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Library

Show All Answers

1. How do I get a library card?

Library cards are available free of charge to Mesquite residents. Proof of current address & photo I.D. are required.  Permission by a parent or legal guardian is necessary for minors under 14 to obtain a card. Library cards expire after 3 years.  Notify the Library immediately if your card is lost or stolen.  Online eCards are available for residents to access digital resources only.

Non-Resident Library Cards are available for an annual $25 fee.

Exceptions to the non-resident card fee include:

• Garland or Balch Springs residents
• MISD for Eastfield students
• City of Mesquite/Mesquite ISD employees
• Mesquite Business Owners

2. How do I get my child a library card?

A parent or legal guardian can apply for a library card for a child 13 years old and younger; proof of current address & photo I.D. are required by the parent or legal guardian.

Teens aged 14-17 years can apply for a library card on their own; a parent’s signature is required on the application to allow access to the library’s Internet Access computers. Proof of current address & photo I.D. are required (such as a school I.D. or recreation center I.D. card) and an official document with the teen’s name and current address, such as a recent report card.

3. How many items may I check out?

When you first apply for your card, you are limited to two items. After that, there is a limit of 20 books. Playaways, Audiobooks, and DVDs are limited to 5 in each category. Please note that you must be 14 years or older to check out CDs and Playaways, and 18 years and older to check out DVDs.

4. What should I do if I lose my library card?

Notify the library immediately if your card is lost or stolen. The library can then put a block on your card to prevent anyone else from using it. If the library is not informed that the library card is missing, the cardholder will still be responsible for any items checked out on it. To report that your library card is missing, call the Mesquite Main Library at 972-216-6220 or the North Branch Library at 972-681-0465.

5. How do I replace a lost library card?

Visit either library and fill out a new application, providing your photo I.D. and proof of address. The fee for a replacement library card is $1.00.

6. What should I do if I returned an item, but it still shows checked out to me?

Contact the library at which you checked out the item. Library staff will check the shelves for your items.  If the item cannot be found, staff can institute an Overdue Search, which will allow you to continue using your card while all parties continue to look for the item.

7. How do I place a hold on an item in the library collection?

Holds may be placed in person at the Information Desk, by telephone, or through the Library’s online catalog. Please have your name, phone number, and the library card number handy when placing a hold. If using the online catalog, your PIN will be required.  

8. How do I renew my materials?

Books, CDs, DVDs, Playaways 
Physical library materials automatically renew one time unless the item is on hold for another cardholder.

eBooks, eAudiobooks
Digital materials cannot be renewed but may be checked out again if item is not on hold for another cardholder.

Loan Periods & Renewal Periods

3 weeks    Books, CDs, Playaways
2 weeks    eBooks, eAudiobooks
1 week      DVDs

For more information about your account, call the Mesquite Main Library at 972-216-6220 or the North Branch Library at 972-681-0465. You may also visit the Library Catalog online and click on My Account.

You can use the Library Catalog to renew items prior to the due date. Click on My Account and enter your library card number and PIN. (Your PIN is often the last four digits of your telephone number.)

To renew item(s):

    1. Click on Checkouts
    2. Check box beside the item(s)
    3. Or check the Select All box
    4. Click on Renew

9. Are there fines for overdue items?

No, there are no fines for overdue materials. Once items are returned undamaged, the account will be cleared. If items are not returned after 10 weeks, the cost of the materials and replacement fees will be charged to the cardholder’s account.

10. Can I return materials to any Mesquite Library location?

Yes, all Mesquite Public Library System items may be returned to either the Mesquite Main Library at 300 W. Grubb Drive or the Mesquite North Branch Library at 2600 Oates Drive.

11. How can I find out my Library Account PIN?

If you have forgotten your PIN, you can request it from either the Circulation or Reference staff. A photo I.D. will be required to verify your identity. Your PIN is often the last four digits of your telephone number.

12. Are there any meeting rooms available at the library for public use?

Rooms are available for nonprofit groups holding meetings of a civic, cultural, or educational nature at the Mesquite Main Library (972-216-6223) and the Mesquite North Branch Library (972-681-0465). A fee is charged for use and reservations should be made at least 2 weeks in advance. Due to heavy demand, the library meeting rooms are not booked on a standing basis. For more information, see the Library’s  Meeting Room Policy.

13. How do I locate an item the Library does not own?

You may submit an Interlibrary Loan (ILL) request and the Library will attempt to borrow the item from another library. There is a $2.50 postage fee per item. This fee is due when you check out the item. You can make a request in person at the Information Desk, over the phone by calling the Mesquite Main Library at 972-216-6220 or the Mesquite North Branch Library at 972-681-0465, or by email to the Interlibrary Loan Librarian at mainbr@cityofmesquite.com. Your name, library card number, and a valid phone number will be needed, so you can be notified when your item comes in. Please provide as much information about the item as possible, including title, author, publication date and ISBN. The more information provided, the greater the chance the item can be located. Most requests take between 10 days to 2 weeks to fill.

14. Does the Library have a room to use for studying?

The Main Library has 4 study rooms available on a first come, first served basis that can be used for up to two hours at a time.

15. How do I log into the Wi-Fi at the Library?

Your computer or device should detect the Library network.  Click on the "Mesquite Library" network. This is an unsecured public network, so no login name or password will be needed. Remote printing is available from your personal device.  Please check at the Library’s Information Desk for assistance.

16. What kind of donations does the Library accept?

The library accepts donations of books and AV materials (CDs and DVDs) that are in reasonably good condition. Once items are placed in the collection bins at either the Mesquite Main Library or the Mesquite North Branch Library, staff will evaluate them for their timeliness and their condition. Some items may be added to the Library’s collection and some items may be placed in our Friends of the Library used book sale. The proceeds from the sale will be used to benefit the library.

17. How do I volunteer at the Mesquite Public Library System?

If you are interested in volunteering at the Mesquite Public Library, contact the Mesquite Main Library at 972-216-6220 or the North Branch Library at 972-681-0465 and ask to talk to the Library’s Volunteer Coordinator. You may also contact City of Mesquite Volunteer Services at 972-329-8331. A volunteer application must be completed and submitted.  A background check is required for adults 18 years of age and up. Teens must be at least 15 years old to volunteer. For volunteers ages 15-17, a completed Application for Volunteer Services must be signed by a parent’ before submission. In order for teens to volunteer in the summer, they must first attend an orientation meeting at one of the libraries. For the dates of these meetings, please see our Calendar of Upcoming Events.

The City of Mesquite does not accept court-ordered community service hours.