Checkout Policies – Fines and Fees

ITEM NUMBER: 10.10 a-c

CHAPTER 10: Circulation

CODE: Policy

COMPUTER ID: CIBPR-1



Title: Checkout Policies - Fines and Fees

Effective Date: 02-06-95

Authorized By: Library Board of Trustees

Date of Last Revision: 6-2018



See also: ITEM NUMBER 10.27 Overdue, Lost or Damaged Library Materials



The Marathon County Public Library assesses daily overdue fines for days the Library is

open according to the following schedule.



Item How Many? How Long? Daily Fine?

New Books No limit 14 days .10



All Other Books No limit 28 days .10



DVDs - Movies 6 7 days 1.00

TV Series 6 14 days 1.00



VHS Videos No limit 14 days .10



Video Games 1 14 days 1.00



Playaways 3 28 days 1.00



Music CD's 25 14 days .10



Books on Compact Disc No limit 28 days .10



Books on Cassette No limit 28 days .10



All Other Audio-Visual No limit 28 days .10



InterLibrary Loan 5 per mo As listed 1.00



Magazines No limit 14 days .10



Pamphlets No limit 28 days .10



Art Works 10 56 days 1.00



Stories to Go Boxes 1 14 days 1.00



Book Discussion Kits No limit 56 days .10

ITEM NUMBER: 10.10 b





CIRCULATION MAXIMUMS ALLOWED:



1) Maximum that can be checked out at one time including limits defined in 10.10A

Adult: 100

Juvenile: 100

Homebound: 100



2) Overdue Fines

$.10/day for all items except Interlibrary Loans, DVD's, Video Games, Playaways,

Stories to Go Boxes and Artwork

$1.00/day for Interlibrary Loans, DVD's, Video Games, Playaways,

Stories to Go boxes and Artwork



Maximum of $5.00/item except Interlibrary Loans which can reach $50.00

maximum.



When a customer reaches more than $10.00 total fines, checkout will no longer be

allowed.



A fee of $10.00 will be assessed for any accounts sent to a debt collection agent.



3) Maximum number of items overdue: 25



4) Overdue notices:

First notice at 7 days overdue (2 days for DVD, ILL, Video Games, Playaways)

Second notice at 21 days overdue



5) Maximum claims returned for one customer: 5



6) Maximum number of items that one customer can have on hold: 75





RENEWALS:



Library materials, except Video Games and 7-day DVD's, can be renewed two times for 14

days per renewal. Video games can be renewed one time for 14 days. 7-day DVD's can

be renewed two times for 7 days per renewal. Materials can be renewed at self-check

machines, by accessing the Web Catalog, by phone, or in person at the Library.



Items on hold for another customer cannot be renewed.



Interlibrary Loan items may be renewed one time for 14 days at the discretion of the

lending library. Interlibrary Loan items may be renewed by phone or in person at the

library; they may not be renewed by using the self-check machines or by accessing the

Web Catalog.

ITEM NUMBER: 10.10 c





WAIVING LIBRARY FINES



In order to responsibly serve the taxpayers of Marathon County, while sustaining the

goodwill and cooperative relationship the Marathon County Public Library enjoys with its

patrons, the Library Board adopts a policy outlining conditions under which the option of

granting a waiver of all or part of a fine or charge assessed to a patron is authorized by the

Board. Staff will not waive fines or fees from their own record or for a family member. Staff

will not waive fines for another staff member unless written authorization from a manager is

provided.



1. Circumstances that would merit library staff exercising this option include hardship

situations defined as follows:

2. Natural or climatological conditions or disasters which impede a patron from

accessing the library to return materials by the due date;

3. Family tragedy, including death or other such traumatic circumstance;

a. Fines may be waived if there is evidence that a library error may have

resulted in an erroneous fine.

4. Any similar unusual circumstances that cause patrons not to be able to meet their

usual library obligations and responsibilities, including returning or renewing items

by the due date, which fall in the general area of "compassionate response" on the

part of the library. Fines over $20.00 require a manager's approval to be waived.



Please Note: Library management may require a form of verification of extenuating

circumstances.





CHECKS RETURNED: Will be turned over to a collection agency. A reasonable fee will be

assessed.