Frequently Asked Questions
50 total
This total may include up to:
- 10 New Release DVDs (DVDs that are new to our collection)
- 2 Bestseller Express books
- 5 video games
- 1 video game console
- 5 read-aloud books
If your card type allows check out of these material types.
Note: This total refers to physical items that you can pick up from our shelves and is only for card types (such as Full Access and Limited Access) that have physical borrowing privileges. Digital check-outs, such as ebooks, do not count toward this total.
50 total. Mix and match from the following:
- Up to 5 on children's Read-Aloud books
- Up to 10 on New Release DVDs
- Up to 50 on 14-day DVDs
- Up to 50 on print materials and sound recordings
- Up to 10 on downloadable audiobooks and ebooks
Note: If your card does not have video privileges, you may not place holds on or request DVDs.
All Lake County Public Library patrons are automatically signed up for automatic renewals! This means that eligible items will renew themselves instead of becoming overdue, without you having to log in or call us to renew them.
If you're signed up for email or text notifications, you'll also get an email or text reminding you that your items have been renewed or letting you know if they were NOT renewed. The notification includes the adjusted due date to help you avoid late fees. You can also sign into your account at any time to check on the status of your items.
14-day loan period items (books, older movies, tv shows, magazines, etc) may renew 6 times (as long as no one has a hold on them). Bestseller Express books and New Release DVDs are not eligible for renewal.
Yes! You can check out print magazines at any location. Full Access/Digital Access cardholders can check out digital magazines as well.
Go to the catalog and do a keyword search for the title of the magazine you're looking for. Use the 'Refine Results' feature to limit the format to 'Serial', then click Apply at the bottom of the list of options.
When you find the correct magazine, click the 'Find Specific Edition' button on its listing. This will take you to the listing page with an 'Edition Information' section.
Click the button that says 'Request Edition' (NOT the button that says 'Request Any Edition'). This will offer you a list of editions to choose from. Click 'Place Hold' next to the edition you want and follow the on-screen prompts.
There are several ways to find out this information! Checking the author's website is often a good choice. You can also try Novelist, a database of nothing but books and reading suggestions.
To find a series using Novelist:
- Go to Novelist and type in the name of the series in the search bar (For example, Dresden Files).
- Click the blue "Series" tab at the top of your search results.
- Click the series you were looking for. You will be taken to a page of information about the series.
- Scroll down to see books in the series in order.
Not all cities in Lake County contribute taxes to the Lake County Public Library; many belong to different library districts. If you do not pay taxes in one of our taxing districts, you are not eligible for a Full Access Card (see the different library districts of Lake County).
There are other ways to get Full Access Cards, however. Volunteers who contribute a certain amount of time to the library are eligible for special cards that provide full access among other benefits. Residents of other library districts may also subscribe to the library for $55/year (which is the amount that our taxpayers contribute!) to get full access.
Please see our Borrowing Privileges page for full information on what kind of card you can get.
You can pay online if your fines are $5 or more. Just log in to your library account, click 'My Bookshelf' at the bottom of the screen, and navigate to the 'Fines and Fees' tab.
Nope! If you have an email address on file with us, you can just go to the catalog, click Log In, then click "I forgot my passcode."
If you don't have an email address on file:
Grab your library card and give us a call.
We'll verify your library card number and ask a few other security questions, then we'll add your email address and send you the PIN reminder email.
If you don't have an email address on file and don't want one:
Grab your library card and give us a call.
We can reset your PIN over the phone after you answer some security questions. You can then change the PIN to something only you know by following these instructions .
50 total. You may mix and match from the following categories to total 50:
- Up to 50 14-Day DVDs (educational DVDs, TV shows, movies that have been in the collection longer than 5 months, etc.)
- Up to 10 new release DVDs (DVDs that are new to our collection)
Note: If your card does not have video privileges, you may not place holds on or request DVDs.
Here is a searchable list of all DVDs (just type the title where the * is in the search box.)
If none of the branches have the title you're looking for, you can make a purchase suggestion.
