CIRCULATION POLICY
Library Accounts
The following people are eligible for a library account at the Blairstown Public Library:
All persons applying for a library account must appear in person and show photo identification with current name and current address. If photo identification does not have current information, a recent piece of mail with current information will suffice. Minors under the age of 14 will need to have a parent with them to open an account. Each person is held responsible for the material checked out on his or her account. Parents/legal guardians are held responsible for materials checked out to their minor children.
The Blairstown Public Library does not issue physical library cards.
The Blairstown Public Library endorses a policy of confidentiality of library registration and circulation records, as per Chapter 22.7 of the Iowa Code. (See Confidentiality of Library Records Policy) Blairstown Public Library does offer family cards, allowing some or all members of a family to check out under the same patron number. By using a family card, there is implied consent for all users of that account to have knowledge of the transactions that occur on that account.
Lending Periods
All materials, except DVDs and reference materials, may be renewed twice unless there is an outstanding request for the material or if the borrower has fines or overdue materials in excess of $5.00. Renewals may be made in person, by telephone or by email. Fiction DVDs and reference materials may be renewed once. New release DVDs may not be renewed.
Check Out Limits
Each individual library account may only have 5 DVDs (2 of which can be new releases) and 5 video games checked out at any one time. There is no check out limit on books, magazines, and audiobooks.
Holds
Holds may be placed on items that are currently checked out. Holds will be placed in the order in which they are received. Items on hold will be held for five working days from the first notification. If item is not picked up in that time, the hold will be removed and the material will either be placed back on the shelf for circulation or held for the next person in line.
Overdue Materials
Items will be considered overdue unless it is returned to the library by the due date. Library materials can be returned during regular library business hours or through the drop box located in the front foyer of the building. Patrons will receive one written notice via mail as a reminder of overdue materials. Items that have not been returned after 60 days will be billed for the full replacement cost to the patron’s account.
Fines
Fines are assessed for late materials. Fines are assessed as follows:
Maximum assessed fines for materials are as follows:
Borrowing privileges will be temporarily suspended when fines exceed $5.00. The borrower assumes full responsibility for damage, loss, or theft of library materials. The library assumes no responsibility for damage to equipment used with audio-visual materials borrowed from the library.
Materials are always available for in-house use, regardless of any fines owed.
Adopted by the Library Board of Trustees: 05/08/2018
The following people are eligible for a library account at the Blairstown Public Library:
- Persons residing within the city limits of Blairstown or in the unincorporated areas of Benton County.
- Persons who reside in cities participating in, or contracting with, the state Open Access program.
All persons applying for a library account must appear in person and show photo identification with current name and current address. If photo identification does not have current information, a recent piece of mail with current information will suffice. Minors under the age of 14 will need to have a parent with them to open an account. Each person is held responsible for the material checked out on his or her account. Parents/legal guardians are held responsible for materials checked out to their minor children.
The Blairstown Public Library does not issue physical library cards.
The Blairstown Public Library endorses a policy of confidentiality of library registration and circulation records, as per Chapter 22.7 of the Iowa Code. (See Confidentiality of Library Records Policy) Blairstown Public Library does offer family cards, allowing some or all members of a family to check out under the same patron number. By using a family card, there is implied consent for all users of that account to have knowledge of the transactions that occur on that account.
Lending Periods
- 3 days
- New movies
- Reference materials
- 21 days
- Books
- Audiobooks
- TV series DVDs
- Video games
- 7 days
- DVDs
- Magazines
- In-library use only
- Microfilm reels
- Genealogy materials in genealogy room
All materials, except DVDs and reference materials, may be renewed twice unless there is an outstanding request for the material or if the borrower has fines or overdue materials in excess of $5.00. Renewals may be made in person, by telephone or by email. Fiction DVDs and reference materials may be renewed once. New release DVDs may not be renewed.
Check Out Limits
Each individual library account may only have 5 DVDs (2 of which can be new releases) and 5 video games checked out at any one time. There is no check out limit on books, magazines, and audiobooks.
Holds
Holds may be placed on items that are currently checked out. Holds will be placed in the order in which they are received. Items on hold will be held for five working days from the first notification. If item is not picked up in that time, the hold will be removed and the material will either be placed back on the shelf for circulation or held for the next person in line.
Overdue Materials
Items will be considered overdue unless it is returned to the library by the due date. Library materials can be returned during regular library business hours or through the drop box located in the front foyer of the building. Patrons will receive one written notice via mail as a reminder of overdue materials. Items that have not been returned after 60 days will be billed for the full replacement cost to the patron’s account.
Fines
Fines are assessed for late materials. Fines are assessed as follows:
- $.05 per item per day for books, audiobooks, and magazines
- $1.00 per item per day for movies, videogames, and reference materials
Maximum assessed fines for materials are as follows:
- Audiobooks $25.00
- Reference Materials $25.00
- New DVDs $20.00
- TV Series DVDs $20.00
- DVDs $20.00
- Books $10.00
- Magazines $5.00
Borrowing privileges will be temporarily suspended when fines exceed $5.00. The borrower assumes full responsibility for damage, loss, or theft of library materials. The library assumes no responsibility for damage to equipment used with audio-visual materials borrowed from the library.
Materials are always available for in-house use, regardless of any fines owed.
Adopted by the Library Board of Trustees: 05/08/2018