Your Library Card
Your library card is FREE! You may use it at the Main Library and the Fairmount Branch. In addition, your card may be used at any PALS member library and at participating "Open Access" Iowa libraries. There is a $3 charge for a replacement card.
Lost or Stolen Cards. If your library card is lost or stolen, immediately contact the Library, so that unauthorized use of your card can be prevented.
Change in Address, Phone Number, etc. Please contact the Library immediately when there is a change in your name, address, or phone number.
Moving Out of Davenport. Please return your card if you move out of town.
Your Responsibility. You are responsible for all materials checked out on your library card and for fines and charges accrued.
Who Can Get a Library Card
All residents of the city of Davenport are eligible for a FREE Davenport Public Library card.
Davenport property owners residing outside the city of Davenport, who do not have a home library, are eligible for a FREE Davenport Public Library card.
Children under the age of 18 must have a parent or legal guardian co-sign their card application. Parents or legal guardians are responsible for all overdues, fines, and bills accrued on a minor's library card.
How to Get a Library Card
Fill out an application at any Davenport Public Library location. The information on your application is confidential and is protected by Section 22.7(13) of the Code of Iowa and the Library's Confidentiality Policy and Privacy Policy.
Valid ID: All applicants must provide a valid identification verifying their Davenport address. Adults may obtain a card by providing valid ID that verifies their name and current street address. Children's applications must be co-signed by a parent or legal guardian showing valid ID. Many types of IDENTIFICATION that include your current address are acceptable, including the following:
- Iowa Driver's License
- Iowa State ID
- Voter's Registration Card
- Imprinted checks
- Pre-printed lease agreement
- First-class mail in an envelope postmarked within the last 30 days, along with ID that verifies the name
- Vehicle Registration Card
Using Your Library Card
Checking Out Books & Other Library Materials
Checking Out: You must have your library card with you to check out Books & Other Library Materials. Let the machine scan the barcode on your library card and then scan the barcode on each book of other item you check out. You will receive a receipt showing the title of each of the items you've checked out and the date they are due.
Length of Loan: Books may be checked out for 3 weeks (21 days).
DVDs, videos, and music CDs may be checked out for 1 week (7 days).
No Limits: There is no limit on the number of items you may check out at Davenport Public Library.
Returning Library Materials: Books and other library materials should be returned on the date they are due or earlier. The fine for overdue books is 10¢ per item per day. Materials may be returned at the following locations:
Main Library
- Interior book return
- Drive-up book return on 4th Street
Fairmount Branch
- In-wall return slot in the lobby
- Drive-up book return in the front of the building
Davenport Hy-Vee Food Store, 2200 West Kimberly
Davenport Hy-Vee Food Store, 1823 East Kimberly
Any Quad-City Area Library
Reciprocal Borrowing: Your library card may be used at any PALS member library. If you borrow materials from libraries other than Davenport Public Library, you must abide by their loan periods and policies, which may differ from Davenport Public Library's loan periods and policies.
Interlibrary Loan
Interlibrary loan is the process by which a library requests material from, or supplies
material to, another library. Libraries recognize that the sharing of material between libraries is an integral element in the provision of library service and believe it to be in the public interest to encourage such an exchange. In the interest of providing quality service, libraries have an obligation to obtain material to meet the informational needs of users when local resources do not meet those needs. Interlibrary loan (ILL), a mechanism for obtaining material, is essential to the vitality of all libraries. The Interlibrary Loan Code for the United States defines "material" as books, audiovisual materials, and other returnable items as well as copies of journal articles, book chapters, excerpts, and other non-returnable items.
Davenport Public Library card holders may request an item on Interlibrary Loan (ILL) by contacting the Library's Reference Desk at 563.326.7844 or via our Ask A Question form.
Renewing Books & Other Library Materials
Materials may be renewed at the end of that time for an additional 3 weeks, if no one else has reserved them. The limit is one (1) renewal per item. You may renew books & other library materials in the following ways:
- Renew your books and other materials online: Access your library account online and choose Renew My Materials. You may select individual titles to renew or select "Renew All". Be sure to watch for the renewal confirmation screen for your new due date. Renew your materials online either before the due date or on the day they are due.
- Bring items into the Library: Renew materials using the self-check machines at the Main Library or at the Fairmount Branch service desk.
- Use the Telephone Renewal System (QL Renew) by calling 888-542-7259 or 888-LIB-PALZ:
- Gather together the materials youíd like to renew and the library card on which they are checked out.
- Using a touch-tone telephone, dial the appropriate number listed above.
- Follow the instructions given by the automated system, entering the requested information.
- If an item is eligible for renew, QL-Renew will give you the new due date for the material, which you may want to write on your date due slip.
QL-Renew Tips
- You need a touch-tone telephone to use QL-Renew.
- Keep in mind that some materials are not eligible for renewal, for example, items for which others are waiting or items that have already been renewed once.
- If your library card currently has fines or bills that need to be resolved before you can check out materials at the Library, you will need to take care of these charges before you can use QL-Renew.
- To avoid overdue fines, renew your materials before the date they are due.
- If QL-Renew cannot renew an item, the item will keep its original due date.
Returning Library Materials
Main Library
- Interior book return
- In-wall return slot on Main Street
- Drive-up book return on 4th Street
Fairmount Branch
- In-wall return slot in the lobby
- Drive-up book return in the front of the building
Davenport Hy-Vee Food Stores @ 2200 West Kimberly and @ 1815 East Kimberly
Any Quad-City Area Library
Overdues, Fines & Bills
Fines for Overdue Materials: Davenport Public Library materials not returned or renewed by the end of the loan period are considered overdue and subject to a fine of 10c per item per day, to a maximum fine of $5 per item.
Overdue Notice: Approximately 10 days after an item is due, an overdue notice is sent to the person responsible for the account.
Replacement Bill: Approximately four weeks later, a bill notice is sent, listing the replacement cost of the overdue item, plus a processing fee. If the item is returned to the Library, the borrower is responsible ONLY for the overdue fines, not for the replacement cost or processing fee. If the item is not returned and the bill still outstanding after 6 weeks, the delinquent account may be turned over to a collection agency.
Delinquent Accounts: Delinquent accounts are closed to further transactions at every PALS member library until restitution has been made.
Direct Access to Your Library Account
On the Library Catalog page, log in either by typing in your library barcode number and PIN or selecting "My Account" from the top menu bar, then typing in your barcode number and PIN. (When you first get a library card, your PIN is the last 4 digits of your library barcode number. Change your PIN immediately so that no one else can access your account.)
Reserve Books and Other Materials Online
- Use your library card barcode and PIN to log into the Catalog.
- As you search the Catalog and identify an item you want, select the item by clicking on the "Details" button.
- Then click on the "Place Hold" button on the left side of the screen.
- The Place Hold screen allows you to select any library as a pickup point. Then click the "Place Hold" button.
- When the confirmation screen comes up, click OK.
Reciprocal Borrowing: Using Your Library Card at Other Libraries
Davenport Public Library, as a member of PALS, has an agreement with area libraries to allow reciprocal borrowing. This means that your Davenport Public Library card may be used to check out materials at any library in the area which is open to the public. This includes public, school, college, university, and special libraries. When using your card at another library, you are subject to their loan policies and return instructions. In general, you may return any library material to any other area library, who will then return it to the library from which it was checked out.
Davenport Public Library also accepts any active library card from:
- Any PALS member library
- Any Iowa Open Access Library
- Any public library in North America that allows us to add our barcode