Circulation Policy
The freedom to read is essential to democracy, and a person’s right or access to the collections of the North Smithfield Public Library will not be denied or abridged because of age, race, origin, or background.
NEW CARDS
A registration and borrower’s card is available to Rhode Island residents free of charge. Proof of identity and current address is required. Patrons under 14 must have their registration cards signed at the circulation desk by their parent or legal guardian. Out-of-state residents may obtain a restricted North Smithfield Library card for an annual fee of $35.00 or a full service OSL(Ocean State Libraries) card for $155.00 if certain conditions are met per OSL policy:
FULL ACCESS CARD POLICY
A. Full-service cards may be issued free of charge to those individuals meeting one of the following criteria. There is only one full-access card allowed per person:
NEW BORROWERS
Two items with the value not to exceed $95.00 may be borrowed the first time the card is used.
REPLACEMENT CARDS
Cards need replacement when lost, stolen, or damaged. The charge is $1. Please notify the circulation desk when the information listed on your registration is no longer current (change of name, address, or telephone number) so your card can be updated.
RESPONSIBILITIES
You must have your library card with you to borrow material. You are responsible for all items checked out on your card.
RIGHTS
Information about your registration, library use, and borrowing habits are protected under Rhode Island law. Due to national security concerns, under the provisions of the USA Patriot Act (Public Law 107-56), federal agents may obtain this information. Confidentiality of library records and library use is not intended to protect an individual who may carry out an illegal activity in the Library.
LOAN PERIOD
Materials are generally loaned for a three-week period. The exceptions are videos, dvds, portable dvd players, periodicals, and circulating reference materials. Museum passes are due by 10:00 am the day after the pass is used. As a convenience to our patrons, a receipt listing the materials borrowed and their due dates is issued at checkout. Reference books, current newspapers and magazines, and historical collection items do not circulate. The Library reserves the right to limit the number of materials borrowed at any one time, especially in times of heavy demand (school assignments, holidays, etc.).
RESERVES AND INTERLIBRARY LOANS
To request materials owned either locally or at other Rhode Island public Libraries willing to share their collections, OSL card holders can place system- wide holds (reserves) on the OSL system at the library or via the internet at www.nspl.info. Patrons will be notified when their holds have arrived.
Materials not available on the OSL system may be available for interlibrary loan through the statewide Clearing House. Details are available at the circulation desk.
OSL cardholders may also use the collections of any Rhode Island public library
RENEWALS
Most materials are automatically renewed twice, two days before their due date, if there is no reserve on the item. If an item cannot be renewed, you can receive a courtesy notice with the due date via the email address on your account or a text before it is due.
RETURNS
Materials belonging to an OSL library may be returned to any OSL library unless otherwise stated
Portable DVD players, e-readers, and passes borrowed at the North Smithfield Public Library are to be returned to the North Smithfield Public Library. Interlibrary loans that are obtained through the statewide Clearing House from non- OSL libraries should be returned only to the North Smithfield Library since the Library holds the initiative paperwork.
BOOK DROPS
There is a book drop with 2 slots, one for print material and one for audio-visual material, by the front door for returning materials. To avoid damage, audio-visual materials must be returned to the audio-visual drop only. The Library does not guarantee the security of the book drops. Materials deposited in the drops are checked in the following business day.
OVERDUE MATERIAL
An item is overdue when it has not cleared the circulation files of the North Smithfield Public Library on or before the date due and is subject to the following fine schedule:
Books/talking books $ .10 per day
Periodicals $ .10 per day
7-day books $ .10 per day
Circulating reference $ .10 per day
Video tapes and DVDs $.50 per day
Museum passes & portable DVD players $10.00 per day
The maximum fine is $6 per item, except for museum passes, videos, dvd’s and dvd players. The fine for a video, dvd, portable dvd player or museum pass will accrue until the replacement value is reached.
OVERDUE NOTICES
The patron is notified, as a courtesy, two weeks after the material is due. At four weeks, an invoice is sent for the items still outstanding.
OUTSTANDING BALANCES
Borrowers with an outstanding balance of fines or materials over $5.00 are denied borrowing privileges until their accounts are cleared. Parents and legal guardians are responsible also for the accounts or their minor children.
REPLACEMENT COSTS
Lost, damaged or unreturned materials will be billed at full cost.
Damage to library materials is defined as anything beyond normal wear and tear that permanently and/or aesthetically reduces the visual appeal, marketability and usability of an item.
An item which is part of a set may be assessed full replacement cost if full replacement is the only way to return the title to useful service.
The library may accept replacement of lost or damaged material, at the discretion of the Director.
Receipt of payment or replacement is required within 30 days.
Refunds
Any item that was lost and paid for within thirty days of invoicing and subsequently found by the borrower may be eligible for a refund.
