How do I get a Library Card?

You can find out about how to get a Library card here.

How many items can I check out?

You may have a maximum of 250 items checked out at any time. You may check out up to two Lucky Day items at a time, but only one Explore Pass at a time.

How long can I have an item?

The loan period for most items is three weeks with the following exceptions:

Book Club Kits: 6 weeks
WiFi Hotspots: 1 week
DVDs and Blu-Rays under 5 hours: 1 week
Explore Passes: 3 days
Most Library of Things items circulate for 1 week. Some special items circulate for 3 weeks.
Tonies and Tonieboxes: 1 week

You can renew most items up to three times, but only as long as nobody has placed a hold for the title. Renewals are for the length of the original lending period.

How can I renew items?

Renew items online, in the mobile app, by telephone, by email, or in person. Overdue charges are automatically added to your account if you renew an overdue item. Renewal loan periods start from the date of renewal, not from the original due date.

There is no grace period.

You may not renew:

Items with holds
Items previously renewed three times
Items in the Lucky Day Collection
Explore Passes: No holds or renewals are permitted for these Passes. A $50 late charge per day will be charged if the Pass is not returned within the checkout time.

Can I place items on hold?

Yes! You may have up to 100 holds at any given time. Holds must be checked out on the card that placed the hold. There is no charge for holds.

Place holds online, in the mobile app, by telephone, by email, or in person. When your items are ready for pickup, you will be notified by email, phone, or text based on your preferences. Change your preferences by contacting the Library or logging into your account.

Items are held for 7 days. Check your notice for the specific date. Call the Library to cancel a hold you no longer need. Holds not picked up in time are sent on to the next patron or put back on the shelf.

How do I pick up my holds and check out?

Here’s how it works:

Place your holds. Holds can be placed in the Library catalog or app. You can also give your Library staff at the Information desks a call at 262-532-8900 to place a hold for you.
Wait for the notification that your hold is ready for pickup. Log in to your patron account to monitor the status of your holds and to change how you’re notified. Email, text and automated phone call are your options.
Visit your Library during regular hours. There is so much to do. Grab something from Latitude Café, use the computers, make something in the Forge. Take a look at the event calendar.
Locate your holds. Holds are kept on the first floor, just off the lobby. They are shelved alphabetically by your last name and labeled with the first 4 letters of your last name, first letter of your first name, and first letter of your middle name, if provided. Signs are posted to remind you of this format. Special collection items will still be held and checked out with staff at the checkout desk. These include items like Wi-Fi hotspots, video games and some equipment.
Take your items to the self-checkout. The Library has 3 self-checkouts you can use. One in the open holds area, one at the checkout desk and one in the Children’s Library. Staff are also available to assist you at the checkout desk.
Scan your Library Card. You can use your digital barcode in the app, your regular card or even your small keychain card.
Check out your items. Almost all library items have an RFID tag that allows the checkout to happen without scanning the item barcode. Just place the items one at a time on the pad and watch them appear at the top of the screen, checked out to you.
Print, email, text or decline a due date receipt. If you choose no receipt, you won’t get a receipt in any format.

Headed out of town? Too much to read at this time? Reading a series in order and need #2 to come before #3?

The Library fills holds as fast as it can. If you’re headed out of town or just won’t have time for something, you can suspend the hold. In your holds listing, choose to suspend the hold until a date of your choosing. You’ll move your way up the list but be skipped until the date you chose – then it will start looking again for a copy to fill it. This won’t guarantee the hold will be filled on that date, but it could, so be careful what dates you choose or you could get everything all at once. You can easily reactivate a hold, too. You are in control.

What is the Lucky Day collection?

The Lucky Day collection contains additional copies of some of the most popular items in the Library’s general collection. Items from this collection are available on a first come, first served basis only. Find the collection in the Library’s lobby.

You may check out up to two Lucky Day items at one time. There are no holds on Lucky Day items.

It’s overdue—how much do I owe?

The fine for most overdue items is $0.10 per day, with a maximum fine per item of $10.00. The overdue fine for Explore Passes is $50.00 per day, with a maximum fine per item of $500.00. The overdue fine for Wi-fi hotpots is $10.00 per day, with a maximum fine per item of $100.00 The Library does not charge fines for days we are closed.

What if an item I check out is lost, damaged, or stolen?

It is your responsibility to take care of all the materials checked out to you and/or your minor children. Please report lost, damaged, or stolen items to the Circulation Desk.

Lost Library materials are charged the list price as the replacement cost. If the item is found and returned, the replacement cost is waived and you are only charged the daily overdue fee.

Damaged Library materials are charged the list price as the replacement cost.

If an individual part of an item is lost or damaged, and a replacement part is available, you will be charged the cost of the replacement part.

You are responsible for replacement charges even if the damage is found after you have returned the item.

Please note: Once a lost item is paid for, that item becomes your property. No refunds will be issued.

Charges may be incurred if an item’s programming and/or settings are damaged, amended, or reset by the Library patron.

