Piscataway residents may apply for a library card online. We will email your library card credentials within a few days. Your library card will be mailed to you. Your library card will be valid for 3 months for downloadable ebooks and audiobooks and other digital services. Visit the Library in person and present identification as described below to extend your full Library privileges for 3 years.
You may also apply for a library card in person. Individuals must be present in the library to obtain or renew a library card, regardless of age or residency.
PISCATAWAY RESIDENTS
Proof of residency in Piscataway is required before a card is issued. Borrowing privileges apply for 3 years for those who live or own property in town. At the end of that 3-year period, the physical card is still valid, but you must bring your card and ID to the library to renew the account.
Valid proof of residency for Adults: current driver’s license with Piscataway address (we do not accept a P.O. Box); OR government-issued photo ID in addition to one of the following: recent mail (postmarked within 3 months); mail from a bank, utility company or other official organization that is dated and addressed to the individual; current, dated lease agreement or property tax bill showing individual’s name and Piscataway address
Valid proof of residency for Juveniles (children and teens, birth-18): can use a parent’s ID and proof of residency (see above) along with the parent’s signature on the application card. Both parent and child MUST be present. Alternately, children/teens who are in or going into Grade 3 and older can provide school ID in addition to a complete Piscataway mailing address without a parent/guardian needing to be present.
NON-PISCATAWAY RESIDENT
If you are a resident at any of these locations, which are all part of the STELLA consortium (STELLA), you should obtain a card through your home library. This card can then be used to borrow materials at Piscataway Library. If you have a card outside of Middlesex County at any of the libraries listed here, you must bring your home library card with you, along with your ID and proof of residency, to registered for borrowing privileges at Piscataway Library.
PISCATAWAY EMPLOYEES & STUDENTS
If you live in a town that already has a reciprocal borrowing relationship (listed above), you can use that library card at either of our branches. Otherwise:
Piscataway employees must show proof of their home address, employment, and the Piscataway address of their place of employment (pay stub, letter signed by supervisor on letterhead). Piscataway Township municipal government employees (including municipal government employees, Piscataway Board of Education employees, employees of the Piscataway Vo-Tech school) who do not live in Piscataway are entitled to the same borrowing privileges as Piscataway residents. Municipal employees still must provide proof of their home address, proof of employment, and the physical address of their place of employment.
Piscataway students must provide proof of their home address, and proof of Piscataway school enrollment with the name and Piscataway address of the school. (Rutgers University students who cannot provide a Piscataway address should apply for a library card with New Brunswick Free Public Library, which can then be used at Piscataway Public Library.)
TEMPORARY ACCOUNT
To be registered for this type of account, temporary Piscataway residents must provide photo ID, proof of temporary residency and the address and phone number of that residence. These accounts are limited to borrowing two items at a time (books or ebooks), but are not eligible to borrow new books, magazines, or non-print materials (other than ebooks). Privileges are good for three months with the option of renewal if temporary circumstances persist. Temporary accounts are upon approval of the Department Supervisor.
If none of the situations above apply, you may obtain library membership upon payment of a $45.00 annual fee, granting full privileges as a Piscataway Public Library card holder.
New to the library? After hours? Click here to quick-register online. (Registration only valid for 30 days.) This temporary ID allows only limited access to statewide online databases. To complete the registration process and receive full borrowing privileges, you must bring proof of residence and a photo ID to the library, as detailed above.
LOST CARDS
Users are charged $2.00 for each library card replacement. Replacement cards are only issued in person with proper ID. Please let us know if you believe you’ve lost your card so that we can place a temporary block on your account!
Materials available for loan at the Piscataway Public Library include: Fiction and Non-Fiction Books; Paperbacks; Magazines; Encyclopedias; World Language Materials; Literacy Materials; Compact Discs; Audio Books; Read-a-longs; DVDs
Loan Periods
Loan periods are 2 days, 2 weeks, or 3 weeks for most items. Please check your receipt for the due date. Only Piscataway residents and municipal and school employees can borrow audio-visual equipment and HOT PICK DVDs. You may renew most items on-line through the Library’s electronic catalog; by automated telephone system; or in person.
