FAQ

Town of Chester Residents may request a library card at our Circulation Desk. You must apply in person and provide photo identification with your name and current street address (not a P.O. Box) to receive a library card. If your identification does not have your current address on it, please bring a piece of mail with your current address.

Children from ages 5 to 17 must have a parent (with a valid Chester Library card) sign the application card before a card can be issued.

You will not be able to check out materials without your card.

Applicants who do not live within the library’s district may be able to obtain cards from their own local libraries. If those local libraries are members of the Ramapo Catskill Library System (RCLS), library cards from those libraries can be used at the Chester Library and vice versa.

Most of our books may be borrowed for a 21-day loan period, with 2 renewals allowed and a fine of $.20 per day for overdue books. Newer titles and audio books may be borrowed for up to 14 days, renewed twice, and will be fined $.20 per day overdue. CDs may be loaned for 14 days, renewed once only, and will be charged $.20 per day overdue. (You may only have 5 music CDs checked out at any given time). Magazines, DVDs, and Videos may be kept for 7 days with no renewals – the newer DVDs (limited to four at one time) have a 3-day loan period. (You may only have 5 magazines and 4 new DVDs at one time.) Please also be mindful of items borrowed from another library in RCLS’s Inter-Library Loan System – they may carry a different loan period and fine schedule than those of the Chester Library.

You can renew your books by calling us at (845) 469-4252. or renew online on your account. CDs may be loaned for 14 days, renewed once only, and will be charged $.20 per day overdue. (You may only have 5 music CDs checked out at any given time).

You can call us at (845) 469-4252 to find out what the status of your account is or check your account online. Overdue and lost book fines and must be paid in person at any RCLS library, by cash or check.

Talk to one of our reference librarians if an item you are looking for is not in the catalog. See them in person or call (845) 469-4252.

We have a black-and-white/ color photocopier which charges $.10 per black and white page and $0.50 per color page. We will send faxes for patrons with a charge of $3.00 for the first page and $1.00/page for succeeding pages.

We are grateful for book donations prior to our book sales, when we make room for their storage. Please call ahead to find out if we are accepting donations—and thank you for thinking of us!