Registration
All borrowers must be registered and must have a valid local or system patron card to borrow library materials.
Patrons must fill out an application form to register for a new library card. The following statement will be printed on the registration form for the patron’s information and acceptance:
I agree to be responsible for all items borrowed with the library card issued in the above name, including items borrowed with it by others with or without my consent unless I have previously reported the loss of my card. I promise to comply with all library rules and policies both present and future, and to give prompt notice of change of address or loss of library card.
Signature _________________________________
Identification is required. A driver’s license or student ID is preferred; however, any other official ID or recent non-personal piece of mail may be acceptable.
Applicants under 16 years of age must have a parent or guardian give their consent on the application form before a new card can be issued. This parental signature is not required for children who are renewing cards.
Materials cannot be checked out until a library card is issued.
All library cards expire after one year. In order to renew a library card, patrons must verify contact information with library staff.
Lost or forgotten cards
If a patron loses his/her library card, he should notify the library as soon as possible and request a replacement. A fee of $1 will be assessed to patrons for the replacement of lost cards.
All patrons, adult and juvenile, are expected to bring their library cards with them if they intend to check out items. An individual who repeatedly ignores this expectation may be denied the privilege of checking out materials until they present their card at the library. Patrons will be allowed to check out on a family member’s card if they present the card at the time of checkout.
Loan periods and checkout limits
| 7 days DVD/Video | Limit 7 per card |
| 7 days New DVD/Video | Limit 1 per card |
| 14 days New Books | Limit 2 per card |
| 14 days Magazines | No limit |
| 14 days Music CD | Limit 7 per card |
| 28 days CD ROM | Limit 2 per card |
| 28 days Books, Audio Books | No Limit |
- Patrons are limited to 75 checkouts per card at any given time.
- Interlibrary loans are due the date indicated by the lending library.
- Books may be renewed once if there is not a waiting list for the title.
- Current issues of periodicals do not circulate.
The director may establish the loan period for special collections, materials which are temporarily in great demand, such as for student projects, or materials added to the collection which are in a new format, e.g., computer software.
Reference
Reference books are for Library Use Only; however, overnight checkouts may be allowed upon request. Online reference databases may be accessed via the Internet 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
Rose M. Coughlin Room
- The historical materials that make up the Coughlin collection do not circulate.
- Patrons have open access to the materials during established library hours.
- To view items behind locked cases, patrons may ask a librarian to unlock the cabinets.
- The materials may not leave the Coughlin Room.
- Patrons must handle materials with care and clean hands, as many of the items are irreplaceable.
- Patrons may ask a librarian for assistance in making photocopies, and will pay 15 cents per page of copies.
- The library reserves the right to refuse a copy if doing so will endanger the integrity of the document. That decision is up to the discretion of the librarian on duty.
- Wireless Internet access is available for use in the Coughlin Room.
- Patrons may ask a librarian to borrow the Coughlin Room laptop to search the information contained on its databases. The laptop should be used inside the Coughlin Room.
- No food or drink will be allowed in the Coughlin Room.
Electronic Materials
Electronic Materials are available in a variety of formats for patrons to use at no charge. They include reference databases, e-books, and downloadable digital audio materials. E-books and downloadable audio materials may be checked out on a patron’s library card for a period of one week. At the end of the loan period, the materials are automatically returned. If content is downloaded to a portable device from the Overdrive media site, patrons are required to delete the content from their portable device immediately after the one-week loan period has ended. Downloads of electronic materials may not be conducted on the library’s computers.
Reserves
Reserves may be placed by patrons either in person, over the phone, or via Internet. Patrons will be notified by email or telephone when the materials are available. There is no charge to the patron for placing a reserve or for interlibrary loan services.
Overdue fines
- All adult materials, except for movies, will be charge an overdue fine of 10 cents per day.
- All children’s materials will be charged an overdue fine of 5 cents per day.
- All movies will be charged an overdue fine of 50 cents per day.
- Interlibrary loan items will be charged an overdue fine of $1 per day.
- Overdue fines will not exceed $3 per item, except for movies, which will not exceed $5 per movie.
- Patrons will be blocked from checking out library materials and using library computers when fines exceed $5.00.
Overdue notices
10 days after due date First Notice is sent by mail or email.
30 days after due date Bill for replacement costs of material(s) is issued.
60 days after due date Patron’s account is automatically sent to Unique Management Service for collections.
Collection of overdue materials
The library contracts with Unique Management Services to assist with the recovery of overdue library materials or the costs to replace unreturned items. Accounts are automatically sent to the collection agency at 60 days past the original due date. In the case of minors, all communications are directed to the parent(s) of the minor. Failure of a patron to cooperate with the collection agency will result in a poor credit rating.
Lost or damaged materials
If materials are lost or damaged so as to be judged by the library as being unsuitable for the collection, the patron will be responsible for the replacement of the item. A notice of these charges will be sent to the borrower. If the borrower chooses, he/ she may replace the item with the same title bought at a store or on the Internet. In this case, a $3.00 processing fee will be charged. If the borrower does not make timely arrangements with the library director regarding the replacement of lost or damaged materials, the default cost set by Winnefox Automated Library System will be charged to the patron in addition to a $3.00 processing fee and any overdue fines that have accumulated.
Default Replacement Costs
| ADULT | JUVENILE | ||
| Fiction | $35.00 | Fiction | $25.00 |
| Non-Fiction | $45.00 | Non-Fiction | $29.00 |
| Large Print | $35.00 | Paperbacks | $9.00 |
| Magazine | $7.00 | DVD Case | $1.00 |
| Paperbacks | $9.00 | Board Book | $15.00 |
| CDs | $25.00 | ||
| Video/DVD | $35.00 | ||
| CD ROM | $50.00 | ||
| Audiobooks | $50.00 |
Library use by children
The library affirms that parents or legal guardians are best suited to judge which materials are checked out by their children under age 16. WisconsinStateStatutes 43.30(4) dictate that parents may not legally request to see their child’s library records or be told what their child has checked out. The privacy laws are in place for the protection of the privacy of teenage patrons. Therefore, children age 16 and older may obtain a library card without having a parent’s signature. Parents must sign the registration form of children who are under the age of 16.
Children and teenagers who are under the age of 18 must have signed parental permission to check out movies from the library. Parents are advised that the library may contain library materials, including unrated films, in the adult collection that may be unsuitable for their children. By signing the permission form, parents acknowledge that the library will not sensor the materials their children borrow except to check that they have signed parental permission to borrow movies, and with the exception that children under 17 will not be allowed to check out R-rated movies. Patron records of children who have signed permission to check out movies or use the Internet will be clearly marked to make it easy for staff to check for permissions.
If specifically asked to do so by a parent or legal guardian, and if the child is under age 16, the library will restrict a child’s ability to check out library materials or to use the public Internet workstations. This request will be indicated by a note on the child’s library card record.
Confidentiality
As specified in Wisconsin Statutes 43.30, “records of any library which is in whole or in part supported by public funds, including the records of a public library system, indicating the identity of any individual who borrows or uses the library’s documents or other materials, resources or services may not be disclosed except by court order or to persons acting within the scope of their duties in the administration of the library or library system, to persons authorized by the individual to inspect such records, or to libraries authorized under subs. (2) and (3).”
The Winneconne Public Library adheres strictly to all sections of this Statute regarding the protection of the confidentiality of its users.
Consequences for misuse
The library director reserves the right to revoke or suspend the library cards of patrons who abuse their privileges.