Checkout Policy

Circulation

Established patrons can check out a maximum of twenty (20) items at a time, in any combination of categories listed below, with a maximum number of the following items per category being checked out at any one time:

-Books, depending on subject matter, availability or collection size, can be checked out up to the maximum number of 20 items per patron at a time.

-CD’s, Magazines, Audio Books and/or Videocassettes, DVD's and /or Books on CD, can be checked out up to a maximum of five (5) of each of these types of items per patron at a time, up to a maximum of 20 items per patron at a time.

-Books, Magazines, Music CD’s, Audio Books or Books on CD may be checked out for fourteen (14) day periods.

-Videocassettes and DVD’s may be checked out for seven (14) day periods.

In the event a patron forgets their Library Card, we will allow them to check out items with a picture I.D. which has their name, address and Social Secuirty number that matches the personal information in our patron database, or, if the staff person checking out the patron can personally verify who they are. Library cards that are lost can be replaced for $1.00.

Intra-library loans, (defined as requests by patrons for materials shipped between branches of the Briggs Lawrence County Public Library system), shall be limited to no more than 5 requests per patron, per day, up to a maximum of 15 requests per patron per month.  (For example, a patron at one branch could only request a maximum of 5 items from another branch per day.  Staff at the originating Branch is responsible to explain to patrons that only 5 requests per day per patron, or 15 requests per patron per month, will be submitted to another branch).

Inter-library loans, defined as requests by patrons of Briggs Lawrence County Library for materials from other Library systems, shall be limited to no more than 12 requests per patron per month.

Renewals

Patrons and Staff may only renew an item twice, by phone or in person, unless the item has been placed on hold.  Items on hold should not be renewed.  (Staff should explain to the patron that wants to renew an item that there are other patrons that have been waiting to check out that item, and that we must try to be fair to everyone. We will put the patron's name that wants to renew the item on the hold list so they can check it out again.)

Fines

Fines will be $.05 per day, for Books, Magazines, CD’s, Audio books and Books on CD, with a maximum fine of $5.00 per item. 

Fines for Videocassettes, and DVD’s will be $.05 per day, with a maximum fine of $5.00 per item. 

Chronic failure to pay fines, the losing Library materials without replacement, or continual abuse of borrowing privileges may suspend borrowing privileges, pursuant to the discretion of the Director, Assistant Directors or Branch Managers.   When Staff becomes aware of such situations, they should advise their supervisor, or management staff, who will determine a course of action based upon their discretion.

Rev. 1/02/2007