18, 2003 Circulation Policy
J. Robert Jamerson Memorial Library

I. Registration and Borrowing Regulations
A. Any Virginia resident is entitled to free library services and may apply for a library card in person at the J. Robert Jamerson Memorial Library of Appomattox, Virginia.
B. Upon application for a library card, an applicant is required to show two forms of identification. One should include photo identification, if possible. At least one form of identification should indicate current address. Children under the age of 18 must have the signature of a responsible parent or guardian, who must be in good standing if they have a library card.
C. Patrons may check out three books and one video on the day of registration. Once the patron has returned the initial materials, he or she will hold full library privileges.
D. The library card issued in the patron’s name should be presented when borrowing items from the Library. To check out a library book without showing a library card, the patron must present proper identification.
E. Each adult borrower is responsible for all items charged out on his or her card.
F. When a patron is under the age of 18, a parent or guardian will be responsible for all items checked out on a minor’s card, for payment of charges incurred on the account, and for the appropriateness of materials, including electronic information.
G. No person shall damage or fail to return a book, magazine, audiocassette tape, videocassette tape, or any other library material borrowed from the Library (Code of Virginia, Sections 42.1-72, 42.1-74).
H. No person shall abuse a library card issued by the Library. Abuse of a library card shall consist of any of the following acts:
1. Obtaining or attempting to obtain a library card by means of false identification or address.
2. Using or attempting to use a library card without the permission of the person to whom it was issued.
3. Using or attempting to use a library card which has been revoked.
I. Residents of other states and countries may obtain a library card by showing photo identification, proof of local address, and proof of home address. All policies and regulations are identical to those of a Virginia resident.
II. Confidentiality of Library Records
A. The J. Robert Jamerson Memorial Library will protect, as far as possible, the privacy of any patron who uses the Library’s resources. The Library will keep patron records solely for the purpose of protecting library property. This policy includes, but is not restricted to, information on borrower’s registration cards, interlibrary loan requests, and Internet transactions.
1. Library personnel shall not disclose the Library's circulation records and their contents as pertaining to individual patrons, the number or character of questions asked by a patron, the frequency of a patron's visits to the library, or a patron's name, address, or telephone number to any other individual, corporation, institution, government agent or agency except as provided in the Section II.C.
2. Patrons have the right to receive information about their own records but must first provide personal identification. Acceptable identification includes a library card, a driver's license, or validation of personal information in the patron's record. Patrons who wish to pay fines for family members may be told the amount only. Information provided over the telephone shall be limited to the number of items charged to a patron and the amount of fines, after the patron has given his or her name and library card number.
B. The Library Board of Trustees establishes this policy in accordance with the Code of Virginia 2.1-342(b)(7) that exempts library records from the Virginia Freedom of Information Act; both library records that can be used to identify both (i) any library patron who has borrowed material from a library and (ii) the material such patron borrowed.
C. Such records shall not be made available to any agency of state, federal, or local government or any individual except pursuant to such process, order, or subpoena as may be authorized under the authority of, and pursuant to, federal, state, or local law relating to civil, criminal, or administrative discovery procedures or legislative investigative power. Upon receipt of any process, order, or subpoena seeking library records, the Library Director and the Commonwealth Attorney of Appomattox County will determine if such process, order, or subpoena is in proper legal form.
D. Parents or legal guardians may have access to the records of their minor children.
III. Loan of Library Materials
A. Circulation Limits of Library Materials
1. Patrons are limited to twenty (20) books and/or magazines.
2. Patrons are limited to two (2) books that are designated as "new" by the Library Director.
3. Patrons are limited to two (2) videos.
4. Patrons are limited to three (3) audiobooks.
5. Patrons are limited to three (3) compact discs.
6. Reference materials do not circulate nor do the current issues of magazines.
B. Loan Period
1. Books, magazines, and audiobooks circulate for twenty-one (21) days.
