FAQs • Burlington Library, MA • CivicEngage

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About Us - Fine Free Library

1. What does this mean for me?: If you need a few extra days to finish a book or if you can’t make it back by the due date to return it, don’t worry-those daily fines have gone away. Do you have an item you’ve been hesitant to bring back because it’s long overdue? Bring it in! All Burlington Public Library items returned in good condition will not have overdue fines, regardless of the due date. As always, we are happy to accept your donations to the Burlington Food Pantry if you’re feeling guilty for returning an item late.

2. Why get rid of fines?: Fines keep people away from the library. When we started looking at reasons why people didn’t use the library, owing money was consistently mentioned. By removing this barrier, we will help build a stronger community, improve literacy and educational attainment, and bring more people into the library. We want you to be able to enjoy events, access services, and expand your personal curiosity about people, places, and things.

3. Will I ever be charged anything?: Lost, damaged, and never returned items are still subject to replacement fees. Certain items such as Museum Passes will continue to have fines associated with them. Items borrowed at other consortium libraries but returned here will still be fined according to the borrowing library’s fine structure. Those with lost bills, damaged item fees, or fines from other libraries of more than $20 will be blocked from checking out more items until the items are returned, or the charges are paid.

4. Will I still get overdue notices from the library?: Yes, you will receive a courtesy notice three days before the item is due and a notice that it is overdue at 7 and 14 days past its due date. Items not returned within 49 days of the due date will be marked as lost and you will receive a billing notice for the replacement fee.

1. Is there a fee or waiting list to use the digital converter?: There is no charge and no waiting list to use the digital convertor, it is on a first-come basis. Feel free to call ahead at 781-270-1690 to see if the device is in use.

2. What kinds of video tapes can I convert?: We are currently set up to work only with standard VHS tapes and smaller VHS-C tapes (if the patron has the appropriate adapter tape).

3. What type of file is the video converted into?: The videos are converted into an MP4 file. We now have Wondershare Uniconverter, a separate software that can further convert the file into a number of different formats.

4. How long does converting take?: The conversion is a 1 to 1 process. If the tape is 1 hour long it will take 1 hour to be converted.

5. What do I need to bring in?: In addition to your VHS tapes, you will need to have your own USB stick or external hard drive to save your files onto. Please be aware of storage space as well, a 2-hour tape is about 2GBs.

The converted video files are playable on:

The files can be easily uploaded to YouTube as well.

7. Can I edit my videos?: The video files can be edited in a separate application such as iMovie (Mac), Windows Live Movie Maker or Video Editor (Windows), or equivalent editing software.

8. Can I burn my converted videos onto a DVD?: Yes, you have the option to burn your converted videos onto a blank DVD disc. It can be done at any time or not at all, it is up to you.

9. What type of DVD disc do I need to burn onto?: A blank DVD+R is recommended however a DVD-R disc can work as well. Please check your DVD or Blu-ray player for disc compatibility. DVD+Rs are available to purchase at the Reference Desk for $1 a disc.

10. How long does burning a DVD take?: The length of time will vary depending on the video size. The MP4 file has to be converted to a DVD file type known as VOB before it is burned. Between this conversion and the burning, a 2-hour video will take approximately 30 minutes to be properly burned to disc.

11. Do I still need a USB flash drive or external hard drive if I want to burn a DVD?: Even if you want to burn a DVD, it is highly recommended that you save your converted videos to a USB flash drive or external hard drive. In the unlikely event of an improper burn or unreadable disc, saving you videos beforehand allows for easy burning and any corrections needed in the future. We’d hate to see anyone have to repeat a 2-hour conversion process for the same VHS tape when it can be avoided.