Elk Horn Public Library

Circulation Policies

 

Library Card Accounts:

Library cards can only be issued when an individual is present.

A completed application, including name, address and phone number is required to sign up for a library card.

Library cards are valid for 3 years.

Children are eligible for a library card according to the discretion of their parents or legal guardian. Parental signature is required for persons under age 14. Responsibility for a child’s selection and return of materials, and any fines or charges accrued on the child’s card, is held by the parent or guardian of the child.

By setting up a library card account with the Elk Horn Public Library, an individual accepts full responsibility for the use and return of all materials borrowed on this account. The individual whose name appears on the
account will be charged fees for any items that are lost or damaged during their use by the account holder.

The account holder is responsible for updating their contact information with the library.

Account holders can maintain full library privileges by returning or renewing materials on or before their due
date, paying for lost or damaged items promptly, and promptly informing the library of any change in their
contact information.

Loaning of Materials:

The library sets loan periods and limits in order to provide patrons with fair and reasonable access to the
library’s resources.

Items will not be due on a day the library is closed.

Books, cake pans and STEM kits/backpacks are loaned for a period of two weeks. Magazines are loaned for a period of 1 week. DVDs and park equipment are loaned for a period of 2 days. A fine of $1.00 per DVD per day will be assessed against any patron not returning materials by the due date, with a maximum of $5.00 assessed per DVD.

Damaged or lost materials will be the responsibility of the borrower at repair or replacement cost.

Persons with unpaid fines of more than $5.00 or overdue materials will not be permitted to check out additional library materials.

Patrons may request that an item be held for them. The patron will be notified when the item is available. If the item is not claimed within five library days after notification, it will be given to the next patron on the reserve list or returned to the general circulation.

Returning Items:

· Items can be returned in the walk-up book & media drop, located to the left of the front door, either at the circulation desk on in the drop located in the desk, or handed to a staff person at the circulation desk.

Items can also be returned to another library participating in Open Access.
   *The items will not be checked in before being sent back to the Elk Horn Public Library.
   *Patrons are responsible for the item until it has reached the Elk Horn Public Library and checked in.
   *Items from other Open Access libraries can be returned to the Elk Horn Public Library.

Renewing Items:

Library materials can be renewed:
   *By phone during regular library hours
   *By accessing your account on the library’s online catalog
   *By email, the item will be renewed during regular library hours

   *In person, during regular library hours

Library materials are not available for renewal if:
   *The item is on hold for another patron.
   *The item is considered lost by the system.
   *The item has already been renewed three times.
   *Exceptions to this will be made at the discretion of the library staff, on a case by case basis

Material Holds:

Cardholders must be in good standing to place holds.

Patrons can place holds on most items in the library collection
   *By phone
   *In person
   *Online, through the library’s online catalog

Patrons placing holds must be aware that items currently checked out to another patron may not be returned by
the due date.

Patrons can be notified one of three ways when a hold comes in – phone, text or email.

Holds will be set aside for the requesting patron for five (5) days before it is cancelled, moved to the next
person waiting, or placed back on the shelf.

Interlibrary Loans:

If the Elk Horn Public Library does not have certain material requested by a patron, the librarians will be glad to request the sought after materials through the State of Iowa’s Interlibrary Loan Service.

Requests may be made in person, by phone, or by email.

Patrons must have library accounts in good standing.

Circulation Period: The Circulation period is set by the lending library. Renewals are up to the discretion of the lending library. If a renewal is requested by a patron, we will e-mail the lending library and request an extension; then contact the patron with the answer. Any and all fines or fees the loaning library charges the Atlantic Public Library will be passed on to the patron.

Confidentiality Policy:

All patron records and information are confidential, pursuant of Iowa Code, Chapter 22.7 (13).

No patron information will be shared with other patrons. This includes: patron information, what patrons have checked out, and/or what patrons are being charged for.

Any patron listed on a library card, such as a Family card, can receive information about that account’s library
actions.

Library staff can use information from a patron’s record to contact patrons concerning library business and for
no other reason.

The Library Director is the Custodian of the Record.
   *Any and all requests for patron information must be submitted to the Director.
   *Only legal requests from a court-issued subpoena will release specific patron records.
   *A written agreement, signed by the patron, may release this information to a recognized third person.

Information pertaining to library online resources or website access are not kept by the library.

 

Reviewed by the Board of Trustees:

February 2023