All Bethany residents are encouraged to obtain their free library card!
Your library card enables you access to check out all of our free print and digital materials.
You can also use it to reserve books or borrow books from other libraries within our consortium – these are processed every Tuesday and Thursday and available for pickup in labeled bags just inside our side entryway.
Application
Please visit us during open hours to get a Clark Memorial Library card. It is valid for five years and can be renewed on request. Alternatively, you can print one and bring it in.
You will need to fill out a Library Card Application (copies of which are also available at the Library) and provide a valid ID and/or another form of proof of address.
Current Bethany residents must provide one form of ID or proof of address.
Connecticut residents from other towns who would like to be added to our system must provide a valid library card from their home library and two forms of ID or proof of address.
Examples of valid IDs and proofs of address include driver’s licenses, state IDs, recent postmarked mail, and recent bills/bank statements.
Renewing Your Library Card
To renew an existing card, you may visit the Library in person, email us at ClarkMain@bethanylibrary.org, or call (203) 393-2103.
You will be required to place a sticker indicating that the card has been renewed on the back; if the card has been renewed via email or phone call, this sticker will be mailed to your listed address.
Using Your Library Card
Your library card can be used at any public library in Connecticut.
It also allows you to access your Library Account on our online catalog in order to place books on hold, create reading lists, view your reading history, and more.
Access
Clark Memorial Library is a participant in the borrowIT CT library resource sharing program. This means that residents of any town in Connecticut with a valid library card from their home library can be added to our system by following the steps outlined above, and check out the same materials available to local patrons.
Clark Memorial Library is part of the LIONS consortium consisting of 38 public libraries largely centered throughout South central Connecticut. This partnership allows for our patrons to source materials from any of these libraries, reserve them, and have them sent directly to Clark for pick up and return. This strategic, cost saving alliance enables us to provide access to a larger catalog than what we are able to provide within the walls of Clark Memorial Library. The LIONS consortium catalog is integrated into our catalog, you need only to sign in with your library card in order to reserve materials from Clark or any library within the consortium.
Loan Periods
Books, audiobooks, and puzzles: 3 weeks/2 renewals/holds allowed.
All books, audiobooks, and puzzles are available for 3 weeks (21 day) loans. Holds are allowed and can be executed by logging into the catalog or by calling the Library directly. Provided no hold exists, up to two renewals are able to be automatically applied before the resource is required to be returned.
Magazines: 2 weeks/no renewals/no holds.
Magazines are available for 2week (14 day) loans. There are no holds or renewals for magazines.
DVDs: 1 week/no renewals/no holds
Adult and Children’s DVDs are available for 1 week (7 day) loans. There are no holds or renewals for DVDs.
Museum & Park Passes: 3 days/no renewals/no holds.
Passes to various CT museums and parks, including the Beardsley Zoo, are available for free curtsey of our Friends of Clark Memorial Library. These passes provide discounted access and are available for 3 day loans. There are no holds or renewals for Museum Passes.
Returns
Books, audiobooks, puzzles, magazines, DVDs, and museum passes can all be returned inside the Library building at either circulation desk upstairs or down, at our book drop inside the side entrance, or at the book drop located outside, to the right of the side entrance.
The Library does not have overdue fines anymore, but we are always happy to take items back on or before due dates – it means others can get those items even sooner!