Frequently Asked Questions

The Athens-Clarke County Library is accepting passport applications by appointment only. Please call the library at 706-613-3650 to set up an appointment. Information regarding passports with links to forms can be found on the U.S. Department of State's website.

This is what applicants need to bring with when applying for a passport:

• All applicants must be present. Minors under 16 require parents to be present as well.
• The DS-11 filled out and left unsigned, found on the U.S. Department of State Passport's website. We also have the forms at the library.
• Proof of US citizenship (birth certificate, naturalization certificate, or previous passport)
• Proof of Identity (state-issued ID; parents IDs are used for minors)
• Passport photo -- photos from the library's photobooth are $12.99 with a credit card only 
• Check or money order (no cash or credit cards) for passport payment; adult fee is $130 and child fee is $100 for passports that will arrive in 4-6 weeks (as of January 2025)
• Expedited passports will arrive in 2-3 weeks (as of January 2025); the fee is $190 for adults and $160 for minors
• Execution fee of $35 per application (cash or check)

As a service to the community, most libraries in our system offer fax services.Please contact your branch for details and pricing.

• Aaron Heard RC - send and receive
• ACCL - send faxes using credit card only; cannot receive faxes
• Lavonia-Carnegie Library - send and receive
• Lay Park RC - send and receive
• Madison County Library - send and receive
• Oconee County Library - send faxes using credit card only; cannot receive faxes
• Oglethorpe County Library - send and receive
• Royston Library - send and receive
• Winterville library - send and receive

You can pay your fines in person at any PINES library. To pay online, login to your PINES account with your card number and password. Click on the “Charges” option to pay fines with a credit card. 

Library cardholders can check out a Zoo Atlanta Library Pass and receive a voucher redeemable to free general admission for four (4) people. Both the Pass and voucher must be presented at the Zoo to receive free admissions. The voucher is for one-time use only, and due to the pass’s popularity, it may only be checked out once per year. Additional information can be found on the Zoo Atlanta Library Pass Program website. 

Login to GALILEO databases using your PINES library card number and password. 

No, the libraries do not offer notary services.

Library cards are free to all residents of Georgia. You can apply for a digital card on the PINES website.  To apply in person, bring a photo ID with your correct Georgia address to any of our libraries. Additional information on how to get a library card, including IDs accepted, is available on the Borrowing section of our website.  

Log in to your PINES account with your card number and password. Select “Items checked out.” Put a check in the box next to the items you want to renew, and then click “Renew Selected Items.” Items that are on hold for another patron, DVDs, Chromebooks and hotspots cannot be renewed.

Contact the library if you’ve lost your card so that no one else checks out items on your account. You can replace your card at no cost at any of our libraries.

The libraries off a ParkPass for free parking at all of Georgia’s state parks and historic sites. The libraries also have a variety of passes for museums and other attractions in the state. Please contact your library to see what’s available. To see the passes offered, go visit the Georgia Public Libraries Partnership Program webpage. 

The libraries offer a variety of computer classes. Visit our calendar to view times and to register.

All libraries offer on-site printing and mobile printing. Please check with your library for prices. With mobile printing, you can send your print job to the library, then stop by to pay and pick it up. Please see our Mobile Printing page for details and instructions.

Items on hold are kept for 7 days. If you need an additional day or two, please contact your branch.

You can apply for a digital card at https://gapines.org/eg/opac/register. This will give you access to our downloadable books, audiobooks and magazines as well as databases.

The Friends of the Library groups are specific to either a library or a county. Each has its own membership fee. Please visit our Friends of the Library page and select your Friends group for information.

Libraries that have meeting spaces are Athens-Clarke, Bogart, Lavonia-Carnegie, Madison County, Oconee County, Oglethorpe County and Royston. Please contact your branch to reserve a room. Meeting room information is available on our website. Room reservations for Athens-Clarke County can be made online.

 

All room bookings must comply with ARLS policies.

PINES library cards expire every two years. This gives us the opportunity to make sure we have correct contact information. You may be able to renew from remotely at gapines.org. If not, call the headquarters library at 706-613-3650 or email us for assistance.

Try entering the last four digits of your phone number. If that doesn’t work, you can reset the password from the PINES website or call the library and we can reset it over the phone.

Yes, the library offers downloadable ebooks, audiobooks and magazines through Libby, hoopla and The Palace Project. Please view our E-books, Audiobooks and Streaming page for information on each service.

Free wifi is available at all of our libraries. The password is “yourlibrary”