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LIBRARY CARDS
Residents
Any resident of Cheltenham Township is eligible to register for a free borrower's card, renewable every 3 years. The library will require identification containing the name and current mailing address of the applicant for new registrations and renewals. There is no minimum age requirement for a child to join the library. Children under 18 years of age will be issued a library card with the signature and identification of a parent or legal guardian. Minors between the ages of 14 and 18 may obtain a library card without a parent or guardian provided they provide adequate identification. In order for a library card to be issued, the person named on the registration form must be present in the library.
Residents of Cheltenham Township may apply for a library card online. In order to borrow materials, the library card must be activated in person.
All residents will receive an ACCESS PA sticker on their library card that enables them to borrow materials at other public libraries in Pennsylvania.
Non-Residents
Pennsylvania residents who do not reside in Cheltenham Township should obtain a library card from their home library with an ACCESS PA sticker. Identification is required to register ACCESS PA borrowers.
Full-time students at educational institutions in Cheltenham Township and residing in the Township may obtain library cards with Access PA privileges that are renewable annually. Identification that indicates their permanent address and eligible status as a student is required. Employees of Cheltenham Township, Cheltenham Township Library System and Cheltenham Township School District and Cheltenham Township business owners who are not Pennsylvania residents may obtain library cards that are renewable annually upon presentation of identification that indicates their permanent address and eligible status as a Township or School District employee or Township business owner as described above. These cards are not eligible for Access PA privileges.
Non-residents, other than those listed above may obtain a Cheltenham Township Library System library card for a fee of $15 for six months or $25 for one year. Non-residents do not receive an Access PA sticker on their card.
Organizations
Organizations located in Cheltenham Township may request an organizational library card by submitting the following information on letterhead, signed by an individual authorized to act on behalf of the organization:
Acceptable Forms of Identification
Identification that contains the current name and address of the applicant is required for new cards and renewals. Acceptable forms of identification include: driver's license; first class mail; government identification; utility bill; lease; property tax bill; magazine subscription; bank statements.
The library system does not accept voter registration cards, imprinted checks, credit cards, social security cards or birth certificates.
Children
Parents and guardians are strongly encouraged to participate in and monitor their child's library use. Library staff members do not restrict a child's access to library collections. Parents or guardians are legally responsible for the fines/fees for children under 18 years of age.
LIBRARY SERVICES GUIDELINES
Extended Borrower's Privileges
A borrower's card is valid at any of Cheltenham Township Library System libraries:
A registered borrower at a Cheltenham Township Library System library is also entitled to use their library barcode number to access library databases including the POWER library from home, to check their library borrowing record, to place holds themselves (when available) and to use interlibrary loan services to request titles not held locally.
An ACCESS PA card is valid at any participating Pennsylvania library and allows the cardholder to borrow materials directly from a library located in another municipality. Please note that local library policies such as loan period, where materials may be returned, etc. may differ from institution to institution.
Confidentiality
Please see Appendix 1 for the full text of Cheltenham Township Library System's "Confidentiality of Library Records" policy adopted on January 28, 2004.
Revocation of Library Privileges
Borrowing privileges may be revoked by the Head Librarian, System Director or the Board of Library Directors for violation of library policies. Borrowing privileges may also be suspended when there are accumulated fines of $10 or more unless the borrower pays a minimum of $1 to reduce the overdue amount below $10. (8/17/05)
Lost Card
A fee of $2.00 is charged to replace a lost or damaged card. Lost or stolen cards should be reported promptly to the library.
Other Replacement Charges
A fee of $2.00 will be charged to replace barcodes, videocassette, audio cassette and DVD cases, plastic book jackets and other library processing materials that are lost or damaged. If it is determined that the replacement costs are greater than $2.00, the borrower will be charged the actual replacement cost.
Circulation Periods
a) One Week - Video cassettes, DVD’s, magazines
b) Three Weeks - Books, audio cassettes, music and spoken CD's, computer software
Vacation and Other Extended Loans
Extended loans on certain low-demand titles will be made at the discretion of the library staff. The number of such loans may be limited.
Limits on Circulation
CTLS will limit the number of items loaned in a subject area or by format when such limitations are warranted by demand.
A limit of 5 DVD’s or videotapes is allowed per borrower. (Adopted 2/25/04)
The most current issues of magazines do not circulate.
Reference materials do not circulate.
Renewals
Library materials may be renewed in person or by telephone. The borrower’s barcode number will be required for telephone renewals. Material may be renewed if there are no requests for it or the subject it deals with. Renewals are made at the discretion of library staff. There may be no more than 2 additional circulations for an item and no more than 1 additional circulation for videotapes and DVD’s. Please note that we may not be able to renew materials borrowed from other libraries. (Revised 2/25/04)
Reserves or Holds
Reserves or holds are taken on all library materials except rental collections.
Rentals
All titles in rental collections have duplicate free circulation copy(ies) Borrowing periods are in one-week increments Charge is $1.50 ($1.42 plus tax) per week Fines are charged for late returns at a rate of 15 cents per day, not to exceed replacement costs.
Bookdrops
Bookdrops are available at each library for the return of materials. Borrowers are responsible for materials that are left when the bookdrop is full or not functioning.
Fines
All adult library materials except magazines, videos and DVDs - 25 cents per day per item (maximum $7.50) All children’s library materials except magazines, videos and DVDs – 15 cents per day per item (maximum $7.50) Magazines - $0.20 per day per item to a maximum of $3.00 (Revised 11/16/05) Videos and DVD’s - $1.00 per day to a maximum of $10.00
Lost or Damaged Materials
The cost of replacing lost materials is list price plus a processing charge of $5.00. If an item is no longer available for purchase, the Head Librarian will determine the cost. An additional out-of-print charge of $50 may be assessed for items that cannot be replaced.
The cost to replace a children’s magazine is $5.00. The cost to replace a magazine from the adult collection is $10.00. The New York Times Magazine replacement cost is $5.00. Library will not accept replacement materials purchased by the patron unless special arrangements are made in advance with the Head Librarian.
When lost and paid materials are subsequently found the following limitations apply:
Approved September 25, 2002. Rev. 2/26/03, 12/11/03, 02/25/04, 8/17/05, 11/16/05, April 26, 2006.