What you can borrow from the Madison Library:

Unusual items to borrow:

  • MP3 Player: lending period is two weeks; borrow this to try out audio books from NH Downloadable Books.
  • Nook e-reader: lending period is two weeks; for use with NH Downloadable Books. Download and transfer to e-reader must be done on library computer, but you can browse, reserve, and check out e-books to your account before downloading at the library. Call to check availability.
  • Kill-a-Watt Meters: lending period is two weeks.
  • Museum Passes: stop in and pick up a pass up to two weeks ahead of your visit. We have a pass for the Remick Museum in Tamworth.
  • Orion Reflector Model Telescope: check out for a week of star and planet gazing.

Library cards: Madison residents, seasonal property owners, town and school employees, all can apply for a library card. Nonresidents can apply for a library card with full borrowing privileges for a $15 annual fee. Children aged five and older can get their own cards, with parent or guardian permission.

Lending periods: Books, audio books, and music recordings are checked out for two weeks. Videos and magazines are checked out for one week. New videos are checked out for two days. If you need an extended borrowing time due to a school project or vacation, speak with a member of the library staff.

Renewals: Items may be renewed in person, by phone (leave a message anytime), and by using the online catalog. Renewals for some items–new videos, items that have been reserved for another person, interlibrary loan books, equipment–are limited.

Late fees/Fines: The Madison Library Board of Trustees voted to discontinue charging fines for overdue materials at their meeting on December 18, 2013. A trial period of “no fines” was held from October through December 2013, and the result was that there were no more overdues than usual, that proceeds from freewill donations (“conscience jar”) were slightly less than would have typically been collected as fines, and most importantly, that it allows us to offer friendlier service. We’ll still send overdue notices, and we encourage everyone to save staff time by renewing or returning items before they are more than a week overdue.

Returning books: During the library’s open hours, please return books to the desk. After hours, there is a book drop slot located next to the library’s entrance.