How can I pay my fine?

Cash for charges of any amount.

Checks for charges greater than $2.00.

Credit card via the patron’s online account for charges greater than $5.00. Payments made online are subject to an additional fee.

My account is blocked—what does that mean?

All use of your card will be blocked if you owe fines/fees in excess of $5.00, or if your card is expired. Cards expire every 18 months to ensure we have the most up-to-date contact information. Other reasons for a blocked account may be issues with your contact information or items you recently returned.

What type of reminder notices can I get?

We send notices via email, phone, or text according to your preferences. Not all notice types can be sent in all formats. To choose an option, notify the Circulation Desk in person or log into your account through the Library catalog. Notices do not apply to digital checkouts. If you do not receive a notice for any reason, you are still responsible for returning your items on time and for paying any fines or fees.

Where do I return my items?

Return items to the return chutes located near the Circulation Desk in the Library. We also have outdoor, drive-up return chutes located north (right) of the front doors of the Library that are open 24/7/365. Some items must be returned to staff at the Circulation Desk – examples include Explore Passes, Hotspots, LoTs Items, Tonie Boxes, Tonies, and Wonderbooks.

My contact information changed—how do I update my account?

Change your phone, email and notification preferences by logging into your account through the Library catalog, or in person at the Library.

To change your mailing address, you must present a valid photo ID and proof of current residence in person. The address information can be on an updated driver’s license or a current piece of mail or digital utility bill dated within the last 90 days.

My Library Card is lost or stolen—what do I do?

Please notify the Library immediately if a card is lost or stolen, or if there is unauthorized use of your card. Upon notification, we will deactivate the card.

We will waive all fees and fines for unauthorized checkouts if you notify the Library that your card is has been lost or stolen within 7 days of the first overdue notice. If you do not notify the Library within 7 days of the Library’s first overdue notice, the cardholder or cardholder’s legal guardian is responsible for all fines and/or fees.

The fee for a replacement card is $1.00

What does it mean when my card is expired?

Library cards expire every 18 months to ensure we have the most up-to-date contact information for you. If your card is expired, you will not be able to check out Library material or access resources.

The options to renew your library card are as follows:

To renew in person:

Bring your library card (physical or digital) and a valid photo ID with proof of current residence. If your photo ID does not include your current address, also bring a current piece of mail. Examples of mail include, but are not limited to: water bills, electric bills, or lease agreements and should be postmarked within the last 3 months.
Children will be asked to show their library card and give their name, date of birth, address, and phone number. Parents or legal guardians may help by showing their valid photo ID with proof of residence.

To renew by email:

Email mfcirc@menomonee-falls.org and attach a picture of your library card (barcode side up) and a picture of a piece of mail with your current name and address. Examples of mail include, but are not limited to: water bills, electric bills, or lease agreements and should be postmarked within the last 3 months.
Include in the email your current phone number and mobile carrier if you receive or wish to receive text notifications.
Children’s cards can be renewed by emailing a picture of their library card and a piece of mail in their parent or legal guardian’s name.

In addition to the above:

Student cards will need the student to provide their Menomonee Falls school name and grade.
Those living in Milwaukee County or the Village of Germantown and working in Menomonee Falls will need to provide proof of employment in Menomonee Falls.

If you applied for a card online and your barcode begins with PACREG, you must visit the Library to complete the process and be issued a physical library card.

Can I be prevented from checking out materials?

The Library may choose not to check out items to any individual deemed to violate certain rules and regulations of the Library. Examples include, but are not limited to:

Destruction of Library property
Returning Library materials in a condition that is unsuitable for return to the collection (for example, excessive smoke smell or burns)
Behavior that is harmful to the Library patrons, staff, or collections

The Library reserves the right to require documentation before reinstating circulation privileges.

You may be prevented from checking out materials if your library card is blocked due to excessive fines or expiration.

How can I use the Library’s computers?

You need a library card to log in to our computers. If you are not eligible for a regular library card, you may get a resource card to use the computers. In town for the day? You may get a guest pass for the computers with a valid photo ID. Children and parents/guardians accompanied by their children can use the computers on the first floor. Teens can use the computers in the Teen Space. Adults may use the computers on the second floor that are not in the Teen Space.

How do you protect my privacy?

Patron Privacy Policy

Can I limit what my child is allowed to check out?

The Library does not have the ability to place restrictions on what you allow your children to check out. We encourage parents to accompany their children to the Library and/or have a conversation with them about their expectations. Parents of children under 16 years of age may have an email receipt sent to them each time materials are checked out on their children’s accounts. Additionally, you are able to load multiple library cards into the mobile app.

What is my PIN/password?

Your PIN or password are numbers you chose at the time you registered for your Library card. Usually 4 numbers long. When entering your Library card barcode, make sure to include all letters and numbers shown with no spaces.

I forgot my PIN/password.

If you’ve forgotten your password, reset your password here. If you don’t have an email address registered to your account, please contact the library for assistance.

Cardholder FAQs