The OverDrive App is Being Discontinued

OverDrive is discontinuing the legacy OverDrive app for iOS, Android, and Windows 8/10 on May 1, 2023, and transitioning users to the Libby app. We understand that OverDrive has been a familiar and reliable source for digital materials, and we appreciate your use of this service over the years.

 

However, we are excited to transition over to the Libby app, which is an innovative digital lending platform that offers an even better user experience. Libby was created by OverDrive, and it is designed to be more user-friendly and intuitive, with a modern and clean interface.

 

Libby will offer many of the same features as OverDrive, including a wide selection of eBooks and audiobooks, as well as access to digital magazines and newspapers. The transition from OverDrive to Libby will be seamless, with your current holds and loans transferring automatically to the new platform.

 

We are confident that Libby will provide you with a better and more enjoyable digital reading experience. We encourage you to download the Libby app on your mobile device or tablet, or visit our website to access Libby on your computer.

 

Thank you for your continued support of our library, and we look forward to seeing you on Libby soon.

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• Tags to categorize books however you’d like—you can even sync your OverDrive wish list into a tag!
• A central bookshelf for all loans and holds
• Customizable notifications for ready holds, new magazine issues, and more
• Compatibility with Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and Sonos speakers
• Extra learning and entertainment resources, like Universal Class
• A way to discover and express interest in titles our library does not yet offer
• Easy access to Libby support staff

Yes! Your loans, holds, and wish list items will be waiting for you in Libby when you add your library card.

Libby Tutorial

Aspen: A New and Improved Catalog Experience!


Beginning Tuesday, April 26, 2022, the Bensenville Community Public Library will be transitioning over to a new catalog, Aspen.

 

Aspen has all the features of the previous catalog — plus many more — to make it easier to search for materials and manage your account. Aspen also includes all of the Bensenville Community Public Library’s resources as well as materials from 99 other libraries in the SWAN consortium.

 

Our current catalog, Enterprise, will be discontinued as of April 26. If you have created lists in our current catalog, please transfer them over to the new catalog, as they will not be accessible after April 26! Watch our video for a step-by-step tutorial. If you have opted into saving your checkout history, those will be transferring over to the new catalog.

If you have any questions about how to transfer lists over, how to set up an account, or other questions about our new catalog, please contact the Library at (630) 766-4642.

What are some of Aspen's new features?

  • Rate the materials you read, listen to, or watch. Your ratings will help the catalog recommend other titles you may be interested in.
  • Easily and conveniently add items to your lists without clicking into a title’s detail page.
  • Make purchase suggestions through your account if you cannot find what you are looking for.
  • Results are now grouped by format! Easily view what formats are available, such as: print books, audiobooks, eBooks/eAudiobooks, OverDrive, Axis360, Kindle, DVD and CD.
  • Searching in the catalog clearly shows if items are on shelf, available from another library, available online to download, or if all copies are checked out. You will see how many copies are owned and how many people are on the wait list for an item.
  • View “Explore More” features, which provide access to online resources such as newspapers, magazines, and research databases relevant to your search.

What will I be able to do in my account?

  • View materials you have checked out, including Overdrive (eMediaLibrary) and Axis360
  • View titles you have on hold. You can cancel holds, freeze holds, choose the hold pickup location, and see recommended titles based on your holds
  • View titles you have rated and recommendations based on what you have rated
  • Set pickup location preferences
  • Change contact information
  • Pay for lost books and fines your account with a debit/credit card or with PayPal
  • Opt into saving your checkout history
  • Set up text messaging to receive notices
  • Link family accounts to manage them all
  • Reset your PIN
  • Set preferences for Overdrive
  • View your search history
  • Create and manage lists of materials

We’re Fine Free!

The Library is officially Fine Free! The Bensenville Community Public Library will no longer charge fines for overdue items to any patrons who check out those items at our library. Below are a few frequently asked questions about going fine free.

If you have any questions about anything related to fines, circulation policies, or going fine free, please contact the the Circulation Department at (630) 766-4642.

You will be charged a fee to replace the item.

If you check out an item from a library that does charge fines, you’re still responsible for paying any fines to that lending library. 

A few types of items are subject to fines, including hotspots and specialty items.

Libraries that have gone fine free have not seen any difference in when items are returned. Most items are returned within a week of their due date.

Each item will still have a due date, and you are still responsible for honoring the due date. When you return items on time, it helps your neighbors borrow items sooner! Items borrowed from other libraries are subject to the lending policies of their home libraries.

Fines account for only a very small percentage (approximately .1%!) of our operating budget, and this number has decreased over time. When we implemented our popular auto-renewal policy, we saw a dramatic reduction in overdue fines.

Curbside Pickup Service

In an effort to provide safe, easy, and convenient access of materials to our community, the Bensenville Community Public Library now offers curbside pickup service!

