Circulation Policies
2.B. Circulation Of Materials
Residency Requirements
Any resident of Abernathy is eligible to use the library and check out materials. Photo identification and proof of address is required. There is no charge.
Check out at your own risk. Librarian/City will not be responsible for content or materials in books or on the internet.
Circulation Period And Renewals
The circulation period is two weeks for all materials.
Materials may be renewed for one more circulation period if not reserved by another library patron.
Number of Materials that may be Checked Out
Total of 3 items per circulation period Limit of 2—DVDs per circulation period
Reference Materials
Reference materials may be used only in the library.
Reserves
Reserves are taken on most circulating materials in the library. Upon locating a reserved item, the library will call the patron once, then send a card if the call proves unsuccessful. The patron is allowed seven days from the day after mailing to pick up the reserved item.
Confidentiality Of Library Records
All library records are confidential regardless of patron's age. In accordance with First Amendment guarantees, names of patrons and information about materials checked out will be protected under the laws of the State and the Nation.
Fines and Fees
A fine of 10¢ per day will be charged per item—up to a maximum of $5.00 per item checked out, or half the price of the item checked out. Three days of grace will be given before fines will be imposed.
Library loan fines will be paid by the patron.
Patron will be unable to check out materials or use Internet services if there are unpaid fines.
All injuries to library materials beyond reasonable wear and all losses shall be paid to the satisfaction of the librarian.
Lost, Damaged, and Overdue Materials
The Library is invested under the Public Library Act to provide, by ordinance, fines and penalties for injury to any book or other library material, or to any real or personal property belonging to or in the custody of the library, and for failure to return any book or other material or personal property belonging to or in the custody of the library and to exclude from the use of the library any person who willfully violates the rules prescribed by the Librarian. The purpose of this policy is to prevent, discourage, and prohibit the injury to any book or library material or property, real or personal, and the failure to return any book or library material or property to the library. Therefore, the policy of the Abernathy Public Library is as follows:
Section 1:
Any person who shall fail to return in undamaged condition any materials belonging to or originally borrowed from the custody of the library shall be punished as herein provided:
A. Fines--(Books, periodicals, dvds, cds, and audio discs)
10 cents per item per day—with a maximum fine of $3.00 per item
B. Lost Materials--(Books, periodicals, dvds, cds, and audio discs) replacement cost
C. Damaged Materials
(a) If items are returned in damaged condition that makes them unusable--value or replacement cost;
(b) If items are returned in damaged condition but can be mended--damages shall be paid to the satisfaction and of the librarian;
Section 2.
The term "replacement cost" used in Section 1 above is the price the library must pay to obtain another copy of the item, as listed in Books in Print, Paper bound Books in Print, and such sources.
If the particular title is no longer available, the cost is a figure based on the average price of such an item, as listed in Bowker's Annual, so that the library may obtain another title of a similar nature.
Section 3.
In addition to the foregoing, in the event that any person's failure to return any book or library material, in an undamaged condition, is determined to be willful, the Director of the Library shall report such violation to the State's Attorney for prosecution pursuant to the applicable terms of the Texas Criminal Code and shall exclude such person from further use of the library or any privileges attendant thereto until full restitution to the library has been made. For purposes of this section, "willful" is to mean "without good cause."
Section 4.
All fines and penalties for the commission of injury upon the library, its grounds, or the property thereof shall be paid into the general fund of the library or the body enforcing this ordinance.
2.C. Copyright Compliance
Notice: Warning concerning copyright restrictions
The Copyright Law of the United States (Title 17, United States Code) governs the making of photocopies or other reproduction of copyrighted material.
Under certain conditions specified in the law, libraries and archives are authorized to furnish a photocopy or other reproduction. One of these specified conditions is that the photocopy or reproduction is not to be “used for any purpose other than private study, scholarship, or research.” If a user makes a request for, or later uses, a photocopy or reproduction for purposes in excess of “fair use”, that user may be liable for copyright infringement.