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Lake Station-New Chicago 219-962-2409 2007 Central Ave. Lake Station, IN 46405 Map Mon, Wed: 12:30 PM–8:30 PM Tues, Thurs: 10:00 AM–6:00 PM Fri, Sat: 9:00 AM–5:00 PM Sunday: CLOSED The Lake Station-New Chicago Branch library is located right next to City Hall on Central Avenue in Lake Station. Built in 2007, the branch offers twelve Internet computers, WiFi, a quiet small group room, three cozy window seats to curl up and read in, copy/scan/faxing, as well as thousands of books, audiobooks, magazines, movies, and music selections for your borrowing enjoyment. Beginning computer users can schedule a one-to-one computer class with our librarians covering a variety of topics. Entertaining and educational programs are available for library users of all ages. All are welcome at this small town library.

Social Media Adopted by the Board of Trustees of the Lake County Public Library - 04/24/2025 Back to List Lake County Public Library on Social Media Lake County Public Library (LCPL) social media exists to allow patrons and the library to share ideas and information and to communicate with each other in a way that is convenient to our patrons. Content posted by the Library will be geared toward LCPL patrons and residents of Lake County, Indiana. Content may include but is not limited to library information, information relevant to the region, answers to reference questions, links of interest to patrons, and content shared by users. The Library encourages everyone to participate by sharing ideas, articles, or photos; commenting; liking; and sending messages relevant to library services and collections. Inappropriate content will be removed. Posting inappropriate content to LCPL social media (including in comments) may result in a user being banned from the page. Inappropriate content includes but is not limited to: Offensive content or language which targets gender, sexual orientation, disability status, racial groups, ethnic groups, or religious groups Links to offensive or hateful content Obscene, discriminatory, threatening, or harassing language Defamatory or libelous content Obscene or offensive photos Plagiarized content or content in violation of copyright, trademark, or other intellectual property rights Spam, commercial promotion, and advertisements Political campaigning and other organized political activity Content which endangers other persons, including private or personal information (doxxing) When a social media platform permits individuals and groups to contribute their own content (such as posting on the library's Facebook wall or page), these posts are independent of the library. Posts to the library's social media made by entities other than the library are not endorsed by the library. The Library encourages everyone to share their views in a manner respectful to the other patrons visiting the page. Criticism, feedback, debate, and opinions are welcome when expressed in a cogent, constructive manner. When contributing to a public discussion, keep in mind that social media may be viewed by persons of any age when choosing your language. Removal and Blocking Patrons who violate the Library’s Rules of Conduct may be blocked or banned from our social media account and/or have their posts removed or hidden. Patrons who will be blocked will be contacted via the social media platform in question and informed of the reason for their blocking and the duration of the block. Patrons who wish to challenge their block may file a request for resolution . Disclaimer The Library does not control and is not responsible for content on third-party sites. The Library cannot guarantee the persistence of hyperlinks pointing to third-party sites, or the continued availability or accuracy of content on third-party sites. Back to List Adopted by the Board of Trustees of the Lake County Public Library - 04/24/2025

Imagination Library Co-Sponsors These generous community leaders have made Dolly Parton's Imagination Library available to hundreds more children in Lake County, allowing us to expand the program far beyond our original capabilities. The Imagination Library would not be possible without them! Interested in becoming a sponsor or co-sponsor? Check out our donation page! Platinum Level Sponsors Gold Level Sponsors Tom Sourlis and Susan Eleuterio Silver Level Sponsors The Acorn Gates Book Club Sandra Karottki Janice Richey

The Lake County Public Library participates in E-Verify. E-Verify Poster English E-Verify Poster Spanish If you have the right to Work Poster English If you have the right to Work Poster Spanish Thank you for your interest in working at the Lake County Public Library. Our mission is to provide the highest quality informational, educational, cultural, and recreational resources and services to the diverse communities in the Lake County Public Library district. The Lake County Public Library is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate against applicants or employees on the basis of race, age, sex, national origin, religion, disability, sexual orientation or any other unlawful basis. Applicants whose qualifications best match the requirements of the position will be contacted. Although an initial offer of employment with the Lake County Public Library is for a certain position at a certain location, the Lake County Public Library reserves the right to reassign an employee based upon the needs of the library system. We offer competitive employee benefits to full time and part time employees! Employee Benefits (PDF) See Openings & Apply Online Library Jobs

