Circulation Policy
A. Registration
All residents of Nottingham and employees of the Town and School are eligible for a library card. All borrowers must be registered and must have a valid patron card to borrow library materials. Applicants under 13 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 3 years. In order to renew a library card, patrons must clear all outstanding fines and bills. Non-residents of adjacent towns are also allowed borrowing privileges. There is no fee to them if their town has a reciprocal agreement not to charge residents of our town. All other non-residents will pay a $20 annual fee to become a member of this library.
B. 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. Patrons will be responsible for the cost of a new card. All patrons, adult and juvenile, are expected to bring their library cards with them if they intend to check out items.
C. Loan periods
1. 2 weeks for all library materials. 2. Generally, reference books do not circulate. Upon request, some reference materials may be checked out overnight. 3. Interlibrary loans are due the date indicated by the lending library. 4. Books may be renewed once if there is not a waiting list for the title. . 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. There is no limit on the number of items a patron can borrow at one time.
D. Reserves
Reserves may be placed by patrons either in person, by computer or over the phone. Patrons will be notified by e-mail or telephone when the materials are available. There is no charge to the patron for placing a reserve or for interlibrary loan services.
E. Fines and charges
There will be a 5 cents a day fine for each overdue item with the maximum of $5.00. A week after the material is due, a phone call reminder is made. This is followed by a second call a week later. If the material is not returned by the third week of being overdue, a bill will be sent for the material with the cost of replacement of the material and a $5.00 service charge for processing, cataloging and postage. Patrons who have been sent an overdue notice shall be denied borrowing privileges until those overdue materials are returned or paid for if lost and/or damaged. After four weeks, if the materials have not been returned and are at least $30 of value, a certified letter from the Selectmen will be sent. This gives them fifteen days to return the materials or we will turn their records over to the Nottingham Police Department. If the certified letter is not picked up, additional enforcement actions maybe taken. Patrons with a fine of over $3.00 will not be allowed to borrow from the library until their fine is paid.
F. Damaged materials
If materials are damaged so as to be judged by the library as being unsuitable for the collection, the patron must pay the replacement cost. A notice of these charges will be sent to the borrower; a sample of the notice follows: Dear____________________________ At the time a library patron borrows materials from the public library collection, the patron assumes the responsibility for the care and timely return of the materials. Recently materials checked out on your library card were returned to the library damaged beyond the point of being usable in the Library’s collection. The titles and costs of these materials are listed below: ———————————- $——— Your assistance in clearing this matter promptly will be appreciated and will be necessary in order to retain your borrowing privileges. Thank you in advance for your prompt response to this matter.
Sincerely,
G. Confidentiality
As specified in NH RSA 201-D:11 I. Library records which contain the names or other personal identifying information regarding the users of public or other than public libraries shall be confidential and shall not be disclosed except as provided in paragraph II. Such records include, but are not limited to, library, information system, and archival records related to the circulation and use of library materials or services. II. Records described in paragraph I may be disclosed to the extent necessary for the proper operation of such libraries and shall be disclosed upon request by or consent of the user or pursuant to subpoena, court order, or where otherwise required by statute. III. Nothing in this section shall be construed to prohibit any library from releasing statistical information and other data regarding the circulation or use of library materials provided, however, that the identity of the users of such library materials shall be considered confidential and shall not be disclosed to the general public except as provided in paragraph II. Source. 1989, 184:3, eff. July 21, 1989. The Blaisdell Memorial Library adheres strictly to all sections of this Statute regarding the protection of the confidentiality of its users.
