Frequently Asked Questions

Load Periods

Books, Audiobooks, Video Games, Music CDs, Kits

21 days

Takeout Tech, Hot Picks, DVDs (excluding New & Feature Films), Magazines

14 days

New & Feature Film DVDs

7 days

Renewals

Many items attempt to automatically renew up to 2 times. If you have email or text notifications enabled, you will receive a message letting you know which items auto-renewed and their new due dates.

You Can't Renew

• Items that another patron has placed on hold
• Items that have reached their renewal limit
• Hot Picks, New DVDs, Magazines, and Kits

To check whether an item that is overdue can be renewed, call 847-234-0636.

Overdue

Overdue Takeout Tech items accrue a $2/day fine. Takeout Tech items are in high demand, and therefore we need them returned promptly.

Otherwise the Library is fine free. Each item still has a due date and cardholders are responsible for honoring the due date.

Holds

Holdable

Books, Audiobooks, DVDs (excluding New), Video Games (excluding Switch), Music CDs

Holdable for Lake Forest Library cardholders only

Takeout Tech, New DVDs, New Video Games, Nintendo Switch Games, Magazines, Kits, Children's Board Books, Launchpads

Not Holdable

Hot Picks

Returning

Some items have special return instructions. Basically, please return oversize items, Takeout Tech, and Kits to a service desk inside the Library, because returning them in the bins can damage the items.

• Drive-up bins behind the Library
• Bin near the Library front door
• Any Library service desk
• Drive-up bin in the West Train Station parking lot, 911 Telegraph Rd
• Return slots near the West Train Station entrance

Items that you place on hold may not be available for immediate pick-up. Please wait for a notification that your hold is ready, or contact the Library before coming in.

Your holds are automatically checked out to you. You can find them on the northwest shelves in the Reference Room. Paper wrapped around the spines of your holds will show the first four letters of your last name.

Holdable

Books, Audiobooks, DVDs (excluding New), Video Games (excluding Switch), Music CDs

Holdable for Lake Forest Library cardholders only

Takeout Tech, New DVDs, New Video Games, Nintendo Switch Games, Magazines, Kits, Children's Board Books, Launchpads

Not Holdable

Hot Picks

If you didn't find the item you were looking for in the catalog, your Librarians can consider purchasing it for the Lake Forest Library collection or request it for you from libraries across the country.

You can have 5 items and 200 holds through interlibrary loan at a time.

Complete the form below to ask your Librarians to find an item for you.

You can also browse other libraries on your own.

• Find More Illinois (You can make your own requests.)
• WorldCat (Contact your Librarians to make requests for you.)

Contact Us

⚠️ If you are signed in, some form fields may auto-populate with your library account information. Please check and update these fields as needed.

"*" indicates required fields

Name

This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.

Reason for contact*

Comment or questionContact Library Staff, Friends, or FoundationGet a library cardCan't find an item / Suggest a purchaseSubmit a 3D print / Request a 3D-printed assistive toolDonate to the LibrarySign up for book club servicesSign up for homebound deliveryPropose a programRequest exam proctoringRequest for reconsideration

Who to contact*

Executive Director / FoundationAssistant DirectorLibrary BoardReference Desk / Adult ServicesMedia LabTeen LibrarianChildren's Library / Youth ServicesCirculationCommunications TeamBuilding SupervisorBusiness Manager / Human ResourcesFriends of Lake Forest Library

How to contact

Please submit your info below.

Call 847-234-0636 or submit your info below.

Call 847-234-0636 or submit your info below.

Call 847-810-4602 or submit your info below.

Call 847-810-4602 or submit your info below.

Call 847-810-4611 or submit your info below.

Call 847-810-4610 or submit your info below.

Call 847-810-4610 or submit your info below.

Submit your info below.

Call 847-810-4606 or submit your info below.

Call 847-810-4615 or submit your info below.

Call 847-810-4619 or submit your info below.

Please submit your info below.

Call 847-234-0648 or submit your info below.

Call 847-234-0648 or submit your info below.

Call 847-810-4622 or submit your info below.

Call 847-810-4624 or submit your info below.

Call 847-810-4637 or submit your info below.

Call 847-810-4604 or submit your info below.

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Your Info

Your name*

Your address*

Street address Address line 2 City State / Province / Region ZIP / Postal Code

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COMMENTS or Contact a dept/position

Your comments or questions

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Get a Library Card

Visit the Library to activate full card privileges.*

In addition to a completed library card application, we need to verify your Identity and Residency.

Verifies Both: Driver's license or state ID with your current Lake Forest address

Verifies Identity: Driver's License or State ID, Current School ID, or Passport

Verifies Residency: Utility or phone bill, Bank statement or pay stub, Lease or real estate ownership or tax bill, Homeowner's or renter's insurance policy, Illinois Motor Vehicle Registration, On-campus housing payment receipt, Official mail from a government agency
(All documents need your current Lake Forest address and to be dated or postmarked within the past 90 days.)

