Frequently Asked Questions

Click each link to reveal the answer. Click again to hide. Please contact the library at (920) 236-5203 for further information.

Borrowing Guidelines

It's easy to receive text notifications from the library.  Keep up-to-date with your library account on your mobile phone using the library’s Shoutbomb text messaging service. Get texts when items are due, holds are ready to pick up and more. Sign up today!

 

 

Board policy provides that limits on the number of items, reserves and length of loan will be determined by library administration depending on the quantity available and current demand.

ITEM LIMITS

1.  Maximum total items borrower may check out:  75

2.  High Demand Collection Limits:

          DVDs:                       No limit

          Lucky Day books:     2 items per card

          Lucky Day DVDs:      2 items per card

Games:                    2 items per card

TIY Kits:                   2 items per card

LOAN PERIODS

7 days

  • Games
  • JGames
  • DVDs
  • Children's DVDs

14 days

  • Wi-Fi Hot Spots
  • Board games
  • Puzzles
  • Magazines - Adult, Young Adult and Children's
  • New fiction
  • New Non-Fiction with long reserve lists
  • Luck Day Adult and Children's books
  • TIY Kits

28 days

  • Books on CD - Adult, Young Adult and Children's
  • Children's books
  • Compact Discs
  • Fiction and Non-Fiction
  • Foreign Language materials
  • Large Print
  • New Non-Fiction
  • Paperback books
  • Young Adult books and paperback books

HOLDS LIMIT

  • Maximum number of items: 50

INTERLIBRARY LOAN MATERIALS

  • Due date is set by the lending library and may range from one day to one month.

 

RENEWALS

Most library materials can be renewed two times if the items have not been reserved by another library user.  Items may be renewed in person, through the library's catalog, on the Internet or by telephone.

There are NO renewals on reserved items, Lucky Day bestsellers and reference books.
Renewal of interlibrary loan materials  may be allowed upon request, subject to approval of the lending library.

 

 


Most library materials can be renewed two times if the items have not been reserved by another library user. Items may be renewed in person, through the library's catalog and by telephone 236-5203.

There are NO renewals on reserved items, Lucky Day best sellers, Lucky Day DVDs and reference books.

Renewals of interlibrary loan items may be allowed upon request, subject to approval by the lending library.

The Oshkosh Public Library Board of Trustees voted on July 30, 2020 to discontinue charging late fines for overdue materials and remove past fines from patrons’ library cards. We are excited to take this step, which will remove a significant barrier to library use, especially for some of the most vulnerable members of our community. Read about the board's action.

Here is what you need to know:

No fines will be charged on items checked out at the Oshkosh Public Library.
Fines will be charged on items from some Winnefox libraries, at a rate determined by those libraries.
Fines will be charge for items checked out via Interlibrary Loan at the daily rate of $1 per day, per item.
Patrons will continue to receive at least one notice for overdue items. Sign up for text messages via Shoutbomb or call 236-5203 to set up your account for email notices.
Charges will be assessed when library materials are lost or damaged. Complete information here.

Although no fines will be assessed on materials checked out at Oshkosh Public Library, we encourage patrons to return library materials by their designated due dates, or to renew items when allowed. Returning items in a timely fashion ensures that they are available for others who want to check them out.

If you have any questions about your account, please call 236-5203.

Overdue notices and billing
At the library, it's all about sharing. Materials that are kept out for long periods of time are not available to other library users. A small number of library users (fewer than 1 percent) do not return library materials or pay for their replacement. To efficiently handle these situations and reduce the amount of tax dollars spent locating or replacing missing items, the Oshkosh Public Library uses Unique Management Systems (UMS) to collect charges for unreturned library materials.

Notices for overdue materials
Customers receive notices that library items are overdue via automated phone calls or by e-mail.

Phone call notices
The library now uses automated phone calls to notify customers when items are overdue instead of paper notices sent out by mail.

