Bucks County Free Library
COVID-19 FAQ

Please check our Locations page for Bucks County Free Library branch and District member library hours. Check our website or call before your visit as hours may change because of circumstances related to COVID-19.

Yes. The limit is different at different locations because of layout and square footage. If the library is too full when you arrive you may be asked by a staff member to wait outside until we have more space. If you are in the library and it gets too full you may be asked to finish up your visit so others may come in.

Yes. We’re requiring everyone over age two to wear masks that cover the nose and mouth. Our staff will be wearing masks as well. More detail about the library’s mask policy and guidelines are posted on the library’s policy page.

In addition to limiting the number of people in the library and requiring masks the library has reduced and adjusted seating to accommodate distance, provided distance markers, installed plexiglass shields at service points, and increased frequency of cleaning high-touch areas. To the extent that hand sanitizer is available we are providing hand sanitizer for public use.

All of our collections are fully accessible. However in many of our buildings space is tight, especially our children’s areas. We ask that you keep an eye out for other browsers or staff and stay at least six feet away.

Where available, the library asks that you use our self-check stations to help us minimize close contact. To use the self-check you’ll need to scan your library card or type in your library card number. You’ll also need to enter your PIN.

To keep everyone safe please use hand sanitizer before and after using the self-check. Hand sanitizer will be provided by the library as long as it’s available.

For all branches of the Bucks County Free Library we encourage you to make e-payments via My Account if at all possible. Our self-check kiosks accept both cash and credit card payments.

No. In order to protect public health, our water fountains are shut down and we are not allowing any eating or drinking in the library.

Children are welcome to visit the library with their caregivers. Families should be aware that for public health and safety we’ve removed toys and interactive activities from our children’s areas for now. There is limited seating. For your child’s sake, we recommend that you stay close and enjoy picking out lots of great things to read, listen to, or watch together at home.

You can register online or in person for a library card. Proof of identity and evidence of current Bucks County residence, business ownership, employment, or school enrollment are required.

Bucks County residents will automatically have their card renewed if they have used it in the past 3 years. If you have an eCard, Access PA or Non-Resident card you will receive an email when your card needs to be renewed. eCards can be renewed online. Access PA and Non-Resident cards must be renewed in person and require proof of identity.

If you have forgotten your PIN, please visit My Account and click “Request PIN”. Your PIN will be sent to the email address associated with your account. If you do not receive an email within 15 minutes, please call your library.

No. To keep everyone safe the library has suspended bookings for now.

Yes. In branches that have quiet study rooms the quiet study rooms are open. We ask that you keep your mask on and practice social distancing while using the room.

Yes. The library offers online tutoring and many more study tools through Brainfuse.

Yes. The library offers online resume help and many more career services through JobNow.

No. To keep everyone safe the library has suspended passport services for now.

No. To keep everyone safe the library has closed Penn’s Little Village and Career Corner for now.

No. To keep everyone safe the library has closed the DIY Studios for now.

No. We are not able to process and store book donations at this time. Unfortunately, because of lack of space we will be forced to throw donations in the trash. We ask that you please hold on to them or donate them to another organization.

The library is accepting volunteer applications. It may take up to 4 weeks for an applicant to hear from the library. Because of COVID-19 business requirements our staff has made many changes to how we provide library services. We want to feel confident in our new processes and procedures before we bring volunteers in.

For now we’re requiring that all materials be returned to outdoor book drops and not inside the library.

Please do not clean or disinfect library materials. It will ruin the materials.

Current research shows that a 4 day quarantine is the most effective method to keep library materials safe. For now we are quarantining all materials for 4 days before putting them back in circulation. This means that returned materials may show up on your account for up to a week after you return them. Don’t worry! We’re back-dating check ins.

For now we are quarantining items for 4 days after they are returned. This means that returned materials may show up on your account for up to a week after you return them. Don’t worry! We’re back-dating check ins.

You have to return museum passes to the library where they were checked out. They may be put in book drops.

Yes. More people are placing holds and we are also quarantining materials for 4 days before checking them in. This will result in delays.

Once you receive an email that your hold is available, it will be kept for 2 weeks until it is put back on our shelf.

You can cancel your hold by logging into My Account and clicking on “Review My Account”. Go to the Holds tab to select which holds you want to cancel.

You can pause your hold by logging into My Account and clicking on “Review My Account”. Go to the Holds tab to select which holds you want to suspend and choose “Suspend Selected”. Enter the date range you won’t be able to retrieve your hold and click “Suspend Selected”.

Note: Only “Unavailable” holds can be suspended.

If you can’t pick up your holds a friend or family member can pick them up for you in one of two ways. You can give them your library card to check out your materials. Or, if you contact us in advance we can arrange for the friend or family member to check out your holds using their card. In that case, the materials would be checked out on their account and not yours.

Yes. To support social distancing requirements, the library has had to remove some computers from the floor. Because of limited equipment the library is limiting sign-ups for now to one hour per person per day with no extensions. If computers are more available than expected the library will increase sign-ups.

Yes. To keep everyone safe we are limiting in-person computer help to five minutes or less with distancing observed.

For extended help all branches of the Bucks County Free Library are offering half-hour appointments. For these appointments we will use special software to remotely connect to the computer you’re using. We will help from a distance or by chat.

Bucks County Free Library branches and District Member Libraries differ in the computer services that they offer. Please contact your local library to find out what computer help services are available.

Yes. To find out what services we offer and book an appointment check out our Help Desk page.

You can find our digital content in the Downloads and Streaming section of our E-Library. All you need is a library card and PIN to begin downloading items.

cloudLibrary offers both eBooks and eAudiobooks for download. Items circulate for 14 days and can be renewed as long as there are no holds on the item.

Bucks County residents can borrow 12 items per month from Hoopla. Hoopla offers videos, music, books, audiobooks, and comics. Hoopla titles are always available and there is no waiting list.

You can check our Downloads and Streaming FAQ page for more information on any of our services.

Yes. You can schedule an appointment with our skilled staff members who can assist you with downloading the apps and learning how to download and stream free library items! If you are experiencing errors when downloading or streaming you can contact us by filling out our download support form.

No. To keep everyone safe the library has suspended in-person programs and events for now.

Yes. Please see our events calendar for listings. If you love to do reading challenges and track your reading, we highly recommend our all-ages Beanstack app.