All residents of Lower Macungie Township and the Borough of Alburtis may obtain a Lehigh Carbon Library Cooperative library card by filling out a membership application and providing identification (driver’s license, photo ID card, passport) and proof of residence.
Residents of other Pennsylvania townships/municipalities may also obtain library membership free of charge by showing their local public library card with an ACCESS PA sticker (card must be up-to-date) and providing identification as indicated above.
Pennsylvania residents outside Lower Macungie Township, the Borough of Alburtis and outside the service area of an ACCESS PA library will be charged $40.00 per household per year for library membership. Out-of-state residents will also be charged $40.00 per household per year for library membership. Identification is required for all applicants.
Patrons seventeen years of age and under are encouraged to obtain library cards, but the application form must be signed by both the child and the parent. The minimum age required to obtain a card is five years old.
Apply for a Library Card Online
You can now apply for a library card online! Fill out the online form (please enter an email address). Your application will be reviewed and processed within 1-2 business days. Once the application process is complete, you will receive a welcome email providing you with your library information. Please note: if you’ve had a card in the past or have an expired card, please call or email the library to update your card.
To determine what library serves your hometown, click here to view the Library Service Locations help guide.
Your online Library Account provides access to your library record, which includes a list of items currently checked out, any holds that you have requested, and/or blocks (fines, fees) on your account.
To access your account online, you will need to log into your account from the Library Catalog. Click on My Account and enter your library card number (14-digits, no spaces) and PIN (default = the last four digits of your primary phone number.
Yes, you will need to renew your library card annually. To renew, please visit the library and bring your library card along with valid photo ID that includes your current address. Any balance on your account will need to be paid in order to renew your card.
Cardholders must present a valid library card in order to check out materials and to use library computer resources. If a library card is not available, the cardholder must provide ID and proof of address that exactly matches the address on the account. ID may be used in lieu of a library card up to three (3) times before the cardholder will be required to purchase a new library card.
Library cards are individual, not family cards, and can only be used by the person to whom the card is issued. Services may be denied to persons attempting to use another person’s card without authorization.
Pennsylvania State Law states that “Records related the circulation of the library materials which contain the names or other personally identifying details regarding the users of the state Library or any local library which is established or maintained under any law of the Commonwealth or the library of a university, college or educational institution chartered by the Commonwealth or the library of any public school or branch reading room, deposit station or agency operated in connection therewith, shall be confidential and shall not be made available to anyone except by a court order in a criminal proceeding.” (PA State Law 24 P.S. Section 4428.)
This confidentiality policy applies equally to adults and minors. When an adult requests the records of a child, the library will respond only if the child consents to the request.
You can designate other persons to pick up reserved materials by notifying a staff member in person. This authorization will be specifically noted in the your account. Cardholders are responsible for all materials checked out on their library card and on the cards of minor children for whom they have assumed responsibility on a library card application.
Please report lost or stolen library cards immediately so that the card can be invalidated. The owner of the card is responsible for all items checked out on the card until the card is reported lost or stolen. Replacement card fees may apply.
You can renew your items online, in person, or over the phone. To renew online, click on My Account on the Library Catalog page (login required).
Please note the following about renewals:
-All items (including NEW) can be renewed two times (if there are requests placed on the item, it cannot be renewed)
-Interlibrary Loans = no renewals
-Outstanding fines totaling $10.00 or more must be paid prior to renewal.
-Items that have reached maximum renewals must be checked in and available for loan for at least one business day before borrowing them again.
-Due dates for items that are renewed are calculated from the date of renewal, not the original due date.
-Items may not be renewed/transferred to another card
Auto Renewals
We’ll attempt to automatically renew your eligible items on the due date.
- You’ll receive an email notice informing you of the new due date or if the item was unable to be renewed (must be signed up to receive email notifications).
- You’ll still receive the reminder courtesy notice three days prior to your items being due.
Your PIN is the last four digits of your home phone number (cellphone if no home phone). You are welcome to change your PIN at anytime. You can do so by logging into My Account from the Library Catalog. You can also change your PIN at the Circulation Desk in the library.
Borrowing Limits
| Material Type | Limit | Loan Period |
|---|---|---|
| Books | No Limit; 5 per subject/per family | 3 Weeks |
| New Books | 5 / Card | 2 Weeks |
| Magazines | 5 / Card | 3 Weeks (back issues only) |
| Audiobooks (includes NEW) | 5 / Card | 3 Weeks |
| DVDs | 5 / Card (max of 5 DVDs/DVD series combo) | 1 Week |
| DVD series | 5 / Card (max of 5 DVDs/DVD series combo) | 2 Weeks |
| Hotspots | 1 / Family | 1 Week |
| Music CDs | 5 / Card | 3 Weeks |
| Museum Passes | 1 / Card | 1 Week |
| Puzzles | 1 / Card | 3 Weeks |
| Stem Kits | 1 / Family | 1 Week |
| Interlibrary Loans | 5 / Card | Varies |
Fines/Fees
| DVDs/Audiobooks/Music CDs | no overdue fine |
| Hotspots | $5.00 per day overdue fine |
| Print materials | no overdue fine |
| Puzzles | no overdue fine |
| Museum Passes | $10.00 per day overdue fine |
| Stem Kits | $5.00 per day overdue fine |
| Interlibrary Loans | $1.00 per item / per day overdue fine |
Fees for Lost / Damaged Items
| All LML Items | Replacement cost of item + $5.00 process fee |
Blocks on Borrowing
| $10.00 or more in Fines / Fees | Record is blocked, cannot borrow |
| Lost / Damaged Items | Record is blocked, cannot borrow |
Renewals
All items (except Museum Passes) can be renewed two times (if there are requests placed on the item, it cannot be renewed) *Interlibrary Loans = renewals are subject to lending library. One week’s notice is required for renewal request.
