Library Policies

Obtaining a Library Card  

All residents of Brown County are eligible for a free library card. All cards are valid for one year. Proper identification, including a photograph, must be presented to obtain a library card. Acceptable identification includes: 

• Valid Indiana Driver’s License which displays a current address 
• Valid Indiana State ID which displays a current address 
• Current government issued photo ID (e.g. military, passport) 

 If the provided photo identification does not display a current physical address, one item from the list below must also be presented at the same time.  

• Valid Brown County voter registration card 
• Apartment lease signed within the last 60 days 
• Bank statement issued within the last 60 days 
• Utility bill issued within the last 60 days 
• Property tax receipt 

• Printed personal check 
• First-class mail  postmarked within the last 60 days 

A patron must present a library card (or the digital image of the library card stored on an electronic device) which is in good standing with fines under $10.00 to borrow materials. Patrons may check out materials without a library card by presenting a photo ID or providing their full name, address, and telephone number. 

At the request of a parent or guardian, a child, at any age, may receive a library card. A parent or guardian must sign for a child’s card until the child reaches the age of 18. Parents or guardians must first provide proof of their own residency as they are ultimately responsible for any fines accrued on the child’s card. Every effort is made to place materials in the appropriate collection. However, it should be understood that books and other materials from the adult and the young adult collections are readily available to children. Many of these materials contain mature language, images, and themes or depict adult situations. It is the responsibility of the parents or guardians to limit their child’s access to library materials if they so choose. Library staff will not prohibit minors from accessing or borrowing such materials with the exception of DVD restrictions listed in this policy. 

A patron may allow access for others to use their card if requested in person or over the phone and noted on their account. These individuals will be listed on the account as authorized users. In addition, if someone presents a library card that is not their own, the library assumes permission has been given by the library card holder and will proceed with checkouts unless a note has been made on the account stating otherwise.  

Confidentiality of Patron and Circulation Records 

Library staff members are not authorized to disclose patron and circulation records to a third party. However, the parent or guardian of a minor under the age of 18 may have access to the records of their child.  

By Indiana law (IC 5-14-3-4(b)), all records relating to library patrons and their use of library materials and services are confidential. No such records shall be made available to any agency of state, federal, or local government, or to any individual not specifically authorized by the director, 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 investigatory power.  

The library recognizes that certain federal laws, including the Patriot Act, may allow federal law enforcement officials to access records, including those of libraries, through means outside of those defined by state law. 

Patron Responsibility 

Patrons are responsible for the care and return of all materials checked out on their Library card. Patrons agree to return materials borrowed from the Library by the stated date and in reasonably the same condition as the materials were in when borrowed. Patrons are fully responsible for any damage or loss of materials checked out to them.  Fines for damaged or lost materials will be applied to the patron’s account.  

Materials returned to other libraries, such as a school library, remain the responsibility of the patron and will remain on the patron’s account until returned to the library. 

Patrons must use library materials, including DVDs in accordance with all applicable copyright laws. The library is not responsible for any damage caused to the patron’s DVD, Blu-Ray, CD player, or other equipment due to use of library materials. 

 Patrons should notify the library if there is a change of name, address, or phone number or if their card is lost or stolen. The cost of a replacement card is $1.00. 

Checking Out Items 

All circulating materials in the library’s collection are available for checkout to any patron with a valid library card with some exceptions. Limits may be set for certain types of items or for different patron types.  

Checkout periods 

A patron must present a card in good standing (fines under $10.00) to check out materials. All items are loaned out for three weeks with the exception of the Lucky Duck collection, non-instructional DVDs, and museum passes, which are loaned for one week  

Limits 

All patrons are allowed to have 50 items checked out on their library card at any one time. Patrons with an Adult card (18 and over) may check out a maximum of  10 DVDs, patrons with a Teen card (13-17) or a Child card (0-12) card can check out a maximum of 3 DVDs.  

Only adult cards can checkout R rated and Not Rated films and TV shows. Teen cards can check out G, PG, PG13 feature films, documentary films and TV series rated TV PG and below. Child cards can check out movies located in the Juvenile DVD collection, only. 

