Library Services
Service is an important part of the library's mission. Below are a few ways the library serves your community.
Loan Periods | Reference and Magazine Desk | Reference Service | Reader's Advisory | Help with Computers | Scanning | iPods
Rooms in the Library
Materials Loan with Library Card
With a library card, you can check out unlimited books and magazines, free of charge. You can check out 4 CDs and 4 DVDs per card at a time. Entertainment DVDs are $1 each. Documentaries are free. Library cards are free to Western Springs residents and may be obtained by submitting an application and presenting proof of residency at the front desk. Cost of a nonresident library card as of June 2007 is $245/year.
Loan Periods
| New fiction | 2 weeks, renewable if no holds |
| All other fiction and nonfiction | 3 weeks, renewable if no holds |
| Rental fiction | 2 days free, 25¢ each additional day |
| Reference books | noncirculating |
| Audiobooks on CD and MP3 | 3 weeks, renewable if no holds |
| Magazines, current issue | noncirculating |
| Magazines and Newspapers, back issues | 3 weeks, renewable if no holds |
| CDs | 1 week; limit 4 per card |
| DVDs | 1 week for $1; limit 4 per card |
Reference & Magazine Desk
Reference librarians staff the Reference Desk to help find books, DVDs, and music, as well as to locate magazine articles in databases. Magazine staff have a thorough knowledge of our magazines & newspapers and if we don't carry the article you need, they can get it from another library. There is at least one person at the Reference Desk/Magazine Desk whenever the library is open. For remote assistance, call 246-0520 and ask for "reference desk" or "magazine desk," email us, or chat with a librarian right now!
Reference Service
Reference librarians are trained to find reliable information for research and study. We are here to help and have an abundant reference collection at our disposal, so please approach the Reference Desk with any kind of question—whether it is to find out who the presidential candidates are, how to get a passport, or how to fix an oven.
Reader's Advisory
Librarians have a passion for reading and books and love to be asked about them! Ask for a recommendation at the Reference Desk. Tell us the last book you enjoyed or name a genre—for example, mystery, suspense/thriller, romance, science fiction, etc. See also the New/Hot/Recommended section of this website for more reading ideas.
Help with Computers
Please ask if you have a question about the software on our machines, media players, email, the Internet, or need help doing tasks like uploading a photo. We are happy to help.
Scanning
We don't have a scanner for public use, but we would be happy to use our scanner in the back and email you a copy of whatever you need.
iPods
In 2006, we added iPod Nanos and iPod audiobooks to our collection. IPod audiobooks have the same lending periods as our books—3 weeks. We load the content for you, free of charge. Interested? Here's all you have to do:
- Bring your iPod to the Reference Desk—or ask for one of ours.
- If you bring in an iPod other than a Nano, clear its content.
- Please have your iPod charged.
- Choose from our list of iPod audiobook(s). Keep in mind that it has to be “on shelf” in the catalog.
Rooms
The Meeting Room and Conference Room (boardroom) can be reserved by TFML patrons. Please see the Library calendar for room availability. Request a room online or call the Reference Desk at 246-0520.
Conference Room (main level; seats 10-15 people)
The Conference Room is available to Western Springs not-for-profit groups. To reserve this room, at least one member of the group must be a Thomas Ford Library cardholder. This room has a large conference table around which 8-10 people may sit; side chairs accommodate an additional 5-7 people. Please read the meeting room policy (PDF) for more information about using this space. To reserve this room, contact the Reference Desk or fill out the online form.
Meeting Room (lower level; seats 80 people)
The Meeting Room is available to Western Springs not-for-profit groups. At least one member of the group must be a Thomas Ford Library cardholder to reserve this room. The Meeting Room is an open space that can be set up in a variety of ways to meet users' needs. A small kitchen for refreshments/coffee service is located in this room, as well as tables, chairs, a projection screen and equipment, podium, and whiteboard. Please read the meeting room policy (PDF) for more information about using this space. To reserve this room, contact the Reference Desk or fill out the online form.
Reading Room (main level, east of the circulation desk)
The Reading Room is the quiet area of the Library. Since no talking is allowed here, it's the perfect spot to read and study. In the wintertime, we light the fireplace. Housed here are the current issues of newspapers and magazines, mysteries, science fiction, and large print books. Curl up in a comfy armchair or sit at a desk with your laptop. This room cannot be reserved.
