Frequently Asked Questions

Library Cards & Borrowing

  • How do I get a library card?

    Library cards are available from the Main Desk on the first floor. Proof of address (like a driver’s license or state ID) is required. Minors under age 16 require a parent signature. The process just takes a few minutes. We do not issue cards over the phone or by email.

    You do not have to be a Fond du Lac resident to get a FDLPL card. We will issue a card to anyone with proof of address. If you live out of state, you will receive a limited card (maximum 3 checkouts).

    Beginning November 2011, FDLPL will issue internet-only cards, which will be valid to access online resources and the library's internet computers, but cannot be used to check out materials.

  • How long are the checkouts? (DVD & Book)

    You may check out 7 DVDs for 7 days. You may check out 7 DVDs from the Adult & Teen collection and 7 DVDs from the Children's collection. All other materials may be checked out for 21 days.

  • How do I put a hold on something?

    1. When you find a title that you would like to place a hold on, click the PLACE HOLD button.
    2. Enter your library card number (on the back of your card) and your PIN (typically the last 4 digits of your phone number) and click LOGIN.
    3. Click PLACE HOLD again.
    4. Indicate which library you want to pick up the material from and click SUBMIT HOLD.

    Note that patrons are able to place holds themselves only on materials owned by FDLPL. If you are interested in placing a hold on an item owned by another library, you must contact FDLPL staff. Visit the Help or Reference desks, phone 920 929 7080, option 2, or email [email protected].

     

     

  • What is my PIN?

    It is typically the last 4 digits of your phone number. If that doesn’t work, call the Main Desk at 920-929-7080, option 1.

  • My card isn't working. Why?

    The three most common reasons a card isn’t working are:

    1. You have mistyped your account number. Just to be sure, retype it.
    2. Once a year, we require renewal of your account to verify your contact information. To renew, call the Main Desk at 920-929-7080, option 1.
    3. Account balances must be under $10. If you suspect your account is over $10, you may log in here to check your account.

  • How much do I owe?

    1. From the library’s homepage, click on MY ACCOUNT.
    2. Enter your library card number (on the back of your card) and your PIN (usually the last 4 digits of your phone number).
    3. The total will show at the top of the page near your contact information. Details of your fees may be found toward the bottom of the page.

    Extended use fees

    Overdue adult material: 10 cents/day
    Overdue children's material: 5 cents/day
    Overdue adult video: 50 cents/day
    Overdue children's video: 25 cents/day

    Maximum overdue fine/adult: $5/item
    Maximum overdue fine/child: $3/item

    Extended use fees can be paid in person at the Main Desk, with a credit card at the library's self-check stations or online: go to Your Account and enter your library account number & PIN, view your charges and follow the steps.

    10 days overdue: You receive a reminder
    30 days overdue: You receive a bill for replacement of the material
    45 days overdue: The bill is sent to a collection agency, and a $15 non-refundable referral fee is assessed to your account 

     

     

  • What do I have checked out?

    1. From the library’s homepage, click on CATALOG.
    2. Click "My Account" in the upper right.
    3. Enter your library card number and PIN (usually the last 4 digits of your phone number).
    4. Click on "Checkouts."

     

  • Is my hold in yet?

    1. From the library’s homepage, click on CATALOG.
    2. Click "My Account" in the upper right.
    3. Enter your library card number (on the back of your card) and your PIN (usually the last 4 digits of your phone number).
    4. Click "Holds."

     

  • The thing I want is not listed in the catalog. Can I still get it?

    We borrow materials from other libraries in the region, state and country. Contact the Reference Desk at 920-929-7080, option 3, for assistance.

  • How do I put a hold on a specific issue of a magazine or a particular disc of a DVD?

    1. When you find a title that you would like to place a hold on, click the PLACE HOLD button.
    2. Enter your library card number (on the back of your card) and your PIN (typically the last 4 digits of your phone number) and click LOGIN.
    3. At the bottom of the list of items, click the link in the message: “To notify library staff that you need a specific part of a set or a specific issue of a magazine, please click here.”
    4. Click on the box in front of the material you would like and indicate which library you want to pick up the material from and click SUBMIT HOLD.

    Be aware that these specific copy holds take longer than regular holds and do not show up on your hold list right away.

     

  • How do I renew materials? How many times? Why won’t it let me renew?

    You may renew materials one time only if no one else is waiting for it.

    1. From the library’s homepage, click on CATALOG.
    2. Click "My Account" in the upper right.
    3. Enter your library card number (on the back of your card) and your PIN (usually the last 4 digits of your phone number).
    4. Click on "Checkouts."
    5. Check the box next to the item(s) you want to renew and click RENEW. DVDs will be due 7 days from the day you renew them and other materials will be due 21 days from the day you renew them.|
    6. If the renewal did not go through, it means that either someone is waiting for that item or that you already renewed it once.

     

  • How do I renew my card?

    Call the Main Desk at 920-929-7080, option 1. Account balances must be paid in full before your privileges will be renewed.

Reading and Research

  • How do I find an obituary? (And no, I don't know when they died.)

    In order to find an obituary, you need a date of death.

    1. Did they die in the Fond du Lac area?
    2. If you do not know where the person died, try checking the Social Security Death Index.
    3. If the person did not die in Fond du Lac, please contact the Reference Desk for assistance at 920-929-7080, option 3. You will likely need to contact the county or state in which the person died. Click here for where to write for vital records information.

    If yes, check the FDL Public Library’s Vital Records database for an obituary listing.

    4. The library has the Fond du Lac Reporter and other newspapers back to the 1800s on microfilm. Once you know the person died in the Fond du Lac area and the date of death, you can search subsequent days of the newspaper for the obituary.