Yes, I understand that I am applying for a temporary library card with limited privileges. Please visit the Library within 2 months to verify your identity and residency and to get your official library card.

Rules and policies*

Yes, I agree to abide by Lake Forest Library's borrowing rules and all other Library rules and policies.

Eligible non-residents

I am a City of Lake Forest employee

I am a Lake Forest College student

City employee

City department you work for*

Your City work email address*

LF College student

School address*

Street address Address line 2 City State

AlabamaAlaskaAmerican SamoaArizonaArkansasCaliforniaColoradoConnecticutDelawareDistrict of ColumbiaFloridaGeorgiaGuamHawaiiIdahoIllinoisIndianaIowaKansasKentuckyLouisianaMaineMarylandMassachusettsMichiganMinnesotaMississippiMissouriMontanaNebraskaNevadaNew HampshireNew JerseyNew MexicoNew YorkNorth CarolinaNorth DakotaNorthern Mariana IslandsOhioOklahomaOregonPennsylvaniaPuerto RicoRhode IslandSouth CarolinaSouth DakotaTennesseeTexasUtahU.S. Virgin IslandsVermontVirginiaWashingtonWest VirginiaWisconsinWyomingArmed Forces AmericasArmed Forces EuropeArmed Forces Pacific

ZIP code

Your anticipated graduation year*

Card reactivation*

Yes, I understand that my card needs to be reactivated at the beginning of summer and fall semesters. (Please visit the Library to re-verify your identity and residency.)

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Can't Find an Item / Suggest a Purchase

What audience is this item for?*

I don't know

Adults

Teens

Children

Title*

Author/Artist/Actor*

Edition or year

Format

Book

Audiobook

Large Type Book

eBook

Magazine

Movie

Music

Video Game

Other

Request follow-up

If available, please place this item on hold for me.

Please follow up with me about this item, but no need to place a hold at this time.

No follow-up needed.

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Media Lab Services

Lake Forest Library card number*

I would like to ...

Submit a 3D print

Request a 3D-printed assistive tool

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3D Print

Know Before You Submit*

Lake Forest Library cardholders may request one 3D print per week. There are no fees for 3D printing.

Files should be in STL or OBJ format.

Designs are printed using a single color of PLA plastic filament.

3D print designs must be smaller than 210×210×210 millimeters (8.3×8.3×8.3 inches) and cannot take more than 4 hours to print.

We will contact you when your 3D print is ready to be picked up, typically in 7 days or less.

Lake Forest Library reserves the right to refuse a 3D print request.

Yes, I have reviewed and understand the "Know Before You Submit" items.

Upload your file

Accepted file types: atl, obj, Max. file size: 15 MB.

Color

Black

Blue

Brown

Green

Orange

Red

White

Yellow

Anything else we should know about your 3D Print request?

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3D Assistance Tool

Select one assistive tool

We will contact you when your assistive tool is printed and ready to pick up. If you would like more, please submit another form. Assistive tools are devices that help people perform everyday tasks more easily, such as carrying bags or opening bottles. Our 3D print models were provided by Makers Making Change.

Bag carrier

Bottle opener

Milk carton opener

Pencil grip

Signature guide

Tube opener

Size*

Small

Medium

Large

Color

Blue

Green

Red

White

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Make a Donation

Gift amount

What is your inspiration to give? Tell us a story about why you are making this gift.

Many companies match an employee’s charitable donations. If your or your spouse's employer match gifts, enter the company name.

Further define your gift (select all that apply)

Please make my gift anonymous.

Please add my spouse to this gift.

This gift is in honor of ...

This gift is on the occasion of ...

This gift is in memory of ...

Specify the "given by" name to be used in print and digital acknowledgements.

Send an acknowledgement of the gift to ...

Spouse's name

Who is this gift in honor of?

What is this gift on the occasion of?

Who is this gift in memory of?

"Given by" name

Name to send acknowledgement

Address to send acknowledgement*

Street address Address line 2 City State / Province / Region ZIP / Postal Code

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Book Club Services

Name of your book club

Number of members in your book club*

Upcoming meeting dates*

Timeline for title requests*

Yes, I understand that at least 6 weeks' notice is required to help supply books for my meeting dates.

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Homebound Delivery

Eligibility*

Yes, I understand that delivery of library materials is available for Lake Forest residents who are currently homebound.

