Frequently Asked Questions

The online library catalog is available here. If you have a Library card you may use it to renew items, put items on hold, order items not owned by NPL from other libraries through Interlibrary Loan, check fines and the due dates for items you currently have checked out, or update your address. It is not currently possible to pay fines online. If you need assistance with your search, please feel free to call any of our Norfolk Public Library locations.

If you cannot find a book you need in our online catalog, you may request that a copy be sent from another library system through Interlibrary Loan (ILL). Please first confirm that the book is not in our collection. Also, please note that audiovisual material such as DVDs, audiobooks, and books that were published less than 6 months previous to your request are not available for Interlibrary Loan.

ILL items have different loan periods, fines, and renewals. Please read the ILL Policy for more details and to request an ILL.

For information about authors, new books, reviews, book discussion guides, or to receive monthly updates of new books, visit our Reading Recommendations page. Book reviews are also often available in the catalog record of individual books by viewing the "A Look Inside ..." tab.

Yes. To search for a specific large print book:

1. In the online catalog, click the “Large Print Book Search” text under the search bars.
2. On the Large Print search screen, type in the title of the book.
3. Click the blue search button.

If you would like to see all new Large Print books, click on “New Items at NPL” on the right-hand side of the screen. Then, click on the “Large Print” text in the left-hand column.

Yes, you can find full-text articles from current and archived publications in our online databases, though you must have an NPL card to access most of them.

We also offer online access to the New York Times and our digital magazine service, Magzter. Once you have created an account using your library card number, you may download unlimited digital copies of popular magazines for free to your computer and mobile devices. For instructions and more information visit our eMagazines & Newspapers page.

Yes. Our eBooks can be searched for in our online catalog, or accessed directly through our multiple providers. Visit our eBooks page for instructions, links, a schedule of eBook classes, and a list of other sources for free downloadable books in PDF, EPUB, and Kindle formats (suitable for iPads, Nooks, Kindle devices as well as other e-readers and smartphones).

Our eAudiobooks can also be searched for in our online catalog, or accessed directly through our eAudiobook providers. Visit the eAudiobooks page for instructions and more checkout information.

For general telephone reference, call the Mary D. Pretlow Anchor Branch Library Reference staff at 757-441-1750, option 2. We are not currently able to offer general reference via email.

Yes. Email the Sargeant Memorial Collection staff at localhistory@norfolk.gov.

Yes, we have a small collection of books in Spanish, primarily for children, scattered throughout the branches. We have also  begun collecting new Spanish-language books for adults, primarily at the Mary D. Pretlow Branch. Additionally, in the International Language Collection in Storage we have a small, older collection of books in Spanish, German, French, Italian, with a few in Portuguese, Russian, and a few other languages. Books in Storage may be requested through the online catalog or by contacting any Norfolk Public Library Branch.

Yes, we have a growing collection of local history photos and maps in digital format in our Sargeant Memorial Collection.

If you'd like to submit a formal request for a title, please fill out a Patron Request Form and drop it off at any Norfolk Public Library branch. When you submit a Patron Request form you may request that we notify you of whether or not we will purchase it, and place a hold on it for you if we do purchase it. For various reasons we are unable to take formal suggestions for purchase via the Internet at this time.