Policies

The circulation policies of the Bloomington Public Library exist to facilitate community access to the materials and information in the library’s collections, while protecting these same collections.
Bloomington Public Library’s circulation policies are intended to be in accord with the American Library Association’s Library Bill of Rights

Privacy Policy

  1. Bloomington Public Library does not give out information from a customer’s account to anyone without a court order.
  2. Parents wishing to access information about a minor for whom he/she is legally responsible should speak directly with the circulation manager.

Use of Library Cards

Customers can maintain full library privileges by:

  1. Returning materials on or before the due date
  2. Adhering to the borrowing limits for all types of material
  3. Paying for lost or damaged materials
  4. Keeping the amount of money charged to the account under $10.00
  5. Promptly informing the library of any change of address, phone number, or email address

Customers should provide a library card to check out.  Customers may check out occasionally without having their library card with them.  They may do this by providing a photo ID and verifying personal information.  If the customer cannot produce a library card after a lookup, the customer will be required to purchase a new one. Customers under the age of 17 may give their address and phone number as proof of identification, but both the address and phone number must match those in the library’s records.  If the child cannot provide address and phone number, a parent may do so for them, in person.

Whenever a customer calls the library to conduct a transaction on his/her account, he/she must provide a library card number, and his/her name.

A customer’s record will be marked delinquent when money is owed.  This status will not affect the customer’s ability to borrow materials from the library until charges on the account reach $10.00.

A customer retains full library borrowing privileges as long as his/her library account is not blocked.  A library account becomes blocked under the following circumstances:

  1. When an item is overdue by 28 days
  2. A customer exceeds borrowing limits by type or quantity
  3. When the total amount of unpaid fines and fees exceeds $10.00
  4. When a customer’s account has been referred to the Collection Agency and all money owed has not been paid.  Once a customer’s account has been referred to the Collection Agency, the account must be paid in full before privileges can be restored.

Once a customer’s library card is blocked, all library privileges for that patron are suspended including borrowing and renewal of items, and use of the library’s public computers.

Because a customer’s borrowing privileges are suspended when his/her record is blocked, he/she may not use another customer’s library card to check out materials.

A customer may allow another person in good standing with the library to use his/her library card to check out materials, but the library card holder will be held responsible for all items charged to his/her card regardless of who the borrower is.  Under no circumstances may a customer check out by giving the name of another person.

Lost, Stolen, Previously Issued Library Cards

  1. Customers are responsible for reporting a library card lost or stolen in order to avoid being held responsible for materials checked out on their cards.  Charges against a lost or stolen card are the responsibility of the customer.
  2. Customers with charges on their account due to a lost or stolen card are encouraged to file a police report.
  3. Charges against a lost or stolen card should be reported directly to the Circulation Manager at 309.828.6091 x211, or Outreach Department Manager at 309.828.6091 x220.
  4. If a customer reports a card lost or stolen, the customer must provide identification in order to get a new library card in addition to paying the $2.00 replacement fee.
  5. Children under the age of 17 must bring a parent with them in order to get a new library card, in addition to paying the $2.00 replacement fee.  The parent must provide a photo ID as well as proof of address.
  6. If a customer comes to the circulation desk with a previously issued library card, i.e. a card that has been replaced with another card, the customer must show identification before the staff person will look up the current card number, and the previous card will be shredded.

Customer’s Library Card Responsibilities

  1. Because Bloomington Public Library verifies the identity of all library card applicants, the individual named on the account is financially responsible for all fines and fees charged to that account as indicated by signing the library card application.
  2. A library customer is responsible for the care ofall materials checked out on his/her card or on the cards of children for whom he/she has signed library card applications regardless of who checked the items out.
  3. All lost or stolen library cards should be reported immediately because the owner of the card is responsible for all items checked out on the card until the card is reported lost or stolen.

    See Lost, Stolen, or Previously Issued Library Cards
  4. When a customer moves, it is the responsibility of the customer to inform the Bloomington Public Library of the new address.

Material Loan Policy

Customer Responsibilities:

  1. Customers are responsible for reporting any damage or problems with library materials to library staff.
  2. Customers are responsible for all materials checked out to them until they are returned to the library. Customers are responsible for items they use within the building or on the Bookmobile.   There is a bookdrop in the parking lot accessible by car for the convenience of customers.  Customers need to make sure all items have dropped inside the bookdrop, and should not use the bookdrop if it is full.
  3. Fragile items can be damaged in the bookdrop or in extreme weather and should be returned to a staff member inside the library.
  4. Customers are responsible for rewinding audio and video tapes and returning all materials in a condition ready for use by the next customer.  All material must be returned in the appropriate package.
  5. Bloomington Public Library allows unlimited access to the collection, regardless of age.  It is the ultimate responsibility of the parent and/or legal guardian to restrict a child’s borrowing privileges.

Disclaimer:
The Bloomington Public Library is not responsible for any damage done to customer’s property by the use of library owned videos, tapes, software, CDs or other library materials.  The customer is responsible for reading and understanding any instructions, limitations, system requirements, etc. and determining if they wish to use library material.  Technological support is not available at the library.  Due to the heavy and wide usage of library materials, the library cannot guarantee the condition of material at the time of checkout.

Fines and Fees

The Bloomington Public Library charges fines as an incentive for customers to return materials in a timely manner so that other customers can have access to the items.  The Bloomington Public Library charges fees to offset the cost of recovering and replacing lost and damaged library materials.

Definitions:
A fine is a variable charge imposed for the late return of library materials.
A fee is a fixed charge imposed to cover the cost of processing replacement library materials or recovering or replacing lost ones.

