Your library card is your key

As a patron of the Interlaken Public Library, your library card allows you access to more than 500,000 items within the Finger Lakes Library System. 33 member libraries across Seneca, Cayuga, Cortland, Tioga and Tompkins County all use the same card system, so your card works across all five counties. You have access to all circulating items on our shelves, or in our e-content library on the Libby app.

Come to any of the 33 member libraries in Seneca, Cayuga, Cortland, Tioga, or Tompkins County and present a photo ID. Library staff can issue you a library card in about 5 minutes.

Parents can elect to allow a minor in their care to get a library card of their own, but it comes with a few notable facts that every parent should know.

  1. Library law allows every cardholder, even minors, to have absolute privacy. This means we cannot tell you if your child is in the library, uses our library, has items checked out, or other details.
  2. New York State requires someone over 18 to assume financial responsibility for any items that may be lost or damaged on a minor cardholder’s account. This can be revoked at any time, and doing so would close the library card or require a new adult to assume financial responsibility.
  3. E-receipt options are available, allowing someone financially responsible to be notified when an item is checked out. 
  4. Once a minor has their own library card, they could change the settings on the account without notification to the parent or guardian.

Step 1: Download the Libby app on your smartphone or tablet
Step 2: Log into Libby using your library card. Your card number is your login, and the last four digits of the phone number you provided for your library account is your password
Step 3: Read and listen to your hearts content! Items are automatically returned at the end of their checkout term

Step 1: click on “search the catalog” in the header menu
Step 2: Log in (upper right corner)
Step 3: Find the item you’d like
Step 4: Place your hold

Your library card barcode is your login, and the last 4 digits of the phone you provided for your library account is your password.

You can select any library location for convenient pickup, but your home library will be the default.

If you give your library card to someone else, they now have assumed authority to check items out on your account or pick up holds. 

If you want to provide a semi-permanent authority for picking up holds only, you can request that library staff add a note to your account.

Library staff is required by law to protect your privacy, and this extends to spouses, partners, parents, siblings, roommates, or other associates.

Library law in New York State is surprisingly strict, and it’s one of the only places a minor retains privacy rights.

The law is written to protect the most vulnerable among us. While it can be inconvenient at times, these privacy laws exist to protect those who may need it the most.

Imagine a worst-case scenario such as this: A young family in your area uses the library, and they seem like a normal, happy family. Behind closed doors, however, one spouse is abusing the other. In an attempt to research their options, the abused party goes to the local library to check out some items and learn more about local and legal resources. If the abusing spouse were to have access to this persons account details, it could endanger the library user.