Please note that our curbside service is a pickup service only. All materials must be put on hold prior to pickup.

  • Check out books, audiobooks, magazines, DVDs, Blu-rays, CDs, board games, a selection of YS book bundles, and WiFi hotspots!
  • Printing, scanning, copying, and faxing services are also available for curbside pickup. Please call the Adult Services Desk at (630) 766-4642 for more information.

Curbside pickup hours:

Monday — Thursday
9:30 a.m. to 8:30 p.m.

Friday
9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. 

Saturday
9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. 

Sunday
1:00 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. 

How can I request materials for curbside pickup?

Place your items on hold:

  • Through the online catalog at: benlib.org/catalog

  • Through the SWAN Libraries Mobile App

  • By calling us at (630) 766-4642. We’re available Monday—Thursday 9:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m., Fridays 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., and Sundays 1:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m.

Once your hold is received and processed, we will notify you by phone or email when your items are ready for pickup. Please do not attempt to pick up your items until you have been notified. Once notified, you will have 7 days to pick up your hold during curbside hours.

My items are ready for pickup. Now what?

  • First things first, bring your cellphone and your library card with you to the library.
  • Once you arrive, please park in a designated curbside pickup spot in front of the building and call the phone number posted on the sign. (Curbside pro-tip: Add the BCPL Curbside phone number to your contacts in your phone for even easier pickup service next time!)
  • Tell us your name and which curbside spot you are in. Open your trunk. Staff will bring your items out to you and place directly in your trunk. Please do not exit the vehicle. If your trunk is not accessible, staff will place your items on top of your vehicle.
  • You can now enjoy your materials at home!

The outdoor book drop is open for returns!

Frequently Asked Questions about Curbside Pickup:

When you arrive at the library, call the curbside number posted on the sign in the parking lot and let us know you are here and not in a car. Please stay close to the outside book drop and a staff member will come out and place your items on the bench under the awning. You may retrieve your items when the staff member has returned to the building.

If you do not have a cell phone to use, please call the Library at (630) 766-4642 prior to picking up your items and alternate arrangements can be made.

No, the card number you received online is only valid for online use. Please call the Library at (630) 766-4642 to arrange to receive a physical card that can be used to for both online and in-house materials.

For the safety of our staff, we ask that you wait until one of the two spots is clear and park in a curbside spot when one becomes available. 

Books, audiobooks, magazines, DVDs, Blu-rays, CDs, board games, binge boxes, youth kits & book bundles, Chromebooks, WiFi hotspots, and more!

Printing, scanning, and faxing services are also available during curbside pickup. Please call the Adult Services Desk at (630) 766-4642 for more information.

If your items are on the shelf, you should receive notification that your items are ready for pickup within 24-48 hours. Please do not come to the library until you are notified that your items are ready. Some holds may take longer than usual due to items being quarantined upon return.

All items have been quarantined for 7 days prior to being checked out to you. Please do not use liquid disinfectant on library materials. Time is the best disinfectant!

Loan periods for all materials will be three weeks with two renewals, if there are no pending holds. Checkout limits remain the same.

For your safety and the safety of our staff, all returns must be made through the outside book drop. Staff will not accept any materials from patrons.

Please note: Items you have returned will remain on your account for approximately 7 days. At this time, no overdue fines are being charged on any library materials.

We can’t wait to see everyone again! We will reopen the building to patrons as soon as we can do so in a safe and responsible manner and in accordance with State guidelines. Please know that we will publicize any reopening information on our website and our Facebook page.

At this time, we are not accepting material donations. Please hold materials until an announcement is made that we are accepting donations. Thank you for your patience and understanding!

During inclement weather, the Library may suspend curbside pickup for the safety of the staff. Please call ahead to ensure curbside pickup is available.

Yes! We’re full of good suggestions! Staff members from the Adult Services and Youth Services Departments are available to help you find your next great read (or watch)! Call us at (630) 766-4642 and someone will be happy to assist you.

A Letter from the Director…

May 22, 2020

To our residents and patrons,

Foremost, I hope that this letter finds you and those important to you happy and healthy. We are all in uncharted waters, struggling to come to grips with the public health crisis and fallout of COVID-19. While so much is beyond our control, one thing that I find much comfort in is the fact that we live and work in a community as vibrant and resilient as Bensenville. A community that wholeheartedly believes in solidarity and looking out for our friends and neighbors. You can see the results of this every day, from birthday parades and porch portraits organized by the Village of Bensenville, to the thousands of lunches distributed by our friends at Bensenville School District 2, Fenton School District 100, and the Bensenville/Wood Dale Food Pantry. I know that we will all get through this and want you to know that when we do, the Library will be here, as we always have, to serve you.

