Library cards are free and can be obtained at any branch of the St. Joseph Public Library:  Carnegie, Downtown, East Hills, or Washington Park.  A photo ID and proof of address is required to obtain a card for those over the age of 17. Anyone 17 or under must have parent or legal guardian consent to obtain a library card. A patron over the age of 17 who does not have a permanent address and/or a picture ID may be given a temporary card.

The card can be used to borrow materials from any St. Joseph Public Library branch, borrow streaming and eContent, and to access online computer databases, including the library’s catalog, at home or the library.  Your library card is your account number, a librarian will be able to tell you your PIN (Your PIN is only needed to sign into your account on the Library catalog). Just call or visit any branch if you need your PIN.

Click on the link “Books & Materials.”  You can begin searching immediately.  To log into your own account, use your library card number as the “User ID” (with no spaces) and enter your PIN.   Ask a librarian what your PIN is.  Once you are logged in you can view what is checked out on your account, renew library materials, or place reserves on materials.  The direct link to the online catalog is https://sjpl.modiscovery.org/.

The library’s online catalog can be accessed anywhere there is an internet connection by going to the library’s website at http://sjpl.lib.mo.us and clicking on Books & Materials. The direct link to the online catalog is https://sjpl.modiscovery.org/.

A PIN (Personal Identification Number) is a number that allows you to log into the library’s online catalog, along with your library card number.   Ask for your PIN in person, by telephone, or via email at mrevels@sjpl.lib.mo.us

You may borrow most material for three weeks (21 days).  All items may be renewed twice, as long as no one else has requested them and they are not Interlibrary Loan material.  You may renew borrowed material at any branch of the library, in person, by telephone, via email, or online at the library’s online catalog.

If the material you want is currently not available, ask a librarian to place a hold or reserve for the material.  As soon as the material is available, you will be notified by mail or email so you can pick it up at the branch you choose.  This service is also available through the library’s online catalog.  If the material you want is not owned by the St. Joseph Public Library, ask a librarian to request it from another library outside our system using our Interlibrary Loan service.

Any book or other material that is located within the St. Joseph Public Library system can be sent to the library branch of your choice.  If the material you want is not owned by the library, ask a librarian to request it from another library outside our system using our Interlibrary Loan service.

You may return material to any St. Joseph Public Library location inside the libraries or in the bookdrops available outside the buildings.  Please return CDs, videos, DVDs, hotspots, and other fragile items inside the library.

Charges for the replacement cost of lost or damaged library materials will be determined by the list price of the item as indicated in the item record, plus a processing fee of $3.00 per item. Charges for lost or damaged materials borrowed through Interlibrary Loan will be determined by the library that lent the item.

Each library branch offers free Internet access, word processing, other software application programs, and access to the library’s online databases.  All libraries also offer wireless Internet access.  Children and teens under the age of 17 may use the Internet if a completed “Parental Release Form” is on file at the library.

The Library-By-Mail service is available for homebound St. Joseph Public Library district residents unable to visit the St. Joseph Public Library.  Materials are sent by mail, free of postal charges.  Sign up by calling 236-2107.

The V.I.P. Club is an automatic “hold”, or reserve service for patrons who like to read or listen to popular fiction books.  You may sign up to be notified automatically when a new book, written by any author you choose from a list of popular and bestselling fiction authors, is available for you to check out.  Ask a librarian at any branch for the list of authors or view and print the list from the library’s website.  Sign up at the library to begin this service.

A variety of programs and events are planned for children, young adults, and adults.  Find out about upcoming events by clicking on the calendar tab, Friend our Facebook Page, Sign Up for our STAMPS monthly events newsletter, or visit any library branch.  Information about upcoming events is also made available to media outlets throughout the area including The St. Joseph News-Press & related TV stations, KQTV, and Eagle Radio.

The East Hills, Downtown, and Washington Park libraries have meeting rooms available for use by community groups.  There is also limited space available at the Carnegie Library for public use.  For details on how to reserve meeting space, please see the “Meeting Room Policy” in the Library Policies & Guidelines link on the website.

The library welcomes volunteers.  Contact the library branch where you are interested in volunteering by visiting the “Contact the Library” page on the library website.  We will send you a Volunteer application to complete and return.  You are also welcome to pick up a Volunteer application at your preferred branch.

There are a number of ways you can support the St. Joseph Public Library.  You can volunteer your time by helping us prepare new books for checkout, upkeep the library parks, aid in the Summer Reading Program, help with special projects and more!

You can join the Friends of the St. Joseph Public Library.  Annual memberships are as low as $5.00.  The Friends underwrite the Summer Reading Program; purchase BookPage, a monthly book review magazine that is free for pick-up at any branch; sponsor book clubs and special events at the libraries, and sort and box books for the book sales.  Call 236-2107 to join.

You can donate money to the library to be used to purchase books or other materials.  A sticker will be placed in the book indicating who donated it and who the book is in memory of, or honoring.

You can simply donate money to the library!

You can donate books or other materials to the library.  The materials will be reviewed by library staff to determine if they will be added to the library collection or sent to the Friend’s book sale.

The Reference Department is located in the Downtown Library, at 927 Felix Street.
They can be contacted in person, through text: 816-249-1377, by phone: 816-232-8151, by email: mrevels@sjpl.lib.mo.us or by tapping or clicking on the green “Ask a Question” box.
Click on the “Reference ” link on the menu above to learn more about the department.

Simply click on the Contact the Library button on our Home Page. You may also click on “Library Locations and Hours” under the Helpful Library Links at the bottom of any page on our website. Library addresses, phone numbers, hours, maps and email contacts are provided for you there.