Monday through Thursday 10am - 9pm

Saturday 10am - 5pm

We are closed on Friday and Sunday, as well as for major holidays.

• You must show us a valid photo ID, proof of your residency in Southgate (these can both be on one document, such as a driver’s license or state ID) and fill out a short form, in person. You can do this at the circulation desk. We also offer the opportunity to apply for a temporary card online, found here.
• We will check to make sure you aren’t already registered here or at another library in The Library Network, of which we are a member. If you are, you can continue to use your existing account here. If not, we will register you for a new card.
• For more information about library cards, see the policy page.

• You can check out materials if you hold a card from any other library in The Library Network. You can find out more about this collaborative group of libraries on their website, and about checking things out from us on our policy page.
• Similarly, valid card holders can check out items from any of the other TLN libraries, holds can be placed for items at those libraries to be sent here (or vice versa).

No, most items can be returned to other Library Network libraries, and their items can be returned here. There may be exceptions for some materials, such as large items from our Library of Things, mobile hotspots, laptops, or other items depending on the policies of the owning library. If you're not sure, just ask!

• Books check out for three weeks.
• CDs, Magazines, and Movies all check out for one week.
• Video games check out for three weeks.
• Board games check out for one week
• Items from our Library of Things, including hotspots and laptops, check out for three weeks.

• Southgate residents are limited to 100 total items checked out at any given time. These can be any mix of books, movies, cds, etc.
• The only limitations on how many of each type of item you may borrow is on laptops, limited to one per person, and hot spots, which are limited to one per household.

• Books and audiobooks may be renewed twice, unless they are new, in which case they may be renewed once.
• CDs, Blu-Ray, DVDs, board games, and video games may be renewed once, unless they are new; new CDs, Blu-Rays, and DVDs cannot be renewed.
• Items with holds on them cannot be renewed.

• We do not charge any borrowing or rental fees for any of our items.

• The Southgate Veterans Memorial does not charge overdue fines for its materials when they are returned late, with the exception of laptops. Materials borrowed from other libraries will follow the overdue item policies of those libraries. Please see ou Overdue page for more information.
• Patrons will be assessed the replacement cost of materials damaged or lost. Replacement costs will be those listed in the library catalog. Patrons may provide another copy of the damaged or lost materials, in good condition, in lieu of paying the replacement cost. This must be an exact copy; a paperback cannot replace a hardcover, for instance. Matching the ISBNs is the best way to make sure the two copies are the same. Please note that other libraries may not allow replacement copies for lost or damaged items.
• While the first library card is free, replacements incur a $2 charge

• Books returned via the book drop before we are open for the day will be checked in as though they were returned on the previous day that we were open. Thus if a book is returned at 8AM on Thursday, it will have a check in date of the Wednesday before. If a book is dropped off at 9AM on a Monday, it will be checked in as though it had been returned the previous Saturday, and so on. Holidays are always taken into account when checking items in and determining due dates.

•  All adults can use our public computer workstations; minors require parent or guardian permission.
• If you have a library card from any TLN library, you can use it and your PIN (if you don't know it, please ask us to look it up for you) to log in.
• Minors can use the kid computers; adults may use any public computer, but should use a computer in the adult computer lab if possible. Parents or guardians must explicitly give permission for their children to use the computers, either in person each visit, or by signing a computer contract for each child. More information can be found on our Policy page.
• The first computer session lasts for 1 hour. If there is no one waiting to use a computer, your session will automatically renew for 30 minutes. You may also ask for more time at the circulation desk, no more than 10 minutes before the session would end.
• Please note: Use of the public computers is largely unrestricted, but keep in mind that it is a privilege that may be revoked at any time given cause. You are in a public place with other people around and must act accordingly. As such:
  • Listening to audio content will require headphones. You may use your own, or borrow a loaner pair from us. Even with headphones on, please keep the volume to a reasonable level.
  • Accessing inappropriate content or engaging in illegal activity is considered grounds for revoking computer use privileges, at a minimum. For more specifics you can read our official computer use policy statement on our Policies page.
  • In general, be considerate of your fellow patrons. Failure to do so may result in being asked to leave for the day.

• If you do not have a card, we can give you a guest pass. These passes are only good on the day that they are issued. If you are printing, make sure to bring the guest pass to the front desk to get your change back before you leave for the day!

• Yes! To print, you must pay in advance at the circulation desk. Printing costs $0.10 per page for black and white, and $0.25 per page for color. Prints in the computer lab are released from the print release station in the back of the computer room, with instructions posted nearby. Prints using the kid's computers are sent to the print release station by the catalog computers, and come out in the staff workroom if black and white, or at the copy machine if in color. Library cards will hold any leftover print value indefinitely, but guest passes must be returned to the circulation desk to get your change back (or the money will be lost).
• Documents to print can also be sent to print@southgate.lib.mi.us, and handled by library staff, with no need to log on to one of our public computers. When you are ready, library staff at the front desk will print the documents for you, and take payment at the same time. Costs remain the same as all other printing.

