Borrowing Policies
There are two ways to register for a Northland Library Card: online or in person at Northland. Online registration may require you to stop in to receive a permanent card.
All residents of Pennsylvania are eligible for a free library card. You may use your card at Northland or any Allegheny County public library.
To get your card, please present a valid form of photo identification and proof of your current address at the Circulation Desk located on the lower level of the library. People who live outside of Pennsylvania are welcome to purchase a membership at the rate then in effect. Children under 13 must have a parent or guardian sign their library card application. Teens ages 13-17 can register for a library card without a parent or guardian signature if they have photo ID and proof of address. A parental notification postcard will be sent to the home address.
By signing an application for a child or teen, the parent or guardian grants that minor permission to access all materials in the library, including the internet. The parent or guardian also accepts responsibility (including financial responsibility) for all materials checked out with the minor’s card. Please remember that you are responsible for all library materials borrowed on your card.
New to Northland? Read our Welcome Brochure, which provides orientation information.
Northland Public Library issues cards to individuals who desire to borrow our materials or access our services. The cards are issued in good faith and cardholders must accept and be bound by the accompanying rights and responsibilities. Northland reserves the right to suspend privileges if library policies outlined below are violated.
Within Allegheny County: All materials of county-wide libraries are available to all cardholders. You may check out or return most materials at any Allegheny County public library.
Outside of Allegheny County: Materials requested from libraries outside Allegheny County must be borrowed through the Interlibrary Loan process. Items returned to libraries outside the county borders may take longer to be received by the owning library. It is recommended that you ask about the return policy for those libraries to ensure that you are not incorrectly charged overdue fines.
Most DVDs/Blu-Rays, take home science in a box and magazines may be borrowed for 7 days. All other library materials may be borrowed for 21 days.
Some accounts expire every two years and must be renewed by verifying contact information– including address, the unique I.D. and preferences. Accounts for children under age 13 must be renewed by their parent/guardian. ***Note: The renewal process consists solely of an informational update in the library’s lending system. You will not be issued a new library card.
You can place a hold 3 different ways:
- Use the online catalog to search for the item and click on Place hold.
- Speak with a reference librarian in person or by phone.
- Through the Allegheny Libraries app!
Northland Library no longer charges overdue fines for items returned after their due date. Items borrowed from outside Allegheny County may be subject to overdue fines.
Patrons are responsible for the care of library materials in their possession. Items deemed damaged beyond repair will be billed to the patron’s card as a replacement charge. Fees of more than $35.00 may result in your card being blocked from use. Replacement items will not be accepted.
Library items that are lost or remain unreturned after six weeks from the due date are billed to your account. Fees of more than $35.00 may result in your card being blocked from use. Replacement items will not be accepted.
Refunds may be issued for lost item payments if the item is returned, in good condition, within 30 days of payment. Please take the item to the Circulation Desk to initiate a refund. Refunds will be applied to any outstanding balance on your account. Refunds of $5 or less will be issued in cash. Refunds over $5.00 will be mailed to the address listed on the library account.
Refunds for items owned by other libraries (not Northland materials) may be subject to different policies. You must contact the specific owning library for information on their refund policy.
To protect your privacy and in accordance with the Pennsylvania statute and our privacy and confidentiality policy, we cannot discuss your library account with any individual. If you wish another individual to pick up your items on hold, please let us know and we will list them as a proxy on your library account. The individual(s) will not have access to view the items on your account and will not be able to check out anything other than your reserved items. If you need to discuss your account by phone, you will be asked to provide your card number and verify your address and/or other information.
Most items may be renewed six times unless they have been reserved by another patron. Items which are not renewable include but are not limited to: “Lucky Day” books and DVDs, ukuleles, launchpads, hotspots and adult bestseller videogames. Interlibrary loans (ILLs) may only be renewed one time.
Renewals now happen automatically for eligible items! Checked-out items will be automatically renewed 1-3 days before their due dates as long as there are no holds on them and as long as the items have not reached their renewal limits. Please note that not all items will be automatically renewed; patrons are responsible for keeping track of due dates. Patrons with an email address attached to their library accounts will receive the following courtesy notice 1-3 days before their items are due: “This is a friendly reminder to let you know that the following items are due soon. Some of your items may have been automatically renewed for you. Please log in to your account to check the new due dates for these items and to check the status of any items that were unable to be renewed. Login to your account at https://acl.bibliocommons.com/.”
These emails may include information about which items were or were not renewed and information about due dates. Patrons are responsible for returning their items by the due dates.
Patrons who do not have an email address attached to their library account and who have opted to receive telephone notifications will receive calls only when they have overdue items.
Patrons also have the ability to opt-in to text notifications. Visit this page for more information.
Approved 11/26/19
Rev 5/23/2023
Rev 1/23/2024
Rev 8/23/2024
Rev 1/28/2025
Rev 4/28/2026