Circulation Policy

It will be the policy of this Library to define in the following statements only those policies governed by direct action of the Marlboro Free Library Board of Trustees. The methods by which these policies are implemented and the manner in which the daily operation of the Library is conducted are detailed in the Procedure Manual of the Library.

A. Borrowing Privileges

1. Any resident of the Marlboro Central School District or any person working in the community, but not residing therein, may borrow materials from the Marlboro Free Library free of charge.

a. A registration record is maintained including each patron’s name, address, phone number, and place of business (if applicable for non-residents).
b. Proof of identification such as a driver’s license, etc., is required at the time of registration.
c. Adult borrowers are considered those over the age of 16.
d. Juvenile borrowers are considered those under the age of 16, and the signature of a parent or guardian is required at the time of registration
e. The preferred method of checkout is via a barcoded library card. If a registered patron has a photo ID, and the information on the ID matches the information on the patron’s record, checkout can occur. Repeated failure to present a library card may result in denial of borrowing privilege.
f. Each borrower is expected to use their own card and is responsible for all materials borrowed on their card. Unauthorized use of a card may result in referral to local law enforcement.
g. New library cards are issued free of charge. If a card is lost or stolen, the patron should notify the Library as soon as possible. A replacement fee of $5.00 will be charged for lost/stolen or damaged cards. It is the patron’s responsibility to notify the Library regarding lost cards.
h. Library cards are non-transferrable and can only be used by the person whose name appears on the card and library record/registration record, unless explicit permission by the cardholder has been made, as outlined in the Procedure Manual of the Library.

2. Any holder of a card from a library within the Mid-Hudson Library System may borrow materials from the Marlboro Library free of charge, with the exception of special collections.

3. As a member of the Mid-Hudson Library System and the Southeastern New York Library Resources Council, the Marlboro Free Library participates fully in the New York State Inter-Library Loan Network and loans unrestricted materials freely to libraries and patrons outside the System and the region.

4. Beginning January 1, 2012, non-resident Marlboro Free Library patrons, (those living outside the Marlboro Central School District and/or the Mid-Hudson Library System service area) will pay an annual non-resident fee of $50.00 per household. Only one non-resident library card per household will be permitted. Non-resident patrons have the same rights and privileges as school district residents except that:

Marlboro Central School District residents may have priority for all Marlboro Free Library program and trip registration for the first ten days of each registration period. After that time, non-resident patrons are eligible for registration.

5. The borrowing privileges of any patron having overdue materials or a record of unpaid damaged or lost materials will be revoked until the matter is resolved.

6. Library cards will expire every 3 years. In order to renew a card, patrons must confirm their Library card number, address, and phone number or show photo ID that confirms the information on record. The Library adheres to the Mid-Hudson Library System’s residency requirements for new cards and renewals.

7. Residents of the Marlboro Central School District can apply for a temporary digital card, if they do not already have a physical card. In order to receive full access to all Library resources, the digital cardholder must visit the Library within three months to validate their patron record and show proof of residency to receive a physical card.

 

B. Borrowing Rules

The patron borrowing materials from the Library assumes full responsibility for those materials.

1. Loan period for books, audio books, videogames and CDs is 3 weeks.
2. Loan period for periodicals and DVD’s is 1 week.
3. Loan period for item lending and other special collections as determined by the Library Director.
4. Books and other library materials loaned on Inter-Library Loan are loaned for a period determined by the owning library.
5. Reserve items will be held no longer than 7 days.
6. The Library Director may in special cases, limit the patron’s borrowing privileges.
7. Reference and Local History Collection materials are never permitted to leave the Library.
8. In special circumstances such as high demand, assignment need, etc. the borrowing period for any library material may be adjusted by the Library Director.
9. Specified borrowing periods and special borrowing conditions for some Library materials and equipment may be initiated by the Library Director.

 

C. Renewal Rules

1. Patrons must have a library card in good standing in order to renew items.
2. All Library materials except those on reserve or those governed by special regulations, may be renewed in person, by telephone or through the patron’s online library account. The Auto Renewal feature will automatically renew eligible items. Patrons who supply an email address, will be notified of their renewal via Courtesy Notices.
3. Materials from other libraries are governed by the renewal policy rules of the lending library.
4. A patron may be asked to provide ID during card renewal.

 

D. Fines

1. It will be the policy of the Marlboro Free Library not to charge fines for overdue library materials, with the exception of special collections. Patrons will be notified of overdue library materials by email, telephone or by mail. It is the patron’s responsibility to insure the Library has current contact information. The Marlboro Free Library follows the Mid-Hudson Library System’s schedule for overdue and billed items and notices.

 

E. Damaged or Lost Library Materials

1. The Marlboro Free Library charges no fines for overdue library materials. If materials are not returned within the timeline defined by the Mid-Hudson Library System, a bill will be issued for the replacement value of the material(s). The patron’s account will be suspended until the material(s) are returned or paid for in full. Court action may be initiated.
2. If a previously lost and paid for item is found by a patron subsequent to payment, no reimbursement will be issued since processing and reordering procedures have already been accomplished. The “found” item then belongs to the patron.
3. If a book or item is returned in a damaged condition, which makes it impossible for the Library to continue to circulate it, a replacement charge per item will be levied. The item likewise belongs to the patron.
4. The Marlboro Free Library cannot waive overdue, replacement, or manual fees for other libraries or make decisions for accepting replacements on behalf of another library. A “Claims Return” can only be issued by the owning library.
5. Due to costs of processing, replacement fees may be more than the price tag of the material.

 

F. Book Return

A book return is provided for patrons to return materials when the Library is closed.

 

Circulation policy updated on 8/5/2024, 1/14/2020, 08/5/2024