Scanning, faxing, and copying can all be done at the same machine! These machines are available at all locations. The Basics Our machines are designed to print only 8.5" x 11" paper. All of them accept cash or credit/debit and are self-service. Cost: Scan : $0.05/side Fax : $1.00/page Color Copy : $0.25/page B&W Copy : $0.10/page PLEASE NOTE : The library cannot provide change or break bills! However, the coin boxes will provide change if you do not use the full balance inserted. You must use coins, $1 bills, or $5 bills. Other Features • Single or duplex printing • Scan to PDF, USB, or email • Print PDFs, JPGs, or TIFFs from USB Library Lover Tip : If you don't need a hard copy of a document, consider going green and copying it to USB or email instead of to paper. Special Book Scanning Station: Several of our branches provide a different type of scanning service. These scanners do not have print capabilities; they are designed for patrons who wish to make digital copies of books or documents. Scanning to PDF on these machines is free. Learn More How Do I Use This Thing? 1.) Submit payment - A $0.20 minimum is required to use a credit or debit card. - A $20 hold will automatically be placed on your credit or debit card and will be removed if you use less than $20. How long the hold remains on your card depends on your bank/credit card company. - Cash box accepts up to $20 in coins, $1 bills, or $5 bills. No pennies, please! - If you reach $20 worth of scans/faxes/copies you'll need to start a new session for the remainder of your pages. - We cannot provide change or break bills. - The cash box will provide change if you don't use the full balance inserted. 2.) Insert USB if you plan to use one. If not, go to step 3. 3.) Choose the function you need: Copy : Copies and prints a paper document. Fax : Faxes a paper document to the fax number you enter. Email : Emails a digital copy of a paper document to the address you enter. Flash Drive : Prints a paper document from a file USB or scans a paper copy to a digital format to be saved on a USB. If you need more detailed instructions for any function, just check the sign posted near the machine you are using! Copy, Scan, and Fax at the Library

How do I make a Purchase Request or an InterLibrary Loan request? Check out our full tutorial on making requests!(https://www.lcplin.org/purchase-requests) How can I request an ebook or digital audiobook? You can request digital materials to add to the library's Overdrive/Libby collection using Notify Me tags! Here's how.(https://b6bd57a2-d41b-4154-baa4-e3076e5a7073.usrfiles.com/ugd/b6bd57_cc2f49f4d73b4d198e852262ee0f8dce.pdf) Some things to keep in mind: • First, check our digital collection to see if we have the item. You should check both Overdrive/Libby (https://lakecounty.overdrive.com/)and Hoopla.(https://www.hoopladigital.com/) • 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. Can I decide whether the library purchases or borrows my request for me? 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. Why didn't the library purchase the item I requested? 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. Does the library attempt to borrow new items? 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. How long will it take for my request to arrive? 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 (catalog.lcplin.org)on the library catalog. Click My Bookshelf in the lower left corner, then click Holds. Is there a charge for this service? 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. How many requests may I submit? 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. How can I take full advantage of my requests? • Always check the Lake County Public Library Catalog (https://catalog.lcplin.org)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. I have a $5 or more fine on my card. Why can't I use the Interlibrary Loan service? 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! If you are borrowing or buying my request, can you send it to a different library? We are happy to send your request to any of our 9 locations (https://www.lcplin.org/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. How long can I keep an item you borrowed for me through Interlibrary Loan and can I renew my item? 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. How do I check my pickup location? To check your pickup location, log in to your account and check your Requests. How will I be contacted when my item arrives? You will be contacted by your preferred method of notification when your item arrives at your designated pickup location. I requested an item for purchase/inter-library loan a very long time ago - why haven't I gotten it yet? 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. An item I requested never showed up in my Requests. What do I do? 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. Who do I talk to for more information about my request? Interlibrary Loan (borrowing) Monday-Friday: 9:00 a.m.- 4:30 p.m. Telephone: 219-769-3541, ext. 333 Interlibrary Loan and Purchase Request Frequently Asked Questions

History & Culture Resources for students and teachers studying history and culture. Recommended Resources Get Started AtoZ The USA Information about the United States, including capitals, cities, rivers, lakes, and the states. Get Started AtoZ The World Information about 176 countries for both students and travelers. Get Started AtoZ World Food Traditional recipes for 174 countries of the world in all course categories, plus cultural information regarding dining etiquette, daily meals, and more. Tutorial Get Started Black Life in America Comprehensive coverage of the African American experience from the early 18th century to the present day. Sourced from more than 19,000 American and global news sources, including over 400 current and historical Black publications. Tutorial Get Started National Geographic Virtual Library A complete archive of National Geographic magazine - every page of every issue. Get Started U.S. History inContext Presents different perspectives on historical issues side-by-side Get Started World History inContext Presents different perspectives on world issues side-by-side. Includes biographies of important world players and overviews of major historical eras.

