Circulation
Services Policy
A . AVAILABILITY OF MATERIALS AND RESOURCES
Unless noted otherwise, Library materials and resources are available
on an equal basis to all individuals holding Hinsdale Public Library
cards. While this is also true for reciprocal borrowers, the library
reserves the right to make some categories of materials and resources
available to Hinsdale Public Library cardholders only.
It is the responsibility of parents or guardians to monitor their
children's selection and use of Library materials and resources.
Hinsdale Public Library cardholders may place reserves on items
owned by Hinsdale Public Library that are not on shelf and on items
owned by other libraries. Reciprocal borrowers must place reserves
at their home library.
B. CONFIDENTIALITY OF PATRON RECORDS
As required by the Illinois Library Confidentiality Act, the registration
and circulation records of the library are confidential. No individual's
registration or circulation records will be released to any individual
or agency, except pursuant to a court order.
Because of their financial responsibility, parents and legal guardians
may be informed of overdue material checked out on their minor
child's library card if the parent has the child's library card.
C. LIBRARY CARDS
Hinsdale Public Library cards will be issued to Hinsdale residents
who present acceptable proof of identity and eligibility. Although
there is no minimum age for obtaining a Library card, the signature
of a parent or guardian is required for all applicants under 1
8 years old. Library cards will not be issued to any applicant
who has outstanding fines or other obligations at another library.
Library cards may not be transferred from one person to another.
Adults are responsible for their own cards as well as those of
their minor children, and for all materials borrowed with these
cards. For their protection, patrons should report lost or stolen
cards immediately. Materials checked out on a card up to the time
it is reported stolen or lost are the responsibility of the card
owner. The Library should also be notified about any change of
address, telephone number, or name.
Privileges will not be renewed for any cardholder with unpaid
fines or charges. Parents or guardians are responsible for fines
and charges incurred by minor children. The Library reserves the
right to revoke or restrict the use of a library card if borrowing
privileges are abused.
The fee for replacing a library card is $2.
D. ELIGIBILITY FOR HINSDALE PUBLIC LIBRARY CARDS
1. Resident Library Cards . Individuals who reside
within the corporate boundaries of the Village of Hinsdale are
eligible for full borrowing privileges, including reciprocal borrowing,
without a fee. Resident cards are valid for 3 years as long as
the person resides at the registered address. The card is renewable
as long as eligibility is retained.
2. Non-residents who own and pay real estate taxes on property
located within the corporate boundaries of the Village of Hinsdale
. A tax bill, or some other acceptable proof of current ownership,
must be provided when applying for these cards. In accordance with
state law, only 1 card, which is valid for 1 year, can be issued
for each parcel of property.
3. Non-resident Library Cards . Non-resident
families may purchase Hinsdale Public Library cards for a fee.
Payment of this annual fee entitles each member of a non-resident
family who resides at the address listed on the library card registration
form to full Library privileges, including reciprocal borrowing.
The fee for these cards is set by the Hinsdale Public Library Trustees.
E. BORROWING LIBRARY MATERIALS
1. Number of Items That May Be Borrowed. Generally, no limit is
placed on the number of items that may be borrowed per visit to
the Library. However, limits may be set on certain categories of
materials if in the opinion of staff such limits are needed to
meet demand and provide equitable service.
2. Without Library Cards. Library cards are used to identify borrowers
and to expedite and accurately record transactions. Patrons who
are unable to provide their cards, but are able to present some
other acceptable proof of identity, may still borrow items.
3. Loan Periods. Generally, Library materials may be borrowed
for 3 weeks, with the following exceptions:
a. Magazines. Back issues may be borrowed for 1 week. The most
recent issue of a magazine may not be removed from the Library.
• Reference Materials. These resources may not be removed
from the Library.
• Video s and DVDs. Feature
films, non-fiction, and children's titles may be borrowed for 1
week.
• Interlibrary Loan (ILL) Materials. Items borrowed
for Hinsdale Public Library cardholders from other libraries through
ILL are subject to all loan periods, fines, rules and regulations
established by these lenders and the Suburban Library System. The
Library does not accept ILL requests from cardholders from other
libraries.
e. Class Assignments and Classroom Loans. At the discretion of
library staff, items temporarily in high demand for class assignments
may be given a shortened loan period or restricted to in-Library
use. Bulk loans of materials for classroom use are available to
teachers at schools located within the boundaries of School District
181 and to teachers at certified preschools located within the
corporate boundaries of the Village of Hinsdale . Bulk loans must
be arranged through the Youth and Young Adult Services Department.
At the discretion of staff, however, limits may be placed on the
length of the loan period and the number of items loaned.
f. Reading Groups. The Library will try to accommodate reasonable
requests from local reading groups for multiple copies of particular
titles. The Library's staff of professional librarians will assist
reading groups in making their selections.
g. Rental collection. For a $1 per item fee for one-week checkout
or a $2 per item fee for two-week checkout.
4. Vacation Loan. Most materials subject to the usual 2-week loan
period may be borrowed on vacation loan for a period of 6 weeks.
Recently published fiction, items with a waiting list, and items
obtained through interlibrary loan ( ILL ) may not be borrowed
on vacation loan.
5. Renewals. Materials may be renewed two times. An item is renewed
for a term equal to its original loan period. However, materials
borrowed on vacation loan and materials with waiting lists may
not be renewed. Items borrowed through interlibrary loan ( ILL
) will be renewed only as permitted by the loaning library.
6. Reserves. Cardholders will be notified when items they have
reserved are available for pick-up Reserved items will be held
at the Main Desk for up to 5 days.
F. OVERDUE LIBRARY MATERIALS
1. Fines. Fines are assessed at 10¢ per day per item, except
for videos, DVDs and rental collection materials, which are
$1 per day or any portion of a day. Fines for each overdue item
will accumulate up to the equivalent amount charged for 42 days
overdue.
2. Grace Period. Fines are waived for any item returned within
3 days of its due date, with the following exceptions: videos and
DVDs and other materials that have extremely short loan periods;
and items borrowed by cardholders from another library but returned
at the Hinsdale Public Library. After the 3-day grace period, fines
are computed from the actual date due.
3. Notices. When Library material has been overdue for 14 days,
a reminder notice is mailed to the cardholder. The Library makes
a reasonable effort to insure that this notice is received. The
notice is sent as a courtesy, however. Cardholders are responsible
for the materials borrowed with their Library cards. Failure to
receive an overdue notice does not constitute cause for removal
or reduction of overdue fines.
If, after 42 days (i.e., 6 weeks after the due date), the overdue
material still has not been returned to the Library, this material
will become subject to the policies and procedures detailed in
Section VIII below.
4. Loss of Privileges. Borrowing privileges may be suspended for
any cardholder who has accumulated fines or bills of $2 or more
until the charges have been paid or some other mutually acceptable
arrangement has been made to settle the cardholder's account.
G. LOST AND DAMAGED LIBRARY MATERIAL
1. Lost. If an item is lost, the cardholder is billed the price
of the item, plus a $3 processing fee. Interlibrary loan (ILL)
materials are billed in accordance with rates and policies established
by the lending library.
2. Damaged. If, in the opinion of Library staff, an item has been
damaged to such an extent, or in such a way, that it could not
be retained in the Library collection, the cardholder will be billed
for the price of the item plus a $3 processing fee.
• Billing. Only 1 bill will be sent. Service to the
cardholder will be discontinued until the account is settled.
Notices and billing for materials loaned to cardholders from other
libraries are governed by the policies and procedures outlined
above, unless other provisions have been made by the Metropolitan
Library System.
