Policies

Getting a Library Card
Renewals and Other Inquiries
Book Drop Returns
Returns to Other Libraries
Interlibrary Loan
Fine and fees
Loan Periods
Borrowing Limits
Forgotten Library Card and/or No Library Card 
Electronic Notification
Use of Collection Agency

General Library Policies

Getting a Library Card?

Present a state, local or government issued photo ID (including school IDs) with proof of current Colorado address. The name and address on the ID must be for the patron applying for the library card if the applicant is 16 or older. Children under 16 must be accompanied by a parent or guardian when applying. Applications made with picture ID and no verification of address will be accepted for a limited three (3) item checkout and the card will be mailed to the address on the application. The card is restricted to that checkout limit until received through the mail, usually within 7 days, and presented to library staff on your next visit. If it is returned in the mail, the card will be suspended.

Acceptable valid photo IDs and/or proof of address:

• Colorado driver’s license
• U.S. passport
• Student Visa

If photo ID does not have current Colorado address, patron must also provide one of the following:

• A recently postmarked envelope postmarked to current address
• Current voter registration card
• Current car registration
• Current mortgage or rental property contract
• Printed current paystub
• Most recent property tax notice for any county in the state of Colorado
• A valid out-of-state driver’s license with any of the above mentioned documents showing a current Colorado address.

The replacement fee for a card is $3.00. Please report lost or stolen cards immediately.

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Renewals and Other Inquiries

• What is my PIN?
  Unless you have changed it, your PIN is the last 4 digits of the phone number you gave the library when you got your card.
• Online Renewals*:
  You can renew materials online as long as they are not overdue, on reserve for someone else, WOW items, or you already have fines of $7.00 or greater. *Please note: Both the catalog and online renewals are briefly unavailable due to weekly maintenance between 9-10 p.m. on Thursday nights.

• Phone Renewals*: Call the 24 hr. automated renewal line (Telecirc) at 303-404-5710. Have your library card number and PIN available. *Please note: Telephone renewals are briefly unavailable due to weekly maintenance between 9-10 p.m. on Thursday nights.
  
• For other Inquiries: For other information about a patron record, call either 303-658-2301 (Irving Street) or 303-658-2601 (College Hill) with your library card number. Pursuant to Colorado law, the privacy of a patron's library record is protected. Therefore, we are unable to provide information about a patron record without the library card number.

Using the Book Drop Returns

Materials may be returned 24 hours a day to the book drops.  Items returned to the book drops are checked in as of the last business day the library was open. If the book drop is full, please do not leave books outside the book drop. Please do not put money in the book drop!

Returning Items from Other Libraries

For your convenience, materials can be returned to any Colorado library. They will be returned to the lending library by courier. Patrons are responsible for items until they are received by lending library. Westminster Public Library is not liable for materials lost by courier service.

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Fines and Fees

To talk to a person about fines, fees, overdue items, PIN information and/or to pay fines by credit card ($3.00 minimum): Call 303-658-2601 (College Hill) or 303-658-2301 (Irving Street).

• Overdue Fines: $0.20/day per item ($7.00 cap per item)
• Damaged Items: The charges for any damaged item will include the replacement cost plus a $5.00 non-refundable processing fee. Replacement cost is defined as the current retail purchase price for the same item or one similar in content. Damaged status is noted by Circulation Staff and authorized by the librarian responsible for ordering the replacement materials. The library will NOT accept replacement items for damaged materials.
• Lost Items: The charges for any lost item will include the replacement cost and a $5.00 non-refundable processing fee. The library will NOT accept replacement items for lost materials. Lost items which are paid for, then found and returned within 60 days of payment are refundable. Refunds are subject to a 10 day waiting period.
• Collection: Failure to return materials and/or pay fines and miscellaneous fees at or above $10.00 will result in your patron account being sent to a collection agency at an additional fee. The Circulation Staff can provide additional information on this subject.

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Loan Periods

• One week items (7 days): WOW collection, new books, videos, DVDs and magazine back issues.
• Three week items (21 days): All other books (excluding items below), audiobooks, music CDs and children's kits.
• Non-circulating items: Reference materials, current magazine issues and newspapers and certain items in the Front Range Community College collection.

Checkout Limits

Please limit your selections to 5 items per subject, 30 items total per card per day. DVDs are limited to 10 total.

Borrowing Materials from Other Libraries

Find out more about our Interlibrary Loan service and checking out materials directly from other libraries.

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Forgotten Library Card or No Library Card

If you forget your library card and would like to check out materials, we will use your photo ID or Driver's License to look up your account. (Minors are encouraged to show school IDs, however ID is not required for children.) Children are required to provide their date of birth and parent/guardian name(s). We will ook up an account once, at which time a permanent note will be placed on your patron record and you will be unable to check out materials again without your card. You always have the option to purchase a new card for $3.00.

If you forget your library card and would like to use the library computers, we'll issue you one temporary day pass provided you show us a photo ID.

If you do not have a library card and would like to use the library computers, we’ll issue you one temporary day pass provided you show us a photo ID. Out of town visitors may receive temporary passes for up to 1 month. After that, we require a Colorado address and a completed library card application.

Electronic Notification

As a courtesy, Westminster Public Library sends an e-mail reminding you when holds are available for pickup and materials are due or overdue. Because of differences in e-mail settings and in service providers, the Library cannot guarantee delivery of electronic reminders. When you check out materials, you receive a printed receipt listing the due date of each item. Your printed receipt is your primary notification of when an item is due.

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Use of Collection Agency

Failure to return library materials and/or pay fines and fees, respond to library notices, and keep your account in good standing may result in your library account being sent to an independent collection agency.

• Fines and miscellaneous fees in excess of $10.00 will result in the patron account being sent to an agency for collection and an additional amount being assessed. This may ultimately affect your credit rating.
• Once library items checked out to your account become six weeks overdue, your account is sent to the collection agency and a non-negotiable fee of $5.00 (for balances between $10-24.99) or $20.00 (for balances over $25.00) is charged to you in addition to replacement costs and any other fees due. The collection agency makes several attempts over a 17 week period to contact you before your account is reported to the credit bureau and the information is recorded on your credit report.
• Returning the overdue materials or making partial payment on your library account will not prevent your account from being credit reported. You must pay the replacement charges or return the overdue items and pay all fees on your account within the 17 week period or your account will be turned over to the credit bureau. Once your library account is paid in full, the library notifies the collection agency that your account has been cleared.
• If your account is credit reported, it generally takes 6-8 weeks for the paid in full status to be reflected on your credit report. If you are pending loan approval, you can request that we fax verification to you that the debt has been cleared so that credit approval can be granted by the lender. Once your account is credit reported this information stays on your credit report for a maximum of seven years from the date your account was sent to the collection agency.

Updated: August 2011

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