access the Internet?

There are three ways to access the Internet through the Ruth Enlow Library. 

First, you can visit any of our branches and access the Internet through one of our public computers. 

Second, you can access the Internet at any of our branches using WiFi. 

Third, the Ruth Enlow Library offers dial-up accounts through our Sailor network.  The accounts are free and last for 3 months.  Just go to any of our branches and fill out an application. You must be at least 18 years of age, and have a valid and unexpired library card issued by the public library where you are submitting your request. You will need to have a PC running Windows 95/98/ NT/Me/2000 or XP, a modem and a phone line. 

book a meeting room?

The main library in Oakland and our Grantsville branch have meeting rooms available to the public.  To book a room, please call the main library at 301-334-3996 x100 or the Grantsville branch at 301-895-5298.

The meeting room is open to nonprofit organizations engaged in educational, cultural, intellectual, and charitable activities.

All meetings in the library meeting room must be free of charge and open to the public. No selling or commercial activities are allowed.

For the complete meeting room policy, please contact your nearest branch.

buy used materials?

Patrons can purchase used materials by coming to the library and choosing items of interest from the used material bookshop for the following prices:

Hardback books	$.50
Paperback books (250 pg or less)	$.10
Paperback books (251 pg or more)	$.20
Magazines	$.10

change my PIN?

You can change your PIN at the front desk at any branch.

check out equipment?

The Oakland Library has the following equipment which can be checked out for a week at a time:

Carousel slide projector

Filmstrip projector

Opaque projector

Overhead projector

Movie screen

The patron must complete and sign an equipment loan form first. Overdue items incur a fine of $.50/day.

 

                 

                 

                 

         

donate used materials?

Ruth Enlow Library accepts donations of materials with the understanding that the library's staff will evaluate the suitability of the materials for inclusion in the library's collection.

Donations that do not meet the system's objectives and policies will be sold or returned to the donor, if the donor wishes them to be returned. Money from the sale of donated items will be used to purchase new materials.

No other conditions may be imposed by the donor either before or after the acceptance of the materials into the collection.

find a branch?

The locations of our branches can be found at the following links:

Oakland (Main Library)

Accident 

Friendsville 

Grantsville   

Kitzmiller  

find out about fines?

The fines at the Ruth Enlow Library are as follows:

 

Children & YA Materials	$0.05/day	$2.00 max
Adult Materials	$0.10/day	$4.00 max
DVDs and Videos	$0.50/day	$5.00 max

 

A total of 2 overdue notices will be sent for each item that is overdue.

find out about suspended borrowing privileges?

Borrowing privileges may be suspended for the following reasons:

• Long overdue items (overdue 35 days or more)
• Fines due of $5.00 or more
• Five or more overdue items

 

Once material is returned and/or payments made, most borrowing privileges are reinstated. Fines must be paid in full to check out interlibrary loan items.

find out about the Friends of the Library?

The Friends of the Ruth Enlow Public Library of Garrett County is a group organized to bring together fellow citizens who value their public library, are willing to work for a better library for the community, and who speak up for good library service whenever and wherever their efforts are needed.

 

find out about the Library Board of Trustees?

Board Meetings are open to the Public and are generally held the third Thursday of the month at 4:00pm. The location can vary. Please call 301-334-3996 to confirm date and place.

Board Members:
Sherry Georg, President
Kathy Helbig, Vice Pres.
Joanne Sheffield, Treasurer
Wanda Guard
Carol Newman
Carol Craver
Jack Caruthers

 

Contact:
Ruth Enlow Library
Board of Trustees
6 N Second Street
Oakland, MD 21550
301-334-3996

find out how many items I can check out and for how long?

Except for a limit of five (5) new books, thirty (30) children's books, twenty (20) videos, five (5) DVDs, and two (2) Reading Express books, a patron may borrow unlimited items at one time.

• DVDs, magazines for adults and videos can be checked out for one week with no renewals allowed.
  
• New books, new Teen books and Reading Express books are checked out for two weeks with no renewals allowed.
  
• Regular adult books, books on cassettes and CDs, music CDs, Teen books, Teen magazines, children's books, children's magazines, puzzles, and pamphlets are checked out for three weeks.  They may be renewed for three weeks if no one has placed a request on them.
  

find out what to do if I lose my library card?

If you lose your library card, please call a branch of the Ruth Enlow Library as soon as possible.

find the library's fees?

Library's fees:

 

Replace lost card	$0.50
Reserve fee (if notice is mailed)	$0.50

 

Fees for faxing:

 

Sending (Long Distance)	$2.00/page
Sending (Local or Toll Free)	$1.00/page
Receiving	$1.00/page

 

get a library card?

In order to receive a library card that permits the holder access to the free services of the Ruth Enlow Library System, the applicant must:

1. Show his/her driver's license or other proof of address as listed below.
2. Complete and sign the application/Borrower's Agreement

If the patron cannot provide a driver's license, other forms of identification may be accepted.

Applicants under the age of eighteen without a driver's license must have a parent or legal guardian sign the Borrower's Agreement for them.  Applicants sixteen years or older with a driver's license should sign a Borrower's Agreement for themselves.

Library cards are valid for three years after which time they must be renewed.  

get wireless access?

WiFi is available at all of our branches.  Just go to the main desk and ask for login information.  Each password will last for 2 hours.

pay my fines?

Fines can be paid by cash or by check at the front desk of any branch.  Checks are to be made payable to the Ruth Enlow Library.  Credit and debit cards cannot be accepted.

Fines can also be paid by mailing a check to any branch.

place an interlibrary loan request?

Just call or visit the nearest branch to place a request for an item which we do not own.

renew library items?

You can renew items in person or by calling any of our branches.  You can also renew items online if you have a PIN for your account.

Please note that some types of items are not renewable.  Overdue items cannot be renewed online.

request an item?

You can request an item in person or by calling any of our branches.  If you have a library card with us and you have a PIN for your account, you can place a request on any item which we own.  To place a request for an item which is not listed in our online catalog, you can call the nearest branch to place an interlibrary loan request.

return items borrowed from a different library?

Most public library materials may be returned to any public library in the county or elsewhere in the state. The exception is DVDs or videos. All locations of the Ruth Enlow Library, excluding the Kitzmiller Branch, have outside bookdrops.

see if an item I requested has arrived for me?

At www.relib.net, click on Catalog and then My Account.  Enter your library card number without spaces and your PIN.  Press enter or click Submit Request.  Click on Holds. You will be able to determine the status of your requests.

use public computers?

All branch locations of the Ruth Enlow Library have computers with internet access for public use and Wireless Internet Access (WiFi) for your laptop pc.

Misuse or illegal use of the computers or Internet access will result in the loss of computer privileges. 

There is a thirty-minute time limit if others are waiting. If no one is waiting the patron may stay on for up to 1 hour.

There is a limit of 2 internet computer sessions per day per person (for a limit of 2 hours per day per person).

There is a charge of $.20 per page for black and white printing.

A complete set of rules is posted at each branch.