Library Circulation Policy

Rights

Library Cards:

Any person residing or owning property within the Northern Waters Library Service area is eligible to apply for a library card at the Evelyn Goldberg Briggs Memorial Library.  If the person is a part-time resident of the area, he or she must provide a permanent address where overdue notices and bills may be sent.  The initial card is free; replacement cards are available for a cost of $1.00.  Adult applicants (18 and older) must present a valid drivers’ license or other state-issued picture identification and a piece of mail with their current mailing address on it (if the ID does not have the current address).  Children under age 14 must be accompanied by a parent or other adult willing to take financial responsibility for materials checked out in the child’s name.  The parent or adult must present proper identification.

Wisconsin residents and Wisconsin property owners will received a free library card.  All other state residents may purchase an annual library card at the cost of $20 per year.

An Evelyn Goldberg Briggs Memorial Library card may be used at any library within the Northern Waters Library Service area.

Electronic Books:

Patrons with Northern Waters Library Service library cards may use the Wisconsin Public Library Consortium site to check out and request e-books, e-audiobooks, and e-videos through Overdrive’s software. Only patrons who live, work, or go to school in Wisconsin are eligible for this service.

Loan Periods:

Books, books-on-tape, books-on-CD, music CDs, puppets, magazines – three (3) weeks

One-to-three-disc DVDs (excluding TV seasons) – one (1) week

Four-or-more-disc DVDs and all TV seasons – two (2) weeks (DVDs from libraries other than Evelyn Goldberg Briggs Memorial Library may not have the same loan periods)

Interlibrary loan items – same as local library items, except DVDs (all ILL DVDs are one week)

Laptop computers – two (2) hours (laptop computers may not leave the building)

Digital projector – two (2) days

Renewals:

Renewal requests can be made in person, over the phone, or through the library’s online catalog.

Items belonging to the Evelyn Goldberg Briggs Memorial Library or any of the Northern Waters Consortium libraries may be renewed twice, unless another patron has requested them.

Interlibrary loan items may or may not be renewed based on the discretion of the lending library.  Check with library staff to see if renewal is possible on these items.

Requests:

Requests can be placed on all circulating material belonging to the Evelyn Goldberg Briggs Memorial Library and members of the Northern Waters Consortium.  Requests can be placed in person, over the phone, or online.  Patrons will be notified by phone, e-mail, or mail when their requested items are available.  Items will be held for pickup for approximately one week.

Interlibrary Loans:

Wisconsin residents may use Interlibrary Loan to request materials that are not available within the Northern Waters Consortium.  A form is available at the circulation desk for requesting these items.

Item Limits:

A patron may only have ten (10) DVDs checked out on his or her account at any one time. This includes both DVDs belonging to the Evelyn Goldberg Briggs Memorial Library and those belonging to any other libraries within the Northern Waters Consortium as well as DVDs requested through Interlibrary Loan. A DVD is considered one unit with its own barcode. This policy does not apply to VHS tapes.

Privacy:

Evelyn Goldberg Briggs Memorial Library does not give out information from a patron’s account to anyone without a valid court order.  The exception to this policy is made for patrons who owe $100 or more in non-returned Evelyn Goldberg Briggs Memorial Library items. Those patrons’ names and are turned over to local law enforcement for further collection attempts, and additional legal action may be taken to recover non-returned items. Patrons’ rights to privacy concerning what they read and view are protected by the following Wisconsin Statute: 43.30 Public Library Records.

Responsibilities

Library Cards:

The patron is responsible for all items checked out on his or her card.  The patron must notify the library immediately if the card is lost or stolen.  Charges against an unreported lost or stolen card are the responsibility of the patron.  A duplicate card may be issued for a fee of $1.00.

Patrons whose cards are blocked for non-returned items or overdue fees may only use another patron’s card to check out items if that patron is present in the library and informs the library staff that this is acceptable.  The patron whose card is being used assumes responsibility for all items checked out on his or her card.

Adult patrons with blocked library cards may not check out [adult] materials on a child’s card, whether the adult is the responsible party or not.

Change of Address Notification:

Patrons are asked to promptly notify the library of any change of address, phone number, or e-mail address.

Overdue/Lost/Damaged Materials:

Patrons are expected to return materials on time and in good condition or promptly pay fees incurred.

A replacement fee will be charged for items that are lost, non-returned, or damaged beyond the library’s ability to continue circulating them.

Fees for damaged materials will be determined at the discretion of the circulation staff on a case-by-case basis.  Some examples include books and other items that are wet, torn/chewed, dirty, stained, weather-damaged, or smelly.

Patrons also have the option of replacing a lost or damaged item with a new copy or a good-quality used copy.  If patrons wish to do this, they must notify library staff of their intention and bring in the replacement copy within a reasonable amount of time. Patrons may also request that the Library Director order a replacement copy and adjust the amount due on their record.

Materials that include more than one piece will be billed according to how the missing item can be replaced.  For example, a book-on-CD missing one disc would be billed for the missing disc only, unless a single disc replacement cannot be obtained.

The library will not issue refunds for lost and paid items if the patron subsequently finds the item and brings it in.  The patron has already paid for the item and may keep it or donate it back to the library.

Overdue notices are sent out by phone or e-mail when materials are one week past the due date.  At two weeks, a second notice is sent.  At four weeks, the patron is billed for the replacement cost of the item.  If the item is returned, no fees need be paid, unless the item is incomplete or damaged beyond the library’s ability to continue circulating it. If this is the case, the item must be replaced as any other damaged or lost item would be.

Please Rewind:

Patrons are expected to rewind books-on-tape before returning them.

Book Drop:

There is a book drop located outside of the library for the convenience of patrons.  Borrowers are responsible for materials checked out to them until the items are checked in inside the library.  Materials returned in the book drop when the library is closed will usually be checked in on the next day that the library is open.  Patrons need to make sure items have dropped down inside the book drop and not use it if it is full.

Policy revised on July 21, 2010.
Policy revised on November 19, 2014.
Policy revised on March 18, 2015.
Policy revised on December 20, 2017.