Circulation Policy

CIRCULATION POLICY
Adopted November 2021

I. Eligibility for a Library Card

A. Patron Library Card (Full Access) – District and local residents. District residents are individuals residing in or owning property, including the owners of businesses that pay property taxes, in Bingham Township, Suttons Bay Township and Suttons Bay Village. Local residents are individuals residing in or owning property, including the owners of businesses that pay property taxes, in Leelanau County. District and local residents are eligible for a Patron Library Card from the Suttons Bay Bingham District Library (“Library”) that gives full collection access. Valid photo ID, verification of district/local residence and contact information (telephone number and/or email address) is required.  Patron Library Cardholders may borrow physical and digital items from all collections provided by the Library, including collections provided through consortium agreements. Patron  Library Cards are valid for one year and may be renewed.

B. Temporary Library Card (Limited Access) –Individuals who are not district or local residents. Individuals who are not district or local residents may request a Temporary Library Card. This may include area visitors and short-term (less than 30 days) renters, individuals residing outside the district/local area and individuals with unverified addresses. Valid photo ID and contact information (telephone number and/or email address) is required. Temporary Library Cardholders may borrow up to six items from the Library’s physical collection. Temporary Library Cardholders may not borrow physical or digital items through collections provided through consortium agreements, such as MeLCat and the Up North Digital Consortium, if this violates consortium agreements. Temporary Library Cards are valid for 90 days and may be renewed.

II. Receiving and Renewing a Library Card

A. Individuals wishing to receive a Library Card must complete a Library Card registration. The applicant must provide a valid photo ID such as a driver’s license, passport, state ID card, tribal ID card or student ID card. Current contact information (telephone number and/or email address) is required. Individuals receiving a Patron Library Card must provide verification of district/local residence either on their valid photo ID, a piece of mail showing their name and district/local address that was received at that address, or through receipt of their Library Card mailed to the given district/local address. Individuals who are eligible for a Patron Library Card because they own property must provide documentation of taxpayer or business owner status.

B. By signing the Library Card registration the individual, or parent or guardian of a minor, acknowledges and agrees that they are subject to the policies of the Library, which may be amended from time to time. By signing the Library Card registration the individual, or parent or legal guardian of a minor, agrees to be liable for the return and any fees associated with the materials identified in that Library record. The Cardholder must provide written consent for all individuals that may access the Library record. These individuals will be listed in the Library record.

C. Cards will be renewed after name, address, telephone number and/or email address have been verified for accuracy. Library cards/accounts that have been expired for over seven years are automatically removed from the library’s record of active accounts.

D. All minors between age 0 and 18 are eligible for a Library Card. A birthdate of minors must be provided when registering for a Library Card.

Minors ages 0-15 must be accompanied by a parent or guardian when registering for or renewing a Library Card. The parent or guardian must provide the same identification as stated above.  The parent or guardian must sign the Library Card registration. By signing the Library Card registration the parent or guardian agrees to be liable for the return and any fees associated with the materials identified in that Library record. Put another way, the signing parent/guardian is financially responsible for all items checked out on a child’s card. The parent or guardian must provide written consent for all individuals that may access the Library record. These individuals will be listed in the Library record.

Minors ages 16-18 may register for and renew a Library Card independently. The individual must provide the same identification as stated above. By signing the Library Card registration the individual acknowledges and agrees that they are subject to the policies of the Library, which may be amended from time to time. By signing the Library Card registration the individual agrees to be liable for the return and any fees associated with the materials identified in that Library record. The Cardholder must provide written consent for all individuals that may access the Library record. These individuals will be listed in the Library record.

