LIBRARY SERVICES

Loan Periods & Fines

The loan period for books and most other materials is three weeks at Point Alexander and four weeks at Chalk River. Items may be dropped off after hours by using the outdoor “Book Return” deposit boxes. Borrowed items may be renewed by email, calling the Library during open hours or logging into the Online Catalogue with an active membership number.

The Library is Fines-free as of 2022, but borrowers must return items on loan or pay for replacement.

For more information, please read our Membership Policy 

Inter-library Loans

Can’t find what you’re looking for? Patrons may request interlibrary loan service for Items not owned by the Library. The staff will do their best to obtain the item. Loan periods for such items are set by the lending library, and all charges are the responsibility of the borrower. If a book is damaged or lost the patron will be charged the rate of replacement as per the lending library's policy. Interloan privileges can be limited or revoked at our discretion.

Our Collection

The Library’s collection consists of hundreds of books for adults and juniors in a variety of formats including large print and audio, and more than 40 magazine subscriptions. We also carry DVD and Blue-ray video discs for loan. 

Museum Passes

Each branch has free museum passes that give families access to many Ottawa Valley museums. All these items may be borrowed in the same manner as a book or magazine, just by using your library membership card. The museum networks for which we currently offer passes are as follows:

• Canadian Clock Museum
• Canadian Museum of History and Canadian War Museum
• Canadian Museum of Nature
• Ingenium pass includes:
  • Canada Agriculture and Food Museum
  • Canada Aviation and Space Museum
  • Canada Science and Technology Museum
• National Gallery of Canada
• Ottawa Museum Network (not available at present)
• Renfrew County Museums Network (list of museums, not a pass)

Genealogy @ the Library

Genealogy is the study of families and the tracing of their lineages and history. Genealogy can be a great hobby and resource for families and future generations to get to know where they came from and who they are. The Laurentian Hills Library has many resources, including free access to Ancestry Library (only available in-library).

DIGITAL RESOURCES:

• Here is a link to the library's access to AncestryLibrary
• Genealogy: The Complete Resource Guide is a comprehensive guide to genealogy, containing all answers to the most common questions about genealogy and family trees, with a large number of links to search resources and services. 
• Here you will find the Library & Archives Canada page on Genealogy and Family History. A great starting point for archival material about families in Canada and how to begin your genealogical journey.
• The Toronto Public Library has a wealth of information and scanned documents for the amateur genealogist or family history buff. Much of it is open to the public, some pages require a library card from the TPL.
• The Family Search.org is a website devoted to genealogy. It was started as the genealogical branch of the Church of Latter day Saints, and is now the worlds largest database of genealogical records.
• The Cemetery is a great starting point for many genealogists. Canada Genweb is a database collection of over 18,000 cemeteries across Canada. It began as a volunteer resource in 2004 and now has all kinds of great information.

PHYSICAL RESOURCES:

• Digitizing Your Family History by Rhonda R. McClure (2004)
  Family Photo Detective, by Maureen A. Taylor (2013)
• Genealogy in Ontario: Searching the Records, by Brenda Dougall Merriman (2013)
• Who Do You Think You Are: The Genealogy Handbook, by Dan Waddell (2014)
• Genealogy Online for Dummies, by Matthew L. Helm (2014)

Copy, Print, Scan & Fax

• Photocopying: 15¢ per page,
• Computer Printing: 15¢ per page, 30¢ per page for colour
• Scan: Free
• Faxing: $2.00 first page, $1.00 for each additional page

Service Ontario

The Library is pleased to provide access to the wide-ranging services available through Service Ontario. Get fast, easy access to Ontario government service and information online. The Library staff will be happy to assist any
individual who requires help in finding or accessing these programs.