Tools are available for borrowing from two HCPL branches: Evelyn Meador Branch Library in Seabrook and Baldwin Boettcher Branch Library @ Mercer Park in north Harris County.
Tools available at Baldwin Boettcher Branch Library
Tools Available at Evelyn Meador Branch Library
Tools include:
Anyone with a Harris County Public Library card without blocks on their account can borrow tools.
You must sign a Harris County Public Library Gardening Tool Waiver before you can check out tools.
Yes, all tools must be returned to the library they were borrowed from. They must be returned when the library is open.
Please clean the tools before returning them. Failure to return to the location will result in the loss of your tool borrowing privileges.
You will be charged the tool replacement fee if the item is returned damaged.
Tool replacement fees will be charged for any lost items. If the lost material is recovered, You may request a refund within one year of the payment date.
Yes. We do charge late fees for tools that are past due.
After the tool has been late by 120 days, a replacement fee will be charged. Speak to a staff member if you are interested in replacing the tool rather than paying the replacement fee.
The lending period for tools is 14 days with no renewals. However, you may return the item and borrow it again if there is no waiting list for the tool.
Yes! But because the number of tools available at the two tool library locations, the limits are different at each Tool Library location:
Baldwin Boettcher: a total of 40 (Up to 20 small tools and up to 20 large tools).
Evelyn Meador: up to 10 tools
Yes! Contact your home branch and tell them what you need. They will place a request for you. You will however have to pick up tools at either Baldwin Boettcher or Evelyn Meador branch libraries. We cannot ship tools to other branch locations.
Military service members may use the CAC reader on the public computers in the library or on their personal laptops. Be advised that, due to the library’s firewall, some websites cannot be accessed on the public computers even with a CAC reader. Therefore, military members are advised to bring their personal laptops if they have them and use our free WiFi. Personal laptops with older versions of Windows such as XP, Vista, and older, must have ActivClient software installed. It can be downloaded for free at http://militarycac.com/ or, for MAC users, go to http://militarycac.com/lion.htm. The CAC reader is compatible with Windows 7 and 8 without ActivClient software.
No, but many do, and they are located throughout the county. The branches listed below have CAC readers:
Common Access Card reader or CAC reader for military personnel enables active duty and reserve military to conduct online military business locally instead of having to travel to a military base/facility. With a CAC reader, a service member can access websites to do online training, check military email, create orders and travel vouchers, apply for billets, access unit sharepoint sites, and more.
The CAC reader checks out for two hours. Loan period may be extended if no one else has requested it.
You may use the CAC Reader if you have a current Department of Defense issued military ID AND you are
A common access card is a smart card and is the standard identification for Active Duty United States Defense personnel, to include the Selected Reserve and National Guard, United States Department of Defense (DoD) civilian employees, United States Coast Guard (USCG) civilian employees and eligible DoD and USCG contractor personnel. It is also the principal card used to enable physical access to buildings and controlled spaces, and it provides access to defense computer networks and systems.
Some branches have laptops for in-library use. Contact your branch for availability.
Laptops should not be left unattended. Leaving laptops unattended will result in loss of laptop checkout privileges. Users are responsible for the laptop while it is checked out. The Library is not responsible for loss while checked out to the user. Do not tamper with the security features of the laptop. Doing so will result in suspension of borrowing privileges and fines. No user files will be retained on the hard disk.
The borrower agrees to return the laptop equipment in the same order and condition as when received and if such equipment is damaged or lost while on loan, agrees to reimburse the library for the cost of the laptop. Fines for in-branch use laptops are $2.00 per hour. Removal of an HCPL laptop from the lending branch will result in a replacement charge for the laptop. Law enforcement officers will be notified if a laptop is removed from the library.
Please return laptops to a staff member at the desk from which they were borrowed.
The loan period for laptops in the library is 2 hours. Laptops must be returned 15 minutes before closing. Renewals are allowed if no other customer is waiting for a laptop. Staff will go over the checklist with you and give you a receipt upon return.
Library customers who are 12 years of age or older with a valid Harris County Library Card in their own name and who have no blocks on their library accounts. An individual may check out only one laptop at a time.
You need a valid library card. The card must be present and belong to the customer presenting it.
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