Operational Policy

Telephone number - 319/626-5701
Fax - 319/626-5733
E-mail - nlcl@north-liberty.lib.ia.us
Web page-www.northlibertylibrary.org

Library hours:
The Library will have stated hours to be posted in the Library and on the Library and City websites. 
The Library will be closed legal and city holidays. 
Library Patrons:
The North Liberty Community Library is an Open Access Library. Other Iowa library cardholders may borrow under the State Library’s Open Access Program.  Proper identification must be provided.
Registration:
Free library registration will be issued to residents of the City of North Liberty, rural Johnson County and all libraries involved in the Open Access Program.  Library users living in incorporated towns without libraries within Johnson County will be charged an annual users fee ($35 per family and $20 per individual).  This fee is to be reimbursed by the town upon presentation to the city clerk of a signed receipt from the Library. Registration may be done on an individual or family basis.  Individual numbers issued to children under 13 years old will require parental permission.  Picture identification and proof of residence will be required at time of registration.  A registration form will be filled out by the borrower and kept at the library.  Information will be reviewed and updated every three years.  A person will be considered a conditional patron for three (3) months after registration.  A patron may also revert to conditional patron status if they chronically have fines and overdues.  Checkouts to conditional patrons to will be three of most Library materials at a time.  Checkout of DVDs and CDs will be limited to one at a time.    
Circulation:
Periodicals:

1. Current issues may not be checked out until the next issue arrives. 
2. Back issues may be checked out for three (3) weeks.

 DVDs, Computer Software, Cake Pan Information:

1. The above listed items may be checked out for one (1) week.
2. DVDs may be checked out at the rate of five (5) per week per patron
3. Books, Audiobooks and Compact Discs:
4. The above listed items may be checked out for three (3) weeks

Renewals:

1. Renewals may be done over the telephone, electronically or in person.
2. Periodicals - Back issues may be renewed.
3.  DVDs, Compact Discs, Computer Software, Cake Pans-these materials may be renewed once if there is no reserve on the item(s).
4. Books, Audiobooks - These items may be renewed once for three (3) weeks if there is no reserve.  Further renewals will be at the discretion of the staff.

Interlibrary Loan:
 The North Liberty Community Library will abide by the interlibrary loan policies set forth by the State Library of Iowa and the East Central Library Service Area.  For all items (school projects and certain other reasons will be exempt) requested there is a $1.25 charge per item that is to be paid when the item is picked up.
Patrons will be notified by the NLCL and will have three (3) business days after notification to pick up the material.
If patrons do not pick up Interlibrary Loan material requested by the North Liberty Community Library within the allotted notification period, the material will be sent back to the lending institution.  If the patron wishes to request the same material a second time, there will be a five dollar shipping and handling fee charged for the second request.  If patrons fail to pick up material requested more than once, Interlibrary loan services will no longer be provided for that patron. 
Overdue, Lost and Damaged Material:

1. Patron will be notified by telephone or e-mail of overdue material.
2. Overdue letters will be sent out once a month.
3. Patrons will be charged postage and handling of each notice up to $5.00 in addition to the fine.
4. Patron privileges will be restricted if they have a fine of $2.50 or more or overdue material totaling $2.50 or more.
5. Patron privileges will not be restored until all material is returned and all fines of $2.50 or more are paid.

After eight weeks, with no response to the fine notices listed above, fine amounts/replacement costs will be referred to the North Liberty Police Department, in accordance with sections 714.5 and 808.12 of the Iowa Code.   Patrons whose names are referred to the NL Police Department will be charged a $10.00 service fee in addition to the amount owed in fines/replacement costs and fines must then be paid in cash.  All collected fines will be deposited in the city’s general fund.
Fines accrue at the following rates:
Books, magazines and audio books

1. $.10 per item, per day.

           DVDS, CDS, Computer Software and Cake Pans

1. $1.00 per item, per day. 

Interlibrary loan materials

1. Will be assessed at the rate charged by the lending institution 

Library materials will not be checked out to patrons with a cumulative fine of $2.50 or more.  Borrowing privileges will be restored when the material has been returned and the fines paid. 
After eight weeks the materials will be assumed lost and the patron will be responsible for the replacement cost.  If the fine amount exceeds the replacement cost, the patron may pay the cost of material rather than the fine amount.
   Patrons are responsible for replacement cost for lost or damaged materials. 
   Fines/replacement costs may be paid in cash, check, volunteer hours to the library, food donated to the North Liberty Food Pantry or items for special projects.  A patron may work the fine off or donate one non-perishable food item for every dollar or part of a dollar owed the library to pay for up to $10.00 of a fine.  Any fines remaining must be paid in cash.
   If a check is returned for insufficient funds, that patron will be asked to pay only by cash or money order, and a $5.00 handling fee will be added to the charges.
   Parents or legal guardians will be held responsible for fines accrued by children under eighteen.
Copy Machine, Fax Machine, Internet, Computer:
   The North Liberty Community Library has a copy machine, fax machine, Internet, and computer available for patron/public use.    All students may use these services within reason, except the fax machine, at no charge.  Fee rates for others are as follows:
Fax machine

1. $2.00 for the first page for local calls and $1.00 for each additional page
2. $2.50 for the first page for long distance calls and $1.50 for each additional page
3. $.50 per page for faxes received

Copy machine

1. $.10 per page
2. double-sided copies count as one page

Computer

1. $.10 per page to print; $.05 per page if the patron provides their own paper
2. May print up to 20 pages free for school projects.
3.  Patron will be charged the regular fee unless they provide their own paper

Internet

1. $.10 per page to print black and white
2. May print up to 20 pages free for school projects.
3. Patron will be charged the regular fee unless they provide their own paper

Internet:
   The Internet is available to patrons on a first-come, first-served basis or by reserving time over the telephone. Patrons must read and sign the Internet Policy and sign the Internet Agreement by patrons wishing to use the Internet. Patrons may have up to 60 minutes of Internet usage one time per day.  In addition to the Library’s regular Internet Stations (see above) the Library has available stations with a 15 minute time limit for checking e-mail and downloading.

Video Editing Station:
         The Library has available for public use a video editing station.
 
Lounge:
   The Lounge is available for DVDs, watching television, meetings and as a gathering place.  A copy of the policy is available upon request.
Study Room:
   Patrons may reserve the study room or use as available.  A copy of the policy is available upon request.

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Written 1986
Reviewed and Revised:  October 1999
Reviewed and Revised:  October 2000
Reviewed and Revised:  October 2001
Reviewed and Revised:   September 2003
Reviewed and Revised:   July 2004
Reviewed and Revised:   October 2005
Revised January 2006
Revised August 2006
Reviewed and Revised: May 2007
Reviewed September 2007