Circulation
Books may be checked out for 28 days. New books may be checked out for 14 days. Audio Books may be checked out for 28 days. Music CDs circulate for 14 days. DVDs may be borrowed for 2 business days.
Library Cards
Library Cards are issued daily between 9:00 am and 8:45 pm. On Friday and Saturday, library cards are issued between 9:00 am and 4:45 pm.
In order to receive an adult library card Bayonne residents must have the following:
- Bayonne license or Non-Driver ID
- One (1) Current proof of Bayonne residency; lease, phone bill, gas & electric bill, bank statement, or credit card bill.
If you currently live in Bayonne, but your ID says you live in another town or state, you may submit the following:
- Current state driver license or Non-Driver ID
- Two (2) proofs of Bayonne residency: lease, phone bill, gas & electric bill, bank statement, or credit card bill.
To receive a children’s or young adult library card, the parent or guardian must submit:
- Bayonne license or Non-Driver ID
- One (1) Current proof of Bayonne residency; lease, phone bill, gas & electric bill, bank statement, or credit card bill.
AND
- A passport, birth certificate, school ID, or report card for the child
- Children's cards will be issued to children up to grade 8. A child is eligible for their own library card from birth.
- Young Adult cards will be issued for high school aged patrons.
Library cards expire three years from date of issuance. To renew your card, please come to the Registration Desk with your card and a current ID or email [email protected]. Your card will be extended for another three years.
Your first Bayonne library card is free. Lost or damaged cards may be replaced for a fee of $5.00.
Bayonne resident card or golf ID card
Residential ID cards can be obtained at the City Hall.
Computer Usage
Mission
As a vital contributor to the quality of life of Bayonne’s citizens, the Bayonne Public Library’s mission is to connect people with books and information by providing a broad and diverse collection of books and other library materials, innovative programs, competent staff, timely service, appropriate technologies and an inviting facility. Public access to computers and the Internet is essential to the Library’s mission. Computer and Internet access is available to all patrons of the Bayonne Public Library.
Computer Usage
Adult patrons may access the Internet and Microsoft Office applications (Word, Excel, Powerpoint and Publisher) on computers in the Reference Room and the Arts & Music Room. Children under the age of 12 and adults accompanying children under the age of 12 may access the internet and Microsoft Office applications on computers in the Children’s Room. When the Children’s Room is closed, or if all the computers in the Children’s Room are in use, children may use the computers in the Art & Music Room.
It is the policy of the Bayonne Public Library that all patrons must use their own library cards in order to use the computers or to check out items. Using another person’s library card or library card number, with or without their permission, is strictly prohibited. If any patron is found using another person’s library card, the privileges on that card will be revoked. Any further action taken will be at the discretion of the administration.
Residents are expected to bring their library cards with them when they visit the library. If you are not a resident of the City of Bayonne, but wish to use a computer in the Library, please present a valid photo ID (driver’s license, non-driver ID, passport, military ID, etc.) to the librarian on duty. You will be logged into a computer as a guest.
The time limit for using the computers is 120 minutes per person, per day. If you do not use all of your 120 minutes in one session, you will be able to come back later in the day to use your remaining time. If you would like to extend your computer session beyond your allotted 120 minutes, please speak to the librarian on duty 10 minutes before your session ends. If there are computers available for other users you may be permitted extra time, in blocks of time no longer than 30 minutes. Extra time is granted solely at the discretion of the librarian on duty.
All computer sessions accessed through the Children's Room will be filtered for potentially objectionable content.
Printing
Printing is available. Effective January 1, 2026, due to tariff-related cost increases for printing ink, the cost of printing is:
- Black and white - 25 cents per page
- Color - 50 cents per page
Since the pricing is based on the cost of the ink being used, the cost of print jobs is the same regardless of whether the jobs are printed single or double sided. (i.e. 1 double-sided page costs the same as two individually printed sheets) You are responsible for the cost of all pages printed from your computer during your session.
Print jobs may be sent from a library computer direct to the printer, emailed to the [email protected] email for printing by our Reference Desk staff, or printed from a personal flash drive. Printing directly from a personal device (i.e. laptop, iPad, phone, etc.) is not currently available.
All library computers automatically shut down at 8:45 pm on Monday through Thursday and at 4:45 pm on Friday and Saturday.
Responsibility of Library Staff and Users
Library staff will not monitor an individual’s computer use, except for length of use in order to ensure equal opportunity of access for everyone. The user, or the guardian of the minor, is responsible for his or her computer session at all times.
The Free Public Library of Bayonne reserves the right to terminate any computer session that disturbs library services.
