[Approved 12-3-2007; amended 6-3-2019]
A. 
Any resident of Massachusetts may be issued a South Hadley Public Library card. Out-of-state residents who work in South Hadley, or are from the immediate area, are welcome to get a library card and use the facility. Students and faculty from Mount Holyoke College and other area institutions may apply for a card entitling them to borrowing privileges during their school year. Proof of address and contact information are required in all instances.
B. 
Library cards are registered for a two-year period and must be updated with verified information after expiration. There is no charge for library cards; however, lost cards may be charged a fee to cover the cost of replacement.
C. 
Children are encouraged to get their first library card after they've reached five years old. Parents and guardians are responsible for returning materials borrowed on a minor's card and are financially responsible for any fines or fees accumulated on the library card of a minor in their care. It is the responsibility of parents/guardians, not the library staff, to monitor proper use of the library and its resources by children.
A. 
All movies, magazines, and video games checked out to patrons circulate for seven days with one renewal for seven days. It is recommended that library staff do not override the renewal limit. Exceptions may be made for teachers, homebound patrons, or other extenuating circumstances; in this case, see the Library Director or Circulation Librarian.
B. 
Most other material checked out circulates for 21 days with one renewal for 21 days. It is recommended that library staff do not override the renewal limit except as noted above.
C. 
Material that is circulated exclusively through the South Hadley library, such as museum passes and equipment, will have varying loan periods based on the restrictions of each item.
Limits are placed on the quantity of materials borrowed as follows:
A. 
Music compact discs: limit 20 items per library card.
B. 
Movies: limit 20 items.
C. 
Video games: limit 10 items.
D. 
Audiobooks: limit 20 items.
E. 
Museum passes: each pass limited to two uses per calendar month.
F. 
The maximum number of system-wide holds and ILL requests a patron may have on their record at one time is 20.
G. 
Per library card: limit 50 total items checked out at any given time.
South Hadley Public Library will fill system-wide holds and Commonwealth Catalog requests for all materials the library circulates to its own patrons. Exceptions may include museum passes, equipment, and items too large, fragile, or awkward to be sent on delivery vans. Library staff will review and fill system-wide hold requests (e.g., printing lists of requested items) at least once each workday.
A. 
"Interlibrary loan" is defined as a "library to library" loan. This section applies to material checked out to an established library, usually an institution that is not a member of a Massachusetts library network.
B. 
Materials will circulate for 35 days, with renewals at the discretion of the lending library. South Hadley staff will attempt to extend the loan if requested.
C. 
No daily fines will accumulate, but replacement invoices will be generated for lost material. Borrowing libraries are responsible for lending and retrieving the materials to their local patrons. The borrowing library is responsible for payment of lost materials.
A. 
Children and teen books, movies, and other circulating materials do not accrue overdue fines.
B. 
All other books, movies, magazines, video games, and other circulating material accrue a $0.10 daily overdue fine with a $3 maximum fine per item.
C. 
Museum passes accrue a $5 daily fine until returned or replaced.
A. 
Patrons are blocked by the C/W MARS system when:
(1) 
Their registration expires.
(2) 
Patron owes $10 or more in fines, replacement costs, and/or fees.
(3) 
Patron has billed material.
(4) 
Patron has 50 or more items checked out.
B. 
Blocked library cards may not be used at this library or any other member library of the C/W MARS network.
A. 
All material that has been checked out to the patron on the C/W MARS system, is 28 days or more overdue, and has been billed by the system is considered "lost." A replacement invoice/bill is generated by C/W MARS. Patrons may return the lost item or pay their bill at any circulating C/W MARS library. Local residents may speak to the South Hadley Library Director, or designated staff, about replacing the material with a comparable item. Payments for lost South Hadley materials may be made online or paid by cash or check/money order made out to the "South Hadley Public Library" and placed in a secure location with other fine payments. Staff should clear the patron's record by choosing the "Mark Lost" option from the circulation system, then processing the fine payment. The South Hadley Public Library is unable to refund lost book payments after deposit to Town Hall.
B. 
Payments for non-South Hadley materials will be made to the owning library using the following procedure:
(1) 
Patron comes into the South Hadley Public Library to resolve a lost book charge from another library.
(2) 
South Hadley staff accepts payment for lost material in the form of a check or money order. Patron makes the check or money order out to the owning library of the material. A CW/MARS directory is kept at the circulation desk; other libraries should be contacted directly for their payment information.
(3) 
South Hadley staff note patron bar code number on the check in the memo area. Staff verifies patron address on the check and in the library card record. Note: It is important the address on the check and in the system is accurate.
(4) 
South Hadley staff clears the lost book from the patron's record by making a payment on the replacement cost of the item. A printout of this transaction is made. Note: If a printout is not possible, then library staff includes a note with the check listing the lost item information.
(5) 
The printout is placed with the check and mailed to the owning library.
(6) 
The owning library receives the check and paperwork. Staff check the shelves for the lost item.
(7) 
If the item is not found in the library, then the library processes the patron's check or money order.
(8) 
If the item is found in the library, then the library mails the patron their check or money order with an explanatory note.