Objective of the Circulation Policy
The objective of Marion County Library Circulation Policy is to enable the library system to keep track of its materials, to ascertain borrower's eligibility, and to ensure the equitable and free flow of material through the system.
Registration -- Who May Borrow?
Resident: Anyone who resides, works full-time, owns property in Marion County, or has a Marion County telephone number may use the library without payment of a fee.
Reciprocal Agreement: reciprocal borrowing within the 7 counties of the Palmetto Polaris Consortia was approved by the library board on 11-23-04. The counties are Chester, Darlington, Dillon, Marion, Marlboro, Georgetown, and Sumter. For purposes of this policy, card holders in good standing in these county libraries will be considered to be patrons of Marion County Library.
Non-Resident: Non-residents (exclusive of Consortia residents) wishing to use Marion County Library services may do so by payment of a $10.00 annual membership fee. The payment of the non-resident fee entitles the non-resident borrower to the same access to materials and services as the resident borrower.
Identification: Each library patron must complete and sign a library card application and present identification showing current address. One of the following will be accepted for address identification purposes:
Driver's License Personal Check
Voter Registration Business mail
Rental Agreement Family member library card
If acceptable ID is shown at the time of application, the borrower's card will be issued and may be used immediately.
Patrons who cannot produce acceptable current address ID will have their library card mailed to them to verify address. Upon receipt of the borrower's card, the patron may begin checking out materials.
Juvenile borrowers: Children are eligible for a library card in their own name at age three. Through age fourteen, children's applications and the borrower's card must be signed by a parent or legal guardian and current address ID shown. Children, unaccompanied by a parent or legal guardian with current address ID, who bring in a signed library card application, will have their library card mailed to them.
Signature statement -- Library card application:
"I agree to be responsible for material borrowed with this card, for all fines incurred and for loss and damage of materials charged to it. I accept responsibility for the selection of materials made by this person."
Signature statement -- Library card:
"(Name) is responsible for all materials borrowed on this card. If lost, a charge will be made for replacement."
Replacement Cards: Cards that will no longer wand properly, due to wear, will be replaced free of charge. A fee of $2.00 is charged for all cards that have been lost.
Library cards should be guarded as any other credit card. Lost or stolen cards should be reported to the library. A stop will immediately be placed on that card and photo ID will be required for check-out. At the patron=s request, if he does not wish to have to show photo ID each time, the stopped patron barcode will be withdrawn and a new one issued.
Loans -- What Materials?
Non-circulating materials: Reference materials, materials from the South Carolina Room Collection, titles from the in-house Storytelling Collection, and current issues of periodicals do not circulate and must be used in the library. Certain periodicals (including back files) and all newspapers are considered to be part of the Reference Collection.
Temporary Reserve: Books in great demand for special projects or items directly related to programming may be temporarily placed on in-house reserve at the discretion of the Library Director.
Overnight Check-out: At the discretion of the Library Director, certain non-circulating materials such as Reference books or CD ROMS either in the Reference Room or the South Carolina Room may be loaned to patrons for overnight use with certain restrictions:
-
these materials must be easily replaceable --irreplaceable items will not be loaned under any circumstances
-
they may be checked-out no earlier than 15 minutes prior to closing
-
they must be returned by opening time the next business day.
Circulating materials: All non-restricted items are allowed to circulate. Patrons may borrow materials from any library in the system and the bookmobile and may return those materials to any library or the bookmobile.
Reserves: Any item that circulates may be placed on reserve by a patron. Reserves are recorded automatically by date and time of day and are filled in that order. Reserves are system-wide and are filled by the first available copy.
If an item has been placed on reserve, the current patron may not renew it.
Renewals: All circulating materials may be renewed if those items are not on reserve for another patron or overdue. The fine for an overdue item must be paid before the item can be renewed. Items that are not overdue may be renewed over the telephone.
Loans -- How Many and for What Period of Time?
Due Date Renewal Period Item Limit (Days) (Days)
* New Items (< 500 pages) 99 14 14
* New Items (500 > pages) 99 21 21
New = < 6 months from collection entry date.
Books 99 21 21
Periodicals 99 21 21
Audio 99 21 21
CDs 99 21 21
Art Prints 99 21 21
Science Project 99 21 21
Seasonal limit 2 21 21
Holiday 99 21 21
Seasonal limit 2 21 21
Videos / DVDs 99 21 21
Overnight (Reference Books) 2 next opening None
There is a computer system limit of 99 items per patron at any given time.
Overdues -- What happens when materials are not returned in a timely fashion?
Borrowers are considered fully responsible for materials checked out on their library cards and for payment of late return penalties or replacement costs. Parents/legal guardians are responsible for materials checked out by their minor children. Patrons are given receipts for materials checked-out, for materials returned, and for fines and fees paid.
Overdue Fines:
Item Fine Per Day Maximum Fine Per Item
All Items .10 3.00
Overnight $ 1.00 per hour Replacement cost
Patrons are stopped from checking out materials when accrued fines reach $2.00.
Overdue materials become Long Overdue 28 days past the due date. Patrons are stopped from further check-out when any materials charged to their account become Long Overdue.
Courtesy Overdue Notices: One courtesy notice is sent on the 14th day past the due date.
Lost Items:
