211 Loan of Materials Policy I. Purpose The purpose of this policy is to describe the parameters relating to loan of materials, handling of overdue materials, and the rights and responsibilities of borrowers of the Naperville Public Library. II. Scope This policy describes the rights and restrictions for the loan of materials, and methods for dealing with overdue, lost or damaged materials. III. Provisions: A. Loan of Materials 1. Materials may be checked out by the holder of any library card that is not expired and has less than $20.00 in fines and/or fees. 2. In the absence of a library card, a Naperville Public Library card holder must provide information to establish identity. 3. The cardholder is responsible for all materials checked out on his/her card. 4. Parents/guardians are responsible for all materials checked out on a juvenile card for which they have signed. 5. There are no age restrictions on borrowing any Library materials; parents/guardians are responsible for a child’s selection of materials. 6. See Policy 214 – Interlibrary Loan Policy for information on materials borrowed from other libraries through the interlibrary loan system. B. Loan Periods 1. Not all items circulate. See Policy 212 – Loan Periods for specific information. C. Extended Loans (including Vacation Loans, Teacher Loans, and Family Materials Request) 1. Upon patron request, all materials except those materials that have been reserved for use by another patron may be checked out for an extended loan, a loan period double the normal loan period. 2. Extended loan materials can be renewed for a normal loan period. 3. Reciprocal borrowers may not request vacation loans, extended loans, or make a Family Materials Request. Reciprocal borrowers who are teachers may request an extended Teacher Loan (double the normal loan period). D. Limits on Loan Periods and Number of Items Borrowed. 1. In general, there are no limits on the number of items that may be checked out by a patron at one time. 2. The loan period or number of items checked out at one time may be reduced at the discretion of a supervisor due to seasonal demand or the inclusion of those materials as part of a class assignment. E. Renewals 1. Materials that have not been reserved by another patron may be renewed up to three times. Each renewal period shall be the same length of time as the initial loan period (see Policy 212 – Loan Periods). Downloadable materials may not be renewed. See Policy 214 –Interlibrary Loan Policy for information on renewal of interlibrary loan materials. F. Reserves/Holds 1. Naperville Public Library cardholders may place a reserve request (hold) on any circulating item. A maximum of 100 items may be reserved (on hold) at a time. 2. Reserve/hold notices shall be sent electronically unless a patron has requested the notice be mailed. Reserve/hold notification is a courtesy and the Library is not responsible for failure to receive notification. 3. The Library reserves the right to cancel reserves/holds at any time. G. Overdue Materials 1. A fine of 25 cents per day will be assessed on all overdue materials except as provided herein. 2. A fine of $1.00 per day will be assessed on all overdue adult fiction movies, eReaders, and tablets. 3. The maximum fine due for Naperville Public Library materials shall be the cost of the item, as listed in the Library’s database, or $20.00, whichever is less. This does not include interlibrary loan materials (see Policy 214 – Interlibrary Loan Policy). 4. The cardholder is responsible for any fines or fees incurred on the Library card. 5. Excessive fines or fees on the juvenile card may be transferred to card of the responsible adult. 6. Items that are over 28 days overdue are declared as lost and billing notices shall be produced and sent for such items. 7. Overdue notification is a courtesy and the Library is not responsible for the borrower’s failure to receive overdue notifications. 8. Overdue items not returned within six (6) months of the overdue date are considered lost and will not be accepted for return. The patron is responsible for the full cost of the item. 9. Collection Agency a. Accounts with a balance of $25.00 or more in charges that include any charges for lost and/or damaged materials, shall automatically be referred to a collection agency if left unpaid after 30 (thirty) days. b. Accounts with a balance of $50.00 or more in charges that do not include any charges for lost and/or damaged materials, shall automatically be referred to a collection agency if left unpaid after 30 (thirty) days. c. Patrons will be charged a fee of $10.00 by the Library on each group of items referred to the collection agency at one time. d. Referrals to a collection agency for juvenile accounts may be made in the name of the responsible adult who signed for the juvenile card. H. Lost and Damaged Materials 1. When an item that has been checked out to a patron is reported lost, the patron shall be charged the cost of the item as listed in the Library’s database. Replacement costs for interlibrary loan materials are determined by the lending library. A processing fee will be charged for patron purchased replacement items (see Policy 216 – Replacement Fee Schedule). 2. If an item that has been reported lost is returned within sixty days of the date of payment for the lost item, the item will be treated as overdue. Fines will be calculated from the date due to the date returned. A refund may be made to the patron for the difference between any amount paid and the amount of the overdue fine. 3. Patrons shall be liable for the cost of a damaged item or the item’s packaging except where such damage is the result of normal wear and tear. Fees for damaged packaging are found in Policy 216 – Replacement Fee Schedule. 4. Naperville Public Library is not responsible for any damage to a patron’s equipment caused by the use of any audiovisual or software materials loaned by the Library. The patron is responsible for any damage to audiovisual or software materials, up to the full replacement cost. 5. Due to the likelihood of damages occurring, eReaders and tablets may not be returned through the book drops or drive-through book drops and must be returned to a Library staff member. A fee of $5.00 will be assessed on all eReaders or tablets returned through a book drop or drive-through book drop. I. Restriction of Borrowing Privileges 1. Library cards with $20.00 or more in fines and/or fees are considered not valid and the cardholder will be unable to check out materials. 2. A parent’s or guardian’s card may be blocked if the charges on a juvenile card for which they have signed exceed $20.00. 3. Patrons who have been banned from the Library forfeit all privileges for the period during which they are banned. NAPERVILLE PUBLIC LIBRARY Policy No. 211 LOAN OF MATERIALS POLICY Page 1 10 Approved: 4/17/02; Approved: 5/1/02; Approved: 5/7/03; Approved: 6/4/03; Approved: 4/21/04; Approved: 9/21/05; Approved: 11/1/05; Approved: 9/19/07; Approved: 3/18/09;Approved: 4/21/10; Approved: 4/20/11; Approved 3/21/12; Approved: 2/20/13.