E-mail notices
E-mail notices are sent three days before an item is due; or one day before an item with a shorter loan period is due (i.e. DVDs).

Overdue Notices Schedule    
  Phone Call Email
Predue Notice None 3 days; 1 Day for DVDs
1st Overdue Notice 4 Days 3 Days
2nd Overdue Notice None 15 Days
Bill for unreturned item 30 Days; US Mailed 30 Days
Second bill notice None 37 Days-US Mailed
Bill referred to a Collection Agency 45 Days 45 Days
1st Letter sent from Collection Agency 46 Days 46 Days
2nd Letter sent from Collection Agency 67 Days 67 Days
1st Collection Agency phone call 81 Days 81 Days
3rd Letter sent from the Collection Agency 109 Days 109 Days

Please make sure the phone number listed in your library account is current and correct to ensure that you received the necessary notices.

Paying fines and fees

  • The Oshkosh Public Library accepts cash or credit card payments at the library or online.
  • If you are contacted and do not remember which items have not been returned, contact the library at 236-5203.
  • If you are contacted and you question the accuracy of the bill, please contact the library at 236-5203.

Privacy & Responsibility

  • UMS, the collection agency, receives only the patron identification information and amount owed. They do not get information about which titles the patron has checked out.
  • Library users are responsible for all use made of their card until it has been reported as lost or stolen to the Oshkosh Public Library Circulation Department.
     

In the event of lost or damaged materials, library users will be assessed the actual price as assigned in the lost-item record.  If no price information is assigned, library users will be charged default replacement prices for library items that are lost or damaged beyond repair.  Authorized OPL staff may make exceptions that is significantly different than the default replacement prices

Payments will be refunded up to one year after the item is paid for if the item is returned to the library by the borrower, or is located by the library.

Billing practices of other libraries that loan items to Oshkosh Public Library customers may vary.

Interlibrary Loan

  • If you have lost an item or it is overdue, please contact Reference Desk staff at 236-5205 so we can discuss the situation.
  • There is a fine of $1.00 per day for overdue items. Fees for lost items are determined by the lending library and may exceed $60 due to the cost of the item plus the lending library's "lost" fee.
  • Items may be renewed once, contingent on the lending library's approval. If item can't be renewed, you may re-request the item in 4 weeks.
  • Please request renewal at least two or three days before due date.
  • Request renewals at 2nd floor Reference Desk.
  • The loaning institution determines the checkout period. Generally, loan periods are one to four weeks from the time the library receives the item. Some items are not available for checkout and may only be used in the library. This restriction usually applies to microfilm and rare books.
  • Pick up interlibrary loan items at the First Floor Customer Service Desk.
  • When your item arrives you will be notified by email or phone. Please pick up the item promptly.
  • It can take two to eight weeks to receive an ILL item. Items may be checked out at libraries that own the requested item; some libraries may decline to loan particular items or items may be in high demand.
  • New books and audiovisual items can be requested using the Request for Purchase form. However, our budget or other considerations may not permit us to purchase every title suggested.
  • Genealogy items and family histories at other libraries or genealogical research centers.
  • Materials needed in less than two-three weeks. Let us know if you have a deadline to meet.
  • Books not owned by the Oshkosh/Winnefox Library System and published more than 12 months ago. You can check publication dates on amazon.com.
  • Audio-visual materials such as DVDs, VHS, Music CDs, Audiocassettes, Audiobook CDs that are more than one year old can be requested. You can check publication/release dates on amazon.com.
  • Note: Some libraries do not loan any audio-visual items. These restrictions are placed by the loaning institution and are not negotiable.  Video games can't be borrowed.
  • Census records and newspapers on microfilm may be obtainable. It may take more than a month to receive these items due to high demand.
  • Articles and other items may be photocopied but must be in compliance with the US copyright regulations (Title 17 of the USC).
  • While there is no hard limit, please consider limiting the number of items you request at any one time so that you have enough time to read, view or listen to the items you receive when item(s) arrive.