UPDATE – 3/1/2024

As of today, access to the SHARE Anywhere app has been restored. If you still have the app on your device, it should begin working again. Staff at Sirsi Dynix are working to have the app relisted in the various app stores.

ORIGINAL – 12/1/2023

Please see the statement below from our library automation vendor, Sirsi Dynix, regarding the unavailability of our library’s SHARE Anywhere app.

A statement from SirsiDynix regarding your library’s mobile app:

SirsiDynix is the owner of your library’s mobile application. However, another vendor controls the access of the app. Unfortunately, they have unexpectedly disabled the app, rendering it inoperable.

As an immediate solution, we are working with your library to enable mobile searching of the catalog via the library’s website. This allows many of the core search features of the mobile app to be available on your mobile devices. You can use the URL below to access this capability:

https://ent.sharelibraries.info

We have also been aggressively developing an entirely new, next-generation mobile app for your library. While it is not yet available for general use, we anticipate it will be ready in the next few months. This app will deliver the functionality you enjoyed in the original app, along with many new features.

We regret any inconvenience this has caused you. Please know that your library had absolutely no way of anticipating this situation, and we hope you’ll be understanding as we work through this difficult, interim period.

Bill Davison
Chief Executive Officer
SirsiDynix

Burlington Public Library Expands Fine-Free Program to All Burlington-Owned Items

Effective April 1, 2021, the Burlington Public Library will no longer assess fines for overdue items. In doing this, Burlington joins more than half of the libraries in Wisconsin who have eliminated fines for all users.

Will people still return the books if there are no fines?

Yes! Surveys and statistics from libraries around the state and the country show that people return library books not because they’ll be fined, but because they feel an obligation to do right by other users. However, fines do dissuade people from coming back.  They lack the funds to pay, feel stigmatized, or make the decision to rent or purchase digital items at low-cost rather than pay an eventual fine. We believe that libraries contribute to a strong community, and that barriers to access hinder that.

I didn’t mind paying my fines. I felt good about contributing to the library.

That is a common sentiment. The good news is, the library will still be happy to take your donation. The better news is that people on fixed or limited incomes can now also feel good about the library.

Doesn’t the Library need the fine revenue to operate?

Libraries aren’t financed primarily by fine revenue. In 2019, fine revenue was less than 1% of our total operating budget. And we don’t feel good where we have to make decisions about waiving or enforcing fines based on budgetary considerations, rather than the individual situation of the patron.

I accrued some fines a few years ago. Do I still have to pay those?

Probably not. We cleared old overdue fines on Burlington-owned items for our patrons. We want people to come and use their library more than we want them to pay for that VHS tape that slid under their car seat in 2012 and didn’t re-emerge until mid-2013.  (True story.)

If you’re not sure if you still have fines on your account, or if you do still have overdue fines and want to see if there’s a way that they can be cleared, please call the library.

Are there any caveats?

Why, yes there are!

• Materials belonging to other libraries may still have overdue fines assessed.
• All items that are damaged will still be charged for repair or replacement.
• All items that are long overdue will be assumed lost, and a bill will be sent for replacement. If the patron returns the billed item, the bill will be removed.
• Because of the ongoing costs associated with our wireless hotspots, they will still accrue overdue fines on a daily basis.

Burlington Public Library’s book bike is like a small library branch on wheels that gives us a new way to connect with our amazing community. It allows us to bring library materials and librarian expertise out to YOU at local events, markets, parks, schools, and organizations. You can check out materials, sign-up for a library card, get answers to reference questions, learn how to download digital content, hear about upcoming programs, and so much more.

Thank you to the Burlington Rotary Club for making this exciting service possible for BPL! Stay tuned for where you’ll be able to find the book bike next.

The Museum Adventure Pass program provides free admission to unique cultural destinations throughout the Greater Chicago area to library card holders at over 140 public libraries, including the Burlington Public Library.

Here’s how it works:

1. Check out a Museum Adventure Pass using your library card at your home library. Passes are issued at the Reference Desk. Libraries have a limited number of passes for each participating organization. Passes are available on a first-come, first-serve basis, and can be reserved online or in person. We look forward to your library visit!
2. One Museum Adventure pass may be checked out per family, per loan period. The loan period is seven days. Admission offers vary per museum. For some, two to four people may admitted free per pass. If admission is already free, another special discount will be available. Details can be found at http://www.museumadventure.org.
3. Passes are limited to general admission. Each organization’s page at http://www.museumadventure.org gives specific dates when passes cannot be used, and other restrictions that may apply.
4. Please bring a driver’s license or state ID with you when visiting a museum using an adventure pass, as well as the pass itself.

