What you can borrow from the Madison Library:
- Books (We also have downloadable eBooks.)
- Audio books: mostly in CD format, still a few cassettes (We also have downloadable audiobooks.)
- Music CDs
- Videos: mostly DVDs, still a few VHS cassettes
- Magazines: see a list of this year’s titles
- Computer games: for now, what we have works with older operating systems. Please let us know which new games you’d like to see us add. We collect educational computer games for children up to age 12.
- And for kids: book-and-puppet kits, book-and-cassette or CD sets
Unusual items to borrow:
- MP3 Player: lending period is two weeks; borrow this to try out NH Downloadable Audio Books.
- Kill-a-Watt Meters: lending period is two weeks.
- Museum Passes: lending period varies depending on institution. We have passes for the Wright Museum in Wolfeboro, Portland Museum of Art, Squam Lakes Natural Science Center in Holderness, 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 six 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, magazines, and computer games 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, museum passes–are limited.
Late fees/Fines: The Madison Library Trustees review the library’s fine policy on a regular basis, and have decided that fines provide an incentive for the timely return of items, hopefully saving staff time tracking overdue items. Fine proceeds, according to NH RSA 202-A:11, are used to purchase items for the library’s collection–in most cases at the Madison Library, for the video collection.
Fines for adult card holders are 5 cents per day per item, except for videos, which are $1 per day per video, and museum passes, which are $3 per day. Fines for child card holders are 1 cent per day per item. Card holders with fines on record must make arrangements for payment before any more items can be checked out. The best way to avoid fines is to contact library staff to renew your items.
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.
