Circulation
Institution Circulation Checkout Limits
Blocked Patron Status
Interlibrary Loan Procedure
Request for Reconsideration of Library Materials
Unique Management Services
Overdue Procedure
Most patrons may check out up to 50 items per card. Pre-K cards (ages 0-4) have a limit of 10 juvenile print items per cards. Student cards are limited to 5 print items per card. School cards are limited to electronic resources. Video games and DVDs are restricted to adult cards. The following restrictions apply with regard to the 50 item-per-card limit:
Graphic Novels: 15 per card.
Regular DVDs: 10 per card.
Television DVDs: 6 per card
Audiobooks: 10 per card
Music CDs: 10 per card
Juvenile Kit Books: 10 per card
Magazines: 10 per card
Video Games: 10 per card
Baby Booster Boxes/Literacy Bags: 2 per card
Renewals: All renewals are for a two week period. Items with holds or recalls may not be renewed. Renewals can be placed in person, by phone or online as long as the items are not overdue. Most items may be renewed two times.
Card Limits: Patrons are limited to 50 items on a library card. Other limits apply. Additional books for underage children may be checked out on a parent’s card if the 50 items total is not exceeded.
Requests: Patrons are expected to limit the number of Holds they place (6 is reasonable), and are restricted to three Holds for "ON-ORDER" or New titles. Holds that are not picked up in a timely manner may be canceled after 7 days if there are other waiting and after 10 days if no one else is waiting. Holds cancellations are done at the discretion of the Circulation Supervisor and Community Library Managers.
Fines: All materials checked out by cardholders have a twenty-cents/day fine. Overdue fines are capped at $20 per account.
Additional Fees: 39 days after an item is due and has not been returned, the Library considers the item LOST. If LOST items are not returned the borrower is responsible for the replacement cost, a $2.50 processing fee, and any cost incurred related to collection efforts. Overdue fines will not be collected if the item replacement cost is paid. If item is returned 90 days after replacement charges have been applied, those charges will remain on the patron account. Patrons also will be assessed fees for replacing damaged materials, including cases for DVDs, Wii games and/or Books-on-CD.
Pre-Kindergarten: Pre-Kindergarten patrons (ages 0-4) are limited to 10 Juvenile print items on their library card.
Student Patrons: Patrons assigned a "Student" card are limited to 5 items, per the restrictions outlined above.
PIN #: PIN numbers are assigned with each new account. Patrons will be given the PIN number on registration and may change it by logging into their online account, or by request at any library location.
Institution Circulation Checkout Limits
With the exception of loan periods and the number of total items that may be checked out, institutional library cards are subject to the same policies and restrictions as those for individual patrons. Exceptions: A total of 50 items may be checked out on institutional cards for a period of 28 days, with no renewals.
If a patron's library account reflects overdue items or charges of more than $2.00, that account automatically is assigned a BLOCKED status. This status will prevent a patron from renewing or checking out items as well as from accessing online services. To remove a BLOCKED status, patrons may contact any Shenandoah County Library location.
In initiating an interlibrary loan request, patrons are advised to consider the following:
- If you are a student of a post-secondary school--i.e. Lord Fairfax Community College--please contact that school's library to initiate an interlibrary loan request.
- Libraries often do not loan new items. Therefore, there is no guarantee that items published within the previous two years will be available for interlibrary loan.
- The County Library accepts requests for up to two items per patron and will attempt to borrow the title or titles from other participating libraries.
- Patrons are responsible for any special costs involved.
- To initiate an interlibrary loan request, please contact the Circulation Manager at the County Library by calling 540-984-8200.
Request for Reconsideration of Materials
Our library’s mission is to select and acquire a wide variety of materials for access by all library patrons. The library seeks to provide information on all sides of every issue, even if that issue is controversial. Librarians do not serve as censors for any material or for any age group, since we believe that everyone, regardless of age, should be free to form their own opinion. Therefore we support equal access to all materials in our library collections. The Library values your opinion. If you do have an objection to any library materials, please complete our Request for Reconsideration of Materials form, outlining your concerns as concisely as possible. A librarian will respond to you within 5-7 business days of receiving the request.
Unique Management Services
Effective April 18, 2005 Unique Management Services, a collection agency that specializes in libraries, assumed responsibility for both outstanding fines over $30 and Lost materials (45 days overdue). All accounts reported to the agency will be charged a $10 service fee. While UMS will communicate directly with patrons, all payments will be made to the County Library.
Overdue Procedure
Individual library locations are responsible for contacting patrons about their overdue materials. However, when materials become Long Overdue/LOST at 39 days, the County Library assumes responsibility for recovering these materials. Final Notice letters will be sent to all patrons with Long Overdue/LOST items. Items in LOST status for 90 days will be removed from the collection. Should patrons return materials in good condition before they are removed from the collection the cost of each item will be waived but overdue fines will remain.