How Do I ... ?

To become a Friend of the Library visit the Friends website.

The library has Barnes and Noble Nook eReaders available for circulation to all valid MAIN Library cardholders 18 or older. Nooks are available in the Adult Department. The Nooks are pre-loaded with a selection of both fiction and nonfiction bestsellers. The Nook allows users to change text size to accommodate readers of both regular and large print books.

To borrow a Nook, visit the Circulation Desk and present a valid driver’s license or other form of government ID. A $20.00 refundable deposit is also required. Nooks are loaned out for four weeks and can be reserved by valid MAIN Library cardholders but must be picked up and dropped off at the Madison Public Library Circulation Desk only.  No book drop or other library drop off allowed.

MAIN

Borrowing by residents of surrounding communities is welcome. The Madison Public Library is a member of the Morris Automated Information Network (MAIN), which includes the Morris County Library, public libraries in Morris County, and Bernards Township Library which offers reciprocal borrowing by patrons of these libraries. Patrons are required to register for a library card at their home library and may use it at any of the MAIN libraries. Many of the circulation policies are common to all the network libraries.

MUF

The library is also a member of the Morris Union Federation (MUF); a reciprocal borrowing arrangement with the public libraries in Chatham, Morristown, New Providence, Berkeley Heights, Summit, Long Hill, Bernards Township and Bernardsville. Patrons carrying library cards from these libraries are welcome to borrow materials at the other MUF member libraries.

Open Borrowing

The public libraries in Morris County also participate in an Open Borrowing program, which includes some libraries in northern New Jersey counties. Patrons from these libraries are eligible to borrow from all participating libraries using their hometown library card. A list of the member libraries is available at the Open Borrowing website, and a copy is kept at the library Circulation Desk.

Please call the library at 973-377-0722 to see if we are currently accepting book donations.

If the book (or item) you want is checked out, you may place a “hold” for a copy of that book. When the book becomes available, the library will contact you with, your choice of, a call to your preferred telephone number or a notification via e-mail. You will then have 7 days to pick up the item from the library.

You can view and maintain your library account online through the MAIN catalog. You can view the items you have out, renew them, or place and manage holds.

To find your account, click Catalog at the top right of the page. Once you’re in the catalog, click on My Account on the blue bar. From the drop down menu, select Log In/Register. Enter your library card number and your PIN/password then click Log In.

You can also find your account by going to http://catalog.mainlib.org and clicking on My Account.

• New Books (previous 12 months): 2 weeks
• Adult Books: 4 weeks
• Adult Magazines (except current issues): 2 weeks
• DVDs, Video Games and Videos: 1 week
• Audiobooks: 2 weeks
• Nook eReaders: 2 weeks
• Museum Passes: 7 days
• Children's Fiction (J* and J) and Non-fiction: 4 weeks
• Children's Board Books, Picture Books and Easy Readers: 2 weeks

Employees of Madison businesses are entitled to a courtesy card. Courtesy card holders are entitled to borrow material at the Madison Public Library and the Morris County Library only. They may also place holds for pickup at the Madison Public Library but other libraries reserve the right to limit items sent for courtesy card holders. The library requires proof of employment (e.g. letter from your employer or a pay stub.) Courtesy cards are valid for one year and are renewed upon proof of continuing employment. Individuals who live in communities participating in MAIN, MUF, or the Open Borrowing Program must apply for a library card in their home library.  

Madison card holders can now borrow museum passes for free admission to the following museums in the area. Click here to get more information on exhibits.

• American Museum of Natural History
• Children’s Museum of Manhattan
• Frick Collection
• Grounds for Sculpture
• Imagine That!
• Intrepid Sea, Air & Space Museum
• Macculloch Hall Historical Museum
• Montclair Art Museum
• Morris County Historical Society at Acorn Hall
• Morris Museum
• Museum of Early Trades and Crafts
• Newark Museum
• New York Historical Society
• Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum
• Stickley Museum at Craftsman Farms

A $20.00 refundable deposit is required. Museum passes have a 7 day loan period and are available on a first come, first serve basis. The number of guests allowed free admission varies by museum. Click here to find out more about the Museum Pass Program.

The Museum Pass Program is sponsored by the Friends of the Madison Public Library in honor of Drew University.

