Using the Library

Getting a Library Card

Any person who lives or owns taxable property within the Chillicothe Public Library District may obtain a Chillicothe Public Library card by applying in person at the library.  Proof of residency is required, and may be fulfilled by showing State issued photo ID with current address, or by providing a recent bill addressed to the resident.  If either of those options are not possible, a post card can be mailed to the patron for a small fee, which can be returned once received as proof of residency.  

To obtain a juvenile card (issued to those under age 18), an adult who is responsible for the child applying for the card must agree to accept responsibility for the items checked out using that card.

You must apply for, carry, and use your own library card, unless written permission to share your account with other family members has been filed with the library.  It should be noted however, that the library card holder remains responsible for any activity on their card.  Parents may check out materials on behalf of children age 18 and younger using the child’s card. If you lose your library card, please contact Circulation Services immediately.  Lost cards can be replaced for a $2 fee.  

Nonresident cards may be issued for a fee of $108.32 and are effective for one year. The nonresident card fee is calculated using the general mathematical formula allowed by Illinois law, is reviewed annually, and may change each year on July 1.

You must have your library card on hand when checking out. The only alternative is the RSAcat Mobile app. Once downloaded, you can use the app to call up your barcode from your phone for checkout and manage your account.

Download RSAcat Mobile via the Apple Store | Download RSAcat Mobile via Google Play

Due Dates, and Limits

Item TypeCheck out PeriodLimit
Books4 weeksNone*
CDs and Audio Books4 weeks5
Magazines4 weeks5
DVDs, Blurays, and Games4 weeks5

*A total of 50 items may be checked out at any one time.

All items are subject to a 3-renewal limit unless otherwise specified.

 CPLD stopped assessing fines for overdue items in January of 2021.  However, fees for lost or damaged goods still apply.  Items not returned in a timely manner are considered “lost” at 30 days past the due date.  Fees for the full replacement value will be automatically charged to patron accounts.  These fees may be reversed once the item is returned in good condition.

You can renew items at the circulation desk, by calling the library at 309-274-2719, or by accessing your library account online. Any item may be renewed unless it is requested by another borrower.

You will not be able to check out any items if there are fees higher than $5.00 on your account.

Interlibrary Loan

Chillicothe Public Library is part of a library consortium, the Resource Sharing Alliance (RSA). If we don’t have the item you’re looking for, there’s usually a copy nearby that we can have brought in for you at no charge. When browsing our online catalog, it will automatically broaden your search to all libraries within RSA if it cannot find the item on our shelves, and placing a hold on that item will have it delivered here! When borrowing from an RSA library, our loan period and renewal options apply.

Chillicothe Public Library cardhholders can use interlibrary loan (ILL) to borrow books and other items from outside of RSA. You can fill out an ILL request form at the front desk, or you can do a self-guided search using the OCLC WorldCat and bring your findings to us!

There is no fee for borrowing materials from other Illinois libraries. Out-of-state materials have a $5.00 postage charge, which must be paid before we initiate the request with the lending library. When borrowing from non-RSA libraries, the loan period and renewal options are set by the owning library. Renewals for ILL items cannot be done online because we must contact the owning library; please call us at 309-274-2719 if you would like to renew these items.

Since CPLD waives all material fees, we limit our initial OCLC search to libraries who extend the same courtesy.

Requesting Purchases

Know of a book, movie, show, or game you think we should have in our collection? Fill out our new item suggestion form and we’ll take a look!

Managing Renewals

Need a little bit more time with an item? The library offers you up to three renewals for each item and several different ways to request renewal:

  • Online through RSACat 24 hours a day
  • By calling 309-274-2719 during regular library hours
  • By replying to a renewal notice text (please note: replying to a renewal notice email will not renew an item.)

Why Won’t My Items Renew?

  • Another user has requested the item
  • All three renewals already have been used
  • An item may not be renewable (such as kits and board games)
  • Your card has over $5.00 in fines
  • Your card has expired

Check all due dates carefully to ensure that your renewal requests have gone through.

Renewal Requests for Interlibrary Loan (ILL) Items

Items requested from libraries that are not members of RSA cannot be renewed online because we must contact the owning library. Please call 309-274-2719 or ask at the Circulation Desk if you would like to renew these items.

Text Notifications

You can receive notification by text when hold requests arrive or when items are overdue. To set up text notification, please visit RSACat: Text Messaging Service.

(Your carrier’s charges will apply if you choose to receive text message notification.)

Failure to receive a courtesy or overdue notice does not constitute cause for removal or reduction of fees. To make certain your materials are returned on time and to avoid late fees, please check the due dates in your online account or ask for a receipt.

Library Card Account

You can access your library account 24 hours a day via your library account page. Enter the barcode number printed on your library card including the “D” and your PIN.

If you do not have your PIN, please call or stop by the library and staff can help you get a new PIN.

Once you are logged into your account, you can:

  • See due dates for all items
  • View and pay fees
  • Request renewal of items
  • Place new hold requests
  • Suspend hold requests until a later date of your choice
  • View the status of current hold requests
  • Set up text notification
  • Save and manage reading lists
  • Maintain your reading history
  • Save favorite searches and have new results emailed to you

Having problems accessing your library account? Here are some suggestions:

  • Make sure you have the minimal level of cookies enabled
  • If you are using stored passwords on your computer, try retyping your password manually
  • On the login page, press CTRL+F5 to refresh and try again

If you still are unable to access your account after trying all of the above suggestions, please call the Circulation Desk at 309-274-2719.

RSAcat Mobile

RSAcat Mobile is an app that allows you to search the Resource Sharing Alliance catalog and manage your library card account easily from your mobile device! Find your next item, place items on hold, manage your household’s library cards, pay fines, call up your card’s barcode for check outs, and more.

Download RSAcat Mobile via the Apple Store | Download RSAcat Mobile via Google Play