- Outstanding fines totaling $10.00 or more must be paid prior to renewal.
- Items that have already reached the maximum renewals must be returned & available for loan for at least one business day before borrowing them again.
- Due dates for items that are renewed are calculated from the date of renewal, not the original due date.
Auto Renewals
We’ll attempt to automatically renew your eligible items on the due date.
- You’ll receive an email notice informing you of the new due date or if the item was unable to be renewed (must be signed up to receive email notifications).
- You’ll continue to receive the reminder courtesy notice three days prior to your items being due.
Hold Requests
Method: In person, by phone, online
What can be requested: All circulating items as well as items that appear as “on order” in the catalog
- Hold requests will be fulfilled in order from the earliest to the latest request.
- Patrons will be notified via phone, email or text when an item requested becomes available for pickup. After notification, the item will be held for four (4) business days, after which it will either be returned to the shelf, or checked out to the next person on the request list.
- In order to place online requests, patrons cannot have fines of $10.00 or more on their accounts.
Click here for a full listing of the Lehigh Carbon Library Cooperative (LCLC) borrowing policies.
Yes, you can place a hold on an item in the catalog by clicking the Place Hold option on the item information page. When the item is ready for pickup, we will contact you by phone, email or text (according to the option selected) and the item will be held for 4 working days for pick up.
Hold Requests
Method: In person, by phone, online*
What can be requested: All circulating items as well as items that appear as “on order” in the catalog
-Hold requests will be fulfilled in order from the earliest to the latest request.
-Patrons will be notified via phone, email or text when an item requested becomes available for pickup. After such notification, the item will be held for 4 working days, after which it will either be returned to the shelf, or checked out to the next person on the request list.
-In order to place online requests, patrons cannot have fines of $10.00 or more on their accounts.
For a full listing of the Lehigh Carbon Library Cooperative (LCLC) borrowing policies, please click here.
To find items in our collection, please visit our Library Catalog.
Basic searching: enter search term (title, author, subject, etc.) and select the “Search” button. You can also limit results by audiobook, book, DVD, etc. by clicking on “Format” button in the search bar (select and then click “Search”). Results will appear, listing titles of library materials that match your search term. Additional information: Clicking on the title will give you more information, including the call number (where in the library it is located) and status (checked out, item being held, etc.).
Advanced Search combines search elements to refine a search or limit a search based on criteria configured by your library. You can also produce a browse list of specified items, or perform a call number search. Searches can include a single word or several words with operators and special punctuation.
To request items, click on the “Place Hold” option for the selected item (right side of the screen). You will need to enter your Library Card Number (14 digits, no spaces) and PIN (last four digits of your primary phone number).
If you are looking for an item that our library or the cooperative (LCLC) does not own, an Interlibrary Loan or Purchase Request are possible options.
Interlibrary Loans:
Interlibrary Loans are items that can be borrowed from another library outside of our cooperative and sent to our location for pickup. The request will be processed as soon as possible but receipt of your request is dependent on the availability and location of the lending library. You can also place a request by phone or in person. Please submit your request using the Interlibrary Loan Request form or you can place a request by phone or in person. Lower Macungie Library Interlibrary Loan service is available to home library patrons only (Lower Macungie Township and Alburtis Borough residents).
available to our home library patrons only (Lower Macungie Township and Alburtis Borough residents).
*Note: Items published in the past six months cannot be requested via Interlibrary Loan. Please visit our Suggest a Purchase page to request newly published titles.
You will be contacted either way to let you know if we have received your item or if we are unable to fulfill your request.
-Note: Due dates are at the discretion of the lending library.
-Interlibrary Loan renewals are subject to lending library. One week’s notice is required for renewal request.
-There will be charges for photocopy requests. You will be notified for approval before your request is processed.
Purchase Requests:
Books requested to be added to the collection will be reviewed and ordered based on availability and Lower Macungie Library’s Materials Selection Policy. Please submit your request using the Purchase Request form. If we are unable to purchase the requested item, your request may be handled as an InterLibrary Loan (items published in the past six months cannot be requested via Interlibrary Loan). Please allow four to six weeks for processing. You will be notified when your selection, if purchased, is available for checkout.
Yes! We have 10 computers that offer high-speed Internet access as well as MS Office 2019 productivity suite. Staff will provide assistance as necessary and as time permits. You will need a Lehigh Carbon Library Cooperative card to use the computers or a guest pass can be issued for temporary visitors. Users are required to adhere to the library’s Computer and Internet Use Policy. All users are responsible for damage to library hardware or software and for compliance with the library use policy.
Yes! We provide free public wireless Internet access throughout the library. Please note that the wireless network is an unsecured connection; it is the responsibility of the laptop/wireless device owner to provide anti-virus and firewall protection when using the Internet via the wireless network. Patrons using personal laptops or mobile devices are expected to use the library’s wireless access in accordance with the Library’s Wireless Access Policy. All users are expected to use the library wireless access in a legal and responsible manner.
As a handicapped accessible facility, the Lower Macungie Library welcomes all patrons.
For The Visually Impaired:
- We offer a popular selection of large print fiction and non-fiction titles.
- The Reader’s Digest large print edition can be found in our periodical section. Back issues, representing the last 6 months, may be checked out for your reading convenience.
- Our large selection of audiobooks include all the popular fiction and nonfiction titles. eBooks (font size can be increased on devices) & eAudiobooks are available for download from our website through our Carbon Lehigh Downloadable Library (OverDrive) collection. Our librarians are available to help you with your downloads.
For the Hearing Impaired:
- Our collection includes books and DVD’s that teach sign language skills to both adults and children.