While we cannot be together in the building currently, we are still working hard to provide you and your family with valuable resources. Please visit our webpage or social media pages to browse the current services we have available. We have premiered a new Storytime (from home) series on Facebook and Vimeo. We currently have 30+ new storytime videos that are available to view from the comfort of your home. We also have a variety of crafting and family videos that we have recently created. Last month our videos were viewed thousands of times for more than 125 hours collectively, so we know many of you are already enjoying these new resources. We have increased user checkouts for eBooks through OverDrive and Axis360. We installed a new public WiFi access point near our 30-minute parking spots to allow residents free and open access to our WiFi. Our online seed library is in full swing and has been met with much enthusiasm. Visit our webpage and place your order for up to 5 seed packets (while supplies last), which will be mailed directly to you at no charge with your library card. Don’t have a library card? Visit our website to sign-up for a new digital library card, which will allow you access to all of our online services. Virtual book clubs have launched with a variety of titles and times. This is just the tip of the iceberg; there are many more things to be found on our webpage and throughout our social media accounts. Check frequently because there is much more coming soon this summer.

We are working diligently to take steps to ensure that when the Library reopens, we are doing so in a safe and responsible manner. The Library administrative team and Board of Trustees has developed and passed a phased reopening plan. This is our roadmap to get back to being able to provide the level of service you expect and deserve as a community. Things will undoubtedly look different at the library for the near future, but we are committed to adapting our procedures, services, and programs to these unprecedented times.

When we reopen, we will be taking the following steps:

Introducing new curbside pickup option for materials on hold (launching early June 2020)

Promoting new digital programs and services guide for July and August (available mid June 2020)

Opening initially with limited hours to allow extra time for daily building maintenance and cleaning

Quarantining all materials for 72 hours prior to placing them back on the shelves

Installing new protective sneeze guards at all public service desks

Placing social distancing stickers on the floor

Limiting building occupancy according to public health guidelines

Vigilantly cleaning commonly touched surfaces throughout the day

Properly spacing computers and instituting new time limits on computer use

Purchasing additional copies of new, popular materials to minimize hold times while materials are quarantined

Introducing new digital programs and services

 

We understand the difficulty of not being able to access the Library and our physical materials during this time. I can assure you that we are working hard behind the scenes to open just as quickly as we can. At this time, the best service that we can provide is to be good stewards of public health. Thank you for your patience and support during this time and we cannot wait to see you all back in the building soon!  

David Sieffert

Library Director

To read more COVID-19 updates from the Library, please click here.

Keep up with the Library by following us on social media!

COVID-19 Updates for Our Library

Library Hours

  • Monday – Thursday | 9:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m.
  • Friday | 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
  • Saturday | 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
  • Sunday | 1:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m.

What you can expect upon your next visit to the Library:

  • In accordance with the CDC and IDPH recommendations, masks will be optional while inside of the Bensenville Community Public Library, regardless of vaccination status.
  • There is no hourly visit limit in place.
  • Full computer availability in the Adult Services and Youth Services Departments.
  • Study room spaces are available on a first-come, first-served basis.
  • Toys and manipulatives are available in the Youth Services Department.
  • As of April 1, 2022, public meeting room reservations have resumed.
  • Furniture and seating has been restored throughout the Library, while accommodating appropriate distancing.
  • Please stay mindful of social distancing! Floor decals are placed around the Library to remind patrons and staff to maintain a safe and comfortable distance.
  • Sneeze guards are in place at service desks and hand sanitizer is readily available throughout the building.
  • Passport services are available. We accept passport applications by appointment only. Please call (630) 766-4642 to schedule an appointment, or email us at passport@benlib.org. More information at benlib.org/passport-services.
  • Faxes costs $1 per page to send and receive. Copies cost 10¢ for black and white per side. When printing in our computer lab, the first 10 prints will be free. After the first 10 free prints, prints will cost 25¢ for color (per side) and 10¢ for black and white (per side).
  • The Library will implement a hybrid of in-person and virtual programming for our community. Please view our current Program Guide to see all of our current programming opportunities. 
  • All items returned to the Library are no longer subject to a material quarantine.
  • Remember that the Library is Fine Free Forever! (Laptops and hotspots will still be subject to late fees.)
  • Newspapers are available to browse.
  • Curbside pickup, and other contact-free, online services, are still available for patrons.

The Bensenville Community Public Library is currently open, but please note that we have a variety of contact-free services, such as curbside pickup and our online services, available for use.

Questions? Call us at (630) 766-4642, fill out our Contact Us form, or email us at reference@benlib.org.

Library Carpeting Project Complete


We are pleased to announce that as of March 11, 2020 the Library’s interior carpeting project is complete!

We appreciate our community’s patience and understanding as everyone involved worked hard to finish the project as quickly as possible.

If you haven’t yet seen the new carpeting, and some of our new furniture and material rearrangements, stop by and take a look!

Stay tuned for some before-and-after photos…