Pierce County Library System
Information & Imagination

Frequently Asked Questions

Q:          How do I return my books and materials while the Library is closed?

A:           Book drops are open at all locations.

Q:          When will the Library reopen?

A:           The health and safety of the public and staff is a top priority of the Library’s plan to expand services. The Library System will continue to monitor COVID-19 cases in Pierce County and follow the guidance and information from state and local health officials, to determine the dates the Library System may safely reopen. 

Q:          What do I do if I can't remember my PIN?

A:           The default PIN is the last four digits of your telephone number. If you can't remember the phone number you used when setting up your account, click here to have your PIN sent to the email address on file at the Library.

Q:          What do I do if I lost my library card and don’t have my library number?

A:           Please contact the library at 253-548-3300 and leave a message with your name, phone number, and a statement that you lost your library card and don’t have your library number. A staff member will return your call and help you.

Q:          Can I pick up items I have reserved or placed on hold at a library?

A:           Curbside pickup of summer reads, print jobs, activity guides and more is now available at 19 locations. Current locations for Library Curbside include Anderson Island, Bonney Lake, Buckley, DuPont, Eatonville, Fife, Gig Harbor, Graham, Key Center, Lakewood, Milton/Edgewood, Orting, Parkland/Spanaway, South Hill, Summit, Sumner, Steilacoom, Tillicum and University Place (walk up only). 

Social distancing and masks are required for customers who receive contactless curbside service. Staff appreciates everyone’s care for one another.

Q:          When will I be notified of books and items that are on hold on my card/account?

A:           Customers with holds at one of the Library Curbside locations will be notified when the items are available and directed to make an appointment for curbside pickup. When the remaining library locations launch Library Curbside, staff will process items that have been requested through the hold requests. If you have hold requests that haven’t come in yet and you're not in a rush to receive them, the Library recommends inactivating or suspending the requests to a future date. Please watch the Library’s website for updates.

You may suspend an item on hold by logging into your library account. Suspending a hold means you are letting the Library System know you don’t want to receive the item before the date you select (it may arrive sometime after that date, but not before). To suspend an item:

• Go to your requests list.
• Check the box next to the item.
• Click the green button at the bottom of the list that says “Suspend/Reactivate Selected.”

If you need help suspending your holds, please contact the Library at 253-548-3300 and leave a message with your name, phone number, and a statement that you would like help to suspend a hold. A staff member will return your call and help you.

Q:          How can I meet with my book club while social distancing during the COVID-19 pandemic?

A:           Try a group video chat on Facebook or Google Hangouts. For Facebook, all of the members of your book club will need a Facebook account and the messenger app on their phone, tablet or on computer. For Facebook video chat follow the instructions at https://www.facebook.com/help/240197935990595. For Google Hangouts follow the instructions at https://support.google.com/hangouts/answer/3111943?co=GENIE.Platform%3DDesktop&hl=en