Delivery address*

Street address Address line 2 City

Special delivery instructions

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Exam Proctoring

Proctoring Rules*

About Proctoring
Exams are not proctored on a drop-in basis. An appointment must be made at least one week prior to the exam date.
The exam or information about the exam and proctoring procedures must be emailed or mailed to the Library.
Exams are proctored during regular library hours. The exam must be completed at least 30 minutes prior to closing.
Scheduling an exam depends upon the availability of Library staff.
The Library can accommodate print and online exams. A library computer is available for online exams, but the Library cannot install software or disable features to accommodate an exam.
The Library is not responsible for an exam that is interrupted by emergencies, power failures, or computer or internet issues.
The Library does not have private study rooms and cannot guarantee complete quiet for the duration of the test.
Library staff will monitor the exam intermittently.
The Library will return the exam by fax or scanned email. Test‑Takers may return exams via mail.
The Library reserves the right to refuse to proctor an exam that is too difficult to accommodate.

Before the exam, the test‑taker must:
Complete and submit the Request Exam Proctoring form.
Arrange for delivery of the exam or proctor password to the Library.
Contact the Library prior to the date of the exam to confirm that the exam has arrived.

On the day of the exam, the test‑taker must:
Arrive on time for the exam appointment.
Bring a photo ID.
Follow the instructions given with the exam.
Bring supplies needed for the exam.
If mailing the exam, supply a stamped return envelope, if not supplied by the testing institution.

I have read and I agree to the Proctoring Rules.

Institution giving the exam*

Course name*

Email address of professor or testing service*

Phone number of professor or testing service*

Exam title

Exam date*

MM slash DD slash YYYY

Time allowed in hours*

Format*

Paper exam

Online exam

How will the exam and information be sent to Lake Forest Library?*

Mail

Fax

Email

Does the proctor need to fill out a proctor form for the testing institution?*

Yes

No

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Propose a Program

Program name*

Program description*

Program audience(s)*

Adults

Teens

Children

Families

Audience limit*

Program length*

Program fee*

Company/Organization name

Company/Organization website

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Request for Reconsideration

Reconsideration process*

Lake Forest Library does not endorse the opinions contained in its materials. Patrons are free to enjoy, dislike, or ignore any item in the collection. However, no one is free to restrict another's use of library materials. A request to remove library materials creates legal and ethical questions for both Lake Forest Library and the community. Consequently, this issue is taken very seriously by the Library.

To initiate a request, fill out the Request for Reconsideration form fields completely. The Library Executive Director will appoint a committee to review the challenged material and prepare a written report. Until a decision is reached by the Executive Director, the item in question will remain available. Patrons who do not accept the Executive Director's decision may appeal to the Library Board of Trustees. The reconsideration process will be completed in a reasonable amount of time. Staff is available to assist in preparation of the required form.

Yes, I have reviewed the reconsideration process.

Title of work you are requesting be reconsidered*

Author/Artist/Actor*

Format*

Book

Audiobook

Video

Periodical

Other

Date of publication/production

To what in the work do you object? Please be specific. Cite pages.*

Did you read, listen to, or view the entire work?*

Yes

No

What do you feel might be the result of reading, listening to, or viewing this work?*

What item of value would you recommend be considered for the collection that would convey a similar perspective/theme of the subject matter in the work?

Please review the following documents. (Each link opens in a new tab.)*

Library Bill of Rights, opens a new window

Freedom to Read Statement, opens a new window

Freedom to View Statement, opens a new window

Public Act 103-0100, opens a new window

Yes, I have reviewed the documents.

Lake Forest Library supports the principles set forth in these documents. Do you feel your request conflicts with these principles? If not, why not?*

Additional comments

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Friends

Reason you're contacting the Friends

Comment or question

Arrange for local pick-up of a larger donation of books

Volunteer

Your comments or questions

Your address*

Street address Address line 2 City State / Province / Region ZIP / Postal Code

I would like to volunteer ...

Year-Round / Book sorting

For the book sales

On the Friends Board

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Wrap Up

Do you have an email address?*

Yes

No

Email*

Do you want to receive the Library eNews full of upcoming events, news, and more?*

Yes

No

I'm already subscribed

Preferred contact

Email

Phone

Phone*

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Lake Forest Library does not charge fines or fees with the following exceptions:

• Overdue Takeout Tech items accrue a $2/day fine. Takeout Tech items are in high demand, and therefore we need them returned promptly.
• Patrons who damage or lose items are charged the cost to replace the item. This fee can be found in the item listing in the catalog.

Each item still has a due date and cardholders are responsible for honoring the due date.

If an item is more than 14 days overdue after all renewals are exhausted, your library card is restricted and you will not be able to borrow more items. Once the item is returned, the restriction is removed.

Your library card will also be restricted if:

• Your account has accumulated fees and charges in excess of $10
• You have a lost item on your account
• Your account is associated with an account that is restricted