Show All Answers

1. How many items can I have checked out at one time?

You may have up to 100 items checked out at any time.

2. How many items can I have on hold?

You may have up to 15 unfilled holds on your account. Any holds that are waiting for you on the shelf do not count towards your limit of 15. Also, your holds will stay on the shelf for seven (7) days, so make sure you get them before they're gone!

3. How do I return my materials?

• For drop-offs after pick-up hours, please use the west book drop on the south side of the library or the walk-up book drop under the overhang on the north side of the building.
• Items will be quarantined for 4 days prior to check in. No overdue fines will accrue while items are in quarantine.
• Please note, due to the high volume of returned items, materials may show on your account for up to a week. If your returned items are still on your account past one week, please contact the library prior to paying any lost fees.

4. Where can I find FREE parking?

Library visitors can park in city-operated garages, where the first two hours are free and then $0.75 per hour afterward. The garage closest to the library is the 11 Mile Parking Deck just west of the library. You can enter it via E. Eleven Mile Road.

View the Downtown Royal Oak Parking Guide: www.romi.gov/1316/Parking

5. What are the Express Reads books?

These are duplicate copies of popular titles located in the new book area. You cannot place a hold for any Express Reads books and they circulate for one week only. There is a $1.00 per day overdue fine.

6. Where else can I use my Royal Oak Library card?

You may use your card at any of the 50 libraries in the TLN network: https://tln.lib.mi.us/md. There are also some "standalone" libraries where you can use your card: Baldwin, Bloomfield Township, Canton, Clarkston, Dearborn, Farmington Hills, Grosse Pointe, Howell Carnegie, Northfield Township, Orion Township, Pinckney, Plymouth, Rochester Hills, Royal Oak Township, St. Clair County Library, Saline, Southfield, West Bloomfield Township, Westland, and Ypsilanti. We have a reciprocal borrowing agreement with Troy Public Library as well. But wait, there's more! If you ask for a MI Library Card sticker for your card, you have access to even more libraries in Michigan: http://milibrarycard.org/partcipating.html. Please call or visit any of these libraries if you are interested in utilizing these great resources.

7. Do you have eBooks?

The library has several resources for eBooks. With OverDrive, you can borrow and enjoy free eBooks, audiobooks, and more. MeL.org offers an eBook Collection with over 20,000 eBooks available on a variety of topics. Royal Oak Public Library cardholders will be able to use Hoopla. Hoopla is an online streaming service offering feature films, documentaries, music albums and audiobooks.

8. Do you have foreign language and ESL books?

From Albanian to Vietnamese we have a foreign language book section for adults as well as for children plus an ESL collection in both print and non-print formats.

9. What programs can I attend?

We offer programs for people of all ages. This Program Calendar link takes you to our calendar which lists all upcoming library events. Most programs are free, but may require registration. You can also download a copy of our current Fall 2021 Leaflet | TWIGS (PDF) to review our activities and programs.

10. What activities do you have for my child?

Activities are listed in the current copy of our Fall 2021 Leaflet | TWIGS (PDF). All programs are open to the public and free of charge. Most programs require advance registration.

11. Does the library have information on pre-schools?

The 2021 Royal Oak Area Preschool and Child Care Directory provides information on over 50 area facilities which includes area preschools, child care programs, K-8, educational approaches, special needs programs and specialty programs.

2021 Royal Oak Area Preschool and Child Care Directory (PDF) 

12. Do you have quiet study rooms?

There are two quiet study rooms with individual carrels located on the main floor in the southwest and northwest corners of the building.

13. What is the Michigan Activity Pass and how can I get one?

The Michigan Activity Pass program is designed to enhance the learning experience for people of all ages by providing reduced cost or complimentary access to arts and cultural organizations across the state of Michigan. Get Passes.

14. Do you have a list of resources for people in crisis?

Where to go for a Helping Hand (PDF)

Oakland County Community Resources (PDF)

15. Do you have back issues of local newspapers?

The Library is pleased to announce the completion of a digitization project that offers thousands of pages of newspapers available to search, view, print and clip with a click of a mouse. Past issues of The Royal Oak Daily Tribune are now available through the Royal Oak Public Library Digital Archive. The digital archive spans over 138 years from 1877 to 2015 and can be accessed HERE.

16. Do you have local history and genealogy resources?

We have a Local History room with city documents, yearbooks and city directories. In addition we have old phone books and Bresser’s directories as well as the Ancestry Library Edition database (In library Only). Please call (248) 246-3727 for more information.