Frequently Asked Questions

If you have questions that aren’t answered on this page, please contact us.

COVID-19 Resources:

As of February 1st, 2022, masks are optional inside all Manheim Township facilities. If you or a member of your household are experiencing COVID-19 symptoms, please do not enter Manheim Township facilities and buildings, and consult with your physician.

Vaccine Information

English – Vaccines.gov
Spanish – Vacunas.gov

Resources

CDC Mask Guidelines

World Health Organization

LitCovid, Current scientific literature about COVID-19 curated by the National Institutes of Health and the National Library of Medicine.

Questions about the Library’s Services:

As of February 1st, 2022, masks are encouraged but optional inside all Manheim Township facilities.

If you or a member of your household are experiencing COVID-19 symptoms, please do not enter Manheim Township facilities and buildings, and consult with your physician.

Item Holds and Take Home Bags can be picked up through our Curbside Holds Pick-up.

Curbside Pick-up is available whenever the library is open.

No appointments are required for Curbside Pick-up. Once your items are Ready For Pickup, visit any time the library is open. When you arrive, please call 717-560-6441 and have your library card number ready. Staff will check out your items and bring them to a cart in front of the library.

For more information, visit our Curbside Pick-up page.

Library Cards:

Lancaster County residents who are 14 and older can apply for a card online by completing the Online Self Registration. Online Self Registration gives patrons a temporary card number and access to online resources. To upgrade a temporary card to a full access library card, patrons must appear in person with Photo ID and proof of address and complete a full registration form. Patrons may use our Curbside Pick-up service to update their cards. Please call 717-560-6441 with any questions.

A library card for the Library System of Lancaster County will be issued without charge to any resident of Lancaster County who is five years old or more. A child under the age of 14 years must have the library card application form signed by a parent or legal guardian who agrees to assume responsibility for monitoring the materials borrowed by the child, as well as the child’s fines and the cost of any lost or damaged materials. (See Confidentiality)

Applicants will need to have a photo ID and proof of address from one of the following sources:

A valid driver’s license
A current identification card
A bill from a utility company or retailer addressed to the person and dated in the last three months
A tax bill for a Lancaster County property
Working papers issued to a teenager
A copy of a current lease or deed for a Lancaster County property
Checks with a pre-printed Lancaster County address
Valid Lancaster County college / university ID
Non-residents of Lancaster County should see the librarian to obtain a card.

Minor applicants may have their parent or legal guardian provide the proof of address.

Patrons must have their library card or photo ID to access library services in person. Patrons will need their library card number to access account information by phone. Patrons can access their online account from “My Account” on the Online Catalog.

Visit our Online Catalog to search the catalog, place holds, renew items, and access their reading history. Or use the MyLibrary! app, available for Android and iOS.

The privacy of library account information is protected by state law. Patrons may appear in person to sign an account release to designate someone to pick up holds, renew items, and pay fines.

Library cards are set to expire every three years. Visit in person with your Photo ID to update your account. For those who cannot appear in person, please call or email info@mtpl.info and your library card can be renewed for 6 months.

Checkouts and Returns:

If your items need to be renewed, you can call us at 717-560-6441 or login to “My Account” on the Online Catalog. Please have your library card number ready.

Each library card account can now have 200 items checked out at a time. This is an update from our usual 100. Beware, fines can accumulate quickly when you have this many checkouts! Patrons may place 5 holds at a time.

Due dates depend on the item type, with books and audio materials circulating for 2 weeks, and DVDs circulating for 1 week.

At checkout, you may opt for a printed slip with your due dates, an email with the information, or no slip. To look up your items due dates or renew items, can call us at 717-560-6441 and have your library card number ready. Or login to your account on the Online Catalog.

Holds:

Item Holds and Take Home Bags can be picked up through our Curbside Holds Pick-up.

Curbside Pick-up is available whenever the library is open.

No appointments are required for Curbside Pick-up. Once your items are Ready For Pickup, visit any time the library is open. When you arrive, please call 717-560-6441 and have your library card number ready. Staff will check out your items and bring them to a cart in front of the library.

For more information, visit our Curbside Pick-up page.

Yes! Place holds on books and materials (books, CD’s, DVD’s, etc.) through our Online Catalog. Or call us at 717-560-6441 and we can place holds for you.