Renewals 

An item will be automatically renewed twice if there are no existing holds on it. Renewal requests may be made by phone (verification of phone number and address listed on their account will be required), in person, or online using the “My Account” feature located on our website.  

Renewals extend the loan period of the item for the same amount of time as the original checkout period, three weeks for all items with the exception of the Lucky Duck collection, non-instructional DVDs, and museum passes.  

Holds  

Library patrons may place hold requests on items currently check out from the library. Hold requests may be made by phone (verification of phone number and address listed on the account will be required), in person, or online using the “My Account” feature located on our website. 

 Most patron types can have up to 10 items on hold at any one time. Hold requests will be cancelled after 90 days if not fulfilled. Patrons will be notified by phone when the item becomes available. Items will be held for 7 days after they become available. Items cannot be reserved for a specific date. 

Non-circulating Items 

Newspapers may not be checked out from the library. Books that have been designated for reference use do not circulate. However, the library staff may grant exceptions to this rule. Up to five pages of any general reference, Indiana reference, and Brown County reference material may be copied at no charge. Some genealogy and Indiana history materials, such as microfilms do not circulate. 

Interlibrary Loan 

Titles not available in the collection may be requested through Inter-Library Loan (ILL). Renewals are generally not allowed on ILL requests, however exceptions may be allowed on a case by case basis. Most patron types can have up to 10 ILL items on hold at any one time. Fines for lost or damaged items are assessed by the lending library.  

Returning Materials 

All items may be returned in the book drop when the library is closed. Though juvenile Launchpads should be returned inside the Library when possible to avoid damage to the screens. Library book drops are emptied three times a day, including once before the before the library opens.  

Overdue Notices 

Materials eligible for renewal will be automatically renewed twice if there no holds have been placed on the items. Materials are considered overdue if not received one day after the stated due date. Materials are considered long-overdue at day 30 and will be marked lost on day 90. 

Patrons are notified by email, phone, or by mail (dependent upon patron preferences) of overdue items. Additionally, three overdue notices will be mailed as a courtesy from the library.  An invoice is mailed at 90 days to inform patrons that the materials will now be marked lost. These patron accounts will reflect the replacement cost of the items. However, if all items are brought back in good condition, the replacement cost will be waived. 

The library will accept the following forms of payment for fines accrued:  

• Cash  
• Personal check made out to the “Brown County Public Library.” 

Failure to receive notices does not exempt patrons from the responsibility of payment for damaged or lost library materials. 

Lost and Damaged Materials 

To maintain a collection of appealing items in good repair for public use, the library assesses fines for lost or damaged materials. Borrowing privileges are suspended if a patron account has a fine of $10.00 or more.  

An item will be marked lost if a patron notifies the library that they are unable to locate the item. A replacement cost will be charged to the patron’s account. No refund will be given to a patron for a found lost item for which a patron has paid.  

If returned materials are damaged to the extent they cannot be put back on the shelf the patron will be charged the replacement cost of the item. The patron is eligible to keep the damaged copy once it has been paid for.  

Items returned with replaceable missing parts or repairable damage may be assessed a charge for the replacement part or repair. The replacement cost for damaged or missing CDs is $10.00 per disc, Playaway battery covers cost .50, and locking DVD cases cost $2.25. If parts cannot be replaced, the patron will be charged the replacement cost of the entire item.  

The library does accept replacements in lieu of payment for lost or damaged items. However, it must be an exact replacement copy or it will not be accepted. Arrangements must be made ahead of the purchase. Used items are not accepted. 

Waiving Fines 

The library staff may waive, reduce or provide a payment plan for damaged or lost material fines if extenuating circumstances so warrant. This may result in limiting the number of items a patron may checkout until fines have been paid down. The library may also choose to waive fines for promotional reasons. 

Claims Returned or Claims Not Checked Out 

If a patron believes in good faith that they have returned an item yet the library is unable to locate it, the item will be marked Claims Returned on the patron’s account. Additionally, if a patron believes in good faith that they never checked out an item listed on their account, the item will be marked Claims Not Checked Out. In both cases, this removes all fees associated with the item from the patron’s account.