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BORROWING PRIVILEGES
Residents of the Allegan Public School District, excepting that portion of Trowbridge Township which is included in the Otsego District Library service area, may borrow books and other materials for free circulation. The Library Board has contracted with Allegan Township, Cheshire Township, and Valley Township to also serve their residents living outside of the School District. All children attending the Allegan Public Schools are eligible to receive library cards with full privileges.
The Allegan District Library has Reciprocal Borrowing Agreements with Charles A. Ransom District Library in Plainwell, Otsego District Library, and Hopkins Pubic Library. Legal Service Area residents of these libraries wishing to register through this program should have a current library card from their home library and proof of residence. Reciprocal card holders may use all library services with the exception of classes and interlibrary loan which are limited to tax-based patrons.
New patrons may have no more than five items checked out for the first thirty days.
A family or persons at one address may borrow up to three videos and/or DVDs.
Books may be borrowed through the Allegan District Library from all libraries in the Southwest Michigan Library Cooperative. A Courtesy Pass may be issued to any tax-based patron of the Allegan District Library for a one-time use of those libraries.
Instructors of schools located in the City of Allegan who are not residents of the Library’s service area may have free loan privileges with verification of their teaching position.
Persons residing outside the Library’s service area and who are not eligible for Reciprocal Borrowing may have borrowing privileges upon payment of an annual $20.00 fee. Cards for additional family members are $5.00 each.
LIBRARY CARDS
A valid library card is necessary to borrow items from the Library. A Youth card will be issued to a youth who is in the second semester of first grade to the age of 18 years. A responsible person, age 18 or older, must sign permission for the youth to be issued a library card. An Adult card will be issued to anyone 18 years old or older.
A fee of $1.00 will be charged to issue a replacement library card. Patrons seeking replacement cards must provide identification upon request of staff.
LENGTH OF LOAN
The usual length of loan for items is three weeks. The newest adult fiction is due in two weeks. Videos (theatrical releases and children’s titles) and DVDs may be checked out for three days. Books and other items not in demand may be renewed once.
FINES
A fine of 10¢ per day per item will be charged for most overdue materials. The overdue fine for interlibrary loans is 25¢ per day. All videos and DVDs are fined at the rate of $1.00 per day. The total fine per item will never exceed $10.00 or the list price of the item, whichever is lower. The patron, or responsible party for a minor, will be responsible for payment of overdue fines.
Patrons with a fine of $2.00 or more may not check out or renew items.
LOST ITEMS
The patron, or person responsible for a minor, will be charged the list price of the item.
DAMAGED ITEMS
Items damaged beyond repair are treated the same as lost items, i.e. the patron, or person responsible for a minor, is charged the list price of the item. If the exterior only of a book is damaged and the book can be satisfactorily rebound, the patron will be charged the cost of rebinding.
RESERVE ITEMS
No fee is charged for reserving items. Titles may be reserved in person, by phone, or through the Allegan Public Library’s online catalog. Patrons owing more than $2.00 in fines may not place reserves. Items may not be reserved until they are entered into the library’s computer catalog.
Effective: 7/20/2009