Library Services

Audio/Visual Equipment:
Library patrons may use any of the audio/visual equipment that we have including but not limited to:

* Microfilm
View and print articles from past issues of newspapers, census microfilm, etc. This library houses the Messenger, the Hustler, and the Earlington Bee. (Our Dawson Springs Branch has the Dawson Springs Progress available on microfilm) Printouts are 15¢ each.

* Microfiche
We have magazines on microfiche dating from 1980 to the present that can be viewed and printed using our microfiche reader/printer. Printouts are 10¢ each.

* MAS
MAS is software that stands for "Magazine Article Summaries" and contains archives of many national and international magazines. The MAS software can be searched by publication or by subject and can be accessed through KYVL as well as on CD at the main or branch library.

* Check Out
We also have a variety of audio/visual equipment pieces that can be checked out by those individuals who have a valid library card with no fines or overdue materials. The items include:
*Strip projector
*Opaque projector
*Overhead projector
*Data/Multi-media projector
*Large projection screen
*Small projection screen

Please ask library staff about other audio/visual equipment available.

If you are unsure as to the operation of a piece of our equipment, please ask Library Staff for assistance.

*DVD/VHS Rental:
We have both DVDs and VHS tapes that can be checked out from the library. We currently have around 1000 titles in circulation. The guidelines for checking these out are as follows:

*Borrower must be at least 18 years of age
*Have a valid library card with no fines or overdue materials
*Fills out and signs video privilege card.
*VHS and DVD materials are checked out for two days at a time. Items may be renewed one time providing materials are not already overdue.
*Maximum limit of 4 VHS/DVD materials may be checked out at one time.
*Fines on VHS/DVD materials are $2.00 per day per title. Fines will never exceed the cost of the item.
*Videos and DVDs may not be returned in any book deposit other than the stainless steel deposit in front of the main library.

*Borrowing Policies:
*Fiction and Non-Fiction checkout for 17 days.
*New Books and Favored Bestsellers check out for 10 days with NO renewal period
*Audio Books, music CDs and PlayAways checkout for 7 days.
*Videos/DVDs have a two day checkout period with one renewal available.
*There is a limit of three non-fiction titles per subject per family. (Ex: 3 dogs, 3 horses, 3 haircare, 3 craft, etc.)
The fine rates for overdue items are as follows:
*10 day books are 10¢ per day per item. (NO grace period on 10 day books)
*Audio and non 7 day books are 5¢ per day per item. (5 day grace period for these items)
*Videos and DVDs are $2.00 per day per video not to exceed the original price of the item. (NO grace period for DVDs or Videos)
*Fines on Children's items will not exceed 50¢ per title.
*Fines on Adult Books and Audios will not exceed $2.00.
*Audio/visual equipment fines are $5.00 per day. (NO grace period for AV equipment)
*Easels, holiday costumes, puppets, theme kits, etc. are also available for circulation. Ask staff for details.

*Mezzanine (Public Meeting Room):
The Hopkins County-Madisonville Public Library welcomes the use of it's meeting room facility for cultural, civic, educational and public information meetings of interest to the citizens of this area. Policies governing the use of the meeting space are in accordance with Article 6 of the Library Bill of Rights and are enforced to include and not exclude the public as a whole. All meetings must end by the library's scheduled closing time unless previous arrangements are made. No money will be collected from the audience, nor any sales made in connection with the meeting.
The use of the meeting room is subject at all times to administrative regulations. Failure to observe these regulations can mean that any use by an offending organization may be denied. Groups should keep the meeting room as clean as possible and take out their own garbage. Please contact the library to get more information on use of the meeting room or to arrange for it's use by your group.

*Magazines/Newspapers:
There are over 120 magazines and newspapers available for reading and research in the L.K. Hickman Reading Room which serves as our magazine/newspaper department. Please see a staff member for more details or to see if we carry the publication you are looking for. Magazines and newspapers may not be removed from the library (with the exception of some teen magazines). Photocopies of articles can be made at 10¢ per page in accordance with all state and federal copyright laws. Click here for a complete list of titles we subscribe to.

*Audio Books, Music and Playaways:
Cassettes, CDs, and a variety of audio books available for check out. At present there are around 65 books on CD and 800 audios available. In order to check out these materials:
New to the public library: Playaways
Playaways are small, portable digital audio players with audio books preloaded on them. Use your own headphones with them, or purchase earbuds from the library for $1.

*Must have a valid library card with no fines or overdue books.
*Limit of four total checkouts of these material types at a time (this includes any audio products that you may have checked out at the Dawson Springs Branch)
*Items are checked out for 7 days. Three renewals are available as long as the item is not on reserve.
*Fines on all audios are 5¢ per day per audio title.

*KY Unbound Downloadable Books
The Library offers KY Unbound to all patrons with a library card in good standing. KY Unbound is a FREE 24/7 e-content lending library, offering e-books, audiobooks, music and video content to download to personal computer and transfer to mobile device. Borrow up to 10 items at a time, with no late fees! Click on the picture below to access.

Faxing:
To send (price is per number sent to)
$3 for the first page (and cover sheet if requested)
50¢ for each additional page
To receive (patron with good standing library account)
$2.50 for the first page
50¢ for each additional page
For non library card holders/patrons with fines/overdues
$5 deposit, from which fax receive charges above will be deducted and any remaining money returned.

Notary Services
A notary is available during regular office hours (Monday-Friday, 10am-5pm). This service is NOT AVAILABLE at the weekends.

Wireless Hotspot:
All locations of the Hopkins County - Madisonville Public Library system offer FREE wireless internet access to patrons with their own wireless device or laptop. Availability on the Bookmobile is subject to satellite connectivity. For patrons over 18 years old with a library card in good standing and a photo ID, the main library offers laptops for a 2 hour loan period. See our Wireless Internet information page for more details.