Find information about how to obtain a library card, renew a library card, place holds, and pay fines below.
Adult
- Valid Driver’s License with current Homewood address. (Or 2 pieces of official mail with correct name and current address, such as utility bills)
Youth (under 14)
- Parent & Child both present
- Parent has Valid Driver’s License (see Requirements above)
Teens (14 yrs – 18 yrs) without Drivers License
- Valid H-F school ID as name identification.
(Teens with a Valid Driver’s License, see Adult Card)
- Log in to your account with your library card barcode number and PIN.
- Click on the fines tab to see outstanding fines and/or fees.
Fine Free
Effective July 1, 2026 the Homewood Public Library is fine free. This means that the fines on regular materials that normally would accumulate at $.10/day when an item is overdue are eliminated.
These items will still circulate for three weeks with 2 auto renewals and will need to be returned to the library by that last date due. If these items are returned later than 14 days past the last due date, the patron’s library card will become blocked until the items are returned. If the items are not returned by 42 days past the last due date the patron will be billed for the items
Q. Does this fine free status affect everything in the library?
A. No, it does not. It only affects regular items that normally circulate for 3 weeks and have 2 auto renewals, specifically 3 week loan print materials and audiobooks. It does NOT affect Hotspots, hot copies, library of things items, laptops, digital items, rokus, vinyl records or backpacks.
Q. My item I checked out at HPL is from another library. Does it still have fines?
A. No, any item that meets fine free criteria checked out here is fine free.
Q. If I check out an item that is fine free here and return it elsewhere is it still fine free?
A. Yes.
Q. I’m from a different library. If I check out at HPL is it fine free?
A. Yes.
Q. How can I check when my books are due and what I have checked out?
A. You can contact us at (708) 798-0121 or check your account online
Q. If my card gets blocked, how can I get unblocked?
A. Once your card is blocked you will need to return the items that are overdue to get unblocked.
Q. What if I lose something and pay for it and then find it?
A. Payments for lost items can be refunded if the items are returned in good condition within 90 days of payment.
Q. Why is the library eliminating fines? Won’t people just keep things forever?
A. Most libraries have found that fines are not an effective way to enforce loan periods. For some patrons, the inability to pay a fine can cut off access to the library when they need library services the most. More and more libraries have moved to a fine free system where patrons with overdue items are not charged fines but blocked from further checkouts until items are returned.
Q. Why is the library going fine free? Won’t the library lose money from the fines?
A. While it is true there will be income lost, the majority of the members of the Board of Trustees believe that the good will for patrons and the reduction of barriers to using the library outweigh that amount of income.
- Access Your Account
- To log in, enter the barcode on the back of your library card (that is your library card number) and enter your PIN (Your default PIN is the last four digits of your primary phone number on your library account.)
- Click the Checkouts tab to see due dates for all items checked out
- Choose to Renew All or select specific items to renew your loan
Vacation Loans
A four week Vacation Loan can be issued upon request, for items which normally circulate for three weeks (primarily books and audiobooks). High demand items are not included.
Auto Renewal
- Two days before your item is due, if it is eligible for renewal and there is no hold on the item, it will automatically renew.
- If you have an email address in your library account, you will receive an email about the items that were auto-renewed.
- If you do not have an email address in your library account, you can check on the due date of an item through the My Account tab on the HPL website or by contacting the library.
- The item can only be auto-renewed to the renewal limit placed on the item (View the Borrowing Chart)
- Access Your Account
- Browse through our online catalog and find the item you want to put a hold on
- Click onto the Place Hold button next to the item you want to place a hold on
- A window will pop up asking you to log into your Library Account
- Enter the barcode on the back of your library card (that is your library card number) and enter your PIN (Your default PIN is the last four digits of your primary phone number on your library account.)
- A window will appear for you to specify the library where you want to pick-up your item when ready. Once you have selected the pick-up library, click Place Hold. The system will tell you if the hold was successfully placed or not.
- Once you have placed a hold on an item, you will be able to see it when you are logged into your library account. It will show under the Holds tab. If you have multiple holds and don’t want to receive them all at once for pick-up, you can manage your holds in your library account by clicking on the ones you want to suspend until you are ready to pick them up.
- Access Your Account
- To log in, enter the barcode on the back of your library card (that is your library card number) and enter your PIN (Your default PIN is the last four digits of your primary phone number on your library account.)
Carry your library card on your phone with the Key Ring App.
Download the app through the Google Play or the AppStore, or visit the Key Ring website.
SWAN is a library consortium of public, academic, school, and special libraries in the Chicagoland area. You can access your SWAN library from your iOS device. Manage your account, search the catalog, renew and place holds on books, and more.
Download the app through the Google Play or the AppStore.