FAQ
Getting a Library Card
Before applying for a card, you will need to:
- be 19 years or older,
- fill out an application,
- show a current photo ID, and
- provide valid proof of residency.
Residents within Gretna’s municipal boundaries are eligible for a Resident Card at no additional cost. Non-residents/residents of Gretna SIDs may need to pay $40 per household.
Please look through the Get a Library Card page for more information about account types, and/or the City of Gretna Annexations page for more information about membership fees. Unfortunately, living within the Gretna Public School District does not necessarily mean you reside within the municipal limits of Gretna.
You may apply in person at either building OR through the online application system. In-person applicants will receive their card on the same day. Approved online applicants will receive their card in the mail within 10 business days, and are welcome to check out materials with photo ID prior to receiving the card.
Acceptable Photo ID
- Current NE Driver’s License
- Other US State’s Driver’s License if accompanied by local address verification (see next column)
- Expired NE Driver’s License if accompanied by current local address verification (see the next column)
- Passport
- State ID
- Military ID
Acceptable Proof of Residency (Must be valid/current and dated within the past 30 days.)
- Utility bill (electric, gas, telephone, water)
- NE Learner’s Permit
- Vehicle registration card
- Vehicle insurance card
- Medical insurance card (if carries address information)
- Lease/Rental agreement (house or apartment)
- Property tax receipt
- Paycheck
- Bank account statement
- Credit card billing statement
Invalid Identification Examples
- Hand-addressed/personal mail
- Business cards
- Sales receipts
- Magazine subscriptions
- Junk bulk mail
- Social Security card
- Birth Certificate
The Gretna School District extends beyond the municipal boundary of the City of Gretna. The library receives funding from the taxpayers within the municipal boundary (around 9,000 circa 2023), but not from taxpayers within the Gretna special districting (more than double Gretna’s 9,000).
You can read more in-depth about public library funding on this page of our site.
A legal guardian may fill out and sign an application for a child who is at least 5 years old. Children’s accounts must be linked to an adult account residing at the same legal address.
We do not offer temporary cards, but you may get a non-resident ($40) or summer card ($15) if that makes financial sense to you.
A new card can be issued with a valid ID. There is a $2 replacement fee. This must be done in-person and with cash or a check.
Using Your Library Card
Accounts need to be renewed annually with photo ID and proof of residency. This ensures that the information on file is current.
Our system will notify you by email about a week before your account expires in order to give you plenty of time to renew. You must have a valid email address on file with us for this notification to be given. Accounts may be renewed either in-person or online.
Be sure to retain your physical card/card number.
We accept a valid photo ID matching the address we have on file as a substitute for your library card.
We also allow one no card/no ID checkout per year (from the date of the occurrence) without a card or ID.
No! You are always welcome to return items at either library building.
Please remember that items from the Library of Things must be returned inside a library during business hours.
On subsequent visits, you may borrow up to 35 items per card.
Please see the following chart for limits per card and checkout duration. Items are renewed automatically up to 2 times if there are no reserves placed on them (please contact us if you are unsure about renewal status).
| Material Type | Limit per Card | Checkout Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Books, audiobooks | 35* | 3 weeks |
| Ukuleles, story stows | 1 each | 3 weeks |
| Board games, puzzles, cake pans | 2 each | 3 weeks |
| Periodicals | 35* | 1 week |
| DVDs | 4 | 1 week |
| Kits (pickleball, telescope, disc golf, etc.) | 1 each | 1 week |
GPL no longer assesses overdue fines. However, damaged library items may have fines charged. For example, items that are missing labels receive the fine of $1 per label.
Lost items and items beyond repair are fined both the replacement’s cost plus a $5 processing fee. Please do not purchase a new item.
If a lost item is located after you paid your fine, then that item is yours to keep. Sometimes partial refunds are issued. These refunds are based on both the item’s condition, and whether or not a replacement is ordered. The partial refund is at the discretion of the Library Director.
A fine of $15 or more will result in suspended library privileges. Bringing the total fines down to under $15 results in your library privileges resuming.
You do not have to pay off your fines in a single payment.
Yes. Fines may be paid online through the Library Account Management system using a credit card, debit card, or electronic check.
If you are unsure of your fine total, please contact a librarian.
Currently there is no other way to pay off a fine.
Fines are charged for concrete issues, such as damages or the complete loss of an item. This means that the Gretna taxpayers’ money must be repaid.
To suggest an item for the collection, you may fill out a Patron Suggestion form. Librarians will research the item in accordance to the Collection Development Policy. If the item is approved, then that item is automatically placed on reserve for you.
We also offer Interlibrary Loans (ILLs) at $3.00 per item. Please see the Interlibrary Loans page for more information.
Yes! Once you receive confirmation that your reserved items are ready for pick up, you may park at the library at which they are ready during business hours and call the circulation desk.
Please have your library card with you for curbside pickups. A staff member will ask you to confirm your name, address or phone number, and the last four digits of your library card before delivering items to your vehicle.
Online Account Management & Online Resources
Yes! Go to gretna.biblionix.com/catalog and locate “Log in to your account” in the upper right-hand side of the screen. Your library card number is the username, and your on-file phone number is the password (include the area code, and do not use hyphens or spaces). If you are having issues logging in, please contact the library at 402.332.4480 or gretna.library@gmail.com for further assistance.
Accessing your account online allows you to change communication information, renew or reserve items, access your account history, and more.
To renew an item, log in to your account in the Card Catalog. Click “My Account,” then “Items Out / Renewals.” You can individually renew an item or renew all items that you have out.
To reserve an item, search for an item in the catalog while you are logged in. You will have the option to reserve an item directly from your search. You will receive a notification through your preferred method when the item is ready for pick-up.
Accounts become blocked for several reasons, such as exceeding renewal limits, accruing fines, or having an expired card.
Please contact the library at 402.332.4480 or gretna.library@gmail.com for further assistance.
It is likely that your library account has expired. Please contact the library at 402.332.4480 or gretna.library@gmail.com for further assistance.
General Library Use
During overlapping business hours, both phone systems are active. This means that the first available librarian answers your call.
Our system also forwards calls made to the closed building over to the open building so that you may speak with someone right away.
We stagger our hours because we do not have the staffing to cover both locations 8 hours/day, 5 days/week.
Both the Library Director and the Library Board took this decision very seriously. They analyzed six months of focused library use data, and also surveyed the Gretna community about when community members wanted the buildings opened.
If you’d like to see us have more open hours, there are a couple of things that you can do to help:
- Reach out to your City Councilperson and express your support in making all of our librarians full time employees
- Join or attend a meeting of the Gretna Public Library Foundation, which is working to fund and establish a new, single library building, or donate toward that project
Once one or both of these things happen, GPL will be able to fully serve the community. In the mean time, please spread the word about the library, all of its public services and resources, and the need for more staff hours and more space.
The Main Library lacks space for an interior book drop. Furthermore, items dropped-off at the circulation desk may lead to confusion and/or mistakes.
The indoor book drop at Children’s is available, and so you are welcome to utilize either the indoor or outdoor box. That said, most children enjoy “feeding” our book drop shark Jawn. His veterinarian recommends that he follow a high-fiber diet.
Children must be at least eight years old to be at the library without a parent or caregiver. Children younger than eight must be with a responsible caregiver sixteen years old or older.
The library will generally accept book donations of a maximum one or two boxes in good condition.
However, if there are space issues, there are times we refuse donations. It’s always wise to double-check with a librarian.
Yes, the meeting room is available for reservation!
Also, individuals looking for a quiet place to study may use the space if it is not in use by a group.