Circulation
A. Library Card Registration
The Boerne Public Library serves the residents of Kendall County at no charge. Out-of-county library users pay a fee per person or per family each year for library privileges.
A library card entitles the cardholder to borrow any circulating materials. Additionally, a library card provides off-site access to online resources available at the Boerne Public Library, as well as resources from other libraries through Interlibrary Loan.
All borrowers must be registered and must have a valid patron card to borrow library materials. Cards are not transferable.
Patrons must complete an application form to register for a new library card. The following statement will be printed on the registration form for the patron's information and acceptance:
I apply for the right to use the Library and will abide by all rules and regulations. I agree to pay promptly all fines or damages charged against me and give immediate notice of any change of address.
Signature _________________________________
Proof of permanent street address must be presented at the time of application. A driver's license or student ID is preferred. However, the following will also be accepted: voter's registration card, tax statement, current lease agreement, utility bill with street address, any major credit card statement, or proof of vehicle insurance with street address.
The following types of cards are available from the Boerne Public Library:
Resident card
Residents and property owners of Kendall County are eligible for a free card. Positive identification and proof of residency or property ownership is required. Non-residents who are employees of the City of Boerne are also eligible for a free card upon presentation of positive identification, address verification and proof of employment. With proof of teacher status (ID card, business card, letter from principal, etc.) and photo ID, any person who teaches in Kendall County or in the Boerne Independent School District may apply for a card.
Non-resident card
Persons living outside the county service area may receive borrowing privileges for an annual fee determined by city council. Positive identification and address verification is required.
Temporary card
Persons who are in the service area temporarily may receive a temporary card for a fee determined by city council. Positive identification and address verification is required.
Minor (under age 16) card
Minors must have an adult sponsor. The adult sponsor guardian must be 18 years old or older. A sponsor's signature must be on the application form before a new card can be issued. This signature is not required for children who are renewing cards. Positive identification and address verification is required of the sponsor. When the minor becomes an adult, an adult account is established under his/her responsibility.
Renewal of Existing Cards
All cards may be renewed using the same eligibility criteria for acquiring a new card. In order to renew a library card, patrons must clear all outstanding fines and bills.
All resident library cards expire after three years, non-resident cards after one year. Non-resident card fees must be paid at this time. Temporary cards expire after three months.
B. Lost or forgotten cards
If a patron loses his/her library card, he should notify the library as soon as possible and request a replacement.
All patrons, adult and juvenile, are expected to bring their library cards with them if they intend to check out items. An individual who repeatedly ignores this expectation may be denied the privilege of checking out materials until they present their card at the library. Identification will be required for adults checking out materials without their card.
C. Loan periods
1. Two (2) weeks for books.
2. Generally, reference books do not circulate. Upon request, some reference materials may be checked out overnight with the approval of a librarian.
3. Interlibrary loan materials are due by the date indicated by the lending library.
4. Items may be renewed twice if there is not a waiting list for the title. Additional renewals beyond the original two can be granted at the discretion of the library director or a designated substitute. So that other patrons may have a chance to find the item by browsing, materials will not be renewed consecutively more than three times. Items must be returned to the shelf for 24 hours before being checked out again to the same patron.
5. Current issues of periodicals do not circulate.
6. Non-current issues of periodicals may be checked out for two weeks. Newspapers and issues of Consumer Reports do not circulate.
7. Two (2) weeks for cassettes, compact discs, and multiple-disc (3 or more) DVDs.
8. Seven (7) days for videocassettes and DVDs with one or two discs.
9. Teachers are requested to select only one (1) copy of a title and no more than three (3) items on any subject. Other limits may be temporarily set due to short supply.
The director may establish the loan period for special collections, materials that are temporarily in great demand, such as for student projects, or materials added to the collection that are in a new format, e.g., computer software.
The number of items a patron can borrow at one time is 25 books or magazines, 10 videocassettes, 10 audiocassettes, 5 CDs, 5 DVDs and 1 multiple-disc (3 or more) DVDs. There is a limit of one Bluebonnet book from the current year.
DVDs, videos, audiocassettes and CDs do not carry public performance rights. Those items are for home use only and may not be duplicated in any form.
D. Reserves
Reserves may be placed by patrons either in person, by telephone, by email or webform. Patrons will be notified by email or telephone when the materials are available. There is no charge to the patron for placing a reserve.
Reserved items must be picked up within three business days of notification of availability, depending on the material reserved. Patrons having outstanding fines and/or overdue items are subject to removal from reserve lists.
E. Fines and Charges
Materials are overdue the day following the date due. The fines for overdue materials are 25 cents a day for books, audio-cassettes and interlibrary loans, $1.00 a day for videos, DVDs and CDs. A phone call is placed after the material is one (1) week overdue. After two (2) weeks, a notice is mailed. If the material is not returned within a designated period, a bill will be sent for the material with the cost of replacement of the material and a service charge for processing, cataloging and postage. Patrons who have been sent a bill shall be denied borrowing privileges until those overdue materials are returned or paid for if lost and/or damaged.
The maximum fine per item is $5.
Sponsors are financially responsible for items checked out on their minor's library card.
F. Lost and Damaged Materials
If materials are damaged so as to be judged by the library as being unsuitable for the collection, the patron must pay the replacement cost, plus a service charge for processing, cataloging and postage. After payment is received the patron may have the damaged material.
Patrons will not be allowed to check out materials until lost or damaged materials have been returned or paid for.
Exception: There will be no charge for items lost due to natural disaster if the cardholder's insurance does not cover the claim and the cardholder notifies the library within 30 days of the loss. The processing fee will also be removed.
Exception: There will be no charge for items lost due to theft if the cardholder brings in a police report within 30 days of the theft and the cardholder's insurance does not cover the claim. The processing fee will also be removed.
Replacements and Refunds
The library does not accept a replacement copy of an item, whether lost or damaged, in lieu of money. Decision whether to replace or purchase a different item is determined by the Boerne Public Library.
The library will refund payment for a lost item, excluding processing fees, if the customer brings in the item and the receipt within ninety days of the payment.
G. Loss of Borrowing Privileges:
Fines exceed $10
Lost or damaged materials (when paid for or returned borrowing privileges are restored)
H. Claims Returned Items
If patron and library cannot locate an item that the patron claims has been returned and the item has been renewed the maximum number of times allowed by the automated system, the patron may complete a Claims Returned form. The status of the item will be changed to Claimed Returned.
If the item shows up either on our shelves or the patron locates it, the item will be checked in and the Claimed Returned status will be removed.
I. Confidentiality
As specified in Texas Statutes 552.124:
EXCEPTION: RECORDS OF LIBRARY OR LIBRARY SYSTEM.
(a) A record of a library or library system, supported in whole or in part by public funds, that identifies or serves to identify a person who requested, obtained, or used a library material or service is excepted from the requirements of Section 552.021 unless the record is disclosed:
(1) because the library or library system determines that disclosure is reasonably necessary for the operation of the library or library system and the record is not confidential under other state or federal law;
(2) under Section 552.023; or
(3) to a law enforcement agency or a prosecutor under a court order or subpoena obtained after a showing to a district court that:
(A) disclosure of the record is necessary to protect the public safety; or
(B) the record is evidence of an offense or constitutes evidence that a particular person committed an offense.
(b) A record of a library or library system that is excepted from required disclosure under this section is confidential.
The Boerne Public Library adheres strictly to all sections of this Statute regarding the protection of the confidentiality of its users.
Last revision: April 10, 2008
Initially adopted: July 8, 2004