Check out our Purchase Suggestions page, complete with instructions and detailed Purchase Request FAQs.
Yes! Any DVD checked out from a Lake County Public Library (LCPL) location can be returned to any other Lake County Public Library location.
(Please Note: The Crown Point Library, Hammond Public Library, Lowell Public Library, East Chicago Public Library, Whiting Public Library, and Gary Public Library are not part of the Lake County Public Library system.)
Yes! Here is a list of all DVDs in the system. You can search this list by typing in the title of the movie you're looking for in the search box where the * is.
This list includes only physical DVDs. However, we also have many movies available to stream!
A Lake County Public Library Full Access library card in good standing. Patrons under 14 must have an adult with a Full Access library card who agrees to pick up and pay for the print job.
An .stl, .obj, or .thing file or the link to the item on Thingiverse.com.
Send your 3D print request to lab@lcplin.org.
3D print requests must include the following information:
1. First and Last Name:
2. Phone
3. Library Card #
4. Filament Color Choic
5. Print Resolution Choice
6. Amount of Infill Desired
7. An .stl, .obj, or .thing file or the link to the item on Thingiverse.com
8. Pick-up branch
The library charges $0.10/gram
After you send in your request, you will receive an email letting you know how much the print will cost and asking for approval to charge your library account.
Once we receive approval, we will charge your account with the cost of the print.
Payment is due at time of pickup.
Charges of less than $5 must be paid in cash or by check at a LCPL branch.
Charges of $5 or more can be paid by card online.
Yes. Library staff will notify you of the estimated cost of your print before it is printed.
You will need to approve this cost before the library will send the request to the printer.
The library has two 3D printers: the Dremel 3D45 and the BambuLab X1-Carbon.
Both have a single drive print head
The 3D45 can only use one filament at a time.
The X1-Carbon has an Automatic Material System to use up to four filaments at a time.
Both use 1.75mm filament
Both have a nozzle diameter 0.4mm
Heated glass bed (3D45)
Heated flex plate bed (X1-Carbon)
3D45 max build volume: 255 x 155 x 170mm (10" x 6" x 6.7")
x1-Carbon max build volume:256 x 256 x 256mm (10" x 10" x 10")
No. The library does not allow patron-supplied filament.
The library offers PLA, ECO-ABS, regular ABS, and PETG filaments.
ECO-ABS: black
ABS: black
PETG: translucent.
PLA: black, white, brown, gray, green, blue, purple, pink, red, orange, yellow, silver, gold
3D prints are created layer by layer. Print resolution determines how thin or thick each layer is. Thin layers will create more polished looking prints, while thicker layers will be more noticeable.
The library offers:
Low Resolution (0.28mm)
Standard Resolution (0.2mm)
High Resolution (0.12mm)
Ultra Resolution (0.08mm)
The level of infill determines if the printed object will be hollow or solid. Certain 3D models will require minimum amount of infill in order to print correctly.
The options range from 0% to 100%, with 20% being our standard option. We currently do not offer gradual infill.
Yes! Each of our branches have 3D printed swatches for the colors available. You can also visit the Libratory during its open hours to see sample prints with different amounts of infill.
Support materials will not be added without approval from the patron requesting the print.
Library staff will notify you if they believe your print will benefit from support materials. You will also be given an estimate of the cost with and without support materials for comparison.
If you approve the addition of support materials, you will be responsible for paying for the support materials in addition to the main print.
Prints can take anywhere from a few minutes to several hours.
Print time depends on the size of the object, the amount of infill, and the print resolution.
To ensure fair access to the library's 3D printing services, prints with estimated print times longer than six hours will not be processed.
Yes! If you would like to print a model with up to four colors please let our staff know in your request and they will schedule an appointment for you to digitally paint or assign the colors onto your 3D model in our slicing program. Please note that process of printing in multiple colors will increase the cost and time of the print.
If there are errors in the final print, the patron is still responsible for paying for what was printed.
Fees will only be waived or refunded for mechanical error.
