Circulation Policy

 

LOAN PERIOD FOR CIRCULATING MATERIALS (the maximum number of items that can be checked out to a cardholder is 50)

 

Adult Books --Three weeks

 

All videos--Seven days (adult and juvenile with a limit of three DVD's per cardholder--there is no limit on videocassettes)

 

NON-CIRCULATING MATERIALS

 

Reference books and most Rhode Island History Collections books do not circulate.

 

RENEWALS

 

All materials may be renewed once, with the exception of periodicals, DVD's, items on hold for another patron, museum passes, items that are more than 14 days overdue, and non-Ocean State Libraries items. Patrons may renew materials in person, by telephone, via the Ocean State Libraries online catalog, or by mail. When renewing materials, please have your Ocean State Libraries card available. If you need assistance in using the Ocean State Libraries online catalog to renew materials, just ask or telephone the reference desk (789-1555, xt 108), for assistance.

 

OVERDUE FINES

 

Books, audio books, computer CD's, music CD's, periodicals, and pamphlets:

 

$.10 per day per item whether adult or juvenile, excluding holidays and Sundays, when applicable.

 

Museum passes: $2.00 per day

 

Videocassettes and DVD's: $2.00 per day per item whether adult or juvenile, excluding holidays and Sundays when applicable.

 

Patrons who owe more than $5.00 in overdue fines will not be allowed to check out materials until the fine level is brought below $5.00. Patrons will not be allowed to renew an Ocean State Libraries card until the record is clear of fines or charges.

 

MAXIMUM OVERDUE FINES PER ITEM

 

$6.00 ---- Adult Materials

 

$3.00 ---- Juvenile Materials

 

$3.00 ---- Periodicals

 

$10.00 ---- Videos

 

$10.00 ---- Museum Pass

 

Ocean State Libraries policy states that patrons are allowed no more than two "claims returned" items to be charged to their patron record. Since it is not possible for library staff to check the shelves at another library for an item or items a patron claims to have returned to that library, it is the patron's responsibility to contact the library to which he or she returned the items.

 

CHARGES FOR LOST OR DAMAGED MATERIALS

 

Patrons are required to pay the full replacement cost of any damaged or lost materials checked out on their Ocean State Libraries card. In-kind replacements are not accepted.

 

LOST LIBRARY CARD FEE

 

A fee of $1.00 will be charged to replace a lost library card.

 

RETURNS

 

Materials from other Ocean State Libraries may be returned to any South Kingstown Ppublic Library (SKPL) branch, and SKPL materials may be returned to any other Ocean State Libraries library, with the exception of museum passes. Some libraries prefer that non-print materials be returned directly to the owning library. If you should borrow non-print materials from a library other than SKPL, please inquire at the owning library as to its specific policy.

 

HOLDS OR RESERVED ITEMS

 

A reserve may be placed on any item not on our shelves or owned by another Ocean State Libraries library, with the exception of reference materials, museum passes, and most audio-visual materials. Patrons can either place the hold themselves from the public access catalog in the library or from home through the online catalog on the SKPL website. Reference staff is available to guide patrons through this process and will place holds for patrons who need assistance. Patrons have a choice of being notified that they have an item (s) on hold either by telephone or e-mail. A patron has fourteen days from the date of notification to check out the items. Please inquire at the reference desk for materials not available through Ocean State Libraries.

 

AUDIO-VISUAL DISCLAIMER

 

In order to check out audiovisual materials, a patron must first sign a disclaimer form. The form exempts the library from responsibility for any damage to equipment resulting from the use of audio-visual materials borrowed from the library.

 

OBTAINING A LIBRARY CARD

 

The South Kingstown Public Library is a member of Ocean State Libraries, a statewide network of 72 participating public libraries throughout Rhode Island. Any South Kingstown or Rhode Island resident is eligible to apply for an Ocean State Libraries library card free of charge. Current indentification indicating proof of address is required to obtain a library card. An annual non-resident fee of $25.00 is charged to each family or individual whose current residence is not within the state of Rhode Island. For further information regarding library card registration policy, please ask a staff member for a copy of the Library Card Registration Policy.

 

Approved by the South Kingstown Public Library Board of Trustees

May 2001

This page updated April 12, 2005.

 

This policy is posted on the Web for your information. In case of discrepancy, the official policy resides in the administrative office at the central library. A complete list of policies is also available from the administrative office.