Access to Library Services

General Information about Library Cards All residents within the Winnebago Public Library District are eligible to apply for a two-year library card (portion of your taxes go WPL). Library cards are non-transferable. All items borrowed are the responsibility of the individual to whom the card is issued. Youth (under age 18) registrations must be signed in person by a parent or guardian. Signature indicate an acceptance of responsibility for: the youth’s use of all library resources including access to the Internet • supervision of the youth’s choice of materials borrowed • return of all materials when due • all losses and damages to materials and equipment borrowed Non-residents may purchase a one-year, non-resident card. Non-residents are defined as a person who resides outside the taxing area of a public library. The price of the non-resident card is determined by a formula standard to all public libraries in Illinois, which may change from year to year, and will vary from one library to another. Patrons whose taxes go to other libraries are considered reciprocal borrowers. They will be issued a library card that will expire in one year from the date of issue. Such patrons will not be entitled to reserve material or request materials through Interlibrary loans. Library Card Registration and Responsibility At least two documents with acceptable proof of current residency and identification must be presented upon application for a card and may include, but are not limited to: • Photo Identification • Driver’s License • State ID • Firearms ID • Non Photo Identification • Bill (current or last month’s credit card or utility) • Auto Registration • Checkbook (with imprinted name and current address) • Driver’s Permit • Lease • Recent Post Office-Forwarded Mailing Label • Mortgage • Voter’s Registration Card Library Card Responsibility • A patron must use their own card to check out materials. • There will be a $1.00 fee for the replacement of lost cards which are not yet expired. • Minors less than 18 years old, with written parental permission may check out R rated or unrated materials. • Due dates for materials requested through inter-library loan may vary. Patrons are responsible to follow the borrowing library’s requested due date. • Requested materials from our library will be held for the patron for four days after notification. Length of Checkout for Library Materials: • 1 Week - DVD - 1 Renewal • 2 Weeks – Multi Disc (3 or more) set/series –1 Renewal • 2 Weeks - Materials classified by WPL as “NEW” – No Renewal • 3 Weeks - Books, Audio Books, Magazines, CD - 1 Renewal Limits of Checkout for Library Materials: • 5 Titles - DVD, Audio Books, STEM Kits, CD • 5 Titles - Materials classified by WPL as “NEW” materials • Unlimited - Books, Magazines Want to renew your material? • Upon request, material may be renewed via a phone call or email. If there are no requests by another patron for an item, it may be renewed. Book Drop Returns: The Library maintains a bookdrop available to patrons from outside the library for our patrons’ convenience. Items returned after the library is closed will be considered returned the next day. Materials returned in the book drop while the library is open are checked in on the same day. The bookdrop is not checked on Sundays or on holidays. STEM Kits: The primary purpose of STEM (science, technology, engineering, math) kits is to provide education resources while exposing children to the STEM fields. The kits assist children in developing critical thinking and deductive reasoning skills. The library encourages kids of all ages to explore the STEM fields with a variety of STEM kits for checkout. Because of this, a limited number of items are available for checkout. Exceptions may be made at the discretion of the library administration. • Kits are available at the service desk on a first-come, first-serve basis. To reserve a kit in advance, contact the library service desk. • Borrowers must have their own active library card and be in good standing at time of checkout. • Reciprocal cards may not check out kits. • Library staff reserves the right to refuse service to anyone who abuses the kits or is repeatedly late in returning them. • If a kit is lost, returned in parts, stolen, damaged, or otherwise not returned the patron will be responsible to pay, repair, or replace the item. Users are required to report any problems experienced during their borrowing period. • The condition of the kit will be assessed before checkout and upon its return. Interlibrary Loan: What is it? Resources are shared among libraries in order to meet the information, creation, and research needs of library users. The purpose of an interlibrary loan is to obtain, upon request of a library user, material not available in the user’s local library. It is not meant to replace the library’s material but to expand and enrich it. Winnebago Public Library participates in OCLC WorldShare Interlibrary Loan System. WPL receives interlibrary loan deliveries weekly on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday mornings (excluding holiday and weather related closings). Our Interlibrary Loan Service is ONLY available to WPL resident patrons.