HANNIBAL FREE PUBLIC LIBRARY

POLICY STATEMENT ON PATRON REGISTRATION & ELIGIBILITY FOR LIBRARY SERVICES

Adopted by the Library Board of Trustees & Effective: 5-11-09

Amended: 1-13-2014, 10-9-2018

Hannibal Free Public Library Board is interested in making materials and other services readily available to the public, maximizing the use of the materials collection, facilitating requests for materials and other services, and providing uniformity in the retrieval of overdue materials. The primary purpose of this policy is to make the use of library services, particularly the circulation of materials, is as fair and efficient as possible. It provides Library staff with guidelines to follow when determining patron eligibility for service and for patron registration.

Anyone, regardless of race, color, national origin, sex, religion, age, or social or political views may use library books and magazines within the library building in accordance with established laws, policies and procedures.  Eligibility for library borrowing privileges at Hannibal Free Public Library is determined by established residency due to property tax support within the City of Hannibal and contractual support from Ralls County. Non-residents are assessed fees for services in an attempt to recover costs. In order to use any of the services of Hannibal Free Public Library, registered patrons and other users must be U.S. citizens or aliens lawfully in the country. Selection and choice of materials is left to the patron’s discretion, and in the case of a minor child, the discretion of his or her parents.

The Library Director and/or Library staff will determine how to effectively post this policy. Depending on the location, the policy may be posted in its entirety, or broken into logical segments and partly posted. In either case, the concepts contained within reflect the decision and will of the Hannibal Free Public Library Board of Trustees.

Patrons in good standing may utilize any and all Library services to which they are entitled. When fees or fines are owed the Library, borrowing and computer use privileges are revoked until such time as the debt is paid in full. Borrowing and computer use privileges, as well as the privilege to use the Library facility, may be revoked for a specified period of time when a patron is not in compliance with the Library’s public behavior policy. More information about revocation of privileges may be found in Policy Statements Concerning Public Behavior and Fees Charged by the Library…

Entire families may be blocked from computer use and borrowing privileges when they show a pattern of getting or using a borrower’s card for a family member, running up large fees and fines, and then getting or using another family member’s borrower’s card. The decision to block entire families is not made lightly. It is left to the sole discretion of the Library Director on a case-by-case basis.

Computer users must agree to comply with the Library’s Acceptable Use Policy and other rules governing public use of computers. Computer use privileges are also granted to adult visitors, who register temporarily by signing the hourly log and providing photo ID that is copied and attached to the log. More information may be found in the Library’s Policy Statement Concerning Public Use of Computers.

Wireless users must also agree to comply with the Library’s Acceptable Use Policy before logging onto the wireless network the first time. Wireless connectivity is granted without recourse to signature. It should be noted that the Library can track use by IP address and does so as situations warrant. At the Director’s discretion, as situations warrant, wireless users may be requested to provide their IP address.

Use of the Library’s facility and in-house use of most of its collection is granted without recourse to identification or signature. Access to Hannibal’s Virtual Library is provided via the Internet. Much of the content of the website is available to anyone to access and use within licensing and copyright constraints. Other parts of the website require a PIN (password) or prior patron registration.

Resident Cards are issued to those who reside in the City of Hannibal or in Ralls County. Owners of established businesses and/or real estate located inside the limits of the City of Hannibal or in Ralls County are also entitled to Resident Cards. No fee is charged for the first card.

Computer use and/or borrowing privileges are granted to non-resident adults upon completion of an application form, provision of acceptable identification, and payment of the annual fee. (See section 3 for information about minor children’s cards.) The patron must sign the form attesting that identity and address information is true, accepting responsibility for choice of materials, agreeing to pay fees and fines associated with borrowed materials, agreeing to comply with public behavior rules of the Library, agreeing to notify the Library of changes in address, and stating an understanding that the Library Card is the property of the Library and subject to surrender upon request.

Non-Resident Cards remain valid for a calendar year after the date of purchase. If a patron’s legal name and/or address have not changed, then no new application form need be completed, and no additional identification needs to be shown under usual circumstances. The Library infrequently elects to obtain updated applications on all patrons. In this event, holders of existing library borrower’s cards will be required to provide the same identification as new applicants.

