Riverside Regional Library

Circulation Policy

LIBRARY CARDS: 

A.        LEGAL SERVICE AREA:  The "legal service area" of Riverside Regional Library is defined by state law and includes the residents of Cape Girardeau, Scott, and Perry Counties, with the exception of those people who resided within the 1965 city limit boundaries of the towns of Cape Girardeau, Jackson, Chaffee, and Sikeston.

B.         IN-HOUSE USE: In-house use of the collections and materials at any Riverside branch is open to the public, but in order to check out materials out of the library or use any of the library's public access computers, a valid Riverside Regional library card is required.   (revised & approved by RRL Board, July 23, 2009)

C.         FREE LIBRARY CARDS:   A free Riverside Regional Library card will be issued to any resident or property owner of Cape Girardeau, Perry, or Scott County or any Missouri county adjacent to these three counties (Ste. Genevieve, St. Francois, Madison, Bollinger, Stoddard, New Madrid, and Mississippi Counties) upon presentation of proper identification—which includes a photo ID and/or presentation of documentation showing residence or property ownership within the above mentioned counties.   User fees for these residents imposed before July 25, 2008, are non-refundable.  (approved 24 July 2008 by the Riverside Regional Library Board)

D.        ANNUAL USER FEES: Residents outside Cape Girardeau, Perry, Scott County and adjacent Missouri counties are subject to an annual user fee.  They may receive services for a one-year period, provided he or she apply in person, show proof of identity, and present payment of $24.00 per household, renewable annually.  This payment is non-refundable.  (approved 24 July 2008 by the Riverside Regional Library Board)

E.        AGES OF CARD HOLDERS: Children ages 5 through 15 must have written  permission from their parent or legal guardian in order to get a library card.  Children 16 and older with proper ID and proof of residence may get a library without parental permission.  (revised & approved by RRL Board, November 24, 2009) 

F.        RESPONSIBILITY FOR PAYMENTS: All library card holders are responsible for payment of overdue fines on library materials that are returned after the due dates and replacement costs for lost, damaged, or unreturned library materials.  (approved 24 July 2008 by the Riverside Regional Library Board)  Parents and/or legal guardians of children under the age of 16 specifically assume the responsibility for library materials checked out by children in their care.  As such they are responsible for the payment of any overdue fines incurred by the child.  Parents and/or legal guardians are also responsible for replacement charges for accidental or intentional misuse, erasure, mutilation, or loss of library materials by the child.

G.        LOST CARDS:  A non-refundable $5.00 replacement fee will be charged for any lost library card.  Card replacement fees cannot be charged to the patron's account; fee must be paid by cash or check at the time the replacement card is issued.  (revised & approved by RRL Board, July 23, 2009)

H.         NEW CARDS:  The library card may be used immediately upon issuance.  Limit of four (4) items the first time a patron checks out.

I.         BORROWING FROM OTHER BRANCHES:   Patrons may check out and/or return library materials at any Riverside Regional Library branch in Jackson, Perryville, Scott City, Altenburg, Benton, or Oran.  All materials within the Riverside Regional Library collection are available upon request for loan to patrons at other Riverside branches, subject to availability.  A weekly courier service delivers library materials between the branches, for use by patrons who have requested those materials. 

J.         SCHOOL LIBRARIES:   Riverside does not attempt to provide services which may in any way be considered a substitute for good school library service.  Its objective is to provide supplementary library service to children and young adults through schools as the best means of reaching children during the school year.

K.        VIDEO CARDS:  Only two (2) cards per household can be designated as video checkout cards.  A maximum of 3 videos can be checked out on 1 video card at any one time.  (revised & approved by RRL Board, July 22, 2010)

L.         BAD CHECKS: A $15 charge will be incurred on each insufficient funds check from a patron. (revised & approved by RRL Board, July 22, 2010)

M.        MISCELLANEOUS CHARGES: Charges for photocopies, faxes, blank CD's, book sales, ILL charges, and notary fees cannot be charged to the patron's library card account.  These must be purchased by cash or check at the time of sale.  (revised & approved by RRL Board, July 23, 2009)

