Library Services

Computer Services Interlibrary Loans Memorial Books Meeting Rooms On-Demand

Service by Mail Service by Fax Notary Service Passports

Computer Services

Internet Access & Library Catalog

Internet is provided in graduated access profiles described below.

Catalog Computers (Green label):
These computers will bring up any link or page from our website, including the research databases. There is no library card requirement or time limit on these computers.

General Access (Blue label):
A library card or guest card is required to log onto a general access computer. Any site whose purpose is part of the library’s mission is available, including the catalog and library website. Some sites may activate a warning screen or "soft block" that can be opened by the patron if needed. These may be used for two 60-minute sessions per day. The filters will not be deactivated. Guest cards for visitors are $1 and are valid for the current day.

15 Minute Access (Red label):
Patrons may use these computers for any activity that is not illegal except for games and chat. A library card or guest card is required and, depending on demand, access may be granted for a maximum of eight fifteen-minute reservations per day. Guest cards for visitors are $1 and are valid for the current day.

Children's Access(Orange label):
These are for use by children only. The filters are stricter and will not be deactivated.

What if a website is incorrectly blocked?

There is a form that you can submit to us for Review of Incorrectly Filtered Websites. Please request and submit this form through library staff members. A decision will be made within 30 days. You can be notified by email or letter of our decision or you can call 423-757-5310 for the results.

Printing From Computers

Material may be printed at 10¢ per page. Your library card will be charged, or, if you have a guest card, you must pay before you pick up your copies. There are stations throughout the library where printing fees may be paid, since they are held separately from your other library card fees.

Wireless Access

ALL library locations now offer wireless Internet access on all floors open to the public. Patrons who own portable computer devices with wireless capability can use their own software inside the library. Though we cannot provide individual instruction or advice on how to configure your computer to utilize wireless access, we do have a handout available both here and in the library for more information.

Word Processing & Other Programs

The Gates computers are provided by the Gates Learning Foundation. They are currently available on the second floor of the main library, in both the Children's Department and Business, Science & Technology, and at all our branch locations. They have General Access (see above) to the Internet and a variety of Microsoft software including:

• Microsoft Office including Word, Excel & PowerPoint
• Several online encyclopedias & dictionaries
• Children's educational programs
• Safari Web Browser (for Internet access, some of our databases don't work in Internet Explorer)
• Internet Explorer (for Internet access, some websites require this browser.)

Floppy disks, CDs (read only), DVDs and USB drives can be used in the Gates computers.

You may schedule a reservation, by phone or in person, of no more than one session of up to 60 minutes. If you are more than ten minutes late for a scheduled session you will lose your time period to waiting patrons. You may not use these computers more than two login sessions daily, including the session you reserve ahead of time and an additional one when the machines may be vacant.

The Word Processing computers are located in the Reference & Information Department at the Central (Downtown) Library only. The can use floppy disks and USB flash drive media and will read computer files on a CD; but have NO Internet access and do not edit or copy files to CD. The software installed on these computers includes Microdoft Word, Excel, Access, PowerPoint, and Publisher.

You may schedule a reservation, by phone or in person, of no more than one session of up to 60 minutes. If you are more than ten minutes late for a scheduled session you will lose your time period to waiting patrons. You may not use these computers more than two hours daily, including the session you reserve ahead of time and additional sessions when the machines may be vacant.

Headphones are not available for the computers, however; patrons may bring their own or purchase $1 earbuds for use on the Gates computers only.

Printing is 10¢ per page and you may pay for any copies you charge to your account at the designated reference desks. If you are using a guest card, you will need to pay before you pick up your copies.

Please do not install your own software from any source on any computers in the library.

When the timer runs out on a session, your work will be automatically erased from the computer and may be re-accessed in a new session only if it has been saved to storage media. If you want to save information on a floppy disk, you may purchase them from the library for $1.00 per disk. You may also bring in your own USB flash drives, or floppy disks for this purpose.

Precedence will be given to patrons who need to use the Gates computers for word processing. There are computers throughout the library you can use for Internet research or to search the library's databases.

Interlibrary Loans

If there are materials that we do not own we can borrow them from other libraries on your behalf at a cost of postage. If you would like to request an Interlibrary Loan you must be a patron in good standing. We do need you to have the exact citation . In other words, for a book, please give us the author and title. For a magazine we must have the title to the article, magazine title, volume and issue numbers, issue date, and page numbers.

You are responsible for costs involved in obtaining the material, including shipping and copying costs. Do not use this service if you cannot pay at least $6.00 for shipping.

Although the library makes every effort to begin the loan process within a 24-hour period, the interlibrary loan process may take several weeks before the item is in hand. This is not a service we recommend if you need your materials overnight. If you wish to request an Interlibrary Loan please fill out the request form provided below as completely as possible and send to:

Interlibrary Loan Request Form

Our Interlibrary loans are processed through the Business, Science, and Technology Department. Requests can also be phoned in or filled out at the library. Once your material arrives you will be notified by phone and a postcard will be mailed to you. If you have more questions about Interlibrary Loans you can call the library at 757-5310.

Memorial Books . . .

are a meaningful way to:

• Remember a person
• Commemorate an occasion
• Honor a group or an individual

Giving a gift to the Chattanooga-Hamilton County Bicentennial Library's book collection is one of the most satisfying ways to insure your gift will continue to be used.

Gifts under $25.00 will be placed in the general book fund. For gift of $25.00 or more the library will place a bookplate in the gift book. The donor may suggest a subject area in which the book may be purchased. The library will send an acknowledgment to the donor and to the person or family of the persons being honored. Money given for gifts or memorials is tax deductible.

To present a gift, make checks payable to the Chattanooga-Hamilton County Bicentennial Library, complete the form and mail both to:

Chattanooga-Hamilton County Bicentennial Library

Have Your Next Meeting at the Library!

If you're a member of a local civic, educational, or cultural organization, consider having your next meeting at the Chattanooga-Hamilton County Bicentennial Library. Recent policy changes have reduced meeting room charges, and refreshments may be permitted.

To find out more about meeting space available at the Downtown Library call 757-5029. If your organization wishes to meet at a library branch, contact the Branch Director. A qualifying organization needs to provide a copy of its IRS 501(c)(3) tax exemption certificate and fill out an Application for Library Meeting Room Use.

Fax Services

Personal fax services are available at all library locations. Transmissions may be made using the self-service equipment at the rate of $1.00 per each multiple of 5 pages (for example 7 pages would be $2.00) for local calls. Long distance transmission costs $2.00 for each multiple of 5 pages.

Service by Mail

The library will answer questions or make copies of materials to be sent by mail for a fee.

There is a handling charge to be applied to all requests by mail, including reference questions:

For copies:

For photographic reproductions:

Black and white copy prints in either F finish (high gloss used in publication) or N finish (non-reflective/matte finish):

Slides:  $4.00 each

Digital reproductions: images can be copied to cd's in several formats, the most popular being TIFFs. The cost is $15 for the first three images; additional images are $3 apiece. A form for ordering reproductions by mail can be found in our photo database section.

The library reserves the right to give priority to people in the library before answering questions by mail or questions involving mailing of materials. Mail questions will be answered and copies of materials will be processed in order of receipt. All charges must be paid before materials are mailed.

If you are a registered borrower with the library your request will be charged to your library card if you are in good standing. If for some reason you have a block on your card you must pay all fees before materials can be mailed. Fees for non-registered borrowers must be received before items can be mailed.

Once the library receives your letter, we will send you a form with the total amount due. Once we receive your payment we will send the materials requested.

This page was updated on 2/16/09.