Resident and Non-Resident Cards are issued to children and teens under the age of eighteen only with the permission of a custodial parent or legal guardian. A legally emancipated teen is treated as an adult patron, provided proof of the emancipation is shown.

Children who are able to print their full name may apply for borrowing privileges. Even if unable to print their full name, by the time children reach age 6, they may apply for borrowing privileges. A custodial parent or legal guardian of a minor child or teen, up to 18 years of age, must also sign the application form for the initial Library Card and must be present when any replacement card is issued. In the event that a minor child does not have photo ID, the custodial parent’s or legal guardian’s identification may be used.

For the purposes of this policy, the term "custodial" parent includes any parent other that a parent who has been denied periods of physical placement with a child. Proof of relationship is typically through the address. Unless the child and parent’s address are the same, some proof of legal relationship is required of a parent or legal guardian. Teachers, daycare providers, social workers, non-custodial grandparents, other non-custodial live-in relatives, etc., are not entitled to sign the application form for a child’s and teenager’s borrowing privileges.

Borrowing privileges are granted to minor children upon completion of an application form, provision of acceptable identification, and payment of the annual fee in the case of non-residents. Both the child and the parent or guardian must sign the form attesting that identity and address information is true, accepting responsibility for choice of materials, agreeing to pay fees and fines associated with borrowed materials, agreeing to comply with public behavior rules of the Library, agreeing to notify the Library of changes in address, and stating an understanding that the Library Card is the property of the Library and subject to surrender upon request.

Computer use privileges require additional signatures of both the child and the parent or guardian, which state agreement to comply with the Library’s Acceptable Use Policy. The child’s signature is also required on the daily log for each hour of computer use.

Computer use privileges are granted to children, aged ten years and older. Younger children may use a computer provided their parent or legal guardian checks one out and remains with the child while using it.

A parent or legal guardian may elect to limit borrowing privileges by his or her minor child or legally incapacitated adult. Borrowing privileges may be limited by large collection areas only: Public Use Computers, Children’s Room, Teen Zone, and/or Adult Collection. A parent or legal guardian seeking to limit borrowing privileges must do so in writing. Parents are encouraged to participate in their children’s use of the Library. Monitoring a child’s use of the Library’s collection, public use computers, or wireless connectivity is entirely the parent’s or guardian’s responsibility.

Children’s cards expire after one year. A custodial parent or legal guardian must assist in renewal. This is typically done in person, but the library staff member renewing the card may elect to phone the child’s parent or guardian to verify information and ascertain permission. Unless the child’s legal name or guardianship has changed, then no new application form need be completed, and no additional identification needs to be shown under usual circumstances. The Library infrequently elects to obtain updated applications on all patrons. In this event, holders of existing library borrower’s cards will be required to provide the same identification as new applicants.

Resident and Non-Resident Cards are issued to legally incapacitated adults only with the permission of a custodial parent or legal guardian. Social workers and other caregivers, unless authorized by the guardian in writing, may not provide the signature to grant computer use and/or borrowing privileges.

Application for a Library Card is typically initiated by the legally incapacitated adult, who completes his or her part of the application form in front of a library staff member. The library staff member taking the application then faxes or mails the form to the custodial parent or guardian.

Borrowing privileges are granted to legally incapacitated adults upon completion of an application form and provision of acceptable identification. The guardian’s identification may be used to identify the legally incapacitated adult. Both the applicant and the custodial parent or legal guardian must sign the form attesting that identity and address information is true, accepting responsibility for choice of materials, agreeing to pay fees and fines associated with borrowed materials, agreeing to comply with public behavior rules of the Library, agreeing to notify the Library of changes in address, and stating an understanding that the Library Card is the property of the Library and subject to surrender upon request.

A custodial parent or legal guardian may elect to limit borrowing privileges by a legally incapacitated adult. Borrowing privileges may be limited by large collection areas only:

Public Use Computers, Children’s Room, Teen Zone, and/or Adult Collection. A parent or legal guardian seeking to limit borrowing privileges must do so in writing. Monitoring a legally incapacitated adult’s use of the Library’s collection, public use computers, or wireless connectivity is entirely the parent’s or guardian’s responsibility.

Computer users must agree to comply with the Library’s Acceptable Use Policy and other rules governing public use of computers. A signature is required. A custodial parent or legal guardian must sign the agreement before computer use privileges are granted to legally incapacitated adults. The patron’s signature is also required on the daily log for each hour of computer use.

