LIBRARY POLICIES

BEGINNING IN AUGUST 2010, the library will be adding your photo to your library record. If you wish to check out library materials or use the library's computers, you must have have your South Plainfield Public Library card with you, and your photo ID on record. See Computer Use & Internet Access Policy for more details on using the library's computers.

Library Cards

PLEASE REPORT A LOST OR STOLEN CARD IMMEDIATELY!

You are eligible for a library card free of charge if you live in South Plainfield. With the resident's card, you can borrow all types of library materials and use the library's computers free of charge. See Computer Use & Internet Access Policy for more details on using the library's computers.
A resident's card must be renewed every three years.
If you do not live in South Plainfield, you may apply for a one-year non-resident's library card free of charge. With this card, you can borrow all types of library materials and use the library's computers.
Valid proof of address must be presented when obtaining or renewing a library card (resident or non-resident).
There is no minimum age to apply for a library card. Signature of a parent or guardian is required when applying for a juvenile library card.
Borrowing agreements with other local libraries allow residents of South Plainfield to borrow at nearby libraries.
Some of our resources, such as databases, audiobook & eBook downloads, and interlibrary loans, require a South Plainfield Library barcode.
There is a $2.00 replacement fee for a lost library card. Please report a lost or stolen card immediately.
Key chain cards are available. If you would like to exchange your standard library card for a key chain card, there is a fee of $.50.

Examples of acceptable identification:

Name Verification

Driver's License
State I.D.
Passport
Student I.D.
Birth Certificate
Military I.D.

Address Verification

Driver's License
State I.D.
Passport
Pre-Printed Check
Lease Agreement
Utility Bill
Recently Postmarked Mail
(within the past 90 days)
Voter Registration Card
Bank Statement
Pay Check
Car Registration Papers
Insurance Card
Property Tax Receipt

Circulation Chart

Library materials may be checked out as follows:
(Click on an underlined heading in the chart below for more information on renewals, holds, and fines policies)

ITEM TYPE	LOAN PERIOD	CHECKOUT LIMITS	NUMBER OF RENEWALS PERMITTED*	HOLDS PERMITTED? ($.50 charge per item)	OVERDUE FINES (per day)
New books	14 days	No limit	2	Yes	$.10
Books (not new)	28 days	No limit, unless needed for school assignments	2	Yes	$.10
Magazines (Back issues only. Current issue may not be checked out.)	14 days	No limit.	2	Yes	$.10
Audiobooks (on tape, CD or Playaway)	14 days	4 titles per library card	2	Yes	$.25
Music CDs	14 days	No limit	2	Yes	$.25
CD-ROMs	14 days	No limit	2	Yes	$.25
Older DVDs	7 days	8 titles per library card	2	Yes	$2.00
New DVDs	2 days	(Included in total 8 title limit for DVDs, above)	1	No	$2.00
VHS Videocassettes	7 days	No limit	2	Yes	$2.00
Playaway View portable videos	7 days	2 titles per library card	1	Yes	$2.00
Video Games (Xbox 360, Playstation 3 and Wii)	7 days	4 titles per library card	1	Yes	$2.00

*If another patron has placed a hold on an item you have checked out, you cannot renew it.
For more information on renewal policies and procedures, see the Renewals page.

Holds (Reserves)

Holds are not permitted on some library materials. See CIRCULATION CHART above for specifics.
Whenever you place a hold (or reserve) on any library material (book, CD, DVD, etc.), there will be a charge of $0.50 per item. You will be charged $0.50 per item for holds EVEN IF YOU CANCEL THE HOLD OR DO NOT PICK UP THE ITEM.
If you would like to be notified by email when materials you have placed on hold become available, please stop at the circulation desk to give us your email address.
We no longer take requests by phone to place holds on movies which are not currently checked out.
We no longer allow holds to be placed on new DVDs.

