| About Library Card Borrowers'
Rights and Responsibilities |
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|
Application,
Policies, & Fines |
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Policies
updated
December 13, 2007
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| The
first library card is free and available to all
Maryland residents. There is no age limit. Identification
is needed showing a current mailing address.
A guardian's signature is required if the cardholder
is under age 18. Customers who live outside
the state of Maryland may obtain a library card
for an annual fee of $5.00 for children up to
age 18 and senior citizens age 60 or older
and $20.00 for adults. Some exceptions apply.
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|
Application
Form (PDF File) |
| The borrower
or his/her guardian is responsible for the security
and condition of the materials checked out on the
borrower's card. HCPL cards can be used at any
branch in the county system and at other Maryland
public libraries subject to their current policies
and procedures.You may download the , complete it, and return to any
HCPL library. Since identification is required
to register for a card, online registration is
not available. |
(lost or stolen)
Juvenile Card $1.00
Adult Card $2.00
The computer system blocks a card
if the owner of the card owes accumulated fines and
fees of $10.00 or more. A person may regain full borrowing
privileges with 100% payment. Those who pay 50%
or more may check out two books. Less than 50% payment
results in suspension of borrowing privileges until
the charges are reduced by 50%.
A person must be 14 years or older to borrow adult DVDs/VTs.
A person must be 18 years or older to borrow audiovisual
equipment.
| (Personal Identification Number) |
|
| A Personal
Identification Number (PIN) enables customers to review
their library card accounts online,
to view items charged, place requests, and renew
most items. Customers may also access their
accounts via telephone QuikChek 410-638-3151.
The default customer PIN number is the last four
digits of the phone number on record. Customers
with exceptions or who have made changes to the
personal PIN number and forgotten or lost the
PIN will need to contact the library at 410-638-3151
or contact WebServices@hcplonline.info. |
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| Books and most other items are loaned for 21 days.
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| |
Exceptions
include: |
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|
Entertainment
DVDs and videotapes |
3
days |
| |
DVD sets with
3 or more discs |
7 days |
| |
Audiovisual
equipment |
7 days |
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|
Puzzles,
toys, games, etc. |
7 days |
|
| (number of items) |
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| Customers may generally borrow
items in unlimited quantities. Exceptions are
listed below: |
| |
Audiovisual
equipment |
2 |
| |
DVDs |
10 |
| |
CD ROMs |
10 |
| |
Audio books |
10 |
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| Most
materials may
be renewed for a second, consecutive
loan period if they are not on reserve for another
customer. Renewals can be done in person at any
branch, over the phone by calling 410.638-3151,
or online at
My Account. |
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Reserves (or requests) can be placed on most
of circulating materials. Customers may place
their own reserves using a computer while visiting
the Harford County
Public Library web site catalog. The customer
will receive a computer-generated telephone
notification or e-mail when the material becomes
available. A customer can sign-up for e-mail
notification by accessing My Account
and clicking My Profile.
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|
Items
may be returned to any Harford County Public Library
or to any public library in Maryland regardless
of where they were originally checked out. One
exception is audiovisual equipment which must be
returned to the branch from which it was checked
out.
The library does not assume responsibility for
items left in mailboxes or at the door. |
| |
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| A daily
fine is charged for each item that is overdue. |
| Children's materials |
15¢ per day |
| Adult materials |
20¢ per day |
| Exceptions: |
|
| CD ROM, DVD, videotape |
$2.00 per day |
| Audiovisual equipment |
$5.00 per day |
| Reference materials |
$15.00 per day |
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|
| Juvenile magazine, pamphlet |
$1.00 |
| Adult magazine, newspaper,
pamphlet |
$2.00 |
| Juvenile book, cassette,
cassette book, compact disc and toys |
$3.00 |
| Adult book, cassette,
audio book or compact disc |
$5.00 |
| CD ROM, videotape |
$15.00 |
| DVD |
$25.00 |
| Audiovisual equipment |
$50.00 |
| Reference materials |
$75.00 |
| A group of overdue materials
on one card returned and paid at the same
time if not in collection status |
$25.00 |
| Fines will not
exceed the cost of the item. A person who
has a special courtesy card is not charged
fines. |
The charge is the cost of the item plus $5.00 processing
fee.
Any item damaged beyond repair is handled as a
lost item. If the item is repairable, $5.00 is
charged. Damage to non-print material is assessed
on an item-by-item basis. The library is not responsible
for personal equipment damaged by library materials.
$1.00 fee per label or tag on library materials
$10.00 fee for returned checks
20¢ per page
The library faxes answers to information questions
for $.25 per page. The fee is added to the borrower's
record. The library provides faxing service to
the public. The fee is $1.00 for each page including
the cover sheet for local calls and $2.00 per page
for long distance calls.
$1.00 fee for computer disks |
|
Customers receive
a computer-generated email or phone call regarding
materials that are overdue. The computer leaves
a message if a phone call is answered by an answering
machine. A customer can sign-up online to receive
email notification by going to My
Account and clicking
on My Profile.
For materials which remain overdue, or fines
and fees which remain unpaid, the library will
send a written final bill. The customer has
7 days to return the materials and pay all outstanding
fines or fees.
After 7 days, the account is forwarded to a collection
agency if the customer owes $25.00 or more and
has not cleared his or her record. A $10.00
non-refundable fee is added to the account.
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It is the policy of
the Harford County Public Library Board of Trustees
that library users may expect a high quality of
service. This includes:
- Reliable Information
- Courtesy
- Access to materials and information in other
libraries and agencies
- Consideration of suggestions, complaints,
and praise
- Confidentiality of individual records of materials
used
- An atmosphere conducive to use of the library
To facilitate the appropriate use of the library
by the public, the Harford County Public Library
Board of Trustees expects library users to observe
these basic rules of behavior:
- Be considerate of others
- Demonstrate conduct appropriate to the library
- Use library materials and property responsibly
- Smoke outside
- Leave pets outside
- Appropriate attire is required
We reserve the right to inspect packages and bags
before they leave the building. |
Revised
December 13, 2007
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