Library Cards and Registration
· All residents of Wyoming, unincorporated areas of Jones County, and communities contracting with the library may register for and receive a library card.
· Persons living within the service area of an Iowa library approved for reciprocal borrowing through the Open Access Program may also register for and receive a library card with the same borrowing privileges and responsibilities as local patrons.
· Adults eligible for a library card must provide photo identification with proof of residential address. If photo identification does not provide verification of current residential address, a second form of identification such as a checkbook, utility bill, machine printed piece of mail postmarked within 30 days, etc. will be required.
· For a minor child to receive a library card, a parent or guardian must be present, provide photo identification with proof of residential address, and sign the registration form. Responsibility for a child’s selection, return of materials, and any fees or charges accrued on the child’s card, is held by the parent or guardian of the child. (Iowa Code 613.16)
· All new patrons will be considered probationary for 4 months from the registration date. During the probationary period, patrons are limited to a total of 5 items checked out at a time, with a limit of 2 DVDs and 1 Video Game. Library cards for parents or guardians and all minor children are linked. During the probationary period, all linked cards are limited to a total of 10 items checked out, with a limit of 2 DVDs and 1 Video Game.
· Library cards expire after 1 year. Library cards can only be renewed in person. Photo identification and proof of current residential address are required to renew. A library card will not be renewed until all fines have been paid.
· Library cards that have been expired for 3 or more years will have their fines and fees waived and be deleted from the library system, providing they have returned all items and owe the library less than $5.00. Library cards that have been expired for 5 or more years will have their fines and fees waived and be deleted from the library system.
· In an effort to protect patron confidentiality, library staff will not disclose patron account information to anyone other than the card holder, unless the card holder is present at the time of inquiry and has given permission. The library will release information to the parent or guardian of a minor child for the purposes of recovering overdue materials and settling accounts for lost, late , or damage materials for which a parent or guardian may be considered liable. See the library’s Confidentiality Policy and Iowa Code 22.7 “Examination of Public Records-Open Records” (Appendix B). ALA Code of Ethics (Appendix C).
Circulation and Renewals
· Circulating books are loaned for a period of 3 weeks and may be renewed for another 3 weeks.
· Circulating DVDs and periodicals are loaned for a period of 1 week and may be renewed for 1 more week.
· Circulating Video Games are loaned for a period of 2 weeks and may be renewed for another 2 weeks.
· There are no renewals for items on hold or reserved for another patron.
· Items that are 2 or more weeks overdue may not be renewed unless the patron comes in with the item to pay the fine.
· Library materials may be renewed by patrons at the library, over the phone, by email, text or via the on-line catalog.
· Patrons may check out a total of 40 items. Within the 40 items, 5 of the items may be DVDs.
· Library cards for parents or guardians and all minor children are linked. Between all linked cards, a total of 40 items may be checked out. Within the 40 items, 5 of the items may be DVDs.
· Circulation periods may be extended at the discretion of the Library Director on a case by case basis.
Title Requests and Reserves
· Title request can be made in person at the library by filling out a title request form or via the on-line catalog. All titles will be evaluated by staff for purchase according to the Material Selection Policy. Title requests not selected for purchase may be pursued for the patron’s use through Interlibrary Loan.
· Reserves are hold requests placed on titles that are owned by the library or are on order for addition to the library’s collections. Reserves may be made by telephone, email, text or via the on-line catalog.
· When requested or reserved materials become available, patrons will be notified based on their chosen notification preferences.
· Reserves and requests (other than those received through Interlibrary Loan) will be held for pickup for 3 days, unless the patron specifically requests that other arrangements be made. If a reserve or request is not picked up by the time the reserve expires, the item will be offered to the next patron.
· Materials received through Interlibrary Loan (ILL) will be held for patrons through the length of the lending library’s loan. If the item is not picked up, the patron will be charged a $5.00 fee. There will be a $3.00 fee charged to offset the postage cost of an ILL, payable upon receipt of the item.
Overdue Materials
The library is entrusted by the citizens of Wyoming to provide, maintain and track items that have been purchased with taxpayer dollars. In order to protect public property, the library has a schedule it follows for overdue materials.
· First notice of overdue items will be issued 1 week after the due date and sent to the patron upon verification, based on their chosen notification preferences. Email, text, or letter.
· Second notice of overdue items will be issued 2 weeks after the due date and sent to the patron upon verification, based on their chosen notification preferences.
· Third notice in the form of a bill listing overdue items and their replacement price will be issued after 1 month and mailed to each patron after verification.
· Fourth notice in the form of a certified letter listing overdue items, their replacement price, and “notification of criminal action” as described in Iowa Code 714.5 will be issued after 2 months and mailed to each patron after verification. If the certified letter gets no result, the Library Director may contact another agency for collection.
· According to section 714.5 of the Code of Iowa, it is a criminal offence to intentionally fail to return library materials. It states that if “a person fails to return library materials for two months or more after the date a person agreed to return the materials, [it] is evidence of intent to deprive” the library of materials. In the event that the materials have been lost, Iowa law provides that arrangements may be made to pay for them. The library will pursue all legal avenues to retrieve library materials, property and/or compensation for library materials and property that is overdue, lost, stolen or damaged.
Fines and Fees
The library charges fines to encourage compliance with due dates and to promote fair and equal access. Fines are charged the first calendar day the library is open starting the first day overdue.
· A charge of $0.10 per day will be charged for overdue books and periodicals until returned. Fines will accumulate up to the replacement cost of the item.
· A charge of $1.00 per day will be charged for overdue DVDs until returned. Fines will accumulate up to the replacement cost of the item.
· A charge of $1.00 per day will be charged for overdue Video Games until returned. Fines will accumulate up to the replacement cost of the item.
· Patrons are expected to pay fines when the overdue item(s) are returned to the library. Patron’s with fines and fees that total $5.00 or more will have their account suspended. Cards will be reinstated once the amount due is under $5.00
· Library accounts for parents or guardians and all minor children are linked and share all fines and fees. All linked library accounts will be suspended when fines and fees total $5.00 or more. Cards will be reinstated once the amount due is under $5.00.
· If a library item becomes lost or is returned to the library damaged beyond repair, the patron will be charged the retail cost of the item plus a $3.00 processing fee. Patrons may purchase replacement items upon approval from the Library Director. The $3.00 processing fee will still be assessed. Items declared lost for more than 6 months will be removed permanently from the system or replaced. Items cannot be returned.
· Patrons may keep items paid for if they are later found, or damaged items once they have been paid for. If a returned item is deemed a health hazard that item will be discarded immediately and fines or fees will be charged. The library is not liable to keep damaged materials for any length of time. Items paid for by the patron will be kept for a maximum of 30 days. If not picked up, the item will be discarded.
Edited 1/8/2021