As approved at the 1-26-2010 Board of Trustees Meeting

Circulation Policy and Procedure

Registration of Customers

All residents of McCracken County and Western Kentucky are eligible for a library card and are encouraged to become patrons of the public library. The McCracken County Public Library also serves residents of Illinois who work in McCracken County.  Your first library card is free.  At the time of renewal, subsequent cards are also free, but your record must be completely clear of all fines or the card will not be renewed until it is. 

In order to receive a card, proof of residence must be established by providing one of the following:

·         Valid Driver’s License

·         Current property tax receipt

·         Utility bill dated within the last month

·         A Check with your current address

·         Government issued ID

If the above is not available, the Library can take an application and send a postcard to the address provided.  Upon return of the postcard, then the card will go into effect. After completing the application for a library card, the library staff will take a photo of the applicant to go in the library’s database.  This is a security device to check to be sure that the person who is responsible for use of the card is the only one using the card. 

However, if a patron presents another patron’s library card and there is not a photo on file, staff members will assume that it belongs to the person presenting it unless the card has been reported lost or stolen. Liability for misuse may be avoided by reporting lost or stolen cards immediately.  In the case that someone is designated to pick up materials for another person, the card belonging to the patron whose name is on the material must be present.  If it is a continuing practice, then a letter on file with the library giving permission for someone else to pick up the materials would be advisable.

Records should be kept current by informing the library of any changes in personal information such as name or address change.  If a patron forgets to bring the card, the staff can look up the record if a current photo I.D. is presented, but only if the information matches completely with the computer record.  In case of a lost card, the cost is $2.00 each for replacement charges.

Juvenile cards

Parents must sign a statement of responsibility for children under the age of eighteen (18). Signing the library card means the customer agrees to assume responsibility for all who make use of the card, pay all fines and/or other charges incurred, notify the library of any change of address, inform the library if the card is lost or stolen, and comply with Rules of Conduct when visiting the McCracken County Public Library.  Library cards will be issued to children 5 years old and up.  Either a parent or guardian and the cardholder will need to sign the application and a photo of the child will need to be on file. 

Owning a library card makes the person or their guardian responsible for materials checked out on that card.  As with any other card of value, the person whose name is on the card is to be the only person who can use that card.   

General Circulation Policy

The checkout period for materials, ie books, CDs, and DVDs is three weeks, with a limit of ­­­­­3 items at the initial visit.   After the first three weeks, there is also a limit of 5 DVDs and 5 CDs per customer.  There are no limits on the number of books that can be checked out.

The checkout period for materials ie. books, dvds, cds, is three weeks with a limit of five (5) DVD’s per customer. If there is a holds list on the title, the checkout period is for two (2) weeks and cannot be renewed.  The borrower must pay any charges for late return, damage, or loss.  There is a fine of .25 cents per item per day overdue up to $10 maximum; loss or damage shall be replacement cost of the material. DVD’s may not be used for commercial purposes and no admission may be charged.  Patrons wishing DVD’s with public performance rights will be referred to the KDLA Film and Video Catalogue.

Library privileges will be revoked if overdue materials are not returned or if lost materials are not paid for.

Books that are being held in reserve are checked out for two weeks and may not be renewed.

If the patron feels they have returned a book and it is still on their record, the Library staff can place the item on “Claimed Return

Interlibrary loans are a service that all staff is encouraged to promote.  The loan period for these items will be designated by the lending library, as will any charges for lost or damaged items.  There is no charge for the service unless the materials are not returned upon which the borrower’s library card will be suspended until the materials are returned and the fines are paid.

Overdue Policy

Upon notification  from the library to return library materials, any willful failure to return library materials after such notice will give rise to presumption of intent to deprive the library of its property and is subject to prosecution under KRS 514.030.

Holds Request

There are two possible methods of alerting that a hold is available- by mail or by email.  If the reserve book is not picked up within seven (7) days after notification, it will be taken off reserve and returned to the shelf or given to the next person on the reserve list.

Renewals

Renewals may be made in person, online, or by telephone.  Books, CDs, and DVDs may be renewed once for an additional three weeks, as long as there are not requests for the materials. 

Lost or Damaged Materials

Materials lost or damaged beyond reasonable repair by customers, or while in their care, must be paid for in order to replace them.  The replacement costs are $25 for DVD, book, and CD and $10 for paperbacks under $10.  Money paid for a lost item will be reimbursed minus the maximum fine charge upon the return of the item provided a receipt is shown by the customer or library records show proof of payment.  The patron is responsible for alerting the staff to an item that is damaged at checkout.  Missing or lost CDs or DVDs are to be paid by the last person who checked the materials out.  Missing parts to a set - cases or barcodes will be charged at replacement cost.

Interlibrary Loan

The library encourages the use of Interlibrary Loan (ILL), as this is an efficient, cost-saving way to address specific but limited patron interest.  Staff is encouraged to suggest ILL to customers when it is appropriate; library users from other home libraries need to go to their home library to request an interlibrary loan.  New card holders are not eligible for interlibrary loan until after their three week initial period.  The patron must be a borrower in good standing with MCPL.   Staff should inform customers of the library’s ability to borrow materials for them from other libraries rather than using the term “Interlibrary Loan,” since the customer does not always understand this jargon.

Materials borrowed through ILL are due according to the date set by the lending library.  Renewals will be at the discretion of the lending library.  Lost or damaged ILL materials may also carry a processing fee in addition to the replacement cost of the item(s); this is also determined by the lending library.

Occasionally items may be borrowed through ILL for in-library use only.  The lending library will determine if its materials are not for circulation, and the McCracken County Public Library will honor their request, requiring such items to be used at the library only.

Items received through ILL are marked accordingly, with a paper “sleeve” around the front cover.  This sleeve will indicate when the book is due to be returned to the McCracken County Public Library rather than the date due back to the lending library.  This date will allow time for the staff to process the book for return and transport time through the mail, approximately one week.

A processing fee of $5 will be charged to any customer failing to pick up requested ILL items.

Materials attained by Interlibrary Loan belong to another institute and are generously lent to this library’s patrons.  Any book not returned attained through ILL will cause the borrower’s card to be suspended until which time the material is returned and the fine paid or the cost of reimbursement is received by the library.