NOTICE TO LIBRARY PATRONS

On Sunday, November 3, 2024, our website will be offline for maintenance. Anticipated downtime will be from 10:00am to 6:00pm, however it could be longer. During this time, access to our catalogue and digital resources will be unavailable. We apologize for this inconvenience.

HOME HEATING SUPPLEMENT PROGRAM (FURNACE AND STOVE OIL)

Library staff are available to assist patrons who would like to apply for the Home Heating Supplement Program (Furnace and Stove Oil). Please contact your local public library for more information.

Home Heating Supplement Program - Finance (gov.nl.ca)

HHSP Application Form

HELP SHAPE THE FUTURE OF EDUCATION IN OUR PROVINCE

Education Accord NL is working toward a 10-year education transformation and wants to hear from you to improve educational experiences in our province. Please take 15 - 20 minutes and share your thoughts by completing the Education Accord NL online survey at educationaccordnl.ca/survey. All responses from the survey are anonymous.

Visit our website for more information.
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Accessible Library Services

Collections

Audiobooks

Audiobooks are full-length recordings of popular fiction and non-fiction books available on CD. These items can be listened to on your computer or portable device and are available at many libraries.

eBooks and eAudiobooks

There are a variety of eBooks and eAudiobooks for children and adults that can be downloaded to a computer or portable device with a valid library card and PIN number. Visit our Digital Library for more information.

Large Print Books

Large print books are available at many of our library locations. Titles include a wide choice of best-sellers, fiction, and non-fiction. Some books are also available in French.

Signed Stories (ASL)

There is a collection of ASL (American Sign Language) signed picture books available through our Digital Library. With a valid library card and PIN number, you can access short streaming videos of picture books signed in ASL (also includes voice-over narration).

Video - Descriptive and Closed Captioned

Descriptive videos are films with special narration which describes the action, characters, costumes, locations, and sets to a viewer with visual disabilities without interfering with the movie's dialog or sound effects. They are available on DVD.

Closed captioned videos have subtitles that can be seen with a closed captioned decoder or with a built-in decoder on newer televisions. Most featured DVD's come with optional subtitles as well.

Services

Talking Books Service

Newfoundland and Labrador Public Libraries offers a Talking Books Service that is available province-wide. Patrons can request specific audiobooks, or have staff choose titles based on preferences. Audiobooks available through this service can be picked up in person at the A.C. Hunter Library, sent to the nearest library location, mailed to patrons at home, or delivered through the St. John's and Corner Brook Home Reader Service.

Borrowers of this collection must complete an application for this service and either have a CNIB number, or supply a doctor's note which describes and documents the physical, visual, or other concerns which prevent the customer from reading the regular print collection. Once the application is completed, please bring it to the A.C. Hunter Library or email to reference@nlpl.ca.

Centre for Equitable Library Access (CELA)

Newfoundland and Labrador Public Libraries offers access to the Centre for Equitable Library Access (CELA) collection for people who have difficulty reading print due to a visual, physical, or learning disability. CELA is a national not-for-profit organization focused on the creation, collection, delivery, and preservation of both digital and physical alternate format accessible materials for Canadians with print disabilities through public libraries.

As a member of CELA, we offer:

  • A growing collection of books and magazines for every age and interest
  • Format choice of audio, Braille, and accessible eBooks
  • Accessible online services for web reading and research
  • Material available in English or French, with expanding access to other languages
  • Patrons with print disabilities have free access to Bookshare titles through CELA’s site. Learn more about CELA’s and Bookshare’s collection

To be eligible for CELA services, patrons must have a perceptual disability as defined under the provisions of the Copyright Modernization Act, which includes:

  • Learning disability: an impairment relating to comprehension
  • Physical disability: the inability to hold or manipulate a book
  • Visual disability: severe or total impairment of sight or inability to focus or move one’s eyes

To receive CELA services, eligible patrons must register with CELA and have a valid NLPL library card. Patrons can either self-register using the Centre’s online registration form or contact Technical Services to get registered.

Once registered, patrons can access the CELA collection in a number of different ways, including:

  • Download books to your computer or mobile device
  • Download books to a DAISY player over a wireless connection without using a computer
  • Receive audio CDs or Braille through your local branch or by mail directly to your home

Educators who work with students with print disabilities in an elementary, secondary, or post-secondary institution may use their public library cards to access materials through CELA’s Educator Access Program. To learn more about this initiative or to register, visit CELA’s educator access site.