Employment Find forms and documentation, local services and resources, and articles and skill building tools to help with your job search! You may also like our job search tools and tips , designed by our own experts here at LCPL. Recommended Resources Get Started Career Cruising Contains resources both for a career search and for a college search.ﾠ Tutorial Get Started Driving-Tests.org Everything you need to prepare to take your Indiana driving test! Contains FAQs and practice tests for cars, motorcycles, and CDL. Resources also available in Spanish! Get Started INSPIRE Free to Indiana residents: a searchable database of databases. Find hundreds of further resources for your research! Get Started LearningExpress Library Practice tests, tutorials, articles, and study materials to help you prepare for tests like the ACT and SAT, the GED, GMAT and LSAT, the U.S. citizenship exam, career and licensure exams, and more.ﾠ(Via INSPIRE) Tutorial Get Started Legal Forms Library (Gale) Find sample forms and actual forms available for use. Examples include adoption forms, parental consent forms, and general applications. Get Started Lynda.com/LinkedIn Learning A library of video courses taught by industry experts. Learn business, software, technology, and creative skills! Take courses in 3D animation, music production, marketing, programming languages, and more. Tutorial Get Started Mango Languages Learn a new language! Mango uses interactive lessons to teach practical conversation.ﾠ Tutorial Get Started NWI 211 Support for residents of Lake, Porter, Newton, Jasper, Starke, and Pulaski Counties. Find info on emergency food, health care, shelter, foreclosure assistance, and more. Or, dial 2-1-1 to speak with a trained specialist. Get Started Plunkett Research Online Research industry statistics and trends. This database contains very in-depth industry reports.

1000 Books Before Kindergarten The new and improved 1000 Books Before Kindergarten program is here! Sign Up New program features Online tracking through the ReadSquared app, just like Summer Reading! New paper logs if you still want to track that way - bigger and better than ever! Amazing new milestone prizes that'll help you build an at-home storytime kit! If you were already working your way toward 1000 books in the old program, don't worry - you won't lose your progress. Just enroll on ReadSquared and we'll take care of the rest! Already have a ReadSquared account from Summer Reading? Log in and click Enroll near your child's name to sign up for the new program. 1000 Books Before Kindergarten is a nation-wide challenge that encourages parents and caregivers to regularly read aloud to kids. If you read just one book a day with your child, you'll reach the 1000 book goal in less than three years - but we know you'll read more than that! LCPL's 1000 Books Before Kindergarten initiative is sponsored by the Friends of LCPL . Why is reading with kids important? According to the American Academy of Pediatrics , over 1 in 3 American kids start Kindergarten without the language skills they need to learn to read. In fact, the number of words a child knows going into Kindergarten is a predictor of their academic success. Reading out loud to your kids is an easy, fun way to make sure they have the tools they need to succeed in school. More reasons reading out loud matters Frequently Asked Questions How do I sign up? 1: Start counting the books you read to your child. 2: Enter the number on the ReadSquared (https://lcplin.readsquared.com/)app or website. Don't love the digital format? Stop by the library for an official pap 3: Collect your prizes!(https://vegapromoteweb.wixstudio.com/lake-county-public/1000-books-before-kindergarten?commonConfig=%7B%22host%22%3A%22STUDIO%22%2C%22brand%22%3A%22studio%22%2C%22branchId%22%3A%2200000000-0000-0000-0000-000000000000%22%7D&configName=responsive&consent-policy=%7B%22func%22%3A1%2C%22anl%22%3A1%2C%22adv%22%3A0%2C%22dt3%22%3A0%2C%22ess%22%3A1%7D&ds=true&dsOrigin=studio&editorSessionId=8b290882-03bb-4ef4-acec-072df4df108d&enableScopes=true&esi=8b290882-03bb-4ef4-acec-072df4df108d&forceResponsive=true&isEdited=true&isSantaEditor=true&languages=&metaSiteId=c275e366-f685-430f-9c59-77d2905ceec6&referralInfo=sites-list-enterprise&questionId=5c16b454-bc69-4606-bb66-2e3961d1ccc5&appDefId=14c92d28-031e-7910-c9a8-a670011e062d#5c16b454-bc69-4606-bb66-2e3961d1ccc5) Your child will earn a prize for every 250 books read. As you read together, you'll build up your very own at-home storytime kit! New to ReadSquared? Start here.(https://lcplin.readsquared.com/Register.aspx) Already have ReadSquared from Summer Reading? Log in here,(https://lcplin.readsquared.com/Login.aspx) then click Enroll near your child's name to get started in 1000 Books. Need help? Drop us a line (https://www.lcplin.org/ask-a-librarian)or visit any of our branches (https://www.lcplin.org/locations)and we'll get you set up. What counts? Everything! Library books, your own books, ebooks, print books - it all counts! Whatever you read together, it helps your child build pre-literacy skills. There's also no limit on the number of times you can read and count a single book. Many kids enjoy repetition, and if they ask for the same book ten times in a row it counts each time you read it. Are there prizes? (Yes!) Education is, of course, its own reward but we have a few incentives for our young readers, too. Prizes are awarded for every 250 books read and are designed to help you build your own at-home storytime kit! https://static.wixstatic.com/media/b6bd57_4caded1536b74787a02bdf244343963e~mv2.png Prize 1 (250 books): Egg shaker Prize 2 (500 books): Colorful scarf and your name on the digital signs inside each branch Prize 3 (750 books): Rhythm stick Prize 4 (1000 books): Free book, your name on the digital signs, and a certificate of completion! Any questions? Feel free to ask a librarian!(https://www.lcplin.org/ask)

