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Books & More

Libraries are known for having books, but we have lots of things you can check out with your library card.

Everything checks out for two weeks, making it easy for you to keep track of your items.

Learn about our collections, including specific book collections, media we offer and some unusual items you might not expect to borrow from your library.

Mar
2

Yoga with Julia

12:00pm - 12:45pm
Age Group: Everyone

Yoga with Julia

12:00pm - 12:45pm
Mar 2, 2021
Main Branch
Age Groups: Everyone
Description
On Facebook Live...
Mar
2

Tax Law Changes for 2021

6:00pm - 7:00pm
Age Group: Adults

Tax Law Changes for 2021

6:00pm - 7:00pm
Mar 2, 2021
Main Branch
Age Groups: Adults
Description
Tuesday, March 2, 2021 at 6 pm. Presented by The Institute for Financial Education. Registration is required....
Mar
3

NPL Knitting & Crocheting Club

10:00am - 12:00pm
Age Group: Adults
Registration Required

NPL Knitting & Crocheting Club

10:00am - 12:00pm
Mar 3, 2021
Main Branch
Age Groups: Adults
Registration Required
Description
Wednesday, March 3, 2021 from 10 am - noon. Registration is required...
Mar
4

Yoga with Julia

12:00pm - 12:45pm
Age Group: Everyone

Yoga with Julia

12:00pm - 12:45pm
Mar 4, 2021
Main Branch
Age Groups: Everyone
Description
On Facebook Live...
Mar
4

Teen Writers' Workshop

4:00pm - 5:00pm
Age Group: Teens

Teen Writers' Workshop

4:00pm - 5:00pm
Mar 4, 2021
Main Branch
Age Groups: Teens
Description
Connect virtually with other teen writers! We will share ideas on a collaborative Google doc, or read selections from our current projects out loud on our Discord....
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General Book Collections

We offer a lot of different kinds of books. Most books in this section have an unlimited checkout limit.

You will find a wide variety of fiction, biographies and non-fiction in Adult Services, Teen Services and Children's Services. Adult Services also contains some fiction genre sections, including Inspirational, Mystery, Science Fiction & Fantasy and Westerns. Hardback and paperback books are generally available in all areas.

Read on for some information on more specialized collections of books.

Special Book Collections

Don't miss out on some of our more specialized book collections. Unless otherwise noted, these items have unlimited checkouts.

Graphic Novels

Find Graphic Novels on both floors at the library. 

Large Print

We are proud to offer a large selection of Large Print books, both fiction and non-fiction, on the first floor.

Literacy

A collection of books for adult new readers that are high interest, but lower reading level. This collection is also great for people learning English.

Local History

A wonderful collection of local history books, many of which can be checked out!

New Books

You can't miss our new book displays when you walk into the library! New fiction now checks out for two weeks, just like everything else!

Parenting

Visit Children's Services for a well-curated collection of parenting books and other books of interest to adults.

Reference

Adult Services and Children's Services each maintain a small collection of reference materials. Reference materials cannot be checked out, so you know they will always be at the library!

Spanish Books

Spanish language materials can be found in their own section in Adult Services. In the Children's Department, Spanish materials can be found in the non-fiction collection.

Study Guides

We offer a good-sized collection of study guides for various tests.

Media Collections

In addition to books, we offer a great variety of audio and visual formats that you can borrow. Unless otherwise noted, these items have a limit of 15 of each type.

Audiobooks

You have some options when it comes to how you want to listen to your books. We have audiobooks for teens and adults on CD and on Playaway. You can find audiobooks on CD and Playaway in Children's Services, too.

Book & CD Kits

Visit the second floor for kits that contain the audiobook on CD along with its book in print form.

CDs

We have a wide variety of genres on the main floor and a great selection of CDs for kids.

Computer Games

We offer some computer games. There is a checkout limit of two computer games.

DVDs

We have a massive DVD collection, including a wide variety of genres and entire seasons of TV shows. Up to 15 DVDs can be checkout out.

eBooks

You can download ebooks and read them right on your computer or transfer them to another device. The amount of ebooks you can borrow varies, depending on which service you are using. There are no renewals. Learn more about e-books and e-audiobooks.

Magazines

In addition to the online magazines we offer through RBdigital, we have a robust collection of magazines that can be checked out. 

Newspapers

We receive local and national newspapers that can be used inside the library. Newspapers cannot be checked out. 

Video Games

We have video games for a variety of game consoles that can be checked out. There is a limit of two video games.

 

More Collections

We also offer some things that you may not expect you can borrow from the library. 

Games

Check out a board game—we have great selections for all ages. Look for our game shelf near the Cafe.

Guitars

We offer one Yamaha and one Crestwood guitar that can be checked out. This includes a gig bag and a pick. Search for 'guitar for normal public library' to place one on hold. 

iPads - not currently available

There are three kinds of iPads that can be checked out—for adults, for teens and for kids. These are in-library use only items and check out for 90 minutes. 

Knitting Loom Kits

You can check out a kit containing several sizes of knitting looms for a two-week period. These can even be placed on hold! Search for 'round knitting loom kit' in our catalog to get started.

Mobile Hotspots

The library offers popular mobile hotspots. Hotspots will connect up to ten devices to WiFi. Search for 'mobile hotspot' in our catalog to place one on hold. 

Museum Passes

We are happy to partner with the Children's Discovery Museum to offer passes that can be used for free admission to the museum. The pass is valid for four general admissions, one of whom must be age 18 or over. Additional guests are charged $7 per person and children under two get in the museum for free. It's a one-time use pass, so when you use it, the Children's Discovery Museum will keep the pass and send it back to the library. These passes cannot be renewed. Search for 'Children's Discovery Museum pass' in the catalog to place on hold. Please note that these passes are only for general admission and cannot be used for special events. One pass and one library hold limited per household. 

Roku

Check out a Roku Streaming Player to stream popular apps and channels through your television.

Seeds

We are proud to offer, in partnership with University of Illinois Extension, our Seed Library. This project is committed to making wholesome food available to our community. There is an optional application for borrowing seeds, but you can just take what you like - no library card needed! Learn more about our Seed Library.

Sensory Bags

Thanks to Autism McLean, we have sensory bags that can be checked out. Each bag includes a set of 34d adjustable headphones, sunglasses, a tangle toy, fidget spinner, marble mesh toy and visual communication support cards. Search for 'sensory bag' in our catalog to place one on hold today.

Tech Toys

Children's Services offers a few tech toys that can be checked out. Tiggly Counts and Tiggly Shapes are manipulatives that can be used with certain apps on a tablet. Makey Makeys are invention kits that turn everyday objects into touchpads. 

Ukuleles

We have ukuleles that can be checked out!

Wattage Meters

You can even check out a device called a Kill A Watt that measures the energy used by devices by plugging them into the meter.

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309-452-1757
206 W. College Ave. 
Normal, IL 61761
ask@normalpl.org

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