Pictou-Antigonish Regional Library

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Frequently Asked Questions

Drop in to any of our branch libraries and ask our friendly staff to register you for a free library card. You can also register online and your card will be mailed to you. Your card is valid for 3 years, at which time your membership can be renewed by contacting or visiting your local library. A parent or guardian must sign for children under age 14.
Your "PIN" (Personal Identification Number) is a 4 digit number of your choice. The PIN increases the security of your library card. If you would like to change your PIN number you can login to Your Account and change it.
You can borrow up to 50 books or items at a time on your card. You can only have a maximum of six movies on your card at one time.
The loan period for most library items is 3 weeks. Other specialized materials may have other loan periods - ask staff.
In person at your branch, by phone, email or online. To place a hold on an item from the online catalogue - from the item details screen, click on the "Place Hold" link. Follow the on-screen instructions, entering your library card number, PIN, and selecting a pick-up location. Click on the "Place Hold" button.
Yes. You may return and renew items at any of our branches.
Library materials may be renewed online by logging in to the "My Account" page, in person at any of our locations, or over the phone. Library materials can be renewed two times. Items that have holds placed on them by other patrons cannot be renewed. If you do not renew your material on time - the overdue item may generate fines. Please contact library staff for more information.
Go to the Help menu (top navigation) from the OverDrive website. Watch how-to videos, learn the basic steps for getting started with OverDrive, how to borrow, read, and return eBooks, how to borrow, listen to, and return audiobooks, how to use OverDrive's app, troubleshooting tips and error solutions, compatible devices, how many items you can check out, for how long and more. If you need additional help you can contact the staff at your local branch.
Library fines can be paid at the branch by cash or cheque.
To check your account online, click on the My Account button found at the top right of each page. You will be prompted for your library card number and PIN.
By logging in to your account online - make the change and click on "Submit Change of Address" or contact the library in person or phone your local branch.
If you have lost or damaged library materials, you will need to pay for the cost of the item as well as any overdue fines associated with the item.
Please call toll free 1-866-779-7761 to report a lost or stolen card. You are responsible for all items checked out on your library card, so please make your report as soon as possible. There is a cost of $1 to replace a lost card.
New Glasgow Library:
Tues. to Fri. 10am - 9pm, Sat. 10am - 5pm, Sun. (Sept. - May) 2pm - 5pm
Antigonish Town & County Library:
Mon. 9am - 5pm, Tues - Fri. 9am - 9pm, Sat. 9am - 5pm
Pictou Library:
Tues. & Thurs. 10am - 9pm, Wed., Fri. & Sat. 10am - 5pm
River John Library:
Tues. & Thurs. 2 - 5pm & 6 - 8pm; Wed. & Fri. 10am - 1pm & 2 - 5pm; Sat. 10am - 3pm
Stellarton Library:
Tues. & Thurs. 12pm - 8pm; Wed. & Fri. 10am - 5pm; Sat. 11am - 4pm
Trenton Library:
Tues. & Thurs. 2pm - 5pm & 6pm - 8pm; Wed. & Fri. 9am - noon & 2pm - 5pm; Sat. 11am - 4pm
Westville Library:
Tues. 10am - 8pm; Wed. 10am - 5pm; Thurs. 2 - 8pm; Fri. 10am - 5pm; Sat. 10am - 3pm
Go to our Google Map to find the location nearest you.
All locations have book drops available for the return of borrowed materials. All book drops are open 24 hours a day. Antigonish Town & County Library also has a 24 hour book pick-up available at the Library entrance. Ask staff for details.
Community group meeting spaces are available at several of our library branches for not for profit organizations.
Yes. A library card is required to use the library's computers.The user is responsible for abiding by the Public Access to the Internet Agreement. Patrons can book a computer for 1 hour one session per day. Express terminals are also available for short term use - (15 minutes).
Photocopiers are provided at all locations. Costs are .20 cents per page for black and white and $1.00 per page for color.
Our Outreach Services provides many alternatives for people who cannot visit the library. Senior's Delivery Service is available for seniors living at assisted care facilities, senior community complexes, or who are homebound. These books are delivered monthly by PARL volunteers. For more information on this service, please call 1(866) 779-7761. Borrow By Mail is a free mail-order library for rural residents of Pictou-Antigonish Counties.
You can register for a library card from any public, community college or university library in Nova Scotia. Materials borrowed from any of these libraries can be returned to any participating library. For more information see Borrowing Anywhere, Return Anywhere.
The library answers hundreds of questions each day. For immediate assistance, please contact the library. You may also submit a question via our Ask a Librarian service. We will make every attempt to answer your question as quickly as possible.
Access to our online magazine and journal databases. You will find many article databases including Canadian Periodicals, Chilton Auto Repair Manuals, Cochrane Health Library, Contemporary Authors, Gardening Magazines, and the Health and Wellness database.
The Library website contains many online tools to help you in your research. We subscribe to several specialized databases not accessible on Google. You have free access to these resources in the library, as well as from home, school, or office by simply entering your library card number. Browse or search for relevant topics.
To find books and materials on a topic, go to our online catalogue and search by subject or keyword.
If you need help searching a database or the online catalogue call or drop in to your nearest branch.
Several of the PARL branches offer free programs for babies, toddlers and pre-school children. These programs include stories, songs, rhymes, crafts and activities.
We offer free one-on-one training and assistance at branch libraries and in several community sites through @NS Community Technology.
The library's Events Calendar lets you browse events of all types, such as storytimes, author visits and more.
PARL encourages the public to show their support for their local library by forming a Friends of the Library group. Currently we have 2 Friends of the Library groups - Antigonish Friends of the Library and River John Friends of the Library. Should you be interested in Friends of the Library please contact the Chief Librarian at 1-866-779-7761.