Wauconda Area Library

CIRCULATION POLICY

Approved by the Board of Library Trustees

 

BORROWING PRIVILEGES – REGISTRATION REQUIREMENTS

The Wauconda Area Library is a tax-supported public library.  If you are a resident within the Wauconda School District 118 boundaries, you belong to the Wauconda Area Public Library District (henceforth referred to in this policy as "the library district" or "WAPLD").  Library district residents pay no fee to receive their first library card.  To receive a library card, proper identification must be presented at the time of registration.  Acceptable forms of identification include:

¨       Driver’s license

¨       State Identification Card

¨       Student Identification Card

¨       Passport

¨       Voter Registration Card

¨       Lease or Housing Agreement

¨       Utility Bill (Telephone, Gas, Electric, Water or Cable)

¨       Bank Statement or New Checks

At the time of registration for library privileges, the applicant will be asked to complete a registration form by providing the following information:  name, address, telephone number, birth date (ages 5-18), and signature.  Children ages 5 – 13 must have a parent or legal guardian with them at the time of registration, and sign the application form.  Children 14 and older will sign their own application with proper identification (or parent’s identification if they are present).

If you reside beyond the jurisdictional boundaries of the library district, but own property within the boundaries of the library district, upon presentation of a tax bill or current utility bill bearing your name and address, you may obtain a Wauconda Area Library card, without additional fees.

As a resident cardholder, the borrower identified on the library card may physically take his/her card to another library to borrow materials.  Those materials are the responsibility of the individual who borrows them, and are subject to all of the fines, rules, and regulations of the lending library.  Often, libraries limit the borrowing privileges of reciprocal borrowers, and it is best to establish local rules and procedures before making your selections.

REGISTRATION OF RECIPROCAL BORROWERS

A reciprocal borrower is defined as one who resides in a public library district outside of the WAPLD. 

¨       A reciprocal borrower shall present their home library card at the library's Information Desk to become registered in our library.

¨        Proper identification is required at the time of registration. 

¨       A reciprocal borrower has all the privileges of a Wauconda cardholder, except use of the private computer labs.

Individuals presenting a valid card from another public library may borrow materials from the Wauconda Area Library.  The card must have the name of the individual presenting it, with proper identification in order to secure borrowing privileges.  The card will remain valid for a period of 2 years.  Proper identification at the 2 year expiration period will be required to renew the reciprocal card.

NON-RESIDENT REGISTRATION

Families residing beyond the library district boundaries of the WAPLD, and not within the boundaries of another public library, and owning no property within the boundaries of the WAPLD, may purchase a non-resident fee card.  The non-resident fee is calculated by the Library Director annually using a formula provided by the Illinois State Library.  This fee entitles the entire family to use libraries within the North Suburban Library System, effective January 15, 2002 .  (See the Non-Resident Policy for more detailed rules).  The same rules and restrictions that apply to reciprocal borrowers will be applicable for non-resident cardholders.  Non-resident applicants must meet the same identification requirements as a resident of the WAPLD.  The card will be valid for one year.

LIBRARY CARD RENEWALS

The library looks upon the renewal of a library card as an opportunity to verify that the card holder is still entitled to a Wauconda Area Library card and that the library’s registration records contain current and accurate information on the borrower.  All renewals of a library card will be required to meet the same identification requirements as a new applicant, as described in the registration section.  Card renewals will be for a two-year period.

PATRON’S CHANGE OF ADDRESS

All registered patrons of the Wauconda Area Library, whether WAPLD residents or reciprocal borrowers, are required to inform the library staff of any change of address.  If at any time mail sent to a patron by the library is returned, or if the library learns by other means that the address on file is no longer accurate, the patron’s library card will automatically be blocked.

BORROWING PRIVILEGES – ELIGIBILITY TO BORROW

Individuals presenting valid borrower’s cards issued by the Wauconda Area Library are eligible to borrow materials from the library when the following conditions are met:

1.       No outstanding fines in aggregate excess of $5.00 have accrued to their card.

2.       No blocks from other libraries (i.e., for excessive fines)

The library staff may not waive these regulations without the specific permission of the Library Director or Circulation Manager, however the patron may request and receive a 24-hour courtesy hold on the item(s) he or she wishes to check out.  This will allow the patron to correct the situation that has resulted in loss of eligibility to borrow.

SERVICE TO PATRONS WITH DISABILITIES

The Wauconda Area Library offers the same services to patrons with disabilities as to all other segments of the population.  In addition to those services, the library acts as a facilitator between the patron and services to the Blind and Physically Handicapped, offers home delivery to patrons with disabilities which prevent them from coming to the library, and welcomes service animals in the library.