Dolly Parton's Imagination Library FAQ Donate School Disctricts Join the Imagination Library Lake County Public Library is pleased to bring Dolly Parton's Imagination Library to our school districts! Children under age five in every LCPL school district are eligible to participate. (Not in our school district? Another organization may support your area! Check Imagination Library availability for any location here .) You can apply online , print an application (PDF; for a more accessible option, apply online ), pick up an application at any LCPL branch, or give us a call at (219) 769-3541 ext. 308. Apply Online Donate What is Imagination Library? The Imagination Library provides one free book every month to children from birth to age four living in a supported school district. All parents have to do is apply and their eligible child will begin receiving a new book in the mail every month until they turn five. There are no fees, the books are delivered directly to the child's home, and the child gets to keep them forever. Why is this important? Studies show that children who grow up surrounded by books do better in school. The Journal of the American Academy of Pediatrics, for example, found that reading aloud to children at a young age has a positive impact on brain development. The National Commission on Reading states that “The single most significant factor influencing a child's early educational success is an introduction to books and being read to at home prior to beginning school.” It's the LCPL Foundation's goal to give every child possible the advantage of having books and reading opportunities at home. Parents can get an Imagination Library application at any LCPL location . We made the paper! Read about the Imagination Library in the Chicago Tribune . Frequently Asked Questions How do I apply? You can pick up an application at your favorite LCPL branch, apply online,(https://imaginationlibrary.com/check-availability/) or print an application here. (https://www.lcplin.org/_files/ugd/fcf8a0_4d2c060958044c8890948871bba7f547.pdf)Fill it out and return it to the library or scan it and email it to imagine@lcplin.org.(mailto:imagine@lcplin.org) You can also give us a call at (219) 769-3541 ext. 308 to complete an application over the phone. What books are included in the program? A current list of the books by age group is posted on the DPIL website.(https://imaginationlibrary.com/usa/book-list/) How do I manage/make changes to my Imagination Library account? 3-5 business days after your application has been accepted, you'll receive an email from Imagination Library with log in instructions. Check your spam folder if you haven't gotten it! Here is the log in page.(https://imaginationlibrary.com/bos/) You can go here to check your child's status, update your mailing address and email, and see what books are set to be mailed each month and when. How long before my child starts receiving books? The first book will arrive generally within 8-12 weeks. Books are sent by Third Class mail. They are not sent on the same day each month. I think we missed a book delivery. If a child misses a book there are several steps to follow to track down the possible reasons. Start here. (https://support.imaginationlibrary.com/article/287-missed-books) DPIL does not mail replacement copies for missing or damaged books. Books are mailed throughout the month. After the mailing date it could take another 2-3 weeks before the book arrives at the child’s home. For BOS users, the mail dates can be found under Daily Operations>Books>Books Mailed. Support Dolly Parton's Imagination Library for LCPL Kids The Imagination Library is free to families because it is funded by the LCPL Foundation in partnership with the Imagination Library. The Imagination Library acquires the books at cost from Penguin Random House, and LCPL is only responsible for shipping fees. The LCPL Foundation has provided the seed money and pledged annual support for as many children as their budget allows. But as the program grows we will need your help to bring books into every child's home. You can donate by check at any LCPL location, or mail a check to 1919 W. 81st Ave, Merrillville, IN 46410 Attn: Director's office. Please make checks out to LCPL Foundation. If you would like your donation to remain anonymous, just let us know! $156 supports one child for the duration of the program. Every dollar helps - and yes, your donation is tax deductible! Donation Tiers Our Sponsors Supported School Districts LCPL school districts include Griffith Hanover Highland Hobart Lake Central Lake Ridge Lake Station Merrillville Munster River Forest Not sure if you're eligible? Check your address here. Use the "Search by Address" tab and enter your home address to see which school district and library district you belong to. You can learn more about what districts are and are not part of the Lake County Public Library district here . Still have questions about school districts? Call us at (219) 769-3541 ext. 374.

