Library Card and Borrowing
Who Can Get a Library Card
Library cards are available for free for all residents of Thornton and East Hazel Crest, IL. Responsibility for children’s reading materials will rest solely with their parents or legal guardians. A parent or legal guardian must sign the child’s registration form. Library cards now have no renewal date.
How To Get a Library Card
To obtain a library card, 2 pieces of identification must be shown: a photo ID and a current (within 6 months) utility bill, property tax bill, rent receipt or current lease, voter’s registration card, bank statement, pay stub, or village car registration with the same Thornton or East Hazel Crest address. If your photo ID does not have a Thornton or East Hazel Crest address, three items may be shown from those listed with your current Thornton or East Hazel Crest address along with your photo ID.
Non-Resident Fees
A non-resident who resides in Thornton Township Tax District 205, upon application and payment of a $125.00 fee per family, per year, may obtain a Thornton library card. A current property tax bill and photo ID must be shown. Non-residents must renew their library card yearly.
Borrowing Limits
There is a limit of 25 items per patron for written materials unless the patron is an elementary school teacher and prior arrangements have been made. The checkout period for written materials is 2 weeks. Magazines are 1 week. There is a limit of 5 DVDs per patron. Only adults 18 years of age and older may check out DVDs. The checkout period for DVDs is 1 week.
Placing Holds
Patrons may place holds via the circulation desk or via the internet on our catalog site with your library card number and your PIN. If you do not know your PIN or need to change your PIN, please call the library, and we will be happy to assist you.
Renewing your Borrowed Items
Items will automatically renew a day or two before the due date two times as long as there is no hold on the item; otherwise, items may be renewed either in person or via the telephone. Items may be renewed up to a total of two times. If the item is an interlibrary loan, renewals may be limited, depending on the loan rules of the circulating library.
Library Fines
Fines for overdue books are $0.10 per day. Fines for overdue DVDs are $0.25 per day. An overdue notice will be mailed out after 14 days. A second overdue notice will be mailed out after 28 days. After 42 days, a billing notice is sent out and the library reserves the right to charge the full value of the overdue item plus a $5.00 processing fee per overdue item. Cardholders are responsible for materials checked out on their cards by other individuals. Cardholders should notify the library immediately if their library card is lost or stolen. Materials checked out on a library card up to the time the card is reported lost or stolen are the responsibility of the cardholder. The replacement cost for a lost or stolen card is $2.00.
Public Computers and Internet
Use the internet at the library using one of our three public access computers or on your own device using our free Wi-Fi.
Public Computers
Public computers are available to Thornton and East Hazel Crest Public Library cardholders free of charge. We no longer allow patrons from other libraries to use our public computers.
Each public computer has internet and printing capabilities and is equipped with Windows 10 and Microsoft Office 2010.
Adults 18 years and older must sign a User Agreement Form. Children 13-17 years old must have a signature by a parent or legal guardian on the User Agreement Form. Children 12 years old or younger must have a signature by a parent or legal guardian on the User Agreement Form and be supervised by a parent or legal guardian during their computer session.
All patrons must present their library card before using the computers.
Wireless Internet
The library offers free wireless access to the internet to those with their own laptops and devices. There is no password; just search for the public network (VoT-Public), accept the agreement when a pop-up screen appears, and connect. Library staff can help you with internet connections if you have any issues.
Print, Copy, Fax, and Scan
Printing/Photocopying
Printing is available on all public computers. The cost for printing/photocopying is $0.10 per page for black and white (double-sided would be $0.20) and $0.25 per page for color. (double-sided would be $0.50.) Our printer does not accommodate wireless printing.
Faxing
Faxes: $2.00 per 1-10 pages (single or double-sided) (e.g. 1-10 pages =$2.00, 11-20 is $4.00, and so on…)
(No faxes can be sent outside the U.S.)
Scanning
The library has a scanner available for public use. This machine allows you to print documents and photos or save them to a USB flash drive. The scanner also makes color copies. Fees are $0.10 for black and white (double-sided would be $0.20) and $0.25 for color (double-sided would be $0.50). Our printer does not scan to email.
Please Contact Us with any questions
Additional Services
Book Drop
We have a book drop located in the front of the building, on the right, as you are facing the building.
Income Tax Forms
From January to April, paper copies of the most common tax forms are available in our foyer.
Federal and State tax forms may also be obtained online and printed at the circulation desk or from our public access computers.
Local IRS Office
14479 John Humphrey Drive
Orland Park, IL 60462
Hours: Monday-Friday: 8:30 AM – 4:30 PM
Telephone: 708.873.8310
Assistance with Tax Preparation
- AARP Tax-Aide Locator: Find free filing assistance for adults aged 50 and older from late January/early February through April 15.
- Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA): Provides free assistance to those making under $52,000 per year, the elderly, people with disabilities, and those with limited English language skills.
- These services are available from late January/early February through April 15.
Exemptions
View Cook County tax exemptions:
- Homeowner Exemption
- Senior Citizen Homestead Exemption
- Senior Citizen Assessment Freeze Exemption
- Homeowner Improvement Exemption
- Senior Citizen Tax Deferral
- Disabled Veteran Homestead Exemption
Notary Service
The Thornton Public Library is excited to offer notary services!
Notary service is available BY APPOINTMENT ONLY
Individuals desiring a Notary Service should call ahead to make an appointment: 708-877-2579
Notary services cost $1.00 per signature.
Please review our notary policy regarding the requirements and what is acceptable to notarize.
Homebound Delivery Services
TPL/EHPLD provides delivery services to patrons who live in the Village of Thornton and East Hazel Crest and are homebound, either temporarily due to illness or injury or permanently due to disability, age, or other transportation issues.
You can sign up for Homebound Delivery Services online here.
Must have a current, valid TPL/EHPLD library card and may request the delivery services from the Adult Services Librarian.
Patrons registered for delivery services may request materials via phone call or email to Adult Services.
Materials checked out are loaned out for a two-week period, and items are renewable. There are no late fees for homebound patrons, but materials lost or damaged will be billed to the patron, and the patron will be responsible for paying for the lost or damaged items.
Deliveries are made on a weekly basis, according to the adult services schedule. The Adult Services librarian will call the patron to notify them that deliveries are being made to make sure that the patron will be at home to receive the items.