Home Delivery Services provided by the Bridgeport Public Library (BPL) are offered free of charge to Bridgeport residents of all ages who are unable to visit the library due to a temporary or continuing situation or condition. An efficient delivery schedule must be followed in order to serve as many patrons as possible.

To qualify for home delivery an individual must:

• Live within Bridgeport city limits
• Have a valid library card issued by the Bridgeport Public Library
  
• Be unable to physically travel to the library on their own because of long-term illness, impairment, medical condition, or disability OR experience temporary difficulty getting to the library due to recovery from an injury or surgery, winter weather conditions, caring for a newborn, lack of transportation or other temporary circumstances
• Provide the library with up-to-date information for at least two reliable methods of contact

To apply for home delivery services an individual must:

• Complete a BPL Home Delivery Services application
  
• Meet with one of the library’s outreach staff either in-person, virtually or by phone
  
• If needed, provide the name of a reference the library can contact to verify delivery location information

Borrowing Materials:

• BPL will provide books (including large print), DVDs, music, audiobooks and magazines available in the library’s collection; because of time constraints unique to home delivery, interlibrary loan and loans from other consortium libraries may not be available
• No overdue notices will be issued for home delivery materials
• Replacement fees will be charged if library materials are lost or damaged in accordance with the library’s borrower policy
• Home delivery patrons will be limited to ten items per delivery
• Requests for specific materials must be received no later than 2 business days prior to scheduled delivery
• Library staff may assist with selection of materials if requested. If this service is requested, it will be necessary for home delivery patrons to turn on the “Loan History” setting for their account to allow staff to view materials that have previously been borrowed. This is not required if patrons plan to make their own title selections for each delivery.

Delivery of Materials:

• Staff will make all deliveries using the library’s outreach vehicle
  
• Home delivery patrons will be informed of delivery dates; times will be estimated within a two-hour window
  
• Patrons will be notified if delivery is delayed or cancelled
  
• Home delivery patrons must utilize the library-provided delivery and return totes
  
• Totes for return must be available at a location convenient for staff to quickly pick up
  
• Tote being delivered will be left at a location determined by the patron and library staff to allow for quick delivery
  
• Library staff are not permitted to enter a residence beyond the entry or doorway area or stay at the delivery location for an extended time
  
• Frequency of delivery will be determined based on the number of home delivery patrons and staff availability
  

Waiting List:

• If demand for delivery exceeds the library’s ability to provide requested delivery services at any time, a waiting list will be utilized
  
• Patrons will be added to the waiting list and receive services on a first-come, first-served basis; position on the list will not be based on any factors including evaluation of the patron’s situation or need
  
• Patrons will be notified of their position on the waiting list and will be contacted when an opening for delivery becomes available

Approved by the Bridgeport Public Library Board on April 17, 2025.