About Us

Service and Interlibrary Loan Policy (board approved 7/2024)

Service Policy:

The Langworthy Public Library serves as its primary clientele the people of the villages of Hope Valley and Rockville within the Town of Hopkinton and the surrounding communities, without regard for age, sex, sexual preference, gender, gender preference, religion, race, ethnicity, political affiliation, intellectual or physical ability, and educational or economic status.

The Langworthy Public Library is a member of the Ocean State Libraries consortium (OSL) which means a library card issued from any OSL library will allow you to borrow materials from any OSL member library. In compliance with state law, the Langworthy Public Library extends full access and borrowing privileges without charge to all Rhode Island residents; non-residents may purchase full access to library services through an annual fee (set annually by the OSL consortium) of $185.

The library’s services include reader’s advisory, research/reference, notarization, local archives research, homework help, ordering materials from other Ocean State Libraries, out of network interlibrary loan requests, internet and Wi-Fi access, and assistance with computers and technology (printing, faxing, scanning, emailing, downloading eBooks from Ezone, searching the on-line catalog and AskRI databases, using Microsoft Office programs). In addition, the library offers ongoing events and programming for all ages.

Langworthy supports local school curricula and reading lists, individual and community interests, and maintains a wide selection of titles, music, movies, and audiobooks. The library also offers, assistance in navigating through our local history and family genealogy section thanks to our knowledgeable volunteers.   Our friendly and helpful staff is always happy to hear about your special interests and recommendations.

Interlibrary Loan (ILL) Policy:

Langworthy Public Library (LAN) is a member of Ocean State Libraries (OSL), a consortium of public libraries in Rhode Island. A library card from any OSL member library allows you to borrow materials from and return materials to any OSL member library. Requests for materials from other OSL libraries are known as “holds.” Holds can be made from the OSL catalog or with library staff and delivered to any OSL library of your choosing. Langworthy Library extends full access and borrowing privileges without a charge to all Rhode Island residents who hold a valid OSL card.

In addition, library users can borrow materials from other Rhode Island libraries that are not part of the OSL network and from out-of-state libraries using the Interlibrary Loan (ILL) service. ILL is governed by the Library of Rhode Island Standards and Regulations. ILL requests can be made with the Director of the Langworthy Library. There is no guarantee that the materials requested will be available for loan. There is no charge for this service.

The Langworthy Library participates in complete resource sharing of all circulating materials, with the exception of materials classified as equipment or special loan.

Special Restrictions for Out-of-System ILL Requests:

Please note that the following restrictions apply to out-of-system ILL requests only. We encourage patrons to make full use of consortium materials before making a request for items outside the system. Due to the special nature of out-of-system ILL requests, we ask you to be aware of the following:

• Requests are not possible for unique, rare, or fragile items.
• As a courtesy to libraries, we will not make requests for items that have been published for less than six months. This information can generally be found using Amazon.com.
• Very few libraries lend media outside their system. ILL requests for CDs and DVDs can only be made for items belonging to some libraries in Massachusetts. Please speak to a librarian about a title’s availability.
• In order to make an ILL request, you must have a library card in good standing. “In good standing” means that your card is not expired, carries no lost or replacement charges, carries overdue fines of no more than $5, and shows that you have previously borrowed materials from the library.
• If you are a college student, please contact your school library to make an ILL request. If you are a college student and do not have access to a school library, please talk to a librarian about requesting ILL items.
• Due to the staff time and additional costs associated with ILL requests, including the cost of sending items through the mail, please limit yourself to 50 requests per calendar year, and no more than 5 ILL items checked out at a time.
• ILL requests normally take two to four weeks to arrive. Longer wait times are possible, depending on how quickly a lending library can be found. Please keep in mind that not all libraries lend items outside their system and not all requests can be filled.
• Many ILL items are, by their nature, rarer and more difficult to replace. The loss or damage of an ILL item can be of considerable cost to the borrower, as well as to the library. Therefore, ILL items must be picked up and returned to LAN staff during open hours only. The borrower is responsible for any fees associated with the loss, damage, or lateness of items returned to another library or to the outside book drop. Replacement charges are determined by the owning library and may be significantly higher than an item’s list price.
• ILL loan periods are determined by the library lending the item and ILL items cannot be renewed for more time. Please plan accordingly in order to avoid missing a due date.
• ILL items are non-transferrable and must be checked out to the requesting patron’s card only, not to any other person’s card.
• Not meeting ILL policies may result in the loss of ILL borrowing privileges.

Borrowing Library Items      

Books are loaned for 3 weeks and Movies and Magazines are loaned for 1 week.  If nobody is waiting, books will automatically renew twice. Magazines, DVDs and Blu-Rays are loaned for 1 week. No materials checked out from or returned to Langworthy will generate any late fees. However, we still expect items to be returned in a timely manner and patrons will be charged for any lost or damaged items as well as any late items that generated three or more overdue notices

Courtesy of the RIDEM, fishing poles, tackle boxes and birding backpacks are available for checkout.

Placing Holds
Materials may be requested in person, by phone, or via the Internet (through your online library record). Individuals may be notified by phone, or text when the item is available for pickup. To sign up for text alerts please visit the following: https://www.oslri.org/how-to/

Renewals
Items may be renewed in person, by phone, or via the internet. Books will automatically renew twice if nobody is waiting. Other items may be renewed once unless another patron has placed a hold on that item.

Overdue Notices
As a reminder, notices will be sent: (1) an overdue notice at 7 days; (2) a second overdue notice at 30 days past due; (3) and a billing notice at 60 days past due.

For further clarification please consult the Ocean State Libraries Library Card and Borrowing Policy. As a member of the Ocean State Libraries Consortium, Langworthy Public Library abides by these policies.