FAQ
- How do I get a library card?
- How do I know when the Library is open?
- How do I get to LPL & where do I park?
- How do I check my account?
- How do I search for a book?
- How do I reserve a book?
- How do I renew a book?
- How do I support LPL?
- How do I get a book from another library?
- How do I return items after hours?
- How do I learn a new language?
- How do I use a computer in the library?
- How do I get help with homework?
- How do I find a magazine or newspaper article?
- How do I do genealogy research?
How do I get a library card?
Get the New Lewiston/Auburn “One Card”!
A newly designed joint Lewiston Public Library/Auburn Public Library (LPL/APL) card was unveiled on October 1st, 2008, at LPL. The joint card enables Twin Cities residents to sign up for One Card which will be accepted at either library.The new library cards will be issued for new library card registrations. The current library cards will remain valid indefinitely but they will not be automatically replaced. Cardholders, however, may request the new design for a replacement fee of $1.
For Lewiston or Auburn Residents
Library Cards are provided free to anyone living in Lewiston and Auburn or paying property taxes to Lewiston. Cards are required to borrow books and other materials and to use the Internet computers. Signing up for your library card is quick and easy. All you need is identification that contains your current street address, e.g., driver’s license, utility bill, rent receipt or any piece of recently delivered mail.
Non-Resident Cards
Library Cards are available to non-residents, for a yearly fee of $55. This card entitles the holder to all library services. Lewiston teachers and non-resident students attending a Lewiston school qualify for a free library card that is valid for one year.
How do I know when the Library is open?
Regular Library Hours:
Monday-Thursday: 9:00 am-8:00 pm
Friday and Saturday: 9:00 am-5:00 pm
Special Summer Hours (between Memorial Day and Labor Day):
Saturdays: 9:00 am-2:00 pm
Check here for the annual holiday closure schedule.
How do I get to LPL & where do I park?
The Lewiston Public Library is located at 200 Lisbon Street in Lewiston, Maine.
Limited parking is available on Lisbon street. There are two parking garages in easy walking distance. One is on the corner of Park St. and Oak St., and the other is on the corner of Ash St. and Canal St.
How do I check my account?
To check your account status you need to visit the Minerva Online Catalog. You will need to enter your name and the 14-digit patron barcode found on your library card.
How do I search for a book?
You can search for a book by using the Minerva online catalog.
Search Options:
By Title
By Author
By Key Words
By Subject
By Dewey Call Number
How do I reserve a book?
Placing a reserve on a book or other item:
- You will need your library card, or know your card number.
- Go to our online catalog
- Search for the item desired
- Click on the «Request» button
- Enter your name and library card number and click «Submit»
You should get a message saying the your request was successful. (If you didn't, email the Reference Staff. or call) the reference desk at 784-0135 ext. 217. We will contact you as soon as a copy is available.
How do I renew a book?
You can renew your books by logging in to your account through the Minerva online catalog. You will need to enter your name and your patron barcode. Your patron barcode can be found on your library card.
How do I support LPL?
The Friends of LPL is a non-profit organization that assists the Library with facility, service, and resource development. For many years, the Friends have enthusiastically supported programming at the Library (helping, for example, launch what we now know as LA Arts). More recently, Friends contributions have been even more tangible. In 1995, members of the Friends successfully lobbied the Lewiston City Council to expand the Library facility. A year later, the Friends initiated a capital campaign that resulted in $600,000 in gifts from more than 400 individuals, businesses, and foundations, enough to complete the final expansion of the Library and to secure the furniture and equipment necessary for a state-of-the-art facility.
Other achievements of the Friends include:
- Purchase of library computers and technology.
- Support of Children’s Summer Reading Program and other special events.
- Support of continuing education for the Library’s staff.
- Support for the Great Falls Forum.
- Support of the LPL Book Fund.
This proven track record has only been accomplished through the support of members like yourself. Please take some time today to join the Friends of LPL by sending a check to:
Friends of LPL
200 Lisbon Street
Lewiston, ME 04240
You may contact Friends of LPL by e-mail at: friends@lplonline.org
Membership categories:
Student/ Senior $10
Individual $15
Family $25
Patron $50 -$99
Sponsor $100 - $249
Benefactor $250 or more
All membership contributions are tax deductible to the full extent allowed by law.
