The Fountaindale Public Library District recognizes the rights of its borrowers to freedom of access to library materials. Library borrowers’ records are confidential and shall not be made available to any outside agency, group, or person for any purpose except pursuant to a court order.

Borrowers:

a)    Resident Borrower (Revised 2/15/01)

(1)   Any resident of Fountaindale Public Library District may obtain a borrower's card by completing an application card and furnishing two (2) proofs of current residency. Acceptable proofs of current residency are listed in Appendix 1. Children age 15 and younger must have a parent or legal guardian sign the application. A resident card is valid for four years from month of issue.

(2)   Businesses located in the Fountaindale Public Library District may be issued a borrower’s card by furnishing their business license.

(3)   Individuals who own property in the Fountaindale Public Library District may be issued a borrower’s card annually by furnishing their tax bill.

b)    Non-Resident Borrower

Any person not a resident of Fountaindale Public Library District may obtain a borrower's card by completing an application card, furnishing 2 proofs of current residency and paying the non-resident fee currently in effect. All members of a non-resident borrower's household are entitled to individual borrower cards. A non-resident card is valid for one (1) year from month of issue. Payment of the non-resident fee entitles the borrower to full borrowing privileges and all services.

c)    Reciprocal Borrower (Revised 7/10)

(1)   Any person holding a valid borrower's card from a library participating in the Illinois reciprocal borrowing program may be granted reciprocal borrowing privileges upon completion of a Fountaindale Public Library District application card. Reciprocal borrowing privileges are valid for one (1) year.

(2)   The following limitations apply to all reciprocal borrowers:

(a)   A reciprocal borrower shall not be given interlibrary loan service.

d)    Teachers (Added 7/10)

(1)  Any teacher working in a public or private school including preschools and daycare centers, or who is a homeschool teacher, located within the boundaries of the Fountaindale Public Library District, may be issued a borrower’s card by showing a photo ID, and a letter/email or other piece of information that shows they work for the school as a teacher. Homeschool teachers must show an additional piece of ID, as listed in the appendix. Borrowing privileges are valid for one year.

(2)   The following apply to all borrowing teachers:

(a)   The teacher shall not be given interlibrary loan service, unless they are a Fountaindale resident.

(b)  Teachers may use the teacher card to check out materials for education purposes and classroom use only. Teachers who are Fountaindale residents must use their personal card to check out personal items.

(c)  Loan period through Outreach Services is 4 weeks, with no fines. If a teacher chooses to check out materials in the Library, regular loan periods and fines will apply.

(d)  Schools are responsible for all lost and damaged library materials.

(e)  Video games and Ebook readers may not be checked out.

Lending Policies: (Revised 7/10; 4/11)

(a)    Generally, all library materials circulate for a three-week period. Special loan periods and limits on number of items may be set based on demand.

(b)    Newspapers and current issues of magazines are not allowed to circulate.

(c)    Reference items do not circulate. Exceptions to the policy may be authorized by the departmental librarian on duty subject to the following conditions:

(1)    Material may be checked out overnight only.

(2)    Material may not be checked out sooner than one-half hour before closing time.

(3)    Material must be returned within the first hour of opening the next day.

(4)    The librarian authorizing the circulation of the materials shall be responsible for any follow-up action necessary to insure return of the material.

(d)    Circulating items may be renewed in the library, by telephone, by email, or through the online catalog.

(e)    Items that are not to be renewed are:

(1)    Items that are on reserve.

(2)    Interlibrary loan material, unless authorized by the lending library.

(3)    Items may not be renewed in excess of two times.

(f)    Circulating items except items with non-specific labels may be reserved.

(g)    Outreach materials circulate for a four week period.

Fines:

(a)    Fines shall be charged for each day an item is overdue.

(b)    Fines shall be computed according to the schedule in Appendix 2.

(c)    Patrons will not be charged to replace lost or damaged cards. (revised 7/10)

(d)    Fines will not be charged for outreach materials. (revised 7/10)

Lost and Damaged Materials:

(a)    Material that is lost by any borrower shall be paid for according to the price stated in the item record (revised 7/10).

(b)    A full refund, minus the overdue fine, shall be made if the material is returned with the receipt, within ninety (90) days of payment.

(c)    No charge shall be made for damaged material repaired by the library. If the damaged material cannot be repaired by the library, the borrower shall be charged the cost of replacement.

(d)    The borrower shall, upon payment, be given the damaged material if requested.

Overdue Materials:

Items that are overdue are assessed fines as set forth above. A borrower with overdue material may have borrowing privileges suspended until the material is returned and all charges are paid. Borrowers who have material overdue past thirty (30) days may be referred to a credit bureau for appropriate action and have their borrowing privileges suspended until their record is totally clear. Overdue materials accounts referred to a credit bureau for action shall have a percentage of the total amount due added to their account.

Equipment Use Fees: (Revised 9/10,10/15/98, 7/10)

(a)    Fees for equipment use are set forth in Appendix 3.

(b)    Fees are assessed for printed copies from the microfilm/fiche reader-printers, photocopiers and computer printers as set forth in Appendix 3.

(c)    Fax service for the public may be provided according to the fee structure as set forth in Appendix 3.