CELA Inter-Library Loan Policies
Available formats through the library are:
  • DAISY CDs delivered to your library or burn them on site
  • DAISY zipped files (transfer to a DAISY player on an SD card)
  • Direct to Player - pre-load your library's DAISY player with books
  • DAISY text (read using apps such as VoiceDream, transfer to a DAISY player on an SD card or on your computer)
  • Braille books, including picture books for children with braille (printbraille)

Home Reader Service

Available only in St. John's, Gander, Grand Falls-Windsor, and Corner Brook.

Are you unable to get out to a library due to disability or illness?
Do you know of someone who is in this situation?

The Home Reader Service delivers materials free of charge to residents in these communities if they are:

  • senior citizens who cannot visit the library
  • visually or physically challenged persons or
  • persons living in care facilities or seniors housing.

This service will deliver new books and take back previously loaned materials on a rotating schedule.

The service can bring you:

  • books in regular and large print
  • talking books
  • audio books

Contact the Corner Brook Public Library, St. John's Public Libraries, Grand Falls-Windsor Public Library, or Gander Public Library to register or to obtain more information about this service.

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eLibrary Guides & Support

It is important to us that you have a positive experience when using our eLibrary service. We have provided you with the following resources to help you get started and to help resolve most problems that you might run into.

eLibrary Support Options

If you are still having trouble after consulting the OverDrive help resources, please visit our Online Support Request System. Leave your details and a staff person will get back to you as soon as possible. Depending on the issue and staff availability it may take some time for a response.for additional help. Patrons should consult the OverDrive Help portal as a primary support option

Don't Have a Library Card?

If you would like to use our eLibrary and don't already have a Library card, you can quickly signup online. Click the Sign Up now button to start the online registration process.

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Become a Member

Get Your Free Library Card Today!

NLPL Library card

How to Get a Card

If you don't already have a library card and are a resident of Newfoundland and Labrador, you can obtain a library card from any library branch or you may register online for a library card.

Obtaining a Library Card at a Library Branch

Residents of Newfoundland and Labrador may obtain a library card from any branch with one piece of identification that contains a unique number (e.g. Driver's License, Student ID), as well as documentation showing your current home address.

Those under 13 years of age need a parent or guardian to sign the registration form, and to assume the legal responsibility for materials borrowed from the library.

To obtain a library card at a branch, please visit or contact your nearest public library.

Registering Online for a Library Card

Click the button below to be directed to the online registration form. After filling out the form, ensure your personal information is correct before submitting your application.

Your library card will be mailed to the address you have registered with. Should it be determined that the address is not in Newfoundland and Labrador or is a fake address, your registration will not be processed.

Upon obtaining your library card number, you can use the NLPL Digital Library to download ebooks and audiobooks, as well as read newspapers and magazines, and access other content.

On your first visit to a library after receiving your library card, you will be asked for an ID containing a unique number (e.g. Driver's License, Student ID), as well as documentation showing your current home address. Those under 13 years of age need a parent or guardian to assume the legal responsibility for materials borrowed from the library.

Borrowing Rules and Privileges

We assume the person presenting a card is the cardholder or has been authorized by the cardholder to use the card, unless the card has been reported lost or stolen.

Your library card must be presented to borrow materials and use computer services.

If your library card is lost or stolen, report it immediately by phone, in person or by e-mail.

There is a $2.00 fine for lost, stolen, or damaged cards.

Loan Periods and Fines

Item Loan period Max. Renewals Daily Overdue
Fines Per Item
Max. Fine
Per Item
Adult Books 21 Days 3 15 ¢ $ 5.00
 
Children's Books 21 Days 3 5 ¢ $ 0.50
 
High Demand 14 Days 0 15 ¢ $ 5.00
 
Adult CDs (music) 21 Days 1 15 ¢ $ 5.00
 
Children's CDs 21 Days 1 5 ¢ $ 0.50
 
Adult Audio Books 21 Days 3 15 ¢ $ 5.00
 
Children's Audio Books 21 Days 3 5 ¢ $ 0.50
 
Adult Videos/DVDs 21 Days 1 15 ¢ $ 5.00
 
Children's Videos/DVDs 21 Days 1 5 ¢ $ 0.50
 
Magazines 21 Days 1 15 ¢ $ 5.00
 
InterLibrary Loans 21 Days 1 15 ¢ $ 5.00
 
Note that each renewal is considered another loan period!

Visit our online catalogue to access your account to renew your items.

Fines

Note: Overdue fines are charged for each day the library is open. The maximum overdue fine can be exceeded by these amounts if the borrower has the item overdue more than once.

