Circulation Basics
Nearly all residents of the immediate area, and from most of Iowa, are eligible for a Drake Community Library card.
To apply for a card you need to come into the library and fill out a short form.
Proof of address is required in order to issue a library card. Acceptable proof of address includes:
- A piece of mail that shows their name and address from within the last 30 days
- A utility bill (physical or digital) that shows name and address from within the last 30 days
- A bank statement (physical or digital) that shows name and address from within the last 30 days
- A lease agreement that shows their name, address, and dates that show current residency.
- An active Grinnell College student ID
- The person is personally known to you, you know where they live, and you can confirm their address.
Persons under the age of thirteen (13) must have the permission of their legal guardian prior to issuance of a library card. If someone in the household already has a Drake Community Library card, photo ID and proof of address are not necessary.
If you can provide current proof of residence you may have your library card right away. If not, we will verify your mailing address by mailing you the card.
Circulation Details
- Most books are checked out for a period of 3 weeks. Unless someone else has requested it, items can generally be renewed up to 3 times for an additional 3 weeks per renewal.
- Books that are very popular, audio visual materials, children’s puppet kits, and magazines circulate for 1 week and may be renewed if no one else is waiting for them.
- Interlibrary Loan check out periods are set by the library who sends the item. Renewals are not guaranteed but may be requested.
- eBooks are loaned for 14 days and cannot be renewed. Items are returned automatically.
- eAudiobooks are loaned for 2 or 3 weeks depending on the provider and are also returned automatically.
When borrowing material from the library:
- Please present your own card to check out or renew materials. Family members cannot pick up requested items for other family members unless they present the requestor’s card or unless the requestor has previously granted permission for this and a message on the requestor’s library record indicates this.
- You are responsible for all materials checked out on your card.
- Parents/Guardians are responsible for all use of the library by minor children.
- Please reference your checkout receipt to keep track of item due dates or monitor your account online for due dates.
- You may sign up for a courtesy reminder by providing an email address to the library and agreeing to have all overdue notices sent via email. A reminder will be sent to you 3 days prior to the due date.
We are a fine free library
Effective July 1, 2020 the library does not charge overdue fees. You will receive a notice of overdue materials but will not be charged an overdue. If items are not returned or renewed after 50 days, they will be considered lost and you will be billed for replacement. If items are returned after being billed, a bill processing fee of $1 each for children’s materials and $2 each for each adult materials.
The library has two book drops for returning books.
INSIDE: In the lobby, between the display cabinets directly across from the Meeting Room entrance.
OUTSIDE: On the east end of the library. There is a circular drive with the entrance on State Street and the exit on 5th Ave.
More Circulation Questions
You can log in to your library account online to monitor what you have checked out, place hold requests, check balances, and more.
- Use the barcode on the back of your library card and your 4 digit pin (you would have chosen this when you applied for your card)
- On the Home Page, select “My Account”.
- You should now see your account name at the top of the online catalog screen. Click on My Account at the top to see a screen that shows your checkouts, holds, fines and other information.
Watch a short video on how to login to your account
Items may be renewed up to 3 times as long as they are not reserved by another user. Choose the most convenient option:
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- By phone: 641-236-2661
- In person at the library (do not need to have the materials with you)
- By logging in to your account online.
Watch a quick video on how to renew online
Renewals of Interlibrary Loan materials are set by the lending library. Please contact Drake Community Library at least 2 days prior to the due date of the item to request a renewal.
Request Item in the Library Catalog
- Begin by logging in to your account with your barcode and pin.
- Search the catalog for an item. If currently checked out, click the Place Hold button. (If item is checked in please come in or call to request it).
- You will be notified by phone or email when the requested item is available. You may also monitor your account online to see if a hold is waiting for you.
- Items ready for pick up are held for 3 days after you are notified that they are here for you.
Log into your account to get started.
Request Item NOT in the Library Catalog
- Items published more than 6 months earlier may be requested through Interlibrary Loan (see next section).
- If you believe it is something the library may be interested in adding to our collection, please submit your request using the Materials Suggestion Form.
- If the item is selected for purchase, it is generally added to the library’s catalog within one month
- If you request, the item will be placed on hold for you once it is available and you will be contacted by phone or by email
NOTE: If you are interested in purchasing an item for the library collection, please contact Library Director. Items can often be purchased through the library vendor at discounted rates.
The library provides cards with special privileges to area teachers and home school providers. These accounts are in addition to a personal account and are should be used for classroom materials only.
- Extended checkout periods
- Lost items are charged to the school and not the individual teacher
- Items not available in the library catalog may be requested through interlibrary loan (ILL).
- Items need to have been released more than 6 months ago to be requested through ILL.
- These requests must be done through a staff member either in person or via phone.
- You will be notified by phone or email when an item is available.
- Due date is set by the lending library and is not dependent on when the item is picked up by you.
SEARCH THE IOWA LOCATOR: A database of holdings from libraries across the state.
SEARCH WORLDCAT: A database of materials in libraries around the world (not all materials can be loaned).
Your privacy matters to us and we will take all measures to protect your personal information and circulation history.
CONFIDENTIALITY PRIVILEGES
You may designate a person in your library account as possessing “Confidentiality” privileges. The person named within your library account may:
- Pick up items currently on hold for you
- Access title information of currently checked out items on your account
- Access fines and fee information and apply payment to your account
- Provide updates to contact information on your account
CAREGIVER PRIVILEGES
Caregiver privileges can be especially helpful to homebound cardholders. Named caregivers within your library account may:
- Check out materials on your account without you being present
Library staff may honor renewal requests from persons not named on a library account, but will not divulge title information in the process.
Parents/Guardians of youth, sixth grade and younger, have access and responsibility for their child’s library account. During the summer after their child’s sixth grade year, parents/guardians will receive notification regarding the shift in cardholder responsibilities.
PROTECTING YOUR ONLINE PRIVACY
Your use of the Internet at the library is not recorded. Usage history is erased at the end of each session on the library computers. However, the Internet itself is not a secure environment, and you are encouraged to take precautions to protect your personal information.
Reader Services
The library provides delivery service for Grinnell residents who are not physically able to get to the library. A staff member will work with the individual to determine a schedule and material selection plan. Those interested need to call the library and ask to talk to someone about this service.
This is a service for area preschool and child care providers. They may arrange to receive a monthly basket of books to use with their children. Please call the library and ask to speak with Karen Neal if you are interested in this service.
The library offers a book club:
- Bookin’ It @ the Drake meets the library quarterly.
The Friends of DCL maintain the used bookstore in the lobby for the ongoing sale of books and magazines that have been donated. All proceeds benefit the library.
PRICES
- Hardback books: $2
- Paperback books: $1
- Hardback Children’s books: $1
- Paperback Children’s books: $.50
- AV Materials: $1
- Magazines: $.10 each or 12 for $1
There are also items marked for free under the table outside the shop
The Friends of DCL welcome book and magazine donations. They maintain the used book store in the library lobby and also hold an annual booksale.
ACCEPTABLE donations include the following:
- Fiction and non-fiction books in good condition – gently used (No torn pages, broken spines, markings in the text or mold/mildewed materials, such as those previously stored in a basement)
- DVDs, CDs and audio books in good condition (No audio cassette or VHS tapes, please)
- Current magazines (up to 6 months old)
Items that do not meet these criteria are not accepted.
Other Services
View our Meeting Room Policy at this link.
The library has rooms available for small and large groups. Descriptions and information about the spaces is available.
To reserve a space please see our Meeting Room Request page.
A copy machine is available to the public near the main circulation desk. It can be used for the following needs:
- Copies in black & white or color. Paper sizes available are standard (8.5×11), legal or ledge (11×17).
- Scan items and save them to a USB drive or email them directly
- Print from USB
PRICES
- Single sided B&W copies (standard or legal size): 15 cents
- Double-sided: 20 cents
- Single sided B&W copies (11×17): 25 cents
- Double-sided: 40 cents
- Single sided color copies (standard or legal size): 50 cents
- Double-sided: 75 cents
FAX (Fax number is 641-236-2667)
You may send or receive FAXes at the library. Self-service operation of the machine. The fees to cover this service are as follows:
- Sending: $1 for each page with a maximum of $10 charged.
- Receiving: $1 for each page. Please call the library and let us know if you are having a FAX sent here. We will call you when it is received.
The library maintains a large archive of physical materials related to the history of Grinnell and Poweshiek County. Members of the public must be accompanied by a staff member to use these materials and therefore by appointment only.
We’ve made many of our most popular local history materials available on our Local History website. This includes obituaries and obituary database, the Poweshiek History Preservation Project, oral histories, property research materials, and our digital archive repository.
Go To Local History Materials website
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Go To Genealogy Research Page
We have several resources that can be used for genealogy research. Learn more on our Genealogy page.
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The library offers notary service for no charge. It is strongly recommended you call in advance to schedule a time to ensure staff who are notaries public will be available.
Other Things to Know
Tutorials are available for nearly all of our online resources. Learn how to use ebooks, streaming video, and download free music. Learn how to use online resources like the national phone directory, career building tools, language learning tools, and reference resources. Click the image below or the green Tutorials icon at the right of the screen to check them out.