Overdue Fines:

  1. Items not returned by the due date will be charged as follows:

    Each Item Daily Fine Max Fine
    DVDs 50 cents $10
    Videos 50 cents $10
    Art Prints 50 cents $10
    System Games / Software 50 cents $10
    Remaining Items in Adult Services Collection 10 cents $5
    Remaining Items in Children's Collection 5 cents $2

  2. Borrowing privileges will be suspended when the amount of money owed reaches or exceeds $10.00 in fines and/or fees.
  3. No fines will be charged on the days the library is closed.
  4. Staff will inform customers of money owed each time the customer borrows materials.

Miscellaneous Fines and Fees

  1. The Bloomington Public Library reserves the right to pass on the cost of fees incurred when borrowing an item for a customer through interlibrary loan whether the customer picks up the item or not.
  2. A fee of $2.00 per incident is charged for the replacement of a library card and should be paid at the time the card is issued.

Fines and Fees for Lost and Damaged Materials

  1. Once items have been kept 28 days past the due date, the item will be assumed lost and the computerized circulation system will mark the item(s) Lost.
  2. The library adds a $5.00 per item, processing fee to the cost of replacing any lost library materials.
  3. The library reserves the right to charge a fee to cover the cost of lost or damaged materials. 
  4. The replacement cost of lost items will be based on the original retail price of the item.  If the original retail price of the item is not available, a default replacement cost will be charged.
  5. If a customer’s account is referred to a collection agency, an additional non-refundable charge of $10.00 will be added to the customer’s library record.  See the Overdue Notices and Collection Agency Policy for additional information.
  6. Once a customer has been referred to the collection agency, all fines must be paid in full before borrowing privileges can be restored.  Customer accounts will remain blocked until all money owed has been paid.
  7. Customers will receive a receipt for payment received when paying for a lost item.
  8. The full cost of the material minus any fees will be refunded for lost items returned in good condition within 30 days of payment.
  9. At the discretion of the manager or a designated substitute, customers may be responsible for any overdue fines incurred on a lost item at the time the item is returned.
  10. The full cost of the item shall be assessed for any items returned damaged if the extent of the damage renders the item unusable.
  11. Materials that include more than one piece will be billed according to how the item can be replaced.  The library reserves the right to charge a customer for a full replacement fee if one piece is missing or damaged.
  12. The customer may keep any damaged item for which they have paid within 30 days of the item being returned.

Overdue Notices

The Bloomington Public Library sends overdue notices to customers as a courtesy to remind them of materials kept past the due date.

Definitions:
An overdue item is an item that has not been returned to the library by the due date.
An overdue notice is a mailed notice listing library materials that have been retained past the due date.

  1. An overdue notice will be sent to customers when materials checked out on the customer’s card have been kept 10 days past the due date.
  2. A bill for replacement will be mailed to customers when materials checked out on the customer’s card have been kept 28 days past the due date.
  3. The collection agency will also notify customers of monies owed, including fines, in amounts of $75.00 or greater.  See the Collection Agency Policy for more information.

Library Material Hold Policy

The Bloomington Public Library accepts holds for library materials as a courtesy to our customers in good standing in order to provide access to high demand materials and materials located on the Bookmobile.

Definitions:
A hold is a request, placed by a customer, for an item from the collection to be held in their name for future pickup from a designated location.
A customer in good standing is defined as an individual whose record shows no overdue or lost materials or fines in excess of $10.00.

  1. All library customers in good standing may place holds on library materials.
  2. Customers with blocked records may not place holds on materials.
  3. There is no charge for placing a hold on library materials.
  4. Only items listed in the online catalog may have holds placed on them.
  5. Holds must be picked up in person.
  6. Customers are limited to a total of 10 holds at one time.
  7. Customers may place holds in person, by phone, and via the Bloomington Public Library online catalog on the library’s website.  Customers are blocked from placing holds through the online catalog if their records are blocked or their privilege has expired.
  8. Customer will be notified by phone, mail, or email that the held item is available for pickup.
  9. Holds will be held for the customer for seven days after the notification date.
  10. A customer can designate another individual to pick up their hold by bringing a note of authorization when picking up the hold.
  11. Any hold that has not been picked up within seven days will either be reshelved or passed on to the next waiting customer.
  12. Holds remain active for 6 months.  If the hold has not been filled by that time, customers will receive a notice from the library that their hold has been cancelled.

Collection Agency Policy

The services of a collection agency are utilized to assist the library in recovering long overdue materials in order to maintain the integrity of the library’s collection and ensure availability of materials to library users.  These services also allow the library to continue good stewardship of financial resources utilized to maintain the collection.

Definitions:
A collection agency is a company that sends letters and makes phone calls to library customers informing them of the consequences of not returning library materials, and, if necessary, report unpaid accounts to the credit bureau.

  1. Accounts that have unpaid bills for a period of 60 days and owe $75 or more in fines/fees will be referred to a collection agency.
  2. When the customer’s record is tagged for reporting to the collection agency, an additional $10.00 will be added to the customer’s record.

The collection agency follows these steps:

  1. The day the delinquent account is received from the library (Day 1), the collection agency will mail a letter to the customer.
  2. On Day 22, a second letter will be mailed.
  3. Between days 35-58, a phone call will be made.
  4. If the customer responds, a letter indicating the remaining balance will be mailed.
  5. If the customer does not respond, on day 65, a fourth letter will be mailed.
  6. Between days 78-91, a second phone call will be made.
  7. If the customer has made no effort to settle their account after four months, the delinquent account will be reported to the top three national credit bureaus.
  8. Once a customer has been referred to the collection agency, all fines and fees must be paid in full before borrowing privileges can be restored.  Customer accounts will remain blocked until all money owed has been paid.
  9. If a customer pays their fines or fees after that account has been reported to the collection bureaus, the credit bureau will be updated to show a “paid” status.

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