Fines

See CIRCULATION CHART above for information on what overdue fines are charged for different types of library materials.
Overdue fines shall not exceed the price of the item.
Cardholders are responsible for all items checked out on their library card and any fines or charges. If your card is lost or stolen, please report it to us immediately.
Parents (or legal guardians) are responsible for all items checked out on their minor children's library card and any fees/fines.
Fines accumulate from the first day the item is overdue.
If you would like to be notified by email when materials are overdue, or receive emails notifying you in advance of an approaching due date, please stop at the circulation desk to give us your email address.
Lost or damaged materials will be charged the original purchase price. A $5.00 processing fee will be added to the cost of the item to cover the cost to the library to replace the lost item.
If you pay for a lost library item, your payment will NOT be refunded if you find the lost item. The full price of the item, plus the processing fee, must be paid.
There is a $5.00 charge for missing case or insert from an AV item.
If you owe fines or other charges of $25 or more, your account will be blocked and you will not be able to borrow library materials or use library computers until it is paid. If you owe fines of $35 or more, your account will be turned over to a Collection Agency.

Interlibrary Loans

Interlibrary loans received from New Jersey libraries will be free to South Plainfield library patrons UNLESS they don't pick up the item. A $.50 charge will be assessed for any item you do not pick up.
For out-of-state interlibrary loans, you will be responsible for the return shipping and handling charges. This is the price of postage and $50.00 insurance.
For more information about interlibrary loans, please read our Interlibrary Loans page.

Other Charges

$0.50 Mail notification of overdue items
$2.00 Replacement of library card
$5.00 Missing case or insert from AV item
$15.00 Collection Agency fee for accounts which exceed $35.00 in fines

AV (Audio & Video) Policies

See CIRCULATION CHART above for information on how many AV items may be checked out and for how long.
Return of videocassettes: Please REWIND ALL TAPES before returning them to the library. To minimize damage, we prefer that all audiovisual materials be returned in person during library hours. However, when the library is closed, you may place them inside the audiovisual drop by the front door.
Waiver of liability: The library assumes no responsibility for any damage to your own audio, video, or computer equipment that may occur while using library AV materials.
Copyright laws: Patrons agree to adhere to all federal copyright laws and/or performance restrictions that apply to audiovisual materials. UNDER NO CIRCUMSTANCES shall any video, film, software, recording, or other audiovisual material be copied by any process, electronic or mechanical, in whole or in part. The borrower is solely responsible for any legal action that may result from possible copyright infringement.
Fines are $2.00 per day for videocassettes, DVDs, and Playaway View™ portable videos; see FINES section, above, for more information.
There is a $5.00 charge for missing case or insert from an AV item.
Children : Beginning May 1, 2013, children may not borrow ANY materials from the library's audio/visual collection until their parent or legal guardian signs the new J/AV/JVID audio/visual permission slip. The parent/guardian must come to the library and show identification to library staff in order to sign one of the new slips, and must sign a separate slip for EACH CHILD. On the permission slip, the parent/guardian will choose what types of audio/visual materials the child will be allowed to check out as follows :
- JNOAV - can borrow print materials only.
- JAV - can borrow all materials EXCEPT video games.
- JVID - can borrow everything (just like an adult card).
For a child to use library computers, a parent/guardian must sign the computer access form which is located on the back of the J/AV JVID form.

COLLECTION AGENCY

The South Plainfield Public Library has contracted with a collection agency, Unique Management Services, Inc., to help us collect unpaid fines and recover unreturned books, videos, cds, dvds, and other materials, because:

Materials which are not returned to the library are not available for others to use.
Replacing lost materials is costly for the library and for taxpayers.
All unresolved accounts over $35 will be turned over to the collection agency.

A service charge of $15.00 will be added to the balance owed. Please help us to serve all library patrons by returning overdue materials today.

CELL PHONES

If you need to use your cell phone while at the library, please be considerate of other library users:

Turn down the volume on your phone, or set it to vibrate mode.
Keep your cell phone conversations brief and and quiet when inside the library.
Conduct longer and/or louder conversations outside the library building.