The library has approximately 20,000 volumes of material in the form of books, periodicals, audio cassettes, video cassettes, microform, and bound genealogies.
With the exception of the reference and genealogy categories, all materials are available for a checkout period of two weeks. Materials may be renewed unless they are on hold for another patron.
We encourage our patrons to be responsible and accountable for the care of our books and for returning them in the alloted time period.
Overdue Fines:
10 cents a day for adults
5 cents a day for children
The card catalog is computerized and is designed for ease of use.
Computer Resources
The Library has five computers with internet access which is free to patrons. Each computer user is alloted thirty minutes a session. If no one is waiting to use the computer the user may continue until someone needs the computer. To read the full text of our Public Internet Access Policy click here.
We also have Wi-Fi available.
In the children's section of the library we have one computer loaded with educational software for children. This computer is not connected to the internet.
The internet and word-processing computers have printers available.
The rates are as follows:
black and white text 25 cents
color text or web page at normal print setting 50 cents
color picture at normal print setting $1.00
color picture at best print setting $1.50
Microfilm Reader
The library has a microfilm reader available. We have copies of the Highland Recorder on microfilm from 1889 to 2007. We also have a copy of the 1850 Census. Copies from the reader are 25 cents each.
Fax Machine
The Library fax machine is available for use to the public for incoming or outgoing faxes. The prices are as follows:
Outgoing
First page $2.00
+ pages .50 each
Incoming
First page $1.00
+ pages .25 each
Fax # 540-468-2085
TV/VCR Combination Unit
The Library has a TV/VCR combo equipped with headphones available in the library for watching videos. The unit is also available for meetings in the Mountain View Room but must be reserved with the librarian in advance.
The Mountain View Room
This meeting room is available to the public and is equipped with chairs, tables, a podium, and a multimedia projector which allows for laptop presentations, DVD's and VHS movies to be projected onscreen. The room must be reserved in advance with the librarian. The meeting room is not available for private entreprenurial purposes. To read the full text of our Policies Concerning Use Of Mountain View Room click here.
Talking Books
Talking Books is a program sponsored by the United Way which aims to make audiobooks available to the sight impaired. The service is free. Talking Books provides a special cassette player to the patron which plays tapes provided by Talking Books. These tapes are mailed directly to the patron and to be returned by mail at no cost to the patron for postage. The Highland County Public Library has the cassette players available and will help anyone in need of this service get started. To learn more see the Talking Books web site by clicking here.
Interlibrary Loans
The Highland County Public Library is a small library with limited space which in turn limits our on-site resources. The good news is that we are able to borrow books from other libraries to meet the individual needs of our patrons. Interlibrary loans are $2.00 per item and each patron may have a limit of five at one time. Depending on the policies of the lending library there may be additional fees. Audio/visual materials are rarely loaned by other libraries and we do not request them.
1. The library is heavily reliant on monetary donations to help maintain our facilities. Like many public services we work very hard to stretch our small budget in order to provide the best service we can. Private donations go a long way in helping us accomplish this goal.
2. Donations of materials are welcomed. Anything we can't use on the shelves we save for the book sale in October. Rest assured that any materials you donate will benefit the library.
3. Volunteers are always needed. There are many things a volunteer can do: read during a story time, cover the front desk, help prepare books for cataloging, deliver books to the homebound, landscape and plant care, help with children's programs, be a shelf reader, conduct fundraisers, help with the October book sale, shelve books, as well as other "as needed" jobs.
Free Magazine Rack
The library has a rack of magazines that have been donated to us that we offer to our patrons for free. When you finish with your magazines we would be happy to take them so that other people may read them. We try to keep only current (within the last six months) magazines. Please do not bring us magazines that are years old.
