CIRCULATION POLICY OF THE NORTH SMITHFIELD PUBLIC LIBRARY
The
freedom to read is essential to democracy, and a person's right or access to
the collections of the North Smithfield Public Library will not be denied or abridged
because of age, race, origin, or background.
A registration and
borrower's card is available to Rhode Island residents free of charge. Proof of identity and current address is
required. Patrons under 18 must have
their registration cards signed at the circulation desk by their parent or
legal guardian. Out-of-state residents
may obtain a restricted North Smithfield Library card for an annual fee of $23.00 or a full
service CLAN (Cooperating Libraries Automated Network) card for $25.00.
NEW BORROWERS
Two items with the
value not to exceed $95.00 may be borrowed the first time the card is used.
REPLACEMENT CARDS
Cards need replacement
when lost, stolen, or damaged. The
charge is $1. Please notify the
circulation desk when the information listed on your registration is no longer
current (change of name, address, or telephone number) so your card can be
updated.
You must have your
library card with you to borrow material.
You are responsible for all items checked out on your card.
Information about your
registration, library use, and borrowing habits are protected under
Rhode Island law. Due to national
security concerns, under the provisions of the USA Patriot Act (Public Law 107-56), federal agents
may obtain this information. Confidentiality of library records and
library use is not intended to protect an individual who may carry out an
illegal activity in the Library.
LOAN PERIOD
Materials are
generally loaned for a three-week period.
The exceptions are videos, dvds,
portable dvd players, periodicals, and circulating
reference materials for school assignments.
Museum passes are due before opening two days hence. As a convenience to our patrons, a receipt
listing the materials borrowed and their due dates is issued at
checkout. Reference books,
current newspapers and magazines, and historical collection items do not
circulate. The Library reserves the
right to limit the number of materials borrowed at any one time, especially in
times of heavy demand (school assignments, holidays, etc.).
RESERVES AND
INTERLIBRARY LOANS
To request materials
owned either locally or at other Rhode Island public Libraries willing to share
their collections, CLAN card holders can place system- wide holds (reserves) on
the CLAN system at the library or via the internet at www.nsmlibrary.org. Patrons will be notified when their holds
have arrived; filled print holds will be held on shelf for pickup seven
days. Filled videos and dvds
will be held only two days.
Materials not
available on the CLAN system may be available for interlibrary loan through the
statewide Clearing House. Details are available at the circulation desk.
CLAN cardholders may
also use the collections of any Rhode Island public library
RENEWALS
Most materials may be
renewed once, either in person, by phone or on-line, if there is no
reserve on the item. Phone renewals are
accepted if the material is not already overdue. Videos, dvds,
portable dvd players, 7 -day books and
periodicals may not be renewed.
Materials belonging to
any CLAN library may be returned to North Smithfield Public Library. Any print
materials belonging to the North Smithfield Public Library may be returned at
any CLAN library.
Dvd’s and portable dvd players borrowed at
the North Smithfield Public Library are to be returned at the North Smithfield
Public Library. Interlibrary loans that are obtained through the statewide
Clearing House from non- CLAN libraries should be returned only to the North
Smithfield Library since the Library holds the initiative paperwork.
There are two book
drops (one for books and periodicals; a second for audio-visual materials) by
the front door for returning materials when the Library is closed. To avoid
damage, audio-visual materials must be returned to the audio-visual drop
only. The Library does not guarantee the security of the book drops. Materials
deposited in the drops are checked in the following business day. The drops are
locked when the library is open.
OVERDUE MATERIAL
An item is overdue
when it has not cleared the circulation files of the North Smithfield Public
Library on or before the date due and is subject to the following fine
schedule:
Books/talking
books $ .10
per day
Periodicals $
10 per day
7-day
books $
.10 per day
Circulating
reference $
.10 per day
Video
tapes and dvd’s $1.00
per day
Museum
passes & portable dvd
players $10.00 per day
The maximum fine is $6
per item, except for museum passes, videos, dvd’s and dvd players. The fine for a video, dvd, portable dvd player or
museum pass will accrue until the replacement value is reached. Audio- visual
materials returned minus their cases will not be checked in until the cases are
also returned.
OVERDUE NOTICES
The patron is
notified, as a courtesy, two weeks after the material is due. At four weeks, an invoice is sent for
the items still outstanding.
Borrowers with an
outstanding balance of fines or materials are denied borrowing privileges until
their accounts are cleared. Parents and
legal guardians are responsible also for the accounts or their minor
children. The Library reserves the right
to deny borrowing privileges to those patrons who are delinquent at other
libraries.
Lost, damaged or
unreturned materials will be billed at market rates, along with a $5.00 processing
fee.
Damage to library
materials is defined as anything beyond normal wear and tear that permanently
and/or aesthetically reduces the visual appeal, marketability and usability of
an item. Damage due to pets, severe moisture
damage, defacement or disfigurement will be charged full replacement cost. If rebinding will solve the problem, only
rebinding costs will be assessed.
An item which is part
of a set may be assessed full replacement cost if full replacement is the
only way to return the title to useful service.
Patrons may replace lost or damaged materials
themselves. Receipt is required within 30 days of notification by the Director.
Arrangements for replacement are to be made with the Director and are solely at
the discretion of the Director of the North Smithfield Public Library.
For any catalogued
item that was lost and paid for and subsequently found by the borrower and
returned for refund, the Library will charge a $5 processing fee. After sixty days, refunds are at the
discretion of the Director.
Approved
1/24/91
Revised
7/01/98
Revised
11/18/98
Revised
4/22/03
Revised
1/31/06