On the My Account login page of the library catalog, click the link that says Forgot your PIN or Password? then sign in with your library card number. Your PIN/password will be sent to the email address that is on file in your library record.

If you’d prefer, you can bring your library card to the Circulation Desk where your password can be reset to a new one of your choice.

A library card (or NJ driver’s license for registered borrowers) is required to borrow materials from the Madison Public Library. The Library honors Madison Public Library cards, as well as those from other MAIN public libraries, the Morris Union Federation (MUF) libraries and Open Borrowing Program libraries.

• Obtaining a Library Card Madison taxpayers and residents are eligible for a free library card, offering full service in the Madison Public Library, as well as borrowing privileges in other libraries belonging to MAIN, Morris Union Federation and the Open Borrowing Program. The library requires identification showing proof of address (e.g. current tax/rent/utility bill; valid NJ driver’s license). A PO Box address is NOT acceptable as proof of residency. A resident library card is valid for three years. A library card may be renewed upon proof of current address.
• College Students (Undergraduates) College students living in University residence halls at Drew University, Fairleigh Dickinson University or the College of St. Elizabeth are only eligible for borrowing privileges at the Madison Public Library. The library requires proof of current college enrollment (e.g. tuition bill; current student ID). A student library card is valid for one year and may be renewed upon proof of continuing enrollment.
• Graduate Students Graduate students and their families living on or off campus are entitled to full library privileges and receive a regular library card.
• Madison Employees  Employees of Madison Businesses including the Shakespeare Theater of New Jersey, au pairs, nannies, and aides are entitled to a courtesy card. Courtesy card holders are entitled to borrow material at the Madison Public Library and the Morris County Library only. They may also place holds for pickup at the Madison Public Library but other libraries reserve the right to limit items sent for courtesy card holders. The library requires proof of employment (e.g. letter from your employer or a pay stub.) Courtesy cards are valid for one year and are renewed upon proof of continuing employment. Individuals who live in communities participating in MAIN, MUF, or the Open Borrowing Program must apply for a library card in their home library.

You may reserve the book in person, by phone or at the library. You may also reserve it (place a “hold”) online through the library web catalog. In order to place a hold/reserve a book, you must LOG-IN to the online catalog using your library card number and PIN/password. Your PIN/password may be the last four digits of your telephone number. If you do not know your PIN number, call the library to place your hold.

To renew materials, you have a few options:  1. You can call the Library at 973-377-0722, 2. Present the item(s) a MAIN Library Circulation Desk, or 3. log in with your barcode number (no spaces) and PIN/password onto the Library’s MAIN website  and click on My Account.

A lost or stolen library card must be reported to the Library Circulation Desk immediately. One free replacement card will be issued, with a $1.00 charge imposed upon any additional replacement cards.

Reservations may be made through the Reference Department (973-377-0722 ext. 212).

Reservations may be made through the Administrative Office (973-377-0722 ext. 221).

The library has public Internet computers with the full Microsoft Office Suite. Users need a library card from any library in Morris County or any Open Borrowing library to log on to use the computers. If their library cards do not work, temporary passes can be issued. Sessions are 2 hours and then 3 one hour sessions if enough PCs are available with a total of 5 hours per day. MAIN patrons receive 2 free black & white copies per day.

Visitors without library cards can get a temporary pass from the Reference Desk after showing ID.  Black & white printing costs $.15/pg  and color is $.25/pg.

To access databases online you will need your library card number (the 13 digit code from the back of any MAIN library card).

Click here to view the online databases available.

For further help call the Reference Desk at (973) 377-0722 ext. 212 or 213.

Unsecured WiFi is available throughout the building. Just connect to the Library Wireless network for free Internet access on your personal device. You do not need a password. We offer wireless printing from your personal device. Click here for more information on wireless printing.

Volunteer with the Madison Public Library

Volunteers are needed for a variety of library positions including:

• event support
• shelving & shelf reading
• clerical assistance
• reading partners
• homework help
• Read to a Dog
• local history & archives
• gardening/property maintenance
• special projects
• computer training
• teen advisory board
• advertising
• fundraising (see Friends of the Madison Public Library)

To volunteer please fill out a volunteer application listing your hours
of availability and preferred volunteer work.

• Volunteer Application (for volunteers 18+)FAQs
• Youth Volunteer Application (for students ages 14-17) - Coming soon