Once your request has been filled, that status will be “Ready for Pickup” and you will be notified by email or phone. When you arrive, you may come inside or use our Curbside Pick-up service. To use Curbside Pick-up, please call us and have library card number ready. Staff will check out your items and bring them to the cart in front of the library. For more information, visit our Curbside Holds page.

Patrons may come inside or use our Curbside Pick-up feature to pick-up holds

Once your request has been filled, you will get either an email notification or a call. If you are using curbside pick-up, please call us once you have arrived in the parking lot, and have your library card number ready. Staff will bring out your holds to a cart in front of the library.

For more information, visit our Curbside Holds page.

Catalog:

  1. Open the Online Catalog.
  2. Click the “MY ACCOUNT” link in the header.
  3. In the first box, enter your last name.
  4. In the second box, enter your library card barcode number. This is the 14-digit number that appears on the back of your library card. Please enter the entire number, with no spaces.
  5. In the third box, enter your PIN. (If you do not have a PIN, leave the field blank. You will be prompted to create one after you click SUBMIT.) See“How do I create my PIN?”for more information. If you forgot your pin, see “What if I forgot my PIN? Below to reset it.
  6. Click the SUBMIT button. You are now logged in to “My Account”.

You will be prompted to create a PIN when you use My Account on the Online Catalog for the first time or when your PIN has been reset.

  1. Go to the Online Catalog and open the “My Account” Login page.
  2. On the “My Account” Login page, type in your last name and barcode only (leave the PIN field blank).
  3. Click the SUBMIT button.
  4. You will be prompted to create and confirm your new PIN.
  5. Enter the same PIN in each of the two spaces provided.
  6. Click on the SUBMIT button.
  7. You are now logged in to “My Account”.

PIN Requirements:

  • You may use a combination of numbers and letters.
  • Do not use capital letters.
  • Do not use special characters, such as punctuation or other symbols.
  • You may not repeat a character 3 or more times (aaa, aaaa …).
  • You may not repeat a set of 2, 3, or 4 characters 2 or more times (abab, abcabc, abcdabcd…).
  1. Go to the Online Catalog and open the “My Account” Login page.
  2. Click the Forgot Your PIN? Link.
  3. In the PIN Reset Request Form, enter your Last Name and library card barcode number.
  4. Click SUBMIT. Note: This form will not work if there is no e-mail address in your patron record.
  5. The following message will appear, “A message has been sent to the e-mail address we have on record for you. Please follow the instructions in that message to reset your PIN…” Click START OVER.
  6. The e-mail you receive should have the subject: Request to reset your library PIN from: library-noreply@lancasterlibraries.org.
    Click on the provided link to go to the PIN Reset Form. (This link is valid for 3 hours)
  7. In the PIN Reset Form, enter your Last Name, Barcode and your new PIN. Re-confirm your new PIN by entering it again. Click SUBMIT.
  8. You receive the message “Your PIN has been changed.” Click START OVER.

Donations:

Our main donation hours are Tuesdays and Fridays from 9 AM – 11 AM.

Volunteers are available during those donation hours to assist with loading/unloading materials. If you need assistance bringing donations inside, please plan to visit during the scheduled donation times, or call the library to arrange a time. Small volume donations (5 or fewer boxes) can be accepted whenever the library is open. If you plan to donate more than 5 boxes of items, please visit during donation hours or call us a 717-560-6441.
Please have all items pre-boxed or bagged in non-returnable containers. Please do not put donations into the book drops.

Donate books & items for sale or collection

The library accepts donations of new and very good condition used books for our book sales and collection. The library cannot guarantee that any material donated to the library will be added to the collection, and items that cannot be added to the collection may be sold. The sale and proceeds of donated books raise funds for library operations.

All materials must be in salable condition and be free of mold, mildew, or water damage.

The library accepts donations of:

  • used books
  • textbooks
  • DVDs
  • music CDs
  • audiobook CDs
  • puzzles

The library does not accept:

  • VHS tapes
  • cassette tapes
  • encyclopedias
  • condensed books (such as Reader’s Digest books)
  • magazines

Please Contact Us with any questions.

Passports:

Passport Services are available by appointment only.

To schedule an appointment, use our online Passport Calendar or call 717-560-6441.

For more information about passport services and requirements, see our Passports page.

Library Policies