available to help with your research and reference needs