CIRCULATION RECORDS – PATRON CONFIDENTIALITY

Circulation records and other records identifying the names of library users with specific materials hereby are recognized as confidential in nature, and access thereto is hereby restricted to library staff, and those members of the public with a legitimate interest therein, as hereafter provided for.

All library staff and employees are hereby advised that such records shall not be made available to casual members of the public, the press, or to any agency of State, Federal, or Local government, except pursuant to such process, order or subpoena as may be authorized under the authority of and pursuant to Federal or State law relating to civil, criminal, or administrative discover procedures or legislative investigative power.

Confidentiality regarding any library-patron transaction is to be respected at all times.

Library staff shall observe the following procedures:

On receipt of any legal process, order or subpoena, the Library Director will immediately consult with the President of the Board and the library attorney to insure that:

(a)    the document is in proper legal form; and

(b) there has been a proper showing of good cause for its issuance, in a court or administrative body of competent jurisdiction. Until the legality of such process, order, or subpoena has been affirmatively shown to the satisfaction of the library attorney, the library will resist its issuance or enforcement until any such defects have been cured.

Library records are for the sole purpose of protecting public property and are not to be used directly or indirectly to identify the types of materials used by individual library patrons.  The library will, however, identify for a parent or guardian those overdue materials checked out by a child for whom the parent or guardian is responsible.

CIRCULATION – FINES AND FEES

The Wauconda Area Library has established, in addition to the schedule for lost or damaged items, the following schedule of fines for overdue materials as well as fees for other services provided by the library

Overdue materials

Books                                     10˘ per day, not to exceed the cost of the item

7-day books                            25˘ per day, not to exceed the cost of the item

Audiobooks                            10˘ per day, not to exceed the cost of the item

Magazines                               10˘ per day, up to $3.00 maximum

Videocassettes & DVD's       $2.00 per day, not to exceed $10.00

CD-ROM                                25˘ per day, not to exceed the cost of the item

Music CD's & cassettes        10˘ per day, not to exceed the cost of the item (liner notes must be returned with the item, or the total replacement cost will be charged)

Puppets                                   10˘ per day, not to exceed the cost of the item

Discovery Packs                     10˘ per day (not to exceed the cost of the item)

Reference materials               $1.00 per hour (Overnight checkout only)

Interlibrary loan item             25˘ per day (except ILL videos are $2.00 per day)

Overhead Projector                $2.00 per day (maximum $10.00)

Polaroid Camera                     $2.00 per day (maximum $10.00)

Video Rewind Fee                  50˘ per video not returned rewound

CIRCULATION – LOST AND DAMAGED MATERIALS

There will be no charge for normal wear and tear on any item.  The following fees will apply to library materials damaged by a patron so that further circulation is impossible:

1.       Materials borrowed through interlibrary loan, which are lost or damaged, are charged to the patron according to the bill provided by the lending agency.

2.       Full replacement cost of irreparable library materials, plus a $3.00 processing fee

3.       Cases for compact discs / videos/DVD’s - $1.00

4.       Cases for books on tape - $5.00

5.       Cases for CD-ROMs - $5.00

6.       Children's cassette/book bags - replacement cost - $5.00

7.       To replace a barcode damaged by a patron - $1.00

8.       Item needs cleaning when returned (food, etc) $1.00

9.       Travel books returned missing the maps (lost by the patron) - $5.00

10.   Children's 3-D books returned missing 3-D glasses - cost of the book

11.   Compact discs returned missing the liner notes will be the total replacement cost.

12.   Puppet bags – replacement cost - $7.00

13.   Magazines - $3.00 per magazine

14.   Media Bags (cassettes and CD's) - $1.00 per bag

15.   Teacher's Media bags - $30.00

16.   Overhead Projector / Polaroid Camera - Replacement cost

17.   Discovery Packs - $75.00 per pack

DELINQUENT BORROWERS

A library user’s record becomes delinquent and they will not be able to check out any library material, when they have outstanding fines of more than $5.00 or when any item is 4 weeks or more overdue.         

When a patron has $50.00 or more of overdue materials, they will:

¨       Be contacted by telephone by the Circulation staff

¨       If no response is received within 1 week, a certified letter will be sent to the patron

¨       After 30 days of the date of the certified letter, local police may be notified

¨       Six weeks past the due date, a patron’s account may automatically be turned over to the collection agency

When a patron has $125.00 or more of overdue materials, they will:

¨       Be contacted by the steps above, in addition to:

¨       Be reported to the collection agency

¨       Be reported to the North Suburban Library System as a delinquent patron (after all other collection methods have failed)

Non-payment of fees for overdue or lost materials fines may be referred to a collection agency contracted by the library .