     

  • Do you have tax forms?

    Current-year tax forms are available from late January through April 15. Back years’ forms are available from the IRS and the Wisconsin Dept of Revenue websites. The library also has reproducible federal forms available. Please see the librarians at the Reference Desk for assistance.

  • What are Lucky Day titles?

    New releases often have long waiting lists. We buy extra copies of these titles as Lucky Day only; no holds allowed. If you find one on the shelf, it’s your lucky day. Lucky Day books may be checked out for 21 days and Lucky Day DVDs for 7 days. Lucky Days cannot be renewed. Please limit your Lucky Day selections to 3 at a time.

  • Can you recommend a good book?

    Our Readers page has several suggestions and links to lists of great reads.

  • How do I find a magazine article?

    From the library’s homepage, click on Resources, then Newspapers and Magazines. Select Badgerlink. To access BadgerLink, either type your key terms into the search box on this page or select particular databases to narrow your search.

  • How do I download an e-book?

    We provide access to two databases which include electronic books. The one you are interested in is Overdrive Media which includes ebooks, audiobooks, music, and video. The second is Netlibrary and contains research material which can be read on a computer but which does not allow transfer to an ereader at this time.

    Holds may be placed on the titles within Overdrive Media, but not within Netlibrary. Holds are placed on electronic books differently than other formats of materials we own that are listed in our catalog.

    Electronic books which are listed in our catalog and able to be checked out to your reader, or placed on hold, are accessed through Overdrive Media. From the library homepage, www.fdlpl.org, click on Readers. Click on Ebooks in the left menu. The Overdrive Media database will open. To download ebooks it is easiest to first scroll down the left column to Software and click on "Adobe Digital Editions". Click on "To download Adobe Digital Editions click here" which will take you to the Adobe site. You will want to download and install Adobe Digital Editions by clicking on "Launch". Keep track of the login and password you choose. Once this is downloaded you can return to Overdrive Media.

    On the Overdrive Media page, there is a box in the left column to type the title or "creator" of the book you want. Creator can be either author or reader if it is an audiobook. You can also scroll down the left column to "Currently Available Ebooks" or "View All Ebooks". On the right side of the entry for each book there is a line for "Add to my cart" or "Add to wish list" if the item is available to be checked out. If it is not currently available, the choices will be "Place a hold", "Add to wish list" or "Sign in to check availability". "Sign in to check availability" will let you know if there are additional copies of this title for Winnefox member patrons.

    When you have selected an ebook to download, click on "Add to my cart". Click on "Proceed to checkout". Use the dropdown menu to select "Winnefox Library System" and enter your library card number without spaces and your pin number which is usually the last 4 digits of your telephone number. You may have a total of six titles checked out at one time and you may choose to check the ebook out for 7 or 14 days at this point. When you download the book, Adobe Digital Editions will open and you can either read the book on your computer or plug in your ereader to click and drag the book to your device.

    Once the time is expired, you will not be able to open the ebook and can delete it from your reader or computer.

    If you have questions, feel free to email us or call the Reference Desk at 920-929-7080, option 3. 

  • Will my e-reader work with your e-books?

    Most popular e-readers, such as the Kindle, Nook, Sony E-Reader and iPad, will work with e-books available through Overdrive Media and NetLibrary.

    Follow these directions for downloading to a Kindle.

    Follow these directions for downloading to a Nook.

Meeting Rooms and Events

  • How do I book a room? Does it cost anything?

    The library has several meeting rooms available. For more information, please see our Meeting Rooms page. 

Miscellaneous

Print, Copy, Fax

  • Can I fax something from the library?

    Yes, there is a public fax machine in the Main Library near the Help Desk. The cost is $1.50 for the first page and $1 for each additional page. A credit or debit card is required, or prepaid fax cards can be purchased at the Main Desk. The library cannot receive public faxes.

  • Does the library have a scanner?

    The library has computer equipped with scanner and photo editing software. It’s located on the second floor among the internet computers and available on a first come, first served basis.

  • How much does it cost to print? To photocopy?

    Printing from the internet or microfilm computers is 15 cents per black and white page and 35 per color page. Photocopying prices are the same. Photocopiers on both floors have letter (8 ½ x 11), legal (8 1/2 x 14) and ledger (11 x 17) sized paper. Double-sided copies are 15 cents (B&W) or 35 cents (color) per side.

  • How do I add money to my card?

    You add money to your library card in order to print from the Library's Internet computers. Money is added at the SAM Automatic Payment Machine (APM) located on the second floor next to the copy machine. To add money to your card, select "Deposit to My Account," scan the card's barcode or enter the library card number using the touch screen. Enter your PIN, which is usually the last four digits of your telephone number. Once your account is displayed on the screen, you can add money to the cash box using nickels, dimes, quarters, or a one- or five-dollar bill. After you have added all the money you wish, select "Finish" and you will get a receipt. If there is money left on your card after you are finished printing, you may either leave the money for the next time you print, or you may get the change back by selecting "Change from My Account" then following the same procedure as adding money. Your change will be dispensed in the coin return of the money box. 

New phone numbers

Main number stays the same: 920-929-7080

  • Press 1 for Main Desk
  • Press 2 for Help Desk
  • Press 3 for Reference Desk
  • Press 4 for Children's Desk
  • Press 5 for Administration
  • Press 6 for Literacy Services
  • Press 7 for FDLPL Express
  • Press 8 for Hours
  • Press 9 for Spanish

To dial directly:
Main Desk
(920) 322-3920
Help Desk
(920) 322-3929
Reference Desk
(920) 322-3930
Children's Desk
(920) 322-3940
Literacy Services
920-322-3932

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