Book Sale Room The Book Sale Room is located at the Merrillville branch and contains not only books, but movies and music as well! You never know what you might find if you look through our shelves. Hobart Branch also has a book sale room (open during branch hours) and all other locations have book sale racks! Look for the bright orange sign. Merrillville Branch Book Sale Room Hours Monday - Thursday 10:00 AM - 8:00 PM Friday & Saturday 9:00 AM - 4:00 PM Sunday CLOSED Pricing Adult Hardbacks $1.00 Juvenile Hardbacks $0.50 All Paperbacks $0.25 CDs $1.00 DVDs $1.00 Magazines $0.25 Cassettes $0.25 Puzzles $0.25 The Friends Annual Book Sale Will Return in 2026! The Friends of LCPL Annual Book Sale happens every year in August! While you're waiting for the big book sale, don't forget that each of the branches has book sale racks or rooms that are open year round. 2026 Friends Annual Book Sale Dates TBA More about Friends of LCPL

2026 LCPL Read-A-Thon January 12 - February 23 Last year, 942 students raised over $85,000, making 2025 our most successful Read-a-Thon ever! Let's see if we can top that this year! Envelopes will be passed out in participating schools in early January. If your school isn't participating, visit your local LCPL branch to join in. The annual Library Foundation Read-a-Thon is not only exciting and fun for young readers, it's also important to the health of the library. Students pledge to read to raise money for both their library and their school. Readers can earn a ribbon, a trophy, or one of our special top prizes depending on how much they read! Step 1: First, read the rules to make sure you know how to participate. Then you can sign up by picking up a reading log envelope from your school or at any of our branches. Envelopes will be passed out in participating schools in early January! After you collect your sponsor money, return the envelope with all of your contact information neatly filled out . If we don't have your school and contact info we won't know which school to share your pledges with or how to get your prize to you! Step 2: Ask parents, friends, and neighbors to pledge 5 cents or more per book you read. For example, if a sponsor pledges 10 cents per book and you read 10 books, they should give $1. Please don't use online giving platforms, such as GoFundMe, to collect pledges; it makes it difficult for the library to receive and accurately attribute the money to the correct child at the end of the Read-a-Thon. Step 3: Make sure you choose books at your reading level! Write the names of the books you read on the Book List Record (aka, the Read-a-Thon envelope). Parents, please initial next to each book completed. Step 4: Take the Book List Record back to your sponsors to show them the total number of books you have read! Use your book record envelope to collect pledges from your sponsors - you can pick up a book record either at your school or local library branch in January. The Read-a-Thon is made possible with the help of a few generous sponsors! 2026 Read-a-Thon Sponsors Centier Bank If you'd like to become a Read-a-Thon sponsor, contact the library's Marketing Manager at 219-769-3541, ext. 315.