Hours of Operation

• Monday – Thursday  9 am – 8 pm
• Friday 9 am – 5 pm
• Saturday 9 am – 4 pm

Library Closings

• Wednesday, November 11th – Veteran’s Day
• Thursday & Friday, November 26-27 – Thanksgiving
• Thursday, December 24th – Closing at 12 pm for Christmas Eve
• Friday, December 25th – Christmas Day
• Friday, January 1st – New Year’s Day

Click “Log In” on the menu bar and then “My Account”. Once you log in with your library card number and PIN number, you can browse the catalog, place requests, check due dates, renew items, and more.

When we first created your library card, we set your PIN number to the last 4 digits of the telephone number you gave us at that time, unless you specified otherwise. If those 4 digits do not work, please call so we can reset your PIN.

Pay your fines and non-resident card fees by the City of Columbia’s new online payment system using your debit, credit card, or by eCheck with your check information.  

There are online payment fees charged by the payments processor, which is not received by the library, but is automatically added onto your total.

Credit Card: $1.25 + 3.5% of subtotal

eCheck: $1.25

WHEN WILL FINES BE REMOVED OF MY ACCOUNT?

Fines paid online are removed off accounts every 3-4 days. If you would like to have your fines removed sooner, you can call the library to let us know that you paid fines online and would like them removed. 

To make your payment online, (click here).

Library staff are available to help you find the information you need, whether it be a phone number, assistance with a research paper, or just a suggestion for a good book. Stop by the circulation desk or give us a call at (618) 281-4237 ext. 0. You may also email us at reference@columbialibrary.org.

In addition, we subscribe to a few online databases to aid with research. They can be found, along with a variety of free resources, under “Reference and Research.” You may need your library card number for some of these resources, and for others you may need to access them from one of our free public computers within the library due to online proxy validation.

Thousands of titles are available in our digital collection. We subscribe to Cloud Library (eBooks and eAudiobooks), Overdrive/Libby (eBooks and eAudiobooks), and Hoopla (ebooks, eAudiobooks, Magazines, Music, TV Shows and Movies). Most of these items can be downloaded onto eReaders and other mobile devices, as well as computers.

To access these resources, hover over “Online Resources” on the top toolbar, then click “eBooks and eAudiobooks”. You will need your library card number and the assigned PIN number (The last 4 digits of the phone number you gave us when signing up for your library card, or another 4-digit number you gave us at registration).

Black and white copies and printouts are .25 each, if double-sided .30. Color copies and printouts are .50 each, if double-sided .75. Legal size copies and printouts are .30 for black and white or .60 for color. The double-sided legal size copies and printouts are .40 for black and white or .90 for color.

Outgoing faxes are free to local and toll-free numbers. All other faxes are $1.00 for the first page and .50 for each additional page. It is .25 per page to receive faxes on our machine and you may have documents faxed to 618-281-6977. Please call ahead to let us know to be expecting them.

The library has 6 Internet-enabled computers with Microsoft Office as well as 1 library catalog computer.

The library offers two different laminators. Library staff will manage the laminating process. We offer a small machine that laminates 8.5×11 paper or cardstock in 3 millimeter film, which costs $0.75 per sheet.

Our larger machine laminates poster-sized paper or cardstock up to 25 inches wide in 3-millimeter film. The cost is $1.00 per linear foot. The large laminator takes 20-30 minutes to fully heat up. You need to be present in order to have projects laminated. Library assumes no responsibility for materials that do not turn out as expected.

There are two notaries on staff that are able to notarize documents for free. Please call the library for available hours.

Anyone residing within the Columbia city limits and has a Columbia Library card in good standing may request the downstairs meeint rooom for non-profit events and meetings.  Request to reserve the room online or fill out a request form at the front desk. There is no reservation fee for the room, but all reservations must be approved by the library staff, and library events will take precedence. The person who initially signed for the meeting or event must be present at the date/time reserved. See Full Policy.

The library hosts a variety of programs for all ages, including storytimes, seasonal reading programs, author visits, book clubs, and informational sessions. All programs at the Columbia Public Library are free to attend, although some of them require registration.