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LIBRARY CARDS
Any permanent resident of Cheltenham Township is eligible to register for a free borrower's card, renewable every 3 years. The library requires photo identification containing the name and current mailing address of the applicant for new registrations. There is no minimum age requirement to join the library. Children under 14 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.
All permanent residents will receive an ACCESS PA sticker on their library card that enables them to borrow materials at other public libraries in Pennsylvania.
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 in our computer system.
Non-residents of Pennsylvania, other than those listed above may obtain a Cheltenham Township Library System library card for a fee of $25 for six months or $50 for one year. Non-residents do not receive an Access PA sticker on their card.
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 may not access online resources that are licensed for residents' use only.
Full-time students at educational institutions in Cheltenham Township and residing in the Township during the school term 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.
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:
Organizational cards will be issued for one year and are not eligible for AccessPA privileges.
Photo identification that contains the name and current address of the applicant is required for new cards. If the photo identification does not have a current address, the applicant must provide one additional piece of identification with that information. Acceptable forms of identification include: driver's license; first class mail from a business source; government identification; utility bill; lease in applicant's name; property tax bill; magazine subscription; bank statements, CSD student ID or ID from another educational institution in Cheltenham Township. To renew a card, the cardholder or representative must provide staff with the library card barcode number, birthdate, address and phone number.
The library system does not accept voter registration cards, imprinted checks, credit cards, social security cards or birth certificates for identification purposes.
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 minor children under 18 years of age.
Cheltenham residents may apply for a library card online at www.cheltenhamlibraries.org. Cards obtained online may be used to access online resources that require barcode authentication. In order to borrow physical items, each card must be activated. Adults are required to present identification and children under the age of 14 require the signature and identification of a parent or legal guardian. Applicants between the ages of 14 and 18 need to present identification or require the signature and identification of a parent or legal guardian to activate their card.
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.
Please see Appendix 1 (attached) for the full text of Cheltenham Township Library System's "Confidentiality of Library Records" policy adopted on January 28, 2004.
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)
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.
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.
Please note that items borrowed from other libraries may have a different loan period which we are required to honor.
Extended loans on certain low-demand titles may be made at the discretion of the library staff. The number of such loans may be limited.
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 is allowed per card.
A limit of 2 video games is allowed per card.
The most current issues of magazines do not circulate.
Reference materials do not circulate.
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, DVD's and video games. No renewals are permitted on Readers Express or Video Express items. Please note that we may not be able to renew materials borrowed from other libraries.
Reserves or holds are taken on all library materials except Readers Express and Video Express collections.
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.
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 its fair market value may be assessed for items that cannot be replaced new. 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 customer unless special arrangements are made in advance with the Head Librarian.
When lost and paid materials are subsequently found the following limitations apply: