Mission Statement
Libraries impact people’s lives in many ways. The West Milford Township Library is the community’s intellectual and cultural center, providing lifelong learning, excellent staffing, and resources that inform, inspire, entertain, and enrich the entire community.
Collection
The Library’s collection includes books, magazines, newspapers, books on CD and cassette, DVDs and videos, paperbacks, large print books, maps, atlases, downloadable audiobooks, e-books, and numerous online databases.
The Consortium of Passaic County Libraries (PALSPlus) provides patrons with access to more than 1.3 million items. Member libraries are: Belleville, Bloomingdale, Caldwell, Cedar Grove, Clifton, Fairfield, Haledon, Kearny, Little Falls, North Haledon, Passaic, Paterson, Pompton Lakes, Ringwood, Totowa, Union City, Verona, Wanaque, Wayne, West Milford, West Paterson, and Passaic County Community College. For your convenience, materials may be borrowed at one site and returned to another. For more information on using the PALS catalog, click here.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I sign up for a library card?
Library cards are free to West Milford Township residents, property owners, and individuals attending school or working in the Township.
Verification of permanent address is required before a card will be issued. Present a driver’s license, tax or utility bill, voter registration card, school ID or printed check at the time of application. If you are a West Milford Township resident residing in Newfoundland, Oak Ridge, or Stockholm, we’ll verify your residency via the Tax Collection Data Query. Library cards are renewed every three years at the Circulation Desk by presenting proof of West Milford Township residency.
Children are not asked for identification. Cards are mailed to the child’s residence and borrowing privileges begin upon receipt of the card. Should a parent or guardian be present at application and supply the acceptable identification or currently is a patron, the card is immediately issued.
Can I get a library card if I’m not a resident?
Non-residents are residents who are out-of-state or of counties other than Hunterdon, Passaic, Middlesex, Morris, Sussex, and Warren or towns in these counties that do not participate in the open borrowing program. Full list: http://www.openborrowing.org/participants.shtml. Non-residents may purchase a West Milford Township Library card for an annual fee of $125.00. Before registering, the annual fee per individual must be collected. Cash or a check payable to West Milford Township Library is acceptable.
Individuals who are employed in West Milford, but are non-residents are also able to receive a West Milford Township Library card once they show proof of employment. The card is valid for one year and is renewable upon continued proof that the cardholder is still working in West Milford.
Transient residents staying with Strengthen Our Sisters, Inc. or Bethel Ranch are also able to receive a West Milford Township library card. The library card is given to the transient resident once they present an official letter confirming their residence at either location. The card is valid for three months and is renewable upon another letter verifying the cardholder is still residing at one of the two locations.
What if I lose my library card?
If the card is lost or stolen notify the library immediately by calling 973-728-2820. There is no fee for a replacement card.
What if I lose materials I borrowed?
Patrons are responsible for all Library materials checked out, including media damaged by equipment. When resources are lost or so badly damaged that they cannot be repaired, the borrower pays the Library’s replacement cost, which includes the price of the item, processing supplies, and employee time.
What is the Library’s borrowing policy?
West Milford Township Library shares the same circulation policy with all PALSPlus – the Computer Consortium of Passaic County – libraries.
Users may borrow up to 75 items and place up to 50 holds per library card. Borrowers will be blocked if they have 5 items overdue or $5.00 in fines. Borrowers may place holds on any material, including media, from any library as long as it has been in the system for 3 months.
| PALSPlus Borrowing Policy | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Item Type | Loan Period | Renewals | Fine/Max |
| New DVD | 7 days | 1 | $.50/$10.00 |
| Book | 21 days | 2 | $.10/$5.00 |
| New Book | 21 days | 1 | $.10/$5.00 |
| Magazines | 14 days | 1 | $.10/$5.00 |
| Audio – Music | 21 days | 1 | $.10/$5.00 |
| Audiobook | 21 days | 2 | $.10/$5.00 |
| New Audiobook | 21 days | 1 | $.10/$5.00 |
| Video – VHS | 21 days | 1 | $.10/$5.00 |
| DVD | 7 days | 2 | $.50/$10.00 |
| DVD – TV Series | 14 days | 2 | $.50/$10.00 |
To renew by phone, a borrower’s card number is needed. Items may also be renewed at the Library’s circulation desk or through the library catalog.
Please note: Materials may not be renewed if they are on hold for another patron or an interlibrary loan from a library outside of PALSPlus.
Materials may be returned at any PALPlus Library. When the West Milford Township Library is closed, material may be returned in the item return located in front of the library next to the main entrance. Overdue materials can be placed in the item return and fines paid at the circulation desk when the Library is open.
What if my materials are overdue?
When library materials are overdue, they are no longer available for use by others. For this reason, a borrower will be blocked from borrowing resources when they have 5 items overdue or owe $5.00 in fines.
Fines for books, audios, magazines and VHS tapes are $.10 a day per item to a maximum of $5.00 per item. Fines for DVDs are $.50 a day per item to a maximum of $10.00 per item.
Where else can I use my West Milford library card?
You can use your card at the following Pals Plus Consortium libraries located in Passaic and Essex counties:
PALS libraries:
- Belleville
- Bloomingdale
- Caldwell
- Cedar Grove
- Clifton
- Fairfield
- Haledon
- Kearny
- Little Falls
- North Haledon
- Passaic
- Paterson
- Pompton Lakes
- Ringwood
- Totowa
- Union City
- Verona
- Wanaque
- Wayne
- West Milford
- William Paterson University
- Woodland Park
- Passaic County Community College.
Can I borrow from libraries outside of Passaic County?
Yes, open borrowing extends borrowing privileges to libraries in Morris, Hunterdon, Middlesex, Sussex and Warren counties.
West Milford Township Library cardholders can obtain an open borrowing sticker at the circulation desk where their record will be verified to be in good standing. Stickered card may be used at participating public libraries for open borrowing privileges.
Borrowers from Morris, Hunterdon, Middlesex, Sussex and Warren counties are eligible for borrowing privileges at the West Milford Township Library if they produce their home library card and it has an open borrowing sticker. If card does not, the home library is phoned to verify borrower is in good standing. A sticker is then placed on card.
West Milford Township Library is a member of JerseyCat, the free statewide interlibrary loan program. Member libraries can borrow books and other materials, and obtain photocopies from participating New Jersey libraries. An agreement with OCLC also allows JerseyCat members to request items from out-of-state libraries if what they need is not available in New Jersey.