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when the information listed on your registration is no longer current (change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