Borrowing privileges are granted to Temporary Card Holders upon completion of an application form and provision of acceptable identification. The patron must sign the form attesting that identity and address information is true, accepting responsibility for choice of materials, agreeing to pay fees and fines associated with borrowed materials, agreeing to comply with public behavior rules of the Library, agreeing to notify the Library of changes in address, and stating an understanding that the Library Card is the property of the Library and subject to surrender upon request.

Borrowing privileges on Temporary Cards are limited to Public Use Computers and two circulating books or other materials at a time. Temporary cards expire after one month and can be renewed each month until residency changes. No fees are assessed for the first card issued.

Borrowing privileges are granted to Student Card Holders upon completion of an application form and provision of acceptable identification. Students at one of the area colleges need to provide identification showing their legal name, their home address, and proof of enrollment for the current semester. The patron must sign the form attesting that identity and address information is true, accepting responsibility for choice of materials, agreeing to pay fees and fines associated with borrowed materials, agreeing to comply with public behavior rules of the Library, agreeing to notify the Library of changes in address, and stating an understanding that the Library Card is the property of the Library and subject to surrender upon request.

After arrangements are made, completion of an application form and provision of acceptable identification is required. The authorized representative of a school, church, daycare, club, organization, business, or company must sign the form attesting to authority to apply for corporate borrowing privileges and that corporate identity and address information is true. The signature also attests to accepting responsibility for choice of materials, accepting fee courtesy, when extended and agreeing to pay all other fees and fines associated with borrowed materials, agreeing to comply with public behavior rules of the Library, agreeing to notify the Library of changes in address, and stating an understanding that the Library Card is the property of the Library and subject to surrender upon request.

Borrowing privileges on Teacher Cards are granted upon completion of an application form and provision of acceptable identification. The applicant must sign the form attesting that identity and address information is true, accepting responsibility for choice of materials, accepting fee courtesy, when extended and agreeing to pay all other fees and fines associated with borrowed materials, agreeing to comply with public behavior rules of the Library, agreeing to notify the Library of changes in address, and stating an understanding that the Teacher Card is the property of the Library and will be kept at the service desk..

Borrowing privileges on Literacy Cards are granted upon completion of an application form and provision of acceptable identification. The applicant must sign the form attesting that identity and address information is true, accepting responsibility for choice of materials, accepting fee courtesy, when extended and agreeing to pay all other fees and fines associated with borrowed materials, agreeing to comply with public behavior rules of the Library, agreeing to notify the Library of changes in address, and stating an understanding that the Library Card is the property of the Library and will be kept at the service desk.

Borrowing privileges are granted to a family member or volunteer who delivers books and other materials to the patron’s home or residential care center. Identification and signature requirements are left to the discretion of the Director on a case-by-case basis.

The Walking Books patron, library staff, and the delivery volunteer work together to arrange for borrowing privileges, delivery frequency, and length of time Walking Books services is needed.

The family member or volunteer need not hold a library borrower’s card in good standing.

The Library employs a variety of other Specialized and Internal Use Cards. These are issued at the Library Director’s discretion on a case-by-case basis.

The Library requires patrons applying for borrowing and use privileges to provide identification that shows proof of lawful presence, identity and residency. A current Missouri Driver License, Nondriver License, or Instruction Permit is preferred. Other forms of identification may also be utilized.

To provide proof of lawful presence, U. S. citizens must show one of the following forms of identification:

Non-citizens must show a Driver License, Nondriver License, or Instruction Permit issued by Missouri or another State in the United States after July 1, 2005. Other proofs of lawful presence may be used as described by the Missouri Department of Revenue at http://dor.mo.gov/drivers/idrequirements.php

Additional proof of identity must be supplied if the name on the document presented to prove lawful presence does not match the patron’s current name. One of the following documents may be used:

Additional proof of residency must be supplied if the address on the document(s) presented above does not match the patron’s current residential address. One of the following documents may be used provided it shows a residential address:

Except for participants in Missouri’s Safe at Home Address Confidentiality Program, use of a Post Office Box does not establish residency. In the event that a patron receives mail through a Post Office Box, this address must also be supplied. No proof need be provided.