Check-out Loan Period

Loan periods vary based on the type of materials.

• Items may be renewed ONCE if no other user has placed a hold on them.
  The renewal period is for the same amount of time as the original loan.

• 21 Days- most items not on reserve list—fiction and non-fiction.

• 14 days – book-on-tape, CDs, items that are on reserve list

• 7 days – videocassettes and DVDs

Check-out Maximum

You may borrow any circulating material. This includes most hardcover and paperback books in the collection, videos, CDs, audiocassettes, books on tape, CD-ROMs, and children's games, puppets and toys. Items labeled REFERENCE, newspapers and periodicals, materials on microfilm, special collection materials, and current periodicals DO NOT circulate and must be used in the library.

You may check out 1 items when you first register for a Library card. There are also C/WMARS network wide and Holyoke Public Library limits on certain types of media. Most borrowers may have up to 50 items checked out through the C/WMARS network at any one time. (Temporary borrowers have a 6 item limit at any one time.)

• Adult Non-fiction items: Maximum of two (2) on the same subject.

• Juvenile Non-Fiction items: Maximum of two (2) on the same subject.

• CD-ROMs: Total of 6 throughout C/WMARS

• Video/DVD:

  Adults: Maximum of four (4) from the Holyoke Public Library collection, a total of 10 throughout C/WMARS
  Minors: Maximum of one (1) from the Holyoke Public Library collection. Patron must be present when checking out video/DVD.

• Audio/CD items: Maximum of four (4), a total of 20 throughout C/WMARS

• Adult Books-on-tapes: Maximum of six (6), a total of 12 throughout C/WMARS

• Juvenile Books-on-tapes: Maximum of five (5).

• Adult Fiction books: Maximum of ten (10).

• Juvenile Fiction books: Maximum of five (5).

• Adult Paperbacks: Maximum of ten (10).

• Juvenile Paperbacks: Maximum of five (5).

• Pamphlets: Unlimited.

Returns

Please return library materials on time so that other people may enjoy them

• You may return the materials you borrowed from Holyoke Library to ANY library on any of the library delivery routes within the state. You may ask for a receipt any time you return materials to any library.

• DO NOT LEAVE THE MATERIALS OUTSIDE THE LIBRARY. You will be responsible if they are damaged or stolen before they are checked in.

• If you return them to another C/WMARS library, make sure they check in the items and taken off your record immediately.

• If you return them to a library that is not a C/WMARS library, they will remain on your record until they are returned to the owning library and you will be responsible for all overdue fines that accumulate.

Overdue Materials

• Borrowing privileges are suspended and patrons are billed immediately after items are four (4) weeks overdue. There is no grace period for overdue materials.

• For information about overdue charges on lost and/or damaged materials, see Overdue charges

Overdue Charges — per day, per item

All fines, fees and gifts are used as revenue for library services and materials.

• The Holyoke Library Overdue Fine is 10 cents a day per item on all materials up to a maximum of $3 per item. EXCEPTION: the Overdue Fine on Videos/DVDs is $1.00 per item per day up to a maximum of $5.00.

• Items that are more than 28 days overdue are considered lost and we will bill you for the replacement cost of the item. When you have items that are more than 42 days overdue, you may be referred to a collection agency. When this is done, an additional $10 collection agency fee is added to your bill. If you return a billed item, the replacement cost is deducted from your bill and you are charged only the $3 maximum overdue fine and the $10 collection agency fee (if applicable). (EXCEPTION: ILL maximum is $30.)

• If you have overdue Interlibrary Loan items, you are billed for the full replacement costs charged by the library that loaned us the material. This may include substantial processing, lost item, and overdue fees in addition to the actual replacement cost of the item.

• If you report an item LOST before it has become overdue, we bill you the replacement cost of the item. If you wish, you may supply an EXACT copy in good condition of the lost item instead of paying the replacement cost.

• You may pay overdue fines and other fees by cash, or check (made out to Holyoke Public Library)

Remote Access

Patrons may log into the library catalog, view their own records, request library materials, and renew books from home or office via the Internet by login to the following URL: www.holyokelibrary.org.

• To check your own circulation record while in the Library, go to the opening screen of the online catalog (PAC). At the bottom of the page click on "Your Library Record." You will be asked to enter the bar code number on your library card and your PIN (personal identification number). If you do not have a PIN, follow the instructions on the screen to set one up. If you forget your PIN, go to the circulation desk in the Library and give the staff your library card. Since the PIN in your record is encrypted, staff will not be able to tell you what it is, but they will delete it and you can go back to the PAC and set up another one.

• Your record will display your name and address and all the materials you have checked out from any of the 60+ C/WMARS libraries, their due dates, and outstanding fines. If your name or address has changed since you first got your library card, show the Circulation Desk staff some identification with your new name and/or address and they will update your record.

Renewals

One renewal per item if items are not on reserve.

• Materials not in demand may be renewed once for a total borrowing time of six weeks.

• Items may be renewed by phone during regular library hours or online by using the Internet 24/7.

Reserves

If you want an item that is checked out to someone else, you may place a HOLD on it in person by filling out a Reserve postcard at the circulation desk or by e-mail, over the phone, online, or by ‘snail-mail’. You must have your library card with you to do this since your barcode number will be needed to place a reserve. When the item is returned, we will hold it for you for one week at the circulation desk of the library location you specified for pick up. We will call you or send you a postcard notification when the item is available.

• There is a maximum of 5 items on hold per patron per week, a total of 20 holds throughout C/WMARS