Frequently Asked Questions

You may call or visit the nearest branch to place an interlibrary loan request for an item which we do not own.  If you have access to our website, you may also place your own interlibrary loan request by choosing the "Marina" link located on the blue box on the left side of the home page (or click here).

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Fines can be paid by cash, check or credit card at the front desk of any branch.  Checks are to be made payable to the Ruth Enlow Library. 

Credit and debit cards require a $5.00 minimum charge.

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

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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, or you can place a request online yourself by using our "Marina" link which is located on the left side of our Home Page.

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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.  Here are a few policies for using the computers:

• 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. 
• There is a charge of $.20 per page for black and white printing, and $.50 per page for color printing.
• A complete set of rules is posted at each branch.

Please review our Computer Use Policy here.

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We accept applications but review them only when we have a position open. We keep applications on file for a year. An application can be downloaded online or a print copy is also available at any library branch location.

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

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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
•  Media projector

The patron must have a library card in good standing. Overdue items incur a fine of $0.20/day.

Chromebooks and Wifi hotspots are available for adult patrons to check out for up to three weeks at a time (no renewals). 

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Ruth Enlow Library may accept donations of materials based upon their suitability for the library's collection. The library staff will evaluate the suitability of the donated materials. If they are suitable, current bestsellers, recently released DVDs and books on CD will be accepted for inclusion. Materials that were published or produced more than a year before the donation date will generally not be accepted unless they are of particular local interest.

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 and supplement the library's operating budget. 

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

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The fines at the Ruth Enlow Library are as follows: 

In the event of closure during emergency winter weather conditions or school closings, fines to be incurred that day will be waived.

While overdue notices will be provided as a courtesy, patrons are responsible for monitoring due dates and ensuring that their materials are returned on time.

Items more than 30 days late will be considered lost, and the patron will be billed for their replacement.

Late fees will not be incurred by our patrons under age 18, though replacement fees for materials which are more than 30 days late will still apply. 

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You may borrow up to 10 play credits per month.  This limit resets on the first day of each month.

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A patron may check out up to 100 items at one time, with the following exceptions:

1. Two (2) Lucky Day Books or video games may be checked out simultaneously.
2. Ten (10) DVD/Blu-Ray movies may be checked out simultaneously.
3. Three (3) toys or backpacks may be checked out simultaneously.
4. One (1) Wifi hotspot may be checked out at a time per household.
5. One (1) Chromebook may be checked out at a time per household.

Time Limits of Borrowing

All materials may be checked out for three weeks, with the following exceptions:

• DVD, Blu-Rays, magazines for adults, and equipment may be checked out for a period of one week.

Materials eligible for renewal will be renewed automatically three days before their due date.  All materials may be renewed up to three times with the following exceptions:

• Lucky Day Books, WiFi hotspots, Chromebooks, and magazines may not be renewed.
• The ability to renew interlibrary loan materials is determined by the policies of the lending library.

Materials which belong to the Ruth Enlow Library system will renew automatically as long as renewals remain and as long as there are no holds on the item.  However, not all items will automatically renew, so you should check your account for correct due dates.

Juvenile users may not check out toys, literacy kits, equipment, Wifi hotspots, Chromebooks, video games, DVD or Blu-Ray movies to their accounts. 

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If you lose your library card, please call a branch of the Ruth Enlow Library as soon as possible.  There is a $1.00 fee to replace a lost library card.

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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.

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