Approved 1/24/91
Revised 1/9/19
NEW CARDS
A registration and borrower’s card is available to Rhode Island residents free of charge. Proof of identity and current address is required. Patrons under 14 must have their registration cards signed at the circulation desk by their parent or legal guardian. Out-of-state residents may obtain a restricted North Smithfield Library card for an annual fee of $35.00 or a full service OSL(Ocean State Libraries) card for $155.00 if certain conditions are met per OSL policy:
FULL ACCESS CARD POLICY
A. Full-service cards may be issued free of charge to those individuals meeting one of the following criteria. There is only one full-access card allowed per person:
- Individuals whose residence falls within an OSL member community (Requires proof of residency such as driver’s license, state ID card, utility bills, government correspondence. See OSL Policy #1 Patron ID for further examples.)
- Part-time or non-permanent residents, such as military personnel, college students or summer home renters. (Temporary renters shall be treated like full-time renters, but the card expiration date should match length of stay.)
- Residents of other states who own property (land) in RI and therefore pay property taxes in that community, upon proof of ownership, i.e. current tax bill.
- Employees of Ocean State Libraries and member libraries regardless of their residency.
NEW BORROWERS
Two items with the value not to exceed $95.00 may be borrowed the first time the card is used.
REPLACEMENT CARDS
Cards need replacement when lost, stolen, or damaged. The charge is $1. Please notify the circulation desk when the information listed on your registration is no longer current (change of name, address, or telephone number) so your card can be updated.
RESPONSIBILITIES
You must have your library card with you to borrow material. You are responsible for all items checked out on your card.
RIGHTS
Information about your registration, library use, and borrowing habits are protected under Rhode Island law. Due to national security concerns, under the provisions of the USA Patriot Act (Public Law 107-56), federal agents may obtain this information. Confidentiality of library records and library use is not intended to protect an individual who may carry out an illegal activity in the Library.
LOAN PERIOD
Materials are generally loaned for a three-week period. The exceptions are videos, dvds, portable dvd players, periodicals, and circulating reference materials. Museum passes are due by 10:00 am the day after the pass is used. As a convenience to our patrons, a receipt listing the materials borrowed and their due dates is issued at checkout. Reference books, current newspapers and magazines, and historical collection items do not circulate. The Library reserves the right to limit the number of materials borrowed at any one time, especially in times of heavy demand (school assignments, holidays, etc.).
RESERVES AND INTERLIBRARY LOANS
To request materials owned either locally or at other Rhode Island public Libraries willing to share their collections, OSL card holders can place system- wide holds (reserves) on the OSL system at the library or via the internet at www.nspl.info. Patrons will be notified when their holds have arrived.
Materials not available on the OSL system may be available for interlibrary loan through the statewide Clearing House. Details are available at the circulation desk.
OSL cardholders may also use the collections of any Rhode Island public library
RENEWALS
Most materials are automatically renewed twice, two days before their due date, if there is no reserve on the item. If an item cannot be renewed, you can receive a courtesy notice with the due date via the email address on your account or a text before it is due.
RETURNS
Materials belonging to an OSL library may be returned to any OSL library unless otherwise stated
Portable DVD players, e-readers, and passes borrowed at the North Smithfield Public Library are to be returned to the North Smithfield Public Library. Interlibrary loans that are obtained through the statewide Clearing House from non- OSL libraries should be returned only to the North Smithfield Library since the Library holds the initiative paperwork.
BOOK DROPS
There is a book drop with 2 slots, one for print material and one for audio-visual material, by the front door for returning materials. To avoid damage, audio-visual materials must be returned to the audio-visual drop only. The Library does not guarantee the security of the book drops. Materials deposited in the drops are checked in the following business day.
OVERDUE MATERIAL
An item is overdue when it has not cleared the circulation files of the North Smithfield Public Library on or before the date due and is subject to the following fine schedule:
Books/talking books $ .10 per day
Periodicals $ .10 per day
7-day books $ .10 per day
Circulating reference $ .10 per day
Video tapes and DVDs $.50 per day
Museum passes & portable DVD players $10.00 per day
The maximum fine is $6 per item, except for museum passes, videos, dvd’s and dvd players. The fine for a video, dvd, portable dvd player or museum pass will accrue until the replacement value is reached.
OVERDUE NOTICES
The patron is notified, as a courtesy, two weeks after the material is due. At four weeks, an invoice is sent for the items still outstanding.
OUTSTANDING BALANCES
Borrowers with an outstanding balance of fines or materials over $5.00 are denied borrowing privileges until their accounts are cleared. Parents and legal guardians are responsible also for the accounts or their minor children.
REPLACEMENT COSTS
Lost, damaged or unreturned materials will be billed at full cost.
Damage to library materials is defined as anything beyond normal wear and tear that permanently and/or aesthetically reduces the visual appeal, marketability and usability of an item.
An item which is part of a set may be assessed full replacement cost if full replacement is the only way to return the title to useful service.
The library may accept replacement of lost or damaged material, at the discretion of the Director.
Receipt of payment or replacement is required within 30 days.
Refunds
Any item that was lost and paid for within thirty days of invoicing and subsequently found by the borrower may be eligible for a refund.
Approved 1/24/91
Revised 1/9/19