Material Borrowing Policy
Library Cards
Fort Branch-Johnson Township Public Library will provide library cards to those who are eligible. The service area for the library includes Union and Johnson Townships. Multiple types of library cards are available.
Adult
Individuals, 18 years old and older, that are residents of the service area are eligible for a library card at no charge. Fines will apply per policy and the card will be renewed every three years if the patron remains in good standing.
Board Member
Individuals that are current board members are eligible for a library card at no charge. No fines will accrue during the time the person is a board member and the card will be good as long as the person is a member of the library board.
Foster
Individuals that are not original residents but are in foster care in the service area are eligible to have a library card at no charge. Foster parents will have to sign to accept responsibility of the loaned items. Fines will apply per policy and will be renewed yearly if the patron remains in good standing.
Juvenile
Individuals 6 years through 18 years old that live in the service area are eligible for a library card at no charge. A parent or guardian will have to sign to accept responsibility of the loaned items for individuals 6 years through 16 years. There are some limitations on the physical items that can be checked out with this card. Fines will apply per policy and will be renewed every three years if the patron remains in good standing.
Nonresident
Individuals that are not residents of the service area, are eligible for a fee. This fee is a nonresident fee that is calculated annually as set by the Indiana State Library. Fines will apply per policy and the card is good for one calendar year from the purchase of the card. Cards must be purchased every year to continue to use library services.
PLAC, Public Library Access Card
A statewide library card enacted by the Indiana General Assembly in 1993 (Indiana Code 4-23-7.1-5.1). An individual who holds a valid Indiana public library card may purchase a PLAC card. This card allows the card holder to borrow materials directly from any public library in Indiana. The cost of the card is set by the Indiana Library and Historical Board. Fines will apply per policy and the card is good for one year from purchase.
Reciprocal Borrower
Individuals that do not live within the service area but live in Gibson County and have a good standing library card in their service area are eligible for a library card at no charge. The state of Indiana Libraries also have a list of libraries that are on a reciprocal borrowing plan. The Fort Branch-Johnson Township Public Library is on that list and will honor a library card in good standing to anyone on the list at no charge. Fines will apply per policy and will be renewed every year if the patron remains in good standing.
Staff
Current staff is eligible for a library card at no charge. No fines will accrue during their employment. The card will be good as long as the person is employed.
Student
Individuals that are not residents of the service area but attend school in the service area, are eligible for a library card at no charge. Parents or guardians will have to sign to accept responsibility of the loaned items. Fines will apply per policy and will be renewed yearly if the patron remains in good standing.
Teacher
Individuals that are not residents of the service area but teach school in the service area, are eligible for a library card at no charge. Fines will apply per policy and will be renewed yearly if the patron remains in good standing.
All library card holders are responsible for:
- Informing the library of name and address changes
- Caring for and returning all items checked out on their library card and for any minor that they signed responsibility for
- Notifying the library of stolen or lost cards. In not reported, the card owner is responsible for all items checked out on the card
- Paying all fines and fees incurred on their account
Borrowing Materials
Materials can be borrowed with a valid library card.
Loan periods and renewals
- The standard loan period for most items is 2 weeks with up to 2 renewals if the item is not on hold for other library users.
- Exceptions may include loan periods for new or popular items, special formats, equipment, digital downloads, streaming content and materials obtained through resources sharing with other libraries or agencies.
Borrowing limits
- The maximum number of physical items that can be borrowed with any valid library card to one household is 50 items.
- Borrowing limits may be placed on card holders that have had multiple events of poor standing with the library. This will be done at the Director’s discretion.
- Electronic download borrowing limits are placed by the vendor.
- Borrowing limits for items obtained through resource sharing with other libraries, such as Interlibrary Loan, are determined by the lending library.
Fines & Fees
- Fine rate: 5 cents per day for a book and 1 dollar a day for a DVD.
- If an item has not been returned after checkout and 2 renewals, a fine will start to accrue on the card holder’s account.
- If a physical item is not returned after exhausting all renewal periods plus 30 more days, the patron will be responsible for the fee equal to the replacement cost of the item.
- Fines and Fees can be negotiated with the Director upon request.
- Fines and Fees will remain on a person’s account for life of the patron and their library card will not be deleted from the circulation system.
Suspended Library Cards
- If the fines and fees accrue to over $10, then the patron’s card becomes inactive until the account is paid in full or with less than $10 remaining on the account.
- Accounts will be reactivated after the fines and fees have been settled.
- If a patron finds the physical material after settling the fines and fees, the patron may keep the physical material. No refunds will be given.
Confidentiality of Borrower Records
Library card account information is not disclosed or shared with anyone other than the cardholder unless:
- The cardholder provides their consent
- Requested by an authorized agency with a valid legal documentation, such as a subpoena or warrant.
- Requested by the adult parent or guardian of a minor paying fees or recovering lost items.