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Circulation (765-362-2242 ext. 109)

A public library is where you can find a large collection of books, magazines, newspapers, videos, audio tapes, CDs, and DVDs. Anyone can freely use materials in the library. Come to the library to read, get information, ask questions, study, use a computer . . .and much more!

Circulation desk

Library Card

With proof of residence, free library service is provided to the residents of Crawfordsville and Montgomery County's North and South Union Township. Present one printed identification with name and current mailing address. The patron completes a registration form (.pdf file). If you live in a township not serviced by the library (Coal Creek, Wayne, Scott, and Ripley Townships), you must pay $52.50 per year to obtain a fee card.

PLAC (Public Library Access Card)

A Public Library Access Card must be purchased at a person's local library. To do so, the patron must have a current card at this library. The charge is $30.00 per year. This is an individual card for use only by the cardholder. Cards expire after 1 year.

Reciprocal Agreement Card

The name of a patron's local library must be listed on our reciprocal agreement sheet. The patron must have a current library card at the local library. Cards expire after 1 year.

Courtesy Cards

Courtesy cards are issued under the following circumstances:

  • Wabash Card: Issued to a student at Wabash College who does not have a Crawfordsville home address. Cards expire after 1 year.
  • Taxpayer Card: Issued to a person living outside the taxing district who owns property (a personal home or business) in Crawfordsville or Union Township. The patron must show a current tax receipt. Cards expire after 1 year.
  • Teacher Card: Issued to all educators who teach in Montgomery County. Cards expire after 1 year.
  • Minister card: Issued to a minister whose church is located in Crawfordsville or Union Township but who resides outside of the library taxing district. Cards expire after 1 year.
  • CARA Card: Issued to a student or teacher or tutor with the Crawfordsville Adult Reading Association who is entitled to free library service. Card can be used as long as a person's involvement with CARA continues. Cards expire after 1 year.

Institutional Card

Issued to nursery schools, private schools, and nursing homes located in Crawfordsville or Union Township with permission of the library director. The head of the institution must send a letter to the library director agreeing to pay for lost or damaged books and naming people authorized to use the card. Cards expire after 1 year.

Corporate Card

Issued to the owner of a business in Montgomery County if s/he sends a letter to the library director agreeing to pay for damaged or lost items checked out on the card. Employees of the business may use the card and must have the card to check out items. Cards expire after 1 year.

Visitor's Card

The user pays a fee to receive the card. The fee is non-refundable, and the amount depends on the length of use.

  • $15.00 -- 1 to 4 months
  • $25.00 -- 4 to 8 months
  • $52.50 -- 9 to 12 months

Homebound Patron Card

If a patron does not already have a library card, a volunteer will take a library card application to the patron on the first visit. The volunteer then returns the application to the circulation desk.

Renewal of Library Card

Renewal may be done during the month of expiration or afterward.

Lost Card

The patron must show identification in order to replace a lost card. The fee is $1.00.

Change of Information

We request that patrons notify the library at their earliest convenience if a change occurs in an address, a phone number, or a last name.

Loan Periods

Loan periods vary depending on the item and its age.

28-day loan

  • All fiction books more than 6 months old
  • Non-fiction books
  • All large print books
  • Older audio cassettes
  • Music CDs
  • Older CDs
  • Children's magazines

7-day loan

  • Adult magazines
  • Newspapers (excluding the most recent issues)
  • High-demand books
  • New best sellers and new fiction books
  • New audio-cassettes
  • New CDs
  • Videos

Check-out limit

  • Books: no limit
  • Audio-cassettes: no limit
  • CDs: no limit
  • DVDs/Videos/Music CDs: 10

Renewal of Books

Patrons may renew any 28-day books one time (unless a book has been requested by another patron). Renewals by web, e-mail, and phone (765-362-2242 ext. 2) are now possible. 7-day items are not renewable.

Overdue Fine Schedule

The overdue fine is calculated by type of material and length of time.

Type Fine Maximum fine
Books (regular library materials) $.10 cents/day cost of item
Books on CD $.10 cents/day cost of item
Videos / DVDs $.25 cents/day cost of item
Audio cassettes $.10 cents/day cost of item
CDs $.10 cents/day cost of item
Interlibrary loan (our library) no fine cost of item if lost
Interlibrary loan (other libraries) $.50 cents/day cost of item
Local history cassettes $1.00/day $15.00
AV equipment $1.00/day cost of item
Reference materials $1.00/hour cost of item
Vertical file $.10 cents/day $5.00
Magnifiers no fine  

Damaged Library Materials

Patrons are responsible for damaged or lost library materials. The replacement cost for a lost or damaged but not easily repaired item is determined by the latest published cost. Cost for damaged but easily repaired items are determined by the exact extent of the damage. If an item is lost, the maximum charge would be the cost of the item plus overdue fines up to the time of reporting an item as lost.

Book Drops

The library has two book drops for your convenience. An outside drop is located near the main entrance doors. A drive-up box is located under the canopy on the west side of the building. All items may be returned via the drops.