LIBRARY CARDS: The patron is responsible for all materials borrowed on the card. The library card is issued for the sole use of the applicant. The library card must be signed in the presence of library personnel.

Lost or Stolen: The patron is responsible for notifying the library immediately when their card is lost or stolen so that the library may block the card. If the patron fails to notify the library, he/she is responsible for the cost of replacement and processing of any items checked out by anyone else with their card. Replacement cards cost $5.00. This fee must be paid at the time of the request. A replacement card will be issued only if fines and overdues from previous cards are cleared.

Forgotten: Patrons who have forgotten their library card may check out materials with a valid driver's license, state idenfication card or student photo identification card.

CHARGES:

1. A patron is delinquent if he/she has items overdue or fines.

2.Fines will be computed from the date due to date of return. Fines will not be assessed for the days the library is closed.

3.The amount of the fines changed varies depending on the type of material and the owning library. Fines accumulate up to the listed maximum per item (see below).

4.All fines or bills must be paid within 30 days. Questions or disputes must be made within that time period. Patrons with fines or bills over $5.00 will not be allowed to borrow (per SLC guidelines). Patrons with fines or bills more than 30 days old will not be allowed to borrow.

5.A receipt will be given for each transaction.

6.Fines on non-rental items are $0.25 per day with a maximum of $10.00 per item. Fines on rental items are $1.00 per day with a maximum of $10.00 per item.

Damaged Materials: Patrons are responsible for damaged materials when it can be determined that they are liable. A receipt or cash register receipt will be given at the time of payment. The charges are as follows:

2. Extensive Damage

a. Books: If damage to the book necessitates rebinding the book, the latest bindery cost list will be consulted and charges will be assessed at that rate.

b.Materials damaged beyond repair: The patron is charged at the replacement cost of the materials plus a processing fee. (See list below.) There is no processing fee for supply items such as bags and boxes. The patron may have the material after withdrawal procedures have been completed.

c.Patron may purchase an exact replacement and will not be charged a processing fee.

Claims Fine Paid: Patrons sometimes claim to have paid fines which the library records show to be due. Wavied fines will be noted in the "notes" field of the patron's registration. If the same patron does this a second time, the patron's attention should be called to the fact that this is a recurrence. If there is a third occurence of "claims paid" with the same patron, he/she will be held responsible for that fine and any thereafter. The librarian will explain that this claim can no longer be accepted. Receipts must always be issued with fine payments. Always remind patrons to keep their receipt until the next time they use their library card to make sure their payment cleared.

Claims Returned: When the patron first claims returned on an overdue item, check the shelf. If the material is found, check it in as an exempt charge. If it isn't found, a Claims Returned form (#62) is to be completed and returned to the circulation desk. The item status will be set to Claims Returned. The shelves will be searched for 6-8 weeks. Form #66 will be sent to inform the patron is the material is not found.

A. When a patron's first claims returned is not found, the loss will be absorbed by the library. Keep track of claims returneds in the "notes" field of the patron's record. (A minus sign at the end of a patron's name indicates information in the notes field.) The second claims returned that is not found will be evaluated by the supervisor. The third claims returned that is not found will not be absorbed.

B. 90 days after the due date, a Claims Returned item reverts to lost and a notice is automatically generated charging patron the cost of the book plus processing fee.

C. Claims Returned must be made within 3 months from the due date. If a patron makes a claim after this time, make one search for the material at the time of the claim. If it is not found, explain that it must be considered outstanding and no further search will be made.

Unattended Children: In order to prevent undue disruption of normal library activities, provide for the general welfare of all patrons using the library, and provide for the general safety of children using the Warren Public Library, the following rules and regulations are a matter of policy:

A. Children under the age of thirteen (13) must be supervised by and within visual contact of a parent or caregiver age eighteen (18) or older at all times while using the library.

B. If it is determined that a child is lost or unattended, an attempt will be made to contact the parent or caregiver. If unable to contact the parent or caregiver, the police will be called.

C. The Warren Public Library assumes no responsibility for children left unattended on the library premises.

Disruptive Children: If a child is behaving in a disruptive manner:

A. A staff member shall ask the child to behave.

B. If the disruptive behavior continues, a staff member shall inform the parent or caregiver that the child is disturbing others.

C. If the parent or caregiver refuses or is unable to control the child, the family shall be asked to leave.

D. If the parent or caregiver refuses to take the family and leave, and the disruptive behavior continues, the person in charge may call the Police Department Youth Services, 574-4761.

E. No staff person shall touch a young person in attempting to make him/her leave.

Computer Use Policies

Staff Assistance: Staff will assist library users in getting started on the Internet. However, the library cannot guarantee that Internet-trained staff will be available to assist users at all times the library is open. Regrettably, staff is not able to offer extensive explanations about the Internet or personal computer use or provide training except during scheduled classes in the computer lab. Time permitting, staff will try to answer specific questions about the Internet and offer suggestions for effective searching. Staff can also provide information about Internet books and manuals.

E-mail: The library is not able to offer e-mail accounts. It does allow e-mail access on library terminals.

Chat Rooms: The library does not allow Internet chat or instant messaging on library terminals.

Time Limits: Those computers designated as "express" terminals will have a fifteen-minute use limit. All other public terminals will have either a half-hour or one-hour use limit, at the discretion of the branch.

Computer Sign-In: It is at the discretion of the Branch Librarian Supervisor to require patrons to sign in to use the Library computers.

Reserving or Renting Computers: Patrons may not reserve computers. Groups will not be allowed to reserve or rent computers.