Library Policies
Colona District Public
Library
Circulation Policies
First Time Library Card
Library cards are free to residents of the
Colona Library District (Colona Township). Non-residents will pay
the non-resident fee established annually by the board for a library
card, which will include PrairieCat system privileges.
Replacement Cards
Replacement cards are $5.00. Patrons who have moved or whose records have been purged may have
their cards replaced at no charge. If a card is stolen, it should be
reported to the library so you are not responsible for stolen
items.Free library cards will be issued during the month of June.
Fines
Fines are $.10 per day per item to a maximum of
$5.00 per item. Hotspot fines are $5.00 per day to a maximum of
$50.00. Fines start accumulating at 10am the next library business
day after the due date. The library’s circulation system
(PrairieCat) prevents patrons with fines $5.00 and more from
checking out items until the fines are paid.
Lost Items
Patrons are expected to pay current replacement
cost plus a processing fee for a lost item. If the item is paid for
and later found, the item belongs to the patron, no refund is given
and fines will be waived. Colona Public Library staff will purchase
the replacement item(s) and the patron charged the current
replacement cost.If the item is found, returned to the library and
has not been paid for, the item will be checked in and shelved, the
patron is responsible for accumulated fines.
Claim
Returned Items
The patron is asked to search for the
item and the item is renewed for an additional checkout period (see
Length of Checkout). Ultimately, the patron who checked out the item
is responsible for replacing the item, which will be purchased by
Colona Public Library staff, and the patron charged the
current replacement cost. The director or assistant director
will make a decision whether to mark the item as lost or Claim
Returned. When the item is marked Claim Returned, a Note field will
be added into the patron account recording the title, author,
barcode, names involved and a date. If the patron habitually claims
items were returned, a Message field will be entered into the patron
account explaining the situation. The patron may not be allowed to
continue checking out items from the library’s circulation system
(PrairieCat).
Damaged Items
Usable damaged items will be handled
individually at the librarian's discretion. Items damaged beyond use
will be handled as lost items (see Lost Items).
Length of Checkout
All items with the exception of zoo passes,
museum passes, Hotspots, video games and DVDs have a three-week
checkout period. Educational DVDs have a three-week checkout period.
Hotspots, entertainment DVDs and video games have a one-week
checkout period. Museum passes and zoo passes have a two-day
checkout period.
Only adults (18 or older) may checkout DVDs, video games, museum
passes, zoo passes and Hotspots.
PrairieCat Membership
A Colona District Public Library card will be
honored at other PrairieCat libraries, which includes most libraries
in the Illinois Quad-Cities area. Patrons can request materials from
other PrairieCat libraries, which will be delivered to the Colona
District Public Library, or another library in the PrairieCat system
for pickup.
Reciprocal Borrowing
All items borrowed through Reciprocal Borrowing
adhere to the same rules for Fines and Length of Checkout. The
owning library determines how Claim Returned Items and Damaged Items
are handled.
ILL Borrowing
The Library makes every effort to borrow
items at no or nominal cost. If a lending library charges a fee, the
requesting patron will be notified of the cost before the item is
formally requested and given the opportunity to withdraw the
request. If the patron agrees to pay the fee, payment must be
received before the request will be submitted to the lending
library.
If the item is available only through an
out-of-state library, the patron is notified of lending library fees
and shipping costs before the item is requested and given the
opportunity to withdraw the request. If the patron agrees to pay the
fees, payment must be received before the request will be submitted
to the lending library.
The lending library sets the due date.
Requests for renewal of an item are decided by the lending library.
If items are lost or damaged, the lending library determines the
cost and the patron is responsible. Late fees (see Fines) apply to items
borrowed through ILL borrowing.