Library Card and Circulation Policy

(Including Lost and Damaged Items)

Patron Card:

Bryan-Bennett Library provides cards to residents residing within the City of Salem limits, without additional charge. To be eligible for a Bryan-Bennett Library Card, an applicant must show proof of residence. If the applicant’s identification does not have a current address, the applicant must use a current bill or a piece of mail postmarked within the last 7 days. The Residential Library Card is issued for a term of 2 years, with an address verification done yearly.

Photo identification accepted include:

• Illinois Driver’s License
• Illinois Identification Card
• Military ID
• Passport

Individuals who own property in the City of Salem limits, but who do not live within the City Limits, are eligible for a Bryan-Bennett card. This card is issued for one year. The card must be renewed each year. Proof of current ownership of property inside the City limits is required for renewal (most recent tax bill).

Non-Resident Library Cards are available for purchase for an amount that is established by the Bryan-Bennett Library Board, according to a State of Illinois-approved formula based on property tax revenue for Bryan-Bennett Library. The Non-Resident Card program will be reviewed and renewed by the Board annually. The Non-Resident Library Card will be issued to a patron for a term of one year.

Anyone who loses a card will be charged a replacement fee of $5 and must show a valid picture ID to receive the new card.

Minors, under age 16, must have a parent or legal guardian sign a minor’s application. The parent or legal guardian will need to show a current picture ID.

An unexpired Bryan-Bennett Library card may be used at other public libraries with the library’s consortium.

Institution Cards:         

Businesses located inside the city limits of Salem are eligible for institutional cards.  Institutional Cards must be requested by the manager/director who will fill out the application. When the application is returned, if not returned by the manager/director, they will be called to verify that the information is correct.  Any items checked out and any fines or fees accrued will be the responsibility of the institution and/or the manager/director.

            The physical card will remain on file at Bryan-Bennett Library so that all users can be verified before use. Any changes made to authorized users must be done in person by the manager/director.

Circulation Policy

1.  Limit Number of Active Items on Patron’s Account

The first time that any patron uses a newly established Bryan-Bennett account, they are only allowed to check out 2 items. Each time that the card is used after that, the patron’s account will have the following limits:

• Adult patrons will be allowed to have up to 25 items checked out on their accounts. Patrons wishing to exceed this limit must request a waiver from the Library Director. Criteria for a waiver: Patron must not have history of chronic overdue items; Patron has a hardship (hospitalization, death of loved one, homebound without any assistance); Patron is engaged in research (for employment or education) requiring an unusual amount of items to be checked out. Of the 25 items, a patron is only allowed 3 DVDs on their account at a time.
• Minors who have a Bryan-Bennett card are only allowed 7 items at a time. Of the 7 items, there can only be 2 DVDs on their account.
• Holds are limited to five items per card.

2. Overdue Items on Patron’s Account

Patrons are unable to check out additional items if there are any overdue items.  If a patron feels they need an exemption, they must request a waiver from the Director (or in their absence, the Assistant Director).  Criteria for a possible exemption include no chronic overdue items, hardship (illness, death of a loved one, homebound), or a patron is engaged in research for work or school that requires longer use of materials.  Overdue items are charged a fee per item, per day.  If an exemption is permitted, those fines may be waived.

3. Fees/Fines

Patrons, whose fees/fines total $5 or more, must pay the entire fine before checking out any additional items. The signing parent or guardian of a minor are responsible for the charges on the minor’s account.

4. Responsible Parties for Minors

The responsible party listed on an application for a minor’s library card will be held accountable for paying fees/fines on that minor’s card.

When that minor’s card is maxed out and can no longer be used until the fees/fines are paid in full, the responsible party’s library card will also be deactivated until the fees/fines are resolved on the minor’s card.

Conversely, if a responsible party’s card is maxed out, the minor’s card will also be frozen, until the fees/fines on the responsible party’s card are resolved.

In addition, when a responsible party’s card is frozen, all other cards for which that party has accepted responsibility will also be frozen.

 5.  Interlibrary Loans

Items unavailable to borrow from Bryan-Bennett Library may be requested from other libraries in our consortium.  These items are loaned at the discretion of the loaning library, and their loan policies, which includes length of time loaned and number of renewals.  Bryan-Bennett Library has no control over the length of time loaned, number of renewals, or any charges, and are not permitted to change or waive any of the policies of the loaning library.

Lost and Damaged Items

Items Belonging to Bryan-Bennett Library

 Lost:    Items are marked “lost” at four (4) weeks overdue or when notified by the patron that item is missing.  At that time, the item will be put into lost status and the patron will be charged the cost of the item and a processing fee.  The cost of the item is based on the price in the catalog database.  If the item is returned within three (3) months of the lost date, the price of the book will be waived, however, the overdue fees and processing fees will still be owed.  If the item must be replaced (due to many reasons, including popularity, new status, etc…) before the three (3) months are up, the charge for the item will not be waived and the patron will still be responsible.

 Damaged:  Items returned with damage will be evaluated on a case-by-case basis by staff members.  Those items determined to be unable to be circulated will be pulled and the patron whose card it was borrowed on will be charged according to the price of the item in the catalog database and a processing fee.

Items Not Belonging to Bryan-Bennett Library

Items lost or damaged from interlibrary loans will be charged according to the policies of the loaning library.  Bryan-Bennett Library does not determine these charges, nor are they able to change or waive them for any reason.