It is the library’s policy to limit patrons to one card/one account per person.
Any resident of the city of Pontiac, Illinois, may have a borrower’s card by filling out an application form and furnishing 2 forms of identification, one of which must be a photo ID showing current residency. Examples of acceptable documents are: a current Illinois driver’s license or Illinois ID card, a voter’s registration card, current lease contract, checkbook, paycheck stub, or current utility bill. Until they are the age of 18, individuals must have a parent or legal guardian furnish proof of residency. The applicant must be present when issuing a card. A resident borrower’s card is valid for three (3) years from month of issue.
Residents of Avoca, Esmen, Owego, Pike, Rooks Creek, and Eppards Point townships are entitled to a non-resident borrower’s card at no charge, as long as those townships continue to pay the non-resident card fee. Residents of Avoca and Owego townships must bring in their letter from the township supervisor in order to issue and renew the card.
Any Illinois resident residing in an area without public library service may purchase a non-resident library card. This card must be purchased from the public library closest to the resident’s home. When in doubt about which library is closest, the public library serving the patron’s school district shall sell the non-resident card. Once a non-resident card has been purchased, all members of a non-resident borrower’s household are entitled to an individual borrower’s card upon completion of an application. A non-resident card is valid for one (1) year from date of issue, in accordance with Public Act 92-0166.
Hold materials must be picked up by the person requesting the materials, or by a family member/caretaker presenting the requesting patron’s card.
Library materials will circulate according to the following schedule:
- Books – 2 weeks
- Magazines – 2 weeks
- DVDs & Videos – 1 week
- Audiobooks – 2 weeks
- Music – 2 weeks
There is no limit to the amount of reading material a borrower may take out at one time. There is a limit of five (5) DVDs per account, a limit of five (5) CDs per account, and a limit of five (5) audiobooks per account. Renewals are permitted subject to the following guidelines: items that have a hold or reserve placed on them may not be renewed, and reading materials may be renewed only twice.
Patrons are not allowed to present multiple cards in order to exceed material loan limits unless all patrons to whom the cards belong are present.
Fines
Fines shall be charged for each day an item is overdue. Fines shall be computed according to the following schedule:
- DVDs – 50 cents per day
- All other items – 25 cents per day
A borrower with fines/fees may have borrowing privileges suspended once the fine amount has reached $5.00.
A $2.00 charge shall be made to replace lost library cards or cards that are so damaged so as to be unusable.
Lost and Damaged Materials
Materials borrowed are the responsibility of the library patron. Replacement cost (not original purchase price) is the responsibility of any patron who borrows and loses any library material. In the case of children under the age of 18, it is the parent or guardian’s responsibility to pay for lost or damaged items.
Overdues
Items that are overdue are assessed fines as described above. A borrower with overdue material may have borrowing privileges suspended until the material is returned and all charges are paid.
Privacy
The registration and circulation records of the library are confidential information. Except pursuant to court order, no person shall publish or make any information contained in such records available to the public. The library may publish or make available to the public reasonable statistical reports regarding library registration and book circulation, where those reports are presented so that no individual is identified therein.