Riverside Regional Library
Circulation PolicyApproved by the RRL Board 28 June 2011 CIRCULATION RULES: The Library will establish the length of loan periods, rates of overdue fines, number of renewal periods, and item and fine limits. The Library may adjust these rules from time to time in order to maximize usage of the collection by all library patrons. UNIFORM ENFORMCEMENT: These circulation policies apply to all Riverside Regional Libraries. Our patrons deserve to expect that the same standard rules will apply at all branches. Employees shall be subject to reprimand and/or dismissal if these policies and procedures are not enforced at every facility equally and the same, without bias or prejudice. 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.
GETTING A LIBRARY CARD
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--Bollinger, Madison, Mississippi, New Madrid, St.
Francois, Ste. Genevieve, and Stoddard Counties. Proper
identification--which includes a photo ID, and documentation showing the
physical address of their residence or property ownership within the
above mentioned counties--is required. Post office box addresses
will not suffice in obtaining a card. 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 provided they apply in person, show proof of identity, and make a non-refundable payment of $24.00 per household for 12 months or $12 per household for six months, renewable on the date of issuance. CHILDRENS' LIBRARY CARDS: In order for children ages 5 through 15 to get their own library card, a parent or legal guardian must accompany them to the library and give their written permission. Children ages 16 and 17 with proper ID and proof of residence may get a library card without an accompanying adult. 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. Parents or legal guardians of children under the age of 18 specifically assume the responsibility for library materials checked out by children in their care. As such they are responsible for the payment of overdue fines incurred by the child and for replacement charges for accidental or intentional misuse, erasure, mutilation , or loss of library materials by the child.
USING YOUR LIBRARY CARD IN-HOUSE USE OF LIBRARY MATERIALS: A library card is not necessary for in-house use of the collections at any Riverside branch. But a valid library card that has not been "blocked" is required to check materials out of the building and to use the public access computers. FIRST-TIME USE OF CARD: The library card may be used immediately upon issuance, with a limit of three (3) items at the first check-out. These must be returned before more items can be checked out. GETTING YOUR OWN CARD: A patron must present their own valid Riverside Regional Library card in order to (1) remove any library materials from the building and (2) before signing in to use a public computer. A patron cannot use another person's card-this includes cards belonging to other family members. Exception: A patron may check out or use the computer one time and one time only without a card; a notation will be made on their record. Other exceptions may be made under special circumstances approved by the Director on a case-by-case basis. KEEP YOUR CARD WITH YOU! Library cards will NOT be kept at the library. (The only exception is an organization's card.) Not allowing others to use a patron's card is for the patron's protection.
LOST CARDS: Patrons are to notify the library as
soon as possible if their library card is lost or stolen; the record
will be blocked and a notation will be added to the patron's account.
If the card is found, no person may use it without first showing
proper photo ID. PLACING A "HOLD": If an item is not immediately available, a patron may place a "hold" on that title. The library will notify the patron when the item becomes available. Books, magazines, and audios will be kept on the "hold shelf" for no longer than seven (7) days; videos will be kept for no longer than three (3) days. If the patron does not pick up the item within these time frames, the hold will be removed immediately and the item will move to the next person on the hold list or be put back on the public library shelves as quickly as possible so it will be available to other patrons. (See VIDEO holds on page_). NEW BOOKS: The newest items to the collection are labeled with "New" spine stickers. The library requests that you limit yourself to 3 "NEW" books so that more items will be available to more patrons. NEW VIDEOS: The newest videos are labeled with "2-day loan" stickers. They may be checked out for only 2 days, no renewals, and a limit of one per household. HOT BOOKS: Books that are in high demand will be labeled with "7-day loan" stickers. They may be checked out for 1 week, with a one-week renewal, and a limit of one per card. TEST PREPARATION BOOKS: Some test preparation books, such as GED, ASVAB, SAT, and others may require a refundable cash deposit before they can be checked out. RENEWALS: If an item can be renewed, it may be done so by phone, in person, or online. No renewals beyond the number stated in the chart below will be allowed. The item must be checked back in, reshelved in the public areas, and be available to other patrons for a minimum of a day before the patron can re-check the item or place a hold on it. This is to allow all patrons free and fair access to the item, and prevents one patron from keeping the item for an inordinate amount of time. VIDEOS:
