How long may I keep an item?

• Books, e-readers, audiobooks, music CDs, kits and library mascot – 14 days
• Books, e-readers, audiobooks, music CDs, kits and library mascot – 14 days

*Due date reminders, overdue notices and holds notifications are available via email OR text message (standard rates apply).

Book Drop

Our book drop is on the east side of the building next to the Congress Street parking lot entrance.

Inter-Library Loan Policy

If you want a book, DVD or other item that we don’t have, ask us to borrow it from another library for you. Inter-library loan items will only be obtained for Polo Library cardholders.

If you live in Buffalo Township, you may get a library card free of charge as part of your tax-supported library service. To get a library card, an applicant, or parent/legal guardian/responsible individual, will need to show a photo ID with current address. If your ID does not have your current address, you will also be asked for one item showing current address from the following list:

• Utility bill
• Lease
• Tax bill
• Mortgage payment book
• Vehicle sticker receipt
• Vehicle registration
• Voter’s registration
• Firearms identification (FOID card)
• College semester schedule
• State of Illinois medical statement

All items must be current.

If you live inside Polo Community School District but outside Buffalo Township you must purchase your library card. The cost is determined by the State of Illinois’ formula of tax funds received from the county divided by number of households in Buffalo Township. The current cost of a non-resident card is $97. Non-resident cards are good for one year. Polo Public Library Foundation is assisting families with the cost of a non-resident card. For households including children under the age of 18, your cost is $20. Cards are good for one year.

In compliance with the Disabled Veterans’ Standard Homestead Exemption [35 ILCS 200/15-169] Polo Library will waive the non-resident fee for veterans with a service-connected disability of at least 70% and who are exempt from paying property tax on their primary residence.

If you are not sure whether you live in the Library District, check your property tax bill or click here to view the map.

Your Account

• By law, staff cannot look up other patron accounts or other family members’ accounts unless it is for a minor child.
• You can look up your own account by clicking here.
• You must possess a current, valid library card to check out library materials or to have staff look up your account.

To renew materials:

1. Log in to your online account with your library card number and library PIN.
2. Click Checkouts on the left side of the page to see your checkouts. If you wish, you can sort by due date.
3. Click on box next to the items you wish to renew, and click Renew Marked. If you wish to renew ALL items, click the RENEW ALL button.
4. A message will be displayed: “The following item(s) will be renewed. Would you like to proceed?” Click YES.
5. The screen will tell you if your renewals were successful and display the new due date. If a renewal was NOT successful, you will see the reason highlighted in red under STATUS.

To reserve materials:

1. Log in to your online account with your library card number and library PIN.
2. Enter the title you wish to reserve in the search box of the CATALOG. If you wish to refine your search, use the selection tools on the left side of the page.
3. Choose the correct title from the search results and click the REQUEST IT button.
4. Select the library where you wish to pick up the book. For instance, if you wish to have the book sent to the Polo Public Library, choose Polo from the list.
5. Click the SUBMIT button.
6. A confirmation box will appear. Click the OK button.

Your hold has been placed. If you have signed up for email notification, you will receive an email from library@pololibrary.org when the hold is available. Otherwise, you will receive an automated phone call.

When your hold is available, you can pick it up at the circulation desk. Please bring your library card with you to pick up your hold.

Interested in saving your reading history so you can remember what you’ve already read?

1. Log in to your online account with your library card number and library PIN.
2. Click Reading History in the left column of your account’s page.
3. Click Save Reading History to opt in. The website will now remember what you check out and return, beginning from this moment.

You can manage your own reading history, including sorting items, deleting items or exporting your history. You can also choose to opt out at any time, and your reading history will be cleared.

To opt in to receive messages about overdue items or a hold ready for pickup from your account:

1. Log in to your online account with your library card number and library PIN.
2. Click Edit Account in the left column of your account’s page.
3. Add your mobile phone number, which is required to receive texts.
4. Click the box to the left of Opt In.
5. Scroll down and click Submit to enroll.

The service may take 24-48 hours to register. You may opt out at any time. The text alerts do not replace email, phone or print notices. Message and data rates may apply.

Pay your overdue fines and fees online using your credit or debit card.

1. Log in to your online account with your library card number and library PIN.
2. Click Fines/Fees in the left column
3. Once your record appears, click the dollar amount in the Unpaid Fines and Bills line.
4. Click Pay Online.
5. Click in the boxes of fines or fees you want to pay online.
6. Click Recalculate Total.
7. Enter your billing and credit card information. No credit card information is stored on the PrairieCat server. You will need to provide your information each time you make a payment.
8. Click Submit.

A few guidelines:

• The minimum amount that is accepted for an eCommerce payment is $1.
• It is not possible to pay part of an individual fee. Users can select which fees they want to pay, but must pay fully for any fees they select.
• If a patron makes an eCommerce payment, it is processed through PayPal’s PayFlowPro.
• Once a payment is made, it is immediately credited to the patron’s account and can be seen in Fees Paid with a payment type of eCommerce.
• Users can choose to print a receipt or have it emailed to them.