Circulation Policies

A. Registration

All borrowers must be registered and must have a valid local or system patron card to borrow library materials.

Patrons must fill out an application form to register for a new library card. The following statement will be printed on the registration form for the patron's information and acceptance:

I agree to pay promptly for all fines charged against me for the injury, loss, or lateness of library materials.

Signature _________________________________

Identification is required. A driver's license or a state-issued ID with a picture is required for all adults. A recent non-personal piece of mail may be used to establish Wisconsin residency for persons whose license or ID does not have their current address. Barrett Memorial Library also keeps a copy of the village water bills list, which can be used to help identify persons who own property in Williams Bay but who are not Wisconsin residents.

Applicants under 16 years of age must have a parent or guardian give their consent on the application form before a new card can be issued. As part of their consent, the parent or guardian must include their driver's license of state ID number. This parental signature is not required for children who are renewing cards.

Materials cannot be checked out until a library card is issued.

All library cards expire after 24 months. In order to renew a library card, patrons must produce identification and must clear all outstanding fines and bills.

B. Lost or forgotten cards

If a patron loses his / her library card, he / she should notify the library as soon as possible and request a replacement. There is a $2 replacement cost.

All patrons, adult and juvenile, are expected to bring their library cards with them if they intend to check out items. Barrett Memorial Library will accept any photo identification for a patron who has forgotten to bring their library card.

C. Loan periods

The Barrett Memorial Library follows the load period guidelines as established by the Lakeshores Library System.

D. Holds

The Barrett Memorial Library is a member of the SHARE consortium and follows the guidelines as established by the SHARE system.

E. Fines and charges

The Barrett Memorial Library charges 25 cents per day for all overdue items, except DVD rentals, for which overdue fines are $1 per day. The library subscribes to the SVA (automated) system for notifying patrons of overdue items.

When a patron’s account exceeds $5 in charges, the patron is denied borrowing privileges until the overdue or lost materials fines are reduced to $5.

F. Damaged materials

If materials are damaged so as to be judged by the library as being unsuitable for the collection, the patron must pay the replacement cost. Each library in the SHARE system includes the cost of replacement as part of the item record.

G.Lost materials

When a patron loses a Barrett library item, they have two choices: He or she can immediately pay for the item at the price indicated in the database; or he / she can ask for the replacement price.

When asking for the replacement price, the process may take up to one week. The replacement prices can only be determined by the library director. In the event that the item is old and there is no price, the patron will need to wait for the library director to price the item.

When a patron loses a book from a SHARE library, other than Barrett, they must pay the price as listed in the catalog.

The library director does not have the authority to "forgive" the cost of a lost item. Any person, who wishes an exception to this rule, must discuss this with the library board at a library board meeting.