Participating museums and cultural institutions include:

• Air Classic Inc. Museum of Aviation
• Aurora Regional Fire Museum
• Bronzeville Children’s Museum
• Brookfield Zoo (Chicago Zoological Society)
• Cantigny Park
• Cernan Earth and Space Center at Triton College
• Chicago Botanic Garden
• Elgin History Museum
• Elgin Public Museum
• Illinois Railway Museum
• Kidswork Children’s Museum
• Lizzadro Museum of Lapidary Art
• Mitchell Museum of the American Indian
• Naper Settlement
• Oriental Institute Museum
• Pleasant Home Foundation
• St. Charles Heritage Museum
• The Children’s Museum in Oak Lawn

For further information, please visit the Museum Adventure Pass program’s web site.

With your Burlington Public Library card, you now have access to Brainfuse HelpNow, with live tutoring, writing lab, language learning lab, practice tests, and more.

Login to Brainfuse HelpNow

If you don’t have a current Burlington Public Library card, you can sign up for a digital card via the SHARE Catalog

During National Library Week (2^nd week in April), library patrons had the opportunity to fill out postcards that started with “I love my library because”…  We received 60 responses, which were displayed for a month and are transcribed below.  They are by no means an unbiased sampling (“I love my Library because” is kind of a leading question), but these responses do demonstrate the breadth of activities that the library provides to engage and enrich the lives of the Burlington community.

“I love my library because”…

• “I love to come to this friendly, helpful, well organized library and get free books to enjoy.”
• “There are a lot of games and Legos.”
• “I can watch and read things without buying them.”
• “I like books.”
• “All the books.”
• “Love (being) at the library because it’s nice and quiet.”
• “All the extras like movies, book club & seminars.”
• “All the free resources, friendly people, kid friendly, classes to learn, I love learning.”
• “I am a traveling sales rep and having books on CD helps pass the many miles very entertained.”
• “We love the library because it keeps our kids involved in reading.”
• “All the people who work there!  Love holding a book in my hands.  Don’t like online reading.  My library always has my favorite authors.”
• “Calligraphy classes, kids programming, friendly staff.” (Several smiley face emojis)
• “I love the smell of a real book.  All the people who work at the library are great!!”
• “I love a quiet place to do homework for my degree!”
• “This is not enough space for my reasons why I love my library!”
• “Every day is like Christmas when picking up my holds.”
• “It has all the book series that I read.”
• “The books give wide selections of topics.”
• “It has so many things to do and books we can bring home.”
• “There are books I love.”
• “My kids love coming to find new books to read!”
• “The librarians are the best.”
• “We love to learn reading new books.”
• “They help find books I want to read.”
• “They have lots of fun books.”  (Hearts and Smiley faces)
• “Wonderful selection and wonderful staff.”
• “I have access to books & movies!”
• “It has all the books I love!”
• “You provide a facility for many varied opportunities for so many people.”
• “…BARB!!”
• “You provide your wonderful facility for us to do our lessons in the quiet space of the conference room, and have wonderful materials for me to use and check out.”
• “I love to read and the library gives me a chance to read many books for no cost.”
• “There is great people and lots to look at.”
• “I have started reading again and it can get quite costly.  It’s nice to be able to get good reads.  FREE!”
• “They have all my favorite books.”
• “Easy free entertainment.”
• “It is convenient.”
• “Of the wonderful people working at the Burlington location and the interstate system so you can get books from various Wisconsin locations.  Thanks again.”
• “It has books, movies, Legos, and crafts.”
• “You have such helpful staff.”
• “They have my favorite books by Rich Riordan.”
• “The people who work here really rock!  And the programs are good too.  We love the hotspot.”
• “Because of your hours and access to computers, movies, programs of a creative nature.  Thank you for being there.”
• “It is awesome!  Love it!”
• “I can get books without having to buy them.”
• “I couldn’t start my day without my book and a cup of coffee!!  No, really!!!”
• “I love to read.”
• “They have the best staff!”
• “Of all the great books and movies, etc., they have and because of all the kind, helpful people who work there!”
• “It’s a very friendly and welcoming place.”
• “I love the free movies on Monday.  I love the helpful people who research videos, books, etc. for us.  I love the craft classes and interesting speakers.”
• “Because I can get the latest books when they come and do not have to pay for books.  The help is always friendly.”
• L              Ladies
  I              Interesting
  B             Books
  R             Research
  A             Assistance
  R             Reference
  Y             YEAH!
• “I am able to check out amazing books for my 2 sons and I to enjoy!”
• “The employees are so awesome, helpful, and happy to help us.  Thanks for the great work!!”
• “It saves me a ton of money on books.”
• “Because Jackson and Nanni love the library and so do I.  Jackson is “2” now, we’ve been coming since Jackson was 3 months.  And we love the staff.”
• “I drive a lot and love borrowing audio books.”
• “They always have something new – not just books – for all ages.  If you can’t find something to interest you – it’s your own fault!!”
• “Of all the great resources, and the friendly staff that helps use those resources.”

Burlington Public Library is here to serve the community.  We provide interesting and enlightening materials for education and personal enrichment.  Whether you come here every day or haven’t stopped in years, we are here for you.   We answer questions big and small, and even when we’re closed, our digital content is always available.

Need help?  Call us at 262-342-1130 or email us at ask@burlington.lib.wi.us.  We’re happy to help!