• Yes! The cost to send a fax is based on the area code of the number it is being sent to.
• Local area codes: 248, 313, 586, 734, and 810 cost $1 for the first page, and $0.10 for each additional page.
• Long distance area codes: Within the U.S. cost $1 per page. Outside the U.S. are $5 per page, when possible (we will have to check the destination number).
• Toll free numbers (800, 844, 855, 866, 877, and 888) are free.
• It costs $0.10 per page to recieve a fax regardless of the point of origin.

Yes!

Donation Policy 

1. The library accepts books (hardcover and paperback), DVDs, Blu-Ray, video games, music CDs, and audiobooks on CD as donations. Other materials may be accepted at the discretion of staff.
2. The library accepts textbooks printed within the last 5 years, but they will not be added to the collection, or placed in the book sale. If they are not desired by Better World Books (an organization the library partners with), they will be discarded.
3. The library will accept games, puzzles, tools, cookware, toys, and other miscellaneous items on a case by case basis. The Director will make the final decision on such items, dependent on their opinion regarding if it would make a good addition to the collection. Please notify the Director of your donation ahead of time by calling the library.
4. Acceptance of donations, in whole or part, may be denied for a time. This will allow staff to finish handling previous donations, and to prevent acceptance of items that are not currently desired (for example, puzzle donations may be denied if we have enough already available).
5. The library does not accept Reader’s Digest condensed volumes, audio cassettes, VHS tapes, vinyl records, magazines, or encyclopedias.
6. Donations must be in good condition. Anything that is damaged, written on, musty, odorous, dirty, mildewed, or otherwise in poor condition is not accepted. Library staff will deny the donation of unacceptable items, and are empowered to determine when a donation should be refused.
7. Non-fiction titles should have been printed within the last 10 years, while fiction titles should have been printed within the last 15 years. An exception is made for popular works and authors, as well as titles of lasting value (cookbooks, biographies, classical literature, etc.)
8. Donations must be made inside, in person, during our hours of operation. They should not be left outside the library when it is closed, or placed in the drop box.
9. Donations should be made in boxes or bags that can be left at the library; staff are not expected to unload donations so the donor may have the containers back.
10. When donating more than 2 boxes or bags of items, please call ahead. If the library receives too many donations at once, we will be unable to take more until we have time to work through what we have already received.
11. Donated items may be added to the collection, placed in the book sale, sent to Better World Books, or discarded. The final disposition of donated items is at the discretion of library staff, we make no guarantees and agree to no provisions when accepting donations.
12. A receipt for donated items is available on request. We will record the number of hardcover, softcover, and other items. Please have an accurate count of these items ready ahead of time; staff will count small donations, but more than a single box or bag is the responsibility of the donor to tally. The library does not provide appraisal of donations, that is also up to the donor.

• We have meeting room space available for public meetings. Local, non profit groups may use them for free, while other groups may have to pay a fee. For more information, see our policy page.
• Study rooms can also be used by individuals or small groups. First consideration will be given to tutoring sessions. Rooms not reserved can be used on a first come, first served basis. Reservations are free, except for for-profit groups. You can find more details on our policy page.

The large room in the northern corner of the library is designated as a Teen Room.  This space is set aside specifically for, and to be used by, patrons who are ages 12 – 18 (inclusive).  The Teen Room will also be available, without reservation, for library sponsored Teen events and meetings. 

1. Within the Teen Room, cell phone calls are permitted, as long as they are kept quiet and not disturbing others.  This is an exception to the normal cell phone rules within the library, and is also outlined in the Patron Behavior Policy.
2. Furniture within the Teen Room, including but not limited to the whiteboard, chairs, bean bags, and other seating, are to remain within the Teen Room.
3. The following rules are in place to maintain the Teen Room as a space available primarily to the target demographic.
   • On days school is in session, the Teen Room is open to any patron until 3pm.  After that time, only patrons ages 12 – 18 are permitted to use the room; all other patrons must vacate the room if they are using it at that time.
   • On days when school is not in session, the Teen Room is open only to patrons ages   12 – 18.  This includes weekends, holidays, and breaks, including winter, spring, and summer.
   • An exception is made for child or adult patrons accompanied by a teen patron ages 12 – 18; they may use the Teen Room alongside the teen.
   • Failure to follow these rules may result in being asked to leave the library.
4. Complaints regarding the use of the Teen Room, including but not limited to issues with volume and behavior, must be brought to library staff.  No library patron should directly address patrons using the Teen Room with complaints.

•  Yes, we provide access to many ebooks through several platforms, such as Overdrive and Hoopla. See our eBooks & More page for more information.