N.        CANNOT USE OTHERS' CARDS: A patron must present their own valid Riverside Regional Library card in order to remove any library materials from any Riverside Library.  A patron must present their own valid Riverside Regional Library card before signing in to use the public computers.  Patrons cannot use other patrons' library cards (this includes cards belonging to other family members) to check out materials or to use the public computers.  (revised & approved by RRL Board, July 22, 2010)

LOAN PERIODS & RENEWALS:

O.        CIRCULATION RULES: The Library will establish the length of loan periods, rates of extended use fees, number of renewal periods, and item and fine limits, and may adjust these rules from time to time in order to maximize usage of the collection by all library patrons and provide for maintenance and replacement of the collection.   Current limits are shown in the table below and apply to all branches.

P.        INTER-LIBRARY LOANS: Through interlibrary loan and other mechanisms, Riverside will endeavor to obtain materials requested by patrons.  Lengths of loan periods for ILL materials are controlled by the lending library, and patrons may or may not be exempted from payments for extended usage of those materials. A $1.00 fee to help defray the cost of postage will be charged the patron for each item requested through inter-library loan; fee is due at the time the item is checked out by the patron.    (revised & approved by RRL Board, July 23, 2009)

Q.         RENEWALS: If an item can be renewed, it may be done so by phone or in person or online.  (revised & approved by RRL Board, July 22, 2010)

R.         TEACHERS: Educators (public or private schools K-12) may check out up to 40 books on their own library card for students.  All other circulation rules apply.  Teachers may put videos on hold up to a week in advance.  (revised & approved by RRL Board, July 22, 2010)

S.         PRESCHOOL TEACHERS OF CERTIFIED COMMERICAL DAYCARES: May check out up to 25 books on their own library card for their students.  All other circulation rules apply.  Preschool teachers may put videos on hold up to a week in advance.   (revised & approved by RRL Board, July 22, 2010)

T.         HOLDS ON VIDEOS: Videos cannot be put on hold from home.  Patrons must call the library; only employees can place a video on hold and only from library circulation computers.  (revised & approved by RRL Board, July 22, 2010)

U.         HOLDS:  Videos will be kept on hold for no more than 3 days; books and other items will be kept on hold for no more than 7 days.  If patrons do not pick up their items within these time frames, the items will be taken off hold and put back on the library shelves.  (revised & approved by RRL Board, July 22, 2010)

V.         ACCESSING PATRON'S ACCOUNT FROM HOME: Patrons with a current Riverside Regional Library card and a PIN number can access their account from their home computer to change their address, phone number, PIN number, email address, see items currently checked out and on hold, cancel pending holds, see overdue fines and fees, renew items, see loan history, and more.  PIN numbers can be obtained at the circulation desk  (revised & approved by RRL Board, July 22, 2010)

OVERDUE FINES & REPLACEMENT CHARGES:

W.       OVERDUE FINES: No fee is charged for materials returned within normal loan periods. Overdue fines will be charged for all overdue items. Patrons will be notified by the library of materials not returned in the normal loan period.

X.        BLOCKED ACCOUNTS: Borrower cards are blocked when outstanding fines or other charges of $6.00 or more exist, irregardless of the type of item overdue.  Patron borrowing privileges will be revoked until some or all of the fine is paid. 
          (revised & approved by RRL Board, July 23, 2009)

Y.        BOOK DROPS: Items which are overdue and returned in book drops will still be charged overdue fines.  Videos returned in book drops will be subject to a penalty of $1.00 per video (Whether returned on time or overdue).  Videos are not to be put in outside book drops.  Video drop boxes are available at some of the branches and may be used to return videos safely.          (revised & approved by RRL Board, July 23, 2009)

Z.         REPLACEMENT COSTS: Replacement costs will be charged for all library materials that have suffered accidental or intentional misuse, erasure, mutilation or loss by the patron.  Overdue fines will be charged in addition to the replacement cost. Lost or damaged items must be paid for; donated items (either new or used) will NOT be accepted as replacements.

REPLACEMENT COSTS FOR LOST OR DAMAGED ITEMS

                                     (revised & approved by RRL Board, July 22, 1010)