2. Books designated as "new" circulate for seven (7) days.
3. Videos and compact discs are loaned for seven (7) days.
C. Renewals
1. Items can be renewed in person or by telephone.
2. Books, magazines, and audiobooks may by renewed twice.
3. Videos and compact discs may be renewed once.
4. Items that have "holds" may not be renewed.
5. Items that are marked as "new" may be renewed once for seven (7) days.
D. Holds
1. A reservation system for library materials is available, and patrons can place a "hold" on library materials in person, on the telephone, or online.
2. The patron will be notified by telephone or by mail when the requested item has arrived.
3. The requested item will be held at the circulation desk for one (1) week after initial contact has been made or for two (2) weeks if contact has not been possible.
4. The library material will be reshelved or circulated to the next patron on the list if the item has not retrieved within the designated time frame.
IV. Fines and Fees for Library Materials
A. Overdue Library Materials
1. Books, magazines, audiobooks, and compact discs - $.25 per day ($5.00 maximum per item, not to exceed cost of item)
2. Videos - $1.00 per day ($10.00 maximum per video, not to exceed cost of video)
3. Patrons with responsibility for library material which is more than 90 days overdue are also responsible for any and all collection and/or court costs incurred by the Library in its efforts to secure the return of the library material.
B. Library Card Replacement - $1.50
C. Damaged and Lost Library Materials – If current prices cannot be found for lost or damaged items, the following average replacement prices will be charged:
1. Adult Nonfiction Hardback - $20.00
2. Adult Nonfiction Paperback - $10.00
3. Adult Fiction Hardback - $18.00
4. Adult Fiction Paperback - $10.00
5. Large Print (Adult and Juvenile) - $22.00
6. Juvenile Nonfiction Hardback - $15.00
7. Juvenile Nonfiction Paperback - $10.00
8. Juvenile Fiction Hardback - $12.00
9. Juvenile Fiction Paperback - $5.00
10. Easy Reader - $10.00
11. Picture Book - $10.00
12. Magazine - replacement cost
13. Videos - $10.00 per videocassette or DVD
14. Audiocassette - $10.00 per cassette
15. Compact disc - $15.00 per compact disc
V. Damaged and Lost Library Materials
A. Materials borrowed are the responsibility of the library patron as are any costs associated with the damage or loss of library material. In the case of children under the age of 18, the parent or guardian is responsible for paying for lost or damaged items on the child’s account.
B. Damaged Library Materials – If an item is damaged, the borrower may be charged up to the replacement value of the item as well as any accrued fines.
C. Lost Library Materials
1. A borrower who cannot locate an item at the time an overdue notice is received may formally report it “lost,” thereby stopping the fine. If the item is not found, the price of the item will be charged to the borrower. Overdue fines will be waived.
2. A $3.00 processing fee shall be charged in addition to the replacement charge for each item lost.
3. Upon payment for a “lost” item, a receipt will be issued to the patron. If within three months of payment, an item is returned in good condition along with the official receipt, the purchase price of the item shall be refunded.
VI. Overdue Library Materials
A. Patrons will be charged according to the rates in Section IV.A for library materials not returned to the Library by the due date.
B. The first notice will be sent when library materials are 30 days overdue.
C. The second notice will be sent when library materials are 60 days overdue.
D. The third notice will be sent when library materials are 90 days overdue. This letter will include a copy of the relevant sections of the Code of Virginia. (See Section VI.E.) The patron then has 30 days to return the library materials and to pay any outstanding fines.
E. The Library reserves the right to pursue and recover overdue accounts and materials by prosecuting offending patrons according to Virginia law for library offenses (Sections 42.1-72 to 42.1-74.1 in the Code of Virginia) and/or by forwarding the account to the Commonwealth of Virginia Department of Taxation Setoff Debt Collection Program as established by Sections 58.1-520 to 58.1-535 in the Code.

VII. Use of library facilities
A. Patrons with fines on their accounts are not allowed to check out additional materials from the library.
B. Patrons with fines on their accounts who pay part of their balance due will be allowed use of the computer facilities. Patrons must pay either a minimum of $2.00 or 10% of what they owe in order to use the computers in the library.
C. Patrons with fines on their accounts are allowed use of library facilities such as the reading materials as long as there are not additional problems with their accounts such as behavioral issues.

Adopted by the J. Robert Jamerson Memorial Library Board of Trustees on December 14, 2000; Revised on November 20, 2001; Revised on April 16, 2002; Revised on September 17, 2002; Revised on March 18,2003;Revised on June 20, 2006