Fine Payment
Piscataway Public Library is a fine-free library. Fines are not charged for overdue items. Lost and damaged items will be billed to the borrows accounts. These bills can be paid by cash or check at either of our library branch locations. You can also utilize the LMXAC Smart Pay system to pay online with a valid credit card anytime!
There are no item limits for any materials.
Borrowing Information
Print (books & magazines), Audio (Music CDs, Audio Books, Playaways), Computer (Children’s CD-Roms)
- 21 day loan period
- May be renewed (up to 2 times) if no hold exists
NEW Adult Print Books (Fiction & Non-fiction)
- 14 day loan period
- May be renewed (up to 2 times) if no hold exists
NEW Entertainment Movies (Hot Picks)
- 2 day loan period
- May be returned and checked out again (with rental fee) if no holds exist
Entertainment Movies (Comedy, Adventure, Drama, etc)
- 14 day circulation
- May be returned and checked out again (with rental fee) if no holds exist
Other DVDs (Documentaries, Educational, Children’s Entertainment Movies, Hooked on Phonics Kits)
- No rental fee
- 14 day circulation
- May be renewed (up to 2 times) if no hold exists
Board Games
- 14 day loan period
- Piscataway card holders only
- Limit of 2 per checkout
iPads
- 14 day loan period
- Piscataway card holders ages 18+ only
The Piscataway Public Library currently offers free or reduced price entry to a variety of local attractions.
If you are unable to physically come to the library to apply for membership due to limited or long-term illness or disability, please consider our home delivery service. Home delivery occurs once a month.
To inquire about and/or register for home delivery, please call Nadine Giron at 732-463-1633.
Reserves
Books and other materials that are not immediately available at the Piscataway Public Library may be reserved at no charge. Many reserves can be filled through the vast resources of the Library’s automation consortium, LMxAC, found on-line our online catalog. Reserves are filled with the first available copy in the system.
You can place reserves through the online catalog by logging in with your library card number and pin, You can also call or visit one of our branch libraries to have a reserve placed for you by one of our reference librarians.
Interlibrary Loans
If neither the Library or the Consortium own the requested materials, your request will be forwarded to another library or the statewide information network for an Interlibrary Loan. You will be notified by telephone when the item is available. Interlibrary Loans can now be done by visiting or telephoning one of the Library’s reference desks.
Open Borrowing
Piscataway Public Library has mutual Open Borrowing agreements with many libraries in central and northern New Jersey to share books and other materials with our customers who have a valid library card. The types of materials available to non-residents may vary from library to library
Reciprocal Borrowing
Piscataway Public Library also participates in several reciprocal borrowing agreements which provides access to borrowing privileges to many area libraries in neighboring counties.
- List of MURAL Libraries
- Other Reciprocal Borrowing Libraries :
- Bedminster-Far Hills (Clarence Dillon)
- Bernards Township
- Bernardsville
- Franklin Township (Somerset County)
- Raritan Township (Somerset County)
The New Jersey Department of Education is adopting a new process for GED test in administration. The department’s goal is to increase the number of places where students can take the GED test online. The online GED test does not need to be taken at a test center.
To better serve the community, the Piscataway Public Library, in cooperation with the New Jersey Department of Education, will offer space for test-takers to take the exam.
You must call the Information Desk at the Kennedy Library in order to schedule an appointment: 732-463-1633 ext 4115.
Need one-on-one assistance with your device? Do you want to learn how to download eBooks, audiobooks, or use other Library resources? We’re here to help! Book an appointment with a librarian for individual technology assistance. Each appointment slot is for one half hour. Please fill out the form below so we can determine whether we are able to help you. We will try to match you with someone who can assist, but there is no a guarantee that we would be able to fulfill your specific request based on staff availability and scope of knowledge.
You’re also welcome to drop in for one of our Tech Tuesday programs, where we offer 20-minute, one-on-one sessions on a first-come, first-served basis. Although registration is helpful, no appointment is needed—just stop by and get your tech questions answered!