CHECK-OUT
A patron must present a card each time they wish to borrow materials and their account must be in good standing to borrow materials.
In most cases, a maximum of 100 items may be checked out simultaneously on an Evergreen Indiana library card. There is a maximum limit of 10 DVDs, 10 videos, 6 art and 1 gaming software items per Evergreen Indiana library card. Borrowing limits are calculated at the consortium level and not at the library level.
If a patron forgets their Evergreen Indiana card, they should:
- Return to the library after retrieving their library card (in this instance, materials may be held for a limited time pending the patron’s return).
- Purchase a replacement library card for two dollars ($2). (See procedures above for issuing replacement library card.)
RETURNS for CHECK IN
Borrowed books and video materials being returned should be left with a staff member at the Circulation Desk to be checked back in. Borrowed library items may also be left in the Library’s Drop Box at the front entrance of the building whenever the library is closed.
COLLECTIONS
The Library is entitled to seek recompense for their materials when lost and/or damaged by a patron regardless of the patron’s home library. Patrons borrowing materials from other libraries may be referred to a collections agency by the owning library in the case of lost or damaged items.
PURGING OF INACTIVE PATRON RECORDS
Patron accounts are automatically marked inactive whenever a patron’s privilege expires and has not been renewed or updated. Patron accounts that do not reflect fines or fees, items checked out or claims returned activity will be deleted three (3) years after being marked inactive.
LOSS OF PRIVILEGES
A patron’s access to materials may be limited due to overdue materials or fines and fees. A patron’s card will be blocked, and no circulation services may be obtained with it if the patron has 15 or more overdue items, or owes $10 or more in unpaid fines and/or fees. The number of overdue materials and/or amount of fines/fees that will result in a patron being “blocked” is calculated at the consortium level and not at the library level. A patron’s card may be “blocked” if related group or family member cards are “blocked.”
A patron may also be “barred” if circumstances warrant.
FINES/FEES
To encourage the prompt return of materials, the Evergreen Indiana libraries have established a schedule of fines and fees as an encouragement for the timely return of materials by their due dates. Overdue materials incur fines of 25¢ per day per item with a $10.00 fine cap per item.
PAYING FINES/FEES
Evergreen Indiana library fines and fees may be paid at any Evergreen library. Patrons may pay all or a portion of overdue fines. A patron’s record will remain blocked or barred until the fines and fees are paid or the patron has resolved the matter with the particular library to restore his or her privileges. A patron may be (or remain) “blocked” if related group or family member cards are “blocked.”
OVERDUE NOTICES
Overdue notices are sent as a courtesy from the Evergreen Indiana Libraries. Failure to receive notices does not exempt patrons from the responsibility for payment for library materials or overdue fines and fees.
LOST ITEMS
A patron may inform library staff that an item is “LOST.” The price of the item and any outstanding fines and fees, plus a processing fee of $10.00 per item, will be assessed to the patron’s card. Patrons are encouraged to notify the library that an item is “LOST” to stop the accruing of additional overdue fines. On issuance of the 45-day notice or declaration of loss or damage, the associated circulation fees are reassigned to the owning library.
Some Evergreen Indiana Libraries have contracted with third party vendors for collection services. If third party collection services are used, a fee for collection services will be added to the patron’s record.
RECOVERING LOST ITEMS AND REFUNDING PAYMENT
No refund will be given to a patron for a “Lost” item for which a patron has paid. In addition, no fines/fees and third party collection fees will be refunded.
RENEWALS
Renewal requests may be made in person, by phone or via the online catalog “My Account” feature.
Certain categories of materials are not eligible for renewal. If a “HOLD” has been placed on an item, it may not be renewed.
HOLDS AND INTRA-EVERGREEN INDIANA LENDING
Evergreen cardholders in the resident, non-resident, PLAC, outreach, temp and staffcard profiles have full access to the consortium and may place holds on any Evergreen library’s holdable materials. Reciprocal borrower, student, transitional, or teacher profile cardholders may place holds only on the materials owned by the library that issued the library card.
Holds may be placed on most items in any Evergreen Indiana library (see list of exceptions below). Patrons will have one week after the hold is filled to pick up the held item. Some Evergreen Indiana libraries may impose a fee for failure to pick up a hold.
Patrons may have 20 unfilled holds in the system.
Evergreen Indiana does not allow holds to be placed on the following items by any patron:
Evergreen Indiana does not allow Evergreen Indiana library patrons to place holds that would generate Intra-Evergreen Indiana [transiting] loans on the following item categories:
These items may be borrowed by any Evergreen Indiana library card holder. It is the responsibility of the patron to proceed to the owning library and check out the material.
Some libraries may place a six-month age protection on new items. Local patrons may place holds on such items. Non-local patrons may place holds on such items, but the materials will not be transited until the six-month age protection expires. Non-local patrons may place a hold on such an item, select the owning library as the pickup location, and proceed to the owning library to check out the item.
Patrons may place their own holds via the OPAC, and may select their pickup location and notification method. The software will refuse holds requests which do not conform to Evergreen Indiana policies. Patrons may choose any pickup location for holds.
Patrons whose Evergreen Indiana cards are “blocked” or “barred” will not be allowed to place holds until their card privileges are restored.