The library does not currently offer classes on creating models for 3D printing.
Visit the Libratory page for some of our recommended courses and a list of other resources.
You can also set up a one-on-one appointment with staff to go over your file with you to evaluate it for any possible errors which might occur during the printing process.
It is not recommended to use 3D printed objects for food. We cannot guarantee the material or manufacturing process is food-safe.
Yes! Let us know where you would like to pick up your print, and we will send it out.
Please remember to bring in the library card used to request the print when you come in to pick it up!
You must pick up your print within two weeks from the time that we notify you that your print is ready.
After two weeks, you will need to contact the Libratory to make other arrangements for pick up.
If the print is not picked up within 30 days of the notification that it is ready for pick up, it becomes property of the Lake County Public Library.
Check out our full tutorial on making requests!
You can request digital materials to add to the library's Overdrive/Libby collection using Notify Me tags! Here's how.
Some things to keep in mind:
First, check our digital collection to see if we have the item. You should check both Overdrive/Libby and Hoopla.
If the title is not available in EITHER collection, search for it in Overdrive/Libby and add a Notify Me tag to the title.
Please note: If the title is available in Hoopla, we will not purchase it for Overdrive/Libby.
If we purchase the title, you'll be notified - but you won't be automatically added to the holds list. This is because you get unlimited Notify Me tags and we can't choose for you which titles you want to use your holds on!
Your tags are anonymous - we only see the number of tags on a title, not any information about you.
The library reserves the right to determine the best way to fill your request, while still delivering the item to you in as timely a manner as possible.
We are unable to purchase every title that is requested so we have created a set of criteria that will determine whether or not we will purchase a title for our collection. In general we consider the year of publication, community interest in this subject, and availability from our library vendors.
If we opt not to purchase a new item for the collection we will attempt to borrow it from another library for you. However, our success rate for securing items released in the last year is low. If the item you have requested is new and is not purchased for the collection, we may be unable to obtain it through Interlibrary Loan.
Some requests may take longer depending on how long it takes to obtain an interlibrary loan or make a purchase, however the average time to process your request is 3 weeks, though DVDs may take longer.
You can check the status of your request by logging in to your account on the library catalog. Click My Bookshelf in the lower left corner, then click Holds.
There is no charge if Lake County Public Library purchases your request for its collection. On occasion, when we borrow an item from another library, the library will charge us for the privilege. We will borrow from a library that charges fees only if you authorize us to do so, and only if there are no free libraries available. Fees are due when you pick up your item, when applicable.
You may submit 5 requests at a time. A request is anything submitted using your library card number, regardless who entered it. When a request has been canceled or filled and returned to the lending library, you may submit an additional request.
Always check the Lake County Public Library Catalog for the item you are looking for before you submit a request.
The library will not attempt to purchase titles unless they meet certain criteria and we may not be able to borrow recently published materials through Interlibrary Loan.
Items owned by public libraries are generally available at no charge. University and medical libraries often charge a fee. If there are no free lenders and you are not willing to pay a loan fee, your request will not be filled.
While the library does provide Interlibrary Loan service for free, there is actually a cost associated with it: the library pays shipping and transport fees and passes on none of that cost to you. As a courtesy, we do ask that you pay your fines before we pay to ship books for you!
We are happy to send your request to any of our 9 locations for convenient pick up. If you want an Interlibrary Loan delivered to a another library system, you must submit your request through that library's Interlibrary Loan Department.
The lending library determines the length of the loan. The items are not renewable.
Be sure to pick up your item as soon as possible after you receive notification. This will allow you to have it for the maximum loan period given by the lending library. The longer your item sits on the hold shelf, the less time you will have with it. Some items borrowed are only for use in the library and cannot be checked out, such as rare or fragile materials, microfilm, microfiche, and other special materials.
To check your pickup location, log in to your account and check your Requests.
You will be contacted by your preferred method of notification when your item arrives at your designated pickup location.
If we can not get an item for you, you will be notified in your patron account and your request will be changed to "Canceled".