How do I get a book from another library?
Borrowing books from other Maine libraries:
If the Lewiston Public Library does not own the book or material that you are looking for, it may be available for loan from another library in Maine. Searching for and requesting items is easy:
Go to the Minerva online catalog
Search for the book or material desired.
Click on the “Request” button.
Enter your name and library card number and click “Submit”
You should get a message saying that your request was successful. (If you didn’t, contact the Reference Staff.) If the item was listed as “Available” it should be here at LPL in 3-4 business days! We will contact you as soon as it arrives.
If Minerva libraries do not have the item you want:
From the Minerva catalog, click on the blue box, “Search InfoNet”
Find the desired item.
Click on “Display Holdings of Maine InfoNet Libraries”
Click on “Request this Item”
At the scroll down menu, select “Minerva” to answer the question, “With which institution are you affiliated?”
Enter your name and library card number, select “Lewiston Public Library” as the Pickup Location, and click “Submit”
You should get a message saying that your request was successful. (If you didn’t, contact the Reference Staff.) If the item is listed as “Available” it should be here at LPL in 3-4 business days! We will contact you as soon as it arrives.
Please Note:
You may request up to five (5) items at a time.
How do I return items after hours?
Lewiston Public Library has two all hours book drops. One is located just past our front door on Pine St.. The other is located in the alley off of Pine St.
How do I learn a new language?
Our Rosetta Stone Software is your answer to this question. You can learn English, French, Spanish, German, (Mandarian) Chinese, and Hebrew.
How do I use a computer in the library?
Internet access is available at the library in three areas. The Children’s room has access for people between 1 - 13 years of age. The Teen Room has access for those between 13 - 18 years of age. The Internet room has access for those 14+ years of age. The Children’s room is located on the 3rd floor, both the Teen and Internet rooms are located on the second floor.
To sign up for Internet access in the library there is a reservation station in the Internet room that handles reservations for both the Teen and Internet rooms. There is a second sign up station at the Children’s staff desk for reservations in the Children’s room.
The following steps are how you sign on:
- If you move the mouose on the reservation station the reservation screen will appear. Click on the [Next Available PC] button.
- Scan your library card; place below the scanner with barcode facing up. After card is scanned, another screen will come up. Using the mouse, type your last name.
- Click OK at the top right of the on-screen keyboard.
- Choose the room you wish to be in ,Internet Room or Teen Room, (The children’s area will not ask this question)
- Click the Submit button. The rseravation computer will assign a reservation. If you do not want the reservation click the cancel reservation button.
How do I get help with homework?
We have two sections on our website that are designed just for this purpose. One is Kids Homework Help and the other is Teen Homework.
If you’ve moved on to college and are looking for homework help well we have something for you too. It’s called Learning Express Library. This site does have review work for both middle school and highschool students as well.
How do I find a magazine or newspaper article?
We have a few ways you can achieve finding a magazine or newspaper article here at Lewiston Public Library.
First is you can check our catalog and see what periodicals we have here at the library. Or you can do a search on-line through the many databases that the state Marvel program offers. There is also the Ebsco database (which is also part of Marvel) that has entries from over 3,000 magazines and journals.
And if all the above don’t work please remeber you can always ask a librarian for help at any time.
How do I do genealogy research?
There are many ways to do genealogy research at Lewiston Public Library.
The first way is to use our catalog to find our books on how to do genealogy and our books specific to family trees.
We also have access to Heritage Quest online, and Ancestry.com.
Our Lewiston History collection is also very helpful for local genealogy research, however you do need to ask a librarian for help do get materials from it.
We also have the local news paper going back to 1861 (though we have no index). If you’re looking for information in the news paper and you don’t have an exact date there are some options available to find that date. If the person lived here in Lewiston you can contact the City Clerk’s office which keeps the local vital records (birth, marriage, death). The other options are the Maine State Death Index and the Maine State Marriage Index, or you can contact the Maine State Archives.
For more information try the Genealogy Sources section of our website.