BELMOND PUBLIC LIBRARY
      CIRCULATION POLICY

1. Persons holding a current Belmond Public Library card or a current card from a BEACON library may check out library materials.  Patrons will not be allowed to use another family member’s card if their own borrowing privileges have been suspended because of overdue materials or fines on their card. 

2. Circulating materials may be kept for the designated loan period listed below and may be renewed once if there are no reserves on the item.  Material can be recalled anytime after the due date if there is a reserve on the item. 

3. Because of the size of our collection and demand for specific materials for special class projects, seasonal items, etc., a limit on the number of items checked out by any one person may be required.  The loaning of these materials will be left up to the discretion of the librarian.  Arrangements can be made through the library staff for special situations as they occur.

4. Circulation periods and restrictions for some materials are as follows:
• BOOKS and AUDIO BOOKS may be checked out for three weeks. 
• MAGAZINES may be checked out for one week.
• VIDEOS may be checked out for 2 days, with a maximum check out of 1 week.
• NEWSPAPERS are non-circulating.
• CAKE PANS may be checked out for 1 week.
• JIGSAW PUZZLES, GAMES, and KITS may be checked out for 1 week. Jigsaw puzzles, games and kits are not eligible for interlibrary loan. These items cannot be placed in the book drop, but must be returned inside the library building.

5. A patron may reserve library materials, which are currently checked out or otherwise unavailable.   Reserves will be assigned to materials in the order they are requested.  Materials are kept on reserve for a patron for three (3) days after being notified that they are available for checkout.  The library staff will make every effort to contact patrons with reserve materials before making those materials available to others.

OVERDUE, LOST AND DAMAGED MATERIAL POLICY

1. All materials are due back in the Library on the date marked.  As an attempt to reduce the large number of overdue library materials and make the library’s collection more available to all patrons, overdue fines will be charged on all materials returned after the due date.  Borrowing privileges will be suspended until all overdue library materials are returned or replacement cost is paid.  Borrowing privileges will also be suspended once fines reach $5.00. 

2. If library materials are lost or damaged, the borrower must pay the replacement fee, which is in the item record. If a game or educational kit is lost or returned with pieces missing, the patron will be held responsible for all replacement costs. The library will not accept replacement contents or accessories purchased by the customer. If a lost item, which has been paid for, is found and returned in acceptable condition within 30 days of payment a refund will be given.

3. There will be a fine charged for overdue videos at a rate of $1.00 per day/per item up to the value of the item. There will be a fine charged for all other library materials at a rate of ten cents per day/per item.  If overdue materials are renewed, a fine will still be owed for the time between due date and renewal date.  Only one renewal will be allowed for all library items. 

4. Patrons with overdue material will be notified weekly either by phone or mailed notice.  If overdue library materials are not returned within ten (10) days from the date of the second mailed notice, the library will consider them lost.  Once items are considered lost, overdue fines attached to these items will stop accruing and no further notices will be sent. The patron will now be required to pay the replacement cost of the item if not returned, as well as the overdue fine, before borrowing privileges will be reinstated. 

  
Reviewed and revised by Library Board of Trustees April 21, 1997
Reviewed and revised December 18, 2000, June 21, 2004, February 21, 2005
Reviewed February 2008, Revised February 21, 2011, Revised June 20, 2011, Revised May 2012, Reviewed March 16, 2015, Revised April 16, 2018, Reviewed May 17, 2021
Reviewed and revised October 17, 2022
Reviewed and revised May 20, 2024