Disclaimer: The Internet offers unlimited global access to information, however, before using the Internet, Library patrons should be aware that not all sources on the Internet provide information that is
accurate, complete, current, legal, or philosophically acceptable to all citizens and some Internet sites contain material that some may find to be controversial or offensive. Library patrons use the Internet at their own risk. The Bayonne Public Library has no control over the content found there. While the Library endeavors to provide access to information of the highest quality, the Library has no control over the information available on the Internet and is not responsible for the information’s accuracy, timeliness, authoritativeness, or usefulness for a particular purpose. The Library is not responsible for the availability and accuracy of information found on the Internet.
The Library considers it important to assist its patrons in understanding that the information accessed through the Internet may contain material that is incorrect, inauthentic, unreliable, illegal, obscene, or sexually explicit. The Library will have no liability for direct, indirect, or consequential damages related to the use of information accessed through the Library’s Internet service. By using a Library computer, Library patrons agree to hold the Bayonne Public Library (including its Board of Trustees, employees and agents), harmless and to indemnify it against any and all claims or liabilities, directly or indirectly, relating to the patron’s or another person’s use of the Library’s computers and Internet access.
Wifi Access
The Bayonne Public Library provides unfiltered free wireless access for all community members. Users can access Internet with laptops or other wireless devices at all the times in most public areas of the library.
To access wireless Internet, connect to the Bayonne Public Library's wireless network named "BPL Public". The "BPL Public" wireless network does not require a password to connect.
Please be advised that:
- The Library cannot guarantee that you will be able to make a wireless connection. Library staff is not able to offer technical assistance with your configuration.
- Printing is not available from the "BPL Public" wireless network. If you need to print, you can either use a wired computer or send printing jobs to [email protected] for printing.
- There are charging stations beneath each seat in the Reference Room. Please bring your laptop charge if you would like to charge while you are at the library.
Interlibrary Loan (ILL)
Please plan ahead when requesting materials. The time taken for an ILL loan to arrive depends on the difficulty of request, the availability of the material, and the size of the backlog in interlibrary loan. Please allow a minimum of two weeks to search, process, and receive each request.
Definition
An interlibrary loan is a transaction in which library materials, or a copy of a material is made available by one library to another upon request.
Purpose
The purpose is to obtain material that is not available in the Bayonne Public Library catalog and to lend materials found in Bayonne Public Library that are not available in other libraries.
Borrowing
- Requests are limited to print materials, audio books, language tapes and CD’s, and music CD’s.
- Photocopied articles from periodicals, which the Library does not own, may be obtained. Photocopies will generally not be requested from libraries that charge fees. If a patron indicates that they are willing to pay, effort will be made to obtain the article. The patron is responsible for the cost.
- The Bayonne Library does not lend or borrow videos/DVDs.
- Most Libraries will not lend the following materials: new items published within the last twelve months; rare or valuable materials, including manuscripts; microfiche; microfilm; reference items and materials from other specialized collections, museum passes, or items from a "Library of Things".
Loan Period
The lending library determines the loan period. Lending libraries determine any conditions regarding the use of their materials. Limitations such as “No Renewal" and “In Library Use Only" will be honored by the Bayonne Public Library. There are no loan periods for articles.
Renewals
ILL items may be renewed ONCE for an additional period assuming there are no restrictions on renewal imposed by the lending library. The patron must speak to the person in the ILL department four days before the item is due back, in order to renew an item.
Pickup and Return of Materials
All materials borrowed through ILL must be picked up and returned at the main Bayonne Public Library Circulation Desk only. DO NOT RETURN ILL ITEMS IN THE BOOK DROP.
Privilege Abused
Interlibrary loan may be suspended for those who abuse the privilege.
Who May Use the Service
This service is available to adult card members in good standing who are residents of Bayonne. If you do not meet this condition, please contact your home library.
- All interlibrary loans must be requested through the person at the Circulation Desk or via a phone call to the Circulation Desk.
- Accurate personal information must be provided when making an ILL request. This information must include your name, address, telephone number, and most importantly, your library card number.
- A patron may borrow three items at a time through ILL. Requests are limited to print materials, audio books, language tapes & CD’s, and music CD’s.
- Patrons will be notified when the requested materials arrive at the library by telephone and/or email. ILL items will be held for 5 days following notification.
Borrower’s Responsibilities
- The borrower is responsible for picking up and returning materials on time to the Bayonne Public Library Circulation Desk.
- The borrower is responsible for lost or damaged materials. The patron will pay the bill from the lending library.
- Patrons using the ILL service agree to abide by this policy.
***Please do not use the ILL form to request books that are listed in our catalog. If a book is listed in our catalog, but is not currently on the shelf, please speak to the Circulation Desk about placing a hold on this item.
Items that have not yet been published (i.e. pre-orders) are not available through Interlibrary Loan. Please speak to a librarian to request these titles.**
Last updated December 23, 2025.