You are responsible for the full replacement costs for any books, magazines, audiobooks, CDS or DVDS that you lose or damage. In the case of a damaged multi-set CD/DVDS you will be charged the cost of replacing the complete set if we cannot purchase replacement copies of the damaged disc. Your borrowing privileges will be suspended until you pay the full amount of this fee.

  • Borrowing and computer privileges will be suspended if you have more than $5.00 owing.
  • You are responsible for all items checked out on your card and for any charges on items that are overdue, lost or damaged. 
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Literacy Clearing House

The Provincial Literacy Clearinghouse has over 2,000 books, videos and other items of interest to anyone involved in literacy. This collection can be used by new learners, tutors and researchers. It includes materials once held by the Literacy Development Council of Newfoundland and Labrador. The Provincial Literacy Clearinghouse is located in the A.C. Hunter Public Library in the St John's Arts and Culture Centre.

What is in the Clearinghouse?

The Provincial Literacy Clearinghouse has books and other items dealing with:

  •  Adult Basic Education
  •  Family Literacy
  •  Workplace Literacy
  •  Seniors' Literacy
  •  Literacy Programming
  •  Program Development
  •  Research

How can I use the Clearinghouse?

If you are within driving distance of St John's you are welcome to visit the A.C. Hunter Public Library and browse the Provincial Literacy Clearinghouse. The library staff will be happy to help you find what you are looking for.

If you are living elsewhere in the province you can search the Provincial Literacy Clearinghouse by using the Internet from your home or your nearest public library.

The Provincial Literacy Clearinghouse can be searched through the Newfoundland and Labrador Public Libraries' website and clicking on "Search the Library Catalogue":

  • If you are looking for a particular book, report, video, etc. and know the author or the title, try searching by "AUTHOR" or "TITLES".
  • if you know part of the title of a particular book, report, video, etc., try searching by "TITLES - Looking for Keywords(s)".
  • If you are looking for all items on a literacy subject, try searching by "SUBJECT HEADINGS" or "SUBJECTS - Looking for Keywords(s)" using Literacy. This will display a list of subject headings on literacy that are in the online catalogue.
  • By "double clicking" on the lists of authors, titles or subjects displayed you can see detailed information about items in the Provincial Literacy Clearinghouse.
     

I'm not near St John's, how can I get something in the Provincial Literacy Clearinghouse? 

If you live in a community with a public library - or live near a community with one - go to the public library and ask the librarian for help. She will request the item from the Provincial Reference Collection for you. The item will be mailed from St John's to the public library and the librarian will call you when it arrives. This is a free service of the public library.

If you cannot easily go to a public library, you can telephone, e-mail or write to one of the following regional resource libraries:

 Western Newfoundland
 and Labrador

 Central Newfoundland

 Eastern Newfoundland


  • Labrador
  • Northern Peninsula
  • West Coast
  • South West Coast

Corner Brook Public Library
4 West Street
Corner Brook, NL
A1H 6J8
Tel: (709) 634-0013

E-mail:
wcbill@ill.nlpl.ca


  • North East Coast
  • Central East
  • Central West
  • South Coast

Gander Public Library
6 Bell Place
Gander, NL
A1V 1X2
Tel: (709) 651-5354

E-Mail:
ggrill@ill.nlpl.ca


  • Avalon Peninsula
    (outside St John's)
  • Bonavista Peninsula
  • Burin Peninsula

Mount Pearl Public Library
65 Olympic Drive
Mount Pearl, NL
A1N 5H6
Tel: (709) 368-3603

E-Mail:
ampill@ill.nlpl.ca

Where can I get more information about the Provincial Literacy Clearinghouse?

Contact: Emily Blackmore

Lending Services Librarian
A.C. Hunter Public Library
Arts and Culture Centre
St John's, NL A1B 3A3

Tel: (709) 737-3317
E-mail: eblackmore@nlpl.ca

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DVDs and Video

Everything from Academy Award Winning movies to British television series to hard-hitting documentaries can be found in the DVD and Video collection of Newfoundland and Labrador Public Libraries.

The main collection of DVDs and Videos includes:

  • General Interest Movies and Television series
  • National Film Board (NFB)
  • Newfoundland Interest

DVDs and Videos can be borrowed by any person residing within the Province of Newfoundland and Labrador for a period of 21 days (3 weeks). There is a limit on DVDs and Videos of 6 items at a time.

Please contact a library near you for more information about our video collection or use our online catalogue and search using the DVD/Video keyword function to limit your search to DVD and Video materials.

Contact us