PUBLIC COMPUTER USE: Patrons have access to free Internet public computers at each of the Riverside libraries. Before their first use, patrons must read and sign the Riverside Internet policy (this must be done only once). The signed form is kept on file at the library. Thereafter, the patron must present their library card to a staff member, then write their name and time on the sign-in sheet at the circulation desk, and choose which computer they want to use. Time limit is 2 hours per day. If, after 1 hour and other patrons are waiting, the patron may be asked to relinquish his/her chair. His/her second hour for the day may be taken later. Patrons with "blocked" library cards may not access the public computer until some or all of their charges are paid to below $5. BORROWING FROM OTHER BRANCHES: Card-holders may borrow and/or return materials at any Riverside library in Jackson, Perryville, Altenburg, Scott City, Benton or Oran. Materials within the library system are available upon request (see Holds). A weekly courier service delivers items between the branches for patrons who have requested those materials. "Reference" materials can be loaned from one branch to another for patron in-house use only. BORROWING THROUGH INTER-LIBRARY LOAN: If the desired item cannot be found in the Riverside collection, card-holders may borrow books (if available) from other libraries in the state through "inter-library loan." The lending library determines how long the item may be borrowed and how much the overdue fine will be (if any). Riverside charges the patron $1 per item to help defray the cost of postage; this fee is due at the time the item is checked out. If the ILL item is lost, damaged, or stolen, the patron is responsible for the replacement cost as determined by the lending library; such payment must be made immediately and cannot be charged to the patron's account. To request an ILL book, contact the library. RETURNING ITEMS: Borrowed items can be returned inside the library during open hours or put in drop boxes outside after hours. Book drops are available at all the branches; video drops are available at some. To avoid damage, videos should be placed in video drops-not book drop boxes. 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, place items on hold (with the exception of videos), cancel pending holds, see overdue fines and fees, or renew items. PIN numbers must initially be created in person at the library circulation desk, but thereafter can be changed online at any time by the patron. NOTE: if there are fines or charges on a patron card, the automation system will not allow items t be renewed from home. KEEPING YOUR ACCOUNT CURRENT: Patrons are asked to notify the library if they change their address, phone number, email address, name, or in the case of children, their responsible party. Patron information is not shared with outside groups, Friends groups, organizations, or businesses. EXPIRED LIBRARY CARDS: Cards expire 12 months from date of issuance. Upon renewal, patrons will be asked to update all personal information (including email address). INACTIVE LIBRARY CARDS: A library card with no activity in the last five (5) years will be deleted from the system by the Director only if no fines or other charges are attached to that card.
OVERDUE FINES, REPLACEMENT CHARGES & MORE OVERDUE FINES: No fee is charged for materials returned on or before the due date. Overdue fines will be charged for all items returned after the due date. Items which are overdue and returned in book/video drop boxes will still be charged overdue fines. Fines cannot be waived except under special circumstances approved by the Director on a case-by-case basis. NOTIFICATIONS: As a courtesy to our patrons, the library may notify them of late items by phone, email, or postcard/letter. Patrons will be notified of "arrived holds" by the same method.
REPLACEMENT COSTS: Replacement costs at the full
retail price will be charged for any library materials that have
suffered accidental or intentional misuse, erasure, mutilation or loss
by the patron. Lost or damaged items must be paid for by cash or
check. Donated items (either new or used) ill NOT be accepted as
replacements. MISCELLANEOUS CHARGES: Charges for photocopies, faxes, blank CDs, book sales, ILL charges, replacement library cards, NSF check fees, and any other miscellaneous cash transactions cannot be charged to the patron's library account. Any item for sale must be purchased by cash or check at the time of sale and entered into the computer under CIRC-not under the patron's name. Employee is to write a receipt for the patron. The only charges that should ever be added to a patron's account are (1) fines and (2) lost/damaged items. BAD CHECKS: A $15 charge will be incurred on each insufficient funds check from a patron.
LOAN PERIODS, RENEWALS, FINES:
EDUCATORS Riverside Regional Library does not attempt to provide services which may in any way be considered a substitute for good school library service. Currently-working teachers in public and private schools K-12 and daycare/preschool teachers in certified commercial daycares: All circulation rules apply with the following two exceptions. (1) They may borrow at any one time up to 30 books for their students on their own library cards (or daycare card), with the understanding that they are responsible for the proper care and prompt return of such books, and for payment of overdue fines and/or replacement costs. (2) The library suggests that if a teacher wants to put a video on hold, they do so up to a week in advance of the date needed in their classroom. After being notified by the library that the video has arrived, it will be held for no longer than 7 days on the library "hold shelf" waiting for pick up by the teacher. The library cannot guarantee the availability of requested videos for the required dates.
EMPLOYEES AND BOARD MEMBERS All circulation polices apply to all current library employees and all current library Board members. The only exception--these groups (excluding substitutes) do not incur overdue fines. "Professional" materials may be checked out only to current library employees and current Board members and may be checked out for up to six months at a time. Employees are never to place a hold on an item without the patron requesting such a hold. Employees are never to keep back new items. Employees shall be subject to reprimand and/or dismissal if these Circulation policies and procedures are not enforced at every facility equally and the same, without bias or prejudice toward patrons. Our job is to provide fair and equal availability of library materials to our patrons. All patrons have access to the lists of new books and are to determine for themselves if they want to check an item out or place a hold on it.
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||