Borrowing

I. LIBRARY CARDS

A. General:

i. All borrowers must have a valid Hermiston Public Library (HPL) card or a Sage

Library System (SLS) card to have HPL borrowing privileges. Cardholders must
present their card to check out items.

ii. Residents of Hermiston and its service area (zip code 97838) are eligible for a free
library card. HPL cards require a positive identification and proof of residence or
property ownership.

iii. All new patrons are on probation for 30 days, and may only check out 2 HPL
items at a time. When the probationary period is complete, and the card has no
unpaid fines or overdue materials, the patron may check out materials under the
normal library loan rules.

iv. Non-Resident Fee Cards/Transitional Residence:

a) Non-Resident Fee: If you do not live in the HPL service area, or do not have
acceptable identification, you may purchase a library card for $35.00 for one
year, or $8.75 for three months. This card is also subject to the same
probation period and rules as a regular card.

b) Transitional Residence: If your residence in Hermiston is transitional in nature
you are temporarily homeless or a shelter resident, a 3 month card with a
check out limit of 2 items may be issued. This card may be renewed as long as
there are no unpaid fines or fees associated with the card.

B. Registration

i. Application:

a) All patrons must maintain a current and complete application form to keep
their library card in good standing. The current library card application is
found as appendix A, which is updated as deemed appropriate by the Library
Board of Trustees.

b) Borrowers may only have one SLS public library card.
Policies of the Hermiston Public Library – Borrowing Policy

c) An Oregon driver’s license/identification card, or other positive identification
(a photo ID), and proof of residence is required to obtain a Hermiston Library
Card. Examples of forms or combinations of identification that will be
accepted by HPL are:

Other Positive Identification:
• Passport
• Active Duty US military identification card
• Out of State driver’s license
• Resident alien card
• Other Government/employment issued identity card
AND, as Proof of Residence, a recent:
• Voter registration card or other government mailing.
• Utility bill or bank statement sent to you at your address.
• Rent receipt at your current address made out to you.
• In the absence of a proof of residence above, the library may send a
mailer to a physical address (not a PO Box) which when returned by
the applicant will provide the required proof.

d) Applicants under 18 years of age require a parent or guardian give their
consent by signing the application form before a card can be issued. Parents
or guardians must present required identification as listed above. The parent or
guardian is legally responsible for all materials checked out on a minor’s card.
Parents or guardians may request to invalidate the card.

e) Patrons are asked to report any change of addresses and/or telephone numbers. Correspondence returned to the library by the US Postal Service, or phone calls resulting in discontinued service will result in suspension of borrowing privileges until the information is updated.

ii. Lost or forgotten cards. In the event a library card is lost or stolen notify the
library as soon as possible. The replacement of a card requires positive ID as
listed above. Minors requiring a replacement card must present a state or student
identification card or be accompanied with a parent or guardian in possession of
recognized identification. Cost to replace a library card is $2.00.

II. LOAN RULES

A. Loan Periods and Limitations: Loans periods and limitations are defined in appendix A.

B. Renewals: Items may be renewed when materials have not been requested by otherpatrons. Materials with holds on them may not be renewed. The number of renewals is defined in Appendix A.

C. Material Returns: SLS items may be returned to any Sage library without penalty.

D. Holds and Inter-library Loans: Patrons may place up to 9 holds or inter-library loans or combination of the two at any one time. Probationary and transitional cardsholders may not use inter-library loan service.

i. Holds. Patrons may place holds for items available at the Hermiston Public
Library. Materials will be held for 7 days after notification. Items not checked out
during that time will be returned to the shelves for circulation.

ii. Interlibrary Loans.

a) SLS Materials: Patrons may place Interlibrary Loan (ILL) requests for items
located in SLS member libraries. Patrons will be notified of the items arrival.
Materials will be held for 7 days after notification. Items not checked out at
that time will be returned to the owning libraries. Due to the high costs
associated with the processing and shipping of these materials, at both the
owning and requesting libraries, patrons who fail to pick up materials
requested will be assessed a fee of $5.00 following one warning. ILL
borrowing privileges will be blocked until payment is made.

b) Materials requested from outside of the SLS:
• Materials requested outside of the SLS require a non-refundable searching
fee of $3.00 per item. This charge is payable at the time of the request and
is due regardless of the loan success.
• In some cases additional charges may be required by the lending libraries.
Patrons will be notified of these charges and given an opportunity to
refuse the loan.
• ILL items may be renewed only as permitted by the lending library.
• Patrons are required to return ILL items requested through HPL to HPL.

III.FINES AND FEES.

A. Fines: The fines for overdue library materials are listed in Appendix A:

i. Overdue Notices: A first notice is emailed or mailed approximately 7 days after the item is due. A second notice is emailed or mailed 14 days after the item is due. A final notice is mailed 21 days after the item is due.

ii. Failure to return items may result in activation of the HPL Debt Collection Policy.

iii. Patrons who have overdue fines of $5.00 or more at any combination of Sage libraries, or any outstanding bills for lost material, will be denied borrowing privileges at HPL.

B. Damaged materials:

i. If materials are damaged and judged by the library as being repairable the work will be done by the library. The cost of repair work, which will include labor and may include supplies, will be charged to the patron. A notice will be sent to the borrower.

ii. If materials are damaged and are judged by the library as being unsuitable for the collection, the patron must pay the replacement cost. The charge for a lost or non-repairable item will be the value listed in the item record, which represents the price plus a processing fee. A notice of the charges will be sent to the borrower. Library privileges will be suspended until payment is made.

Policies of the Hermiston Public Library – Borrowing Policy
Proposed: January 22, 2020