In cases in which the status of your request has not changed, it is likely that we have purchased the item but are now waiting on the publishers. We often order items months before they are published; if you've requested one of these from our catalog and the item's release date was pushed back after we placed our order, your wait time may be prolonged.
If the library cannot obtain the title and will not be purchasing it, or if there is some delay in obtaining the title, a message will be posted in your account. Log in to your account from the library catalog, and check Messages.
Interlibrary Loan (borrowing)
Monday-Friday: 9:00 a.m.- 4:30 p.m.
Telephone: 219-769-3541, ext. 333
The Libratory is located in Merrillville Branch just down the hall from the Book Sale Room.
Our address is 1919 W. 81st Ave, Merrillville, IN 46410.
You can call us at 219-769-3541 ext 354, or e-mail lab@lcplin.org to get in touch with us.
Monday - Thursday: 10 AM - 8 PM
Friday: 9 AM - 4 PM
You can make a one-on-one appointment, use our drop-off conversion service, or send in a 3D print job any time.
Just email lab@lcplin.org to get started.
Only LCPL patrons with Full Access Cards or a Library Subscription Card in good standing are able to use the Libratory. Patrons under 18 require parent/guardian permission, and patrons 14 and under require parent/guardian supervision.
3D printing costs $0.10/gram for standard filament and $0.25 for premium filament, but there is no cost to use any other Libratory equipment or software.
You can bring your own jump drive to store your work, or jump drives with 16 GB of memory are available for purchase either at the Circulation Service Desk or in the Libratory for $8.00 each.
For film and audio conversions, DVDs and CDs are available for purchase for $1 each.
We have prepared easy-to-follow quick-start guides for our equipment! Knowledgable staff will be on hand to answer any questions you have after following the guide. We're also happy to help you find books or online tutorials for anything else you're interested in learning.
More into independent study? LCPL full access cardholders have access to LinkedInLearning, an online learning company that helps anyone learn business, software, technology, and creative skills!
No. If you lose an item, you are responsible for paying a lost item fee rather than replacing the item yourself. This is because library copies of books are more expensive than copies available for purchase by the general public. They have library bindings and are more durable than commercial copies so that they can be handled by hundreds of people without falling apart.
We also do not allow patron-provided replacements of any DVD due to the different versions available of each item (deluxe editions, availability of subtitles, differences in features, etc).
The lost item fee covers the loss to the library's collection and is based on the retail cost of the lost item plus staff time required to make a new item shelf-ready.
However, if you find a lost item, simply return it to us and we will be happy to refund the lost item fee!
Due to popular demand, faxing and scanning service is now available every branch! Learn more here.
Many banks have a notary on staff for their customers. Check with your bank to see if you can get something notarized there.
Downloading an eBook is slightly different depending on the device you're using. However, the first step is always to locate the ebook you want to read. Head to our ebook page to learn how. This page also has links to more specific instructions for our ebook check out services, Hoopla and Libby (aka Overdrive).
If you still have questions or experience an error, feel free to give us a call or come in for help. We're always happy to provide one-on-one device help!
People living outside of our taxing district can purchase a library subscription to access resident-only features (like ebooks or digital music).
The price of the subscription (formerly known as a fee card) is regulated by Indiana Code 36-12-2-25 (d) (scroll to page 15) but, to put it simply, it is the average amount each resident of our district contributes to the library in taxes each year. The current fee card price is $55.
If you are over 18, you may present a photo ID and get a guest pass for the day. If you will be coming back, you can apply for a computer-use only card. Speak to staff at the desk for either.
The library welcomes the free use of its meeting rooms for local non-profit groups. An adult LCPL cardholder in good standing must take responsibility for the group's use of the room, equipment, and conduct of members by signing a reservation and use agreement. That adult must be present at the library before staff will open the meeting room to the group, and he or she must be present throughout the scheduled meeting.
These are the basic guidelines. For more details, please see the full Public Meeting Room Policy.
You can fill out a meeting room application online.