III.       Using a Library Card

1. Cardholders are responsible for maintaining control over their cards. The Cardholder is responsible for the return and any fees associated with materials checked out using the card. Lost cards should be reported immediately because the patron is responsible for all materials checked out to their card. A replacement card is available at no charge.
2. It is preferred that a Library Card be presented when checking out materials. The Library recognizes that there will be times when a borrower does not have their Card available. In lieu of the Card, Library Cardholders may check out materials with another form of identification, such as the Cardholder’s driver’s license or associated telephone number.
3. In compliance with the Michigan Privacy Act, a person who is liable for the return and any fees associated with the materials identified in the Library record may provide written consent for the release of that record. A parent or guardian who signs to accept legal responsibility for return and any fees associated with the minor child’s Library materials may authorize the disclosure of the minor’s Library Record by written consent for the release of that record.
4. Only the Cardholder, the parent or guardian liable for the return and any fees associated with the materials identified in the Library record, individuals listed in the Library record as having the Cardholder’s consent to access the Library record or an individual with the Library Card present may use the Library Card to borrow materials.

IV. In-Library Use; Interlibrary Loans; Digital Loans

1. The Library has exclusive authority to determine what materials will be circulated outside the library. Some items may be designated for in-library use only. Some in-library use items may require a Library Card to borrow.
2. The Library participates with the State of Michigan Electronic Library Interlibrary Loan System (MeL). If the Library does not own an item a patron wants, they may request it from another library participating in MeL. Once it has been successfully requested, the item will be sent to the Library where it will be processed, and the patron will be notified they can pick up their item. Libraries participating in MeL interlibrary loan have agreed to abide by the circulation policies developed by the MeL Resource Sharing Policies Committee.
3. The Library participates in the Up North Digital (UND) Consortium. The UND collection features eBooks, eAudiobooks and eMagazines available to patrons of participating libraries. Libraries participating in the UND Consortium have agreed to abide by the circulation policies developed by the UND Steering Committee.

V. Reserving and Reserved Material.

Cardholders may place holds on materials that are currently checked out by logging into their online account, calling the Library or requesting in person.  Patrons will receive a notice by phone and/or email from the Library when the item is available for them.  Material will be held for the patron for one week after notification.  Materials must be checked out on the account of the person placing the request.  If a patron has placed a hold on an item currently available on the shelf, and that item has not yet been pulled for that patron, the item may be checked out by another patron physically at the Library.  The hold will be retained in the system, and the patron with the hold will be the next person to receive the item when it is returned.

VI. Returning Material.

Items are to be returned to the Suttons Bay Bingham District Library. They may be placed in the outside or inside drop box. Some items may be marked for inside return only.

VII.     Lost and Damaged Material.

1. Lost Material. Material not returned within 45 days of the due date is considered lost and the Cardholder is responsible for the replacement fee.  The replacement fees is based on the retail cost of the item. If the item is subsequently found after the replacement fee has been paid, the patron may keep the material and no refunds shall be issued.
2. Damaged Material. If material is returned damaged and may not be put back into circulation, the Cardholder is responsible for the payment of the replacement fee. The Library shall have the exclusive and final authority to determine whether the book may be repaired or if a replacement is needed.

VIII.    Loan Periods & Item Limits.

Loan periods, limits on the number of items checked out at one time and the number of renewals allowed are identified in the chart below.

Full access cardholders may borrow a maximum of 70 items at one time.
Limited access cardholders may borrow a maximum of 6 items at one time.

A patron’s request of a longer loan period or an extra renewal will be considered. The maximum loan period is not to exceed 90 days for items with a 3 week loan period, or 30 days for items with a 1 week loan period.

No renewals are permitted for Library material that has been placed on hold by another patron.

IX. Fines & Fees.

1. The Library does not charge overdue fines. A replacement fee, based on the retail cost of item, is charged for lost or damaged items.
2. The Library is not required to provide notice of overdue material or fees. The Patron is responsible for the return of material and any associated fees.   As a courtesy, the Library may provide a notice to the cardholder by email, by phone or in writing.  If the material is not returned within 45 days of the due date, then the material will be considered lost.
3. An account is delinquent when a patron has accumulated fees of $50 or greater. This includes cards for which the patron is the only person identified on the card and cards in which the patron has agreed to be liable for payment for or return of the materials checked out on that card. Patrons with a delinquent account may not borrow additional physical items from the Library or interlibrary loan until the outstanding fees are paid to less than $50.
4. The Library reserves the right to turn over any delinquent account to a collection agency and the patron will be responsible for all actual costs of collection.
5. Replacement fees over seven years old are automatically removed from accounts.