Frequently Asked Questions

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.

Masks are optional at all branches.

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.

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.

Yes. Covered drinks and peanut-free, dry snacks, such as crackers or cookies are allowed in the library as long as all trash is thrown away or removed from the library.

Children are welcome to visit the library with their caregivers. Toys and interactive activities have been placed back in the children’s areas. 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.

Museum passes can be borrowed at the following libraries:

Fallsington Library, Free Library of New Hope & Solebury, Free Library of Northampton Township, Margaret R. Grundy Memorial Library, Morrisville Free Library, Riegelsville Public Library, Southampton Free Library, Township Library of Lower Southampton, Village Library of Wrightstown, and Warminster Township Free Library.

Please contact the library for their local policy regarding museum passes.

You can register online or in person for a library card. You’ll need to provide proof of your identity and evidence that you currently live, own a business, work, or go to school in Bucks County.

If you are a Bucks County resident, you will receive an email every three years asking to renew your card. If you have an Access PA or Non-Resident card you will receive an email every year asking to renew your card. All cards must be renewed in person and require proof of identity.

If you have forgotten your PIN, please visit My Account and log in with your library card and password. If this is your first time logging in, you can setup a password by following the steps in . Once logged in, you can go to “My Account Details” and scroll down to the bottom of the page to click “Change settings” next to History and PIN.

You can:

• place holds
• pay fines
• renew your checkouts
• update your PIN
• opt in to keep a record of your checkouts
• link your account to a family or friend
• get alerts for new items

You can use your PIN to check out materials at self-check kiosks or to use resources like databases and e-books. Your password lets you access your library account online.

Think of it like banking: your PIN allows you to buy something with your debit card, and your password lets you log in to your bank account on your computer.

1. Click “My Account” on the catalog menu.
2. Enter your library card number as your username.
3. Click “Request new password.”
4. Enter your email address for a password reset link.
5. Use the link sent to your email address to reset.

If you’re having trouble, call your local library to request a temporary password. Please note: staff members cannot set a new password for you. They can reset it to a temporary password, but you’ll need to change it when you log in.

1. Click “My Account” on the catalog menu and log in.
2. Click “My checkouts.”
3. Leave the check beside each item you want to renew, and uncheck items you plan to return.
4. Click “Renew selected items.”

If your item can’t be renewed because another user has placed a hold on it or  you’ve reached your renewal limit, you’ll see “Cannot be renewed” under the title.

1. Click “My Account” on the catalog menu and log in.
2. Click “My holds.”
3. Check the box next to the item you want to pause.
4. Click the “Pause” button.
5. Click “Show pause hold dates” and select the date range you’d like the item to be paused.
6. Click “Save.”

1. Click “My Account” on the catalog menu and log in.
2. Click “Financial details.”
3. Leave the check beside each fine you’d like to pay, and uncheck any fines you’d like to pay later.
4. Click “Payment of selected items.”
5. Click “Online payment.”
6. Click “Pay From Credit Card.”
7. Click “Submit.”
8. Enter your debit or credit card information and click “Submit.”

You can create relationships in your online account. Relationships link your account to family and friends’ accounts so you can renew their items without logging in to their account. Both people in the relationship must approve, and linked accounts cannot see each other’s check-out history.

Here’s how to set up a link:

1. Click “My Account” on the catalog menu and log in.
2. Click Relationships.
3. Type in the birthdate and library card number for the account you are linking with.
4. Select whether the other patron will be able to access your account or if you are requesting to access their account.
5. Select the function: do you want to be able to renew their items, or do you want to be able to pay fines on their behalf? If you want to do both, fill out the form twice.
6. Click Add.
7. The person you are linking with must log in to their online library account and approve the link.
8. To renew items on someone else’s behalf, click on My Checkouts, and select the tab with the person’s name. You can then renew their materials.

You can hover your mouse over the gray symbols to see what kind of item you’re viewing. Here are all the symbols:

In your online account, you can set up a community profile to rate and review items or build lists that you can use yourself and share with others. Community profiles can also send direct messages to each other.

To set up a community profile in your online account:

1. Click “My Account” on the catalog menu and log in.
2. From the account menu, click “Create Community Profile.”
3. Choose a nickname for your profile (nicknames can have spaces) and check the box agreeing to the terms of service.

Museum passes can be borrowed at the following libraries:

Fallsington Library, Free Library of New Hope & Solebury, Free Library of Northampton Township, Margaret R. Grundy Memorial Library, Morrisville Free Library, Riegelsville Public Library, Southampton Free Library, Township Library of Lower Southampton, Village Library of Wrightstown, and Warminster Township Free Library.

Please contact the library for their local policy regarding museum passes.

Yes, you can use our online form to book a group study room.

Yes. All of our quiet study rooms are open.

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.

Yes, passport services are available at the Bensalem branch. Learn more or book an appointment.

Yes, both areas are now open.

The Doylestown, Quakertown, Levittown, and Yardley-Makefield branches are accepting donations.

Some of Bucks County Free Library’s branches are not accepting donations. 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 library or organization.

The following district libraries are accepting book donations: Village Library of Wrightstown, Fallsington Library, Southampton Free Library and Warminster Township Free Library. For addresses, visit the Locations page and scroll down to the District Member Libraries section.

Bucks County Free Library is accepting volunteer applications. It may take up to 4 weeks for an applicant to hear from the library.

Any purchase requests can be submitted online here. By submitting this form, you can ensure that your suggestion is received directly by the people with the power to add resources to our collection. Purchase suggestions are considered in light of our selection policy and guidelines for local authors. While we strive to make our collections responsive to community needs, we’re not able to purchase every title that is suggested.

Unfortunately, the public libraries in our library system are not set up to do that type of archival research. We do provide in-library access to the Ancestry.com database. In addition, the Bucks County Historical Society in Doylestown may be another great resource to utilize. The BCHS has extensive archives extending back to the beginning of the county through the present day. They can do research for outside parties. If you would like to view any available resources, services charges, and the hours of operation, here is a link to their website.

All materials can be returned to indoor and outdoor book drops.

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

Once you receive an email that your hold is available, it will be kept for 1 week 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.

A staff member will need to pause your hold for you. Please call your library to have a staff member pause your hold

If you can’t pick up your holds a friend or family member can pick them up from your Bucks County Free Library branch you in one of two ways. You can give them your library card and PIN to check out your materials. Or you may contact us in advance, and 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. In-person computer help is available.

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 4 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.

Yes. We are offering outdoor in-person programs. Please visit our events calendar to see in-person programs at your branch.

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.