SUSPENSION OF LIBRARY PRIVILEGES

According to the Illinois State Statutes, the Library Director is permitted “To exclude from use of the library any person who willfully violates the rules prescribed by the library board.”

Library privileges may be suspended for the following reasons:

¨       Damaging library property

¨       Stealing library materials

¨       Physically harming staff or patrons

¨       Persistent, willful violations of the library’s posted General Rules of Conduct (in accordance with the Patron Behavior Policy)

Library borrowing privileges can be suspended for:

¨       Not returning library materials

¨       Not discharging fines or other debts owed to the library

Suspensions will be for a definite time period to be determined by the Library Director.  Patrons who attempt to enter the library while their privileges are suspended will be reported to the police for criminal trespass.

 

INACTIVE BORROWERS

Library user registration information will be removed from the library database after 2 years of inactivity, providing there is no delinquency attached to the record.

CIRCULATION – LOAN PERIODS AND RESTRICTIONS

The Wauconda Area Library circulates materials in a variety of formats.  The following terms of loan are applicable as indicated:

Type                             Length of Loan #          Renewals allowed         Reserves          Limits

Books (Most Wanted/Regular)   7 / 21                            3                      N / Y               0

Books on cassette/CD               21                                 3                      Y                     0

Magazines                                21                                 1                      Y                     0

CD-ROM                                  7                                 0                      Y                     0

Reference                                 Overnight – At the discretion of the Reference Librarian

NEW Videos and DVD’s          2                                  0                      N                     5 of each
                    
                                                                                        
                     2 DVD's for non-residents                                                           

All Videos/DVD’s ex. NEW      7                                  1                      Y                     0

Cassettes (Children’s)               21                                 3                      Y                     0

Most Wanted Compact Discs     7                                  0                      N                     2

All CD’s except Most Wanted   21                                 3                      Y                     0

DVD’s (not NEW)                    7                                  1                      Y                     0

Puppets                                    21                                 0                      Y                     0

Discovery Packets                    21                                 0                      Y                     2 per house

Overhead Projector                   7                                  0                      Y                    

Polaroid Camera                       7                                  0                     

SELF-CHECKOUT MACHINE

FlashScan Self-Checkout System -  The library provides a self-checkout workstation for use by library patrons with clear records (no fines or overdues).  Patrons must have a Personal Identification Number (PIN) in order to use the self-check out machine.  A PIN may be obtained at the Information Desk or the Circulation Desk. 

TEACHERS MEDIA BAGS / EXTENDED LOAN PERIOD

Teachers must request book bags (Media bags) through the Children's Department.  All materials, including the media bag will be checked out by the Circulation Department for a period of 30 days.  The media bags and all materials checked out with the bag can be renewed one time, provided there are no holds on the items they are renewing and at the discretion of the Children’s Services Department.

HOLDS

(Wauconda Area Library materials)

Patrons may reserve materials that are not immediately available for patron use but are in the collection of the Wauconda Area Library. When the reserved materials are available to the patron who has placed the holds, the library will notify the patron by telephone. The specific title of the material will not be stated to anyone other than the library patron who placed the hold. If the patron is not available to answer the phone, a message will be left. The date of the message will be noted and the material will be held for the patron for a period of 3 days. If additional patrons are waiting for the material, the next patron on the list will be called and notified of the availability of the item (and the same procedure will be followed). If no additional patrons are waiting for the material, the material will be placed back into general circulation. Relay of the message to the appropriate person in the household and prompt pickup of the material are the responsibilities of the patron.  Holds are allowed on 21-day items and most other library materials, but are not allowed on any “Most Wanted” item or new materials ordered by the library.  Any video or DVD except a NEW video or DVD can be reserved with a courtesy hold for 24 hours.  If a patron requests a hold on an overdue item, the patron who checked out the item may be called and asked to return the item.  If the item is not returned promptly, the item can be reordered or interlibrary loaned.

CIRCULATION – INTERLIBRARY LOAN

When patrons request an item that is not available within the library, we ask other agencies to provide it. This is the process of interlibrary loan. Materials borrowed through interlibrary loan have a circulation period that is determined by the lending library, not the Wauconda Area Library. The patron has 10 days from the date of the telephone call to pick up their item(s), and failure to do so in that 10-day period will result in a $1.00 fee per item.  A $2.00 per item fee will be assessed to a reciprocal patron requesting an interlibrary loan from our library.

COURTESY HOLDS

When a patron calls the library to request library materials that are on the shelf, any library staff member may place a courtesy hold on the item(s).  The patron will be given 3 days to pick the items up.  After the 3-day period, the items will be returned to the shelves.