Service
Spotlight

See the Library's 2019 Community Highlights by clicking the picture below!

The Many Perks of the CAFE Catalog System

Since joining CAFÉ, New Berlin Public Library patrons have gained easier access to a much larger amount of materials throughout the county and have enjoyed shorter wait times for materials.

You can:

• Check out a Book Kit from the NBPL and CAFE system for your book club! Search the catalog for "Book Club Kits" and select a good match for your group!

• Use your New Berlin library card at any CAFÉ library. You no longer need a separate card to check out items from other Waukesha County libraries.
• Return New Berlin library books to any CAFÉ library and you can return any CAFÉ library's books here and they will be checked in immediately.
• Place a hold to have an item that New Berlin Library does not own (but another CAFÉ library does) sent to the New Berlin Library. You can either do this in the library during open hours or from home at any time.

Library Services

The library is part of the Bridges Library System, "a cooperative of public libraries in Waukesha and Jefferson Counties." We encourage you to use the New Berlin Public Library as your primary library in order to help control community costs; however, you may check out and return materials at any member library. Any Wisconsin resident may apply for a library card at the Circulation Desk after presenting current identification and proof of residence. Residents of Milwaukee County are required to pay a non-resident fee of $25. Children may obtain their own library card providing they are 5 years or older. A parent or guardian must be along to show current identification and sign the application. Children's cards can be made at either the Circulation or Youth Services desks.

A note about patron responsibility:

Patrons are expected to notify the library about changes to their home address, phone number, or email address. Patrons are responsible for their accounts and for collection agency referrral fees even if they have not received notices because of incorrect address or email information in our database.

Let Our Library Maps Help You Find What You Are Looking For:

First Floor Map (Adult Area)
First Floor Map (Youth Area)
2nd Floor Map (Adult and Teen Areas)

Loan Periods

The following items can be checked out for 1 week:

• Periodicals (Current issues in binders are non-circulating)
• New Fiction
• DVDs (DVD Series are 2 weeks)

The following items can be checked out for 3 weeks:

• Books (except New Fiction)
• Audiobooks
• Music CDs
• CD-Roms
• Playaways
• Book Kits

All items may be renewed three times unless another library user is waiting. Users can place checked out materials on hold. Items not available in our library but available through the CAFÉ system can be requested through placing holds. Items not available through CAFÉ can be requested through Interlibrary loan at the Reference Desk. All fines and fees must be paid in full before holds and interlibrary loan items can be checked out. You must have the library card of the person who placed the hold.

Fines & Fees

All items must be returned by the due date to avoid fines. There is NO grace period.

Most overdue items are 15 cents a day to a maximum of $10.00.

Overdue DVDs are $1.00 a day to a maximum of $10.00.

Overdue Book Kits: Each book kit contains a minimum of 10 books, $5.00 a day

Borrowing privileges are suspended at $10.00 in fines and fees. Delinquent accounts totaling $25.00 or more over 60 days old will be given to collection agency.

Lost library cards-$1

Copy machines are available on both floors. Black & white copies are 10 cents a page and color copies are 20 cents a page.

Patron responsibility for overdue fines:

Patrons are expected to pay for overdue fines at the time the materials are returned. The library does not mail or email bills or notices for accounts with outstanding fines.

New Berlin Public Library offers email overdue and reminder notices as a courtesy to our library patrons. We cannot guarantee that patrons will always receive these email messages. Interruptions in service for technical reasons, spam filters, filled mailboxes, and the timetable each patron has for checking email all contribute to missed messages. While we will do everything we can to assure that library patrons will receive our messages, the library holds patrons responsible for tracking the due date on checked-out materials and for paying assessed fines if materials are not returned or renewed on time, whether or not an email reminder or overdue notice was sent or received.

Adult Reference

The Reference department is here to make the library less confusing. Librarians explain the use of the library, answer questions, suggest books and materials, and much more. The Reference collection includes a business section, encyclopedias, indexes, and Wisconsin telephone directories. If you need assistance locating materials, please don't hesitate to ask.

Youth Services

Introducing children to the value and pleasure of books and stressing the importance of early literacy is one of our most important services. The children's area provides materials for preschool through sixth grade. Included are children's magazines, read-along kits, audiobooks and DVDs. Books about parenting and home schooling are also included in this collection.

Home Delivery Service

The New Berlin Public Library provides home delivery of materials to patrons who are not able to visit the library in person. This service is provided for those cardholders with residency in New Berlin who are confined due to illness, age, disability or other qualifying circumstance. 

Volunteering

Interested in volunteering at the library? Give us a call at 262-785-4980 to discuss the current volunteer opportunities!