Circulation, Fines and Card Policies

Circulation Policy

The circulation time for all library materials — except Videos/DVDs and some Interlibrary loans — is 14 days.
Loaned items may be renewed twice if they are not on reserve for another patron. Circulation time for videos/DVDs is 7 days. Interlibrary loan items cannot be renewed without approval of the Interlibrary Loan Manager. In some cases, circulation time on Interlibrary loans may be limited by the lending library and must be adhered to by PCPL borrowers.

Holds (Reserves)

Patrons who place Holds on library materials must pick up their items as follows:

1. Bestsellers or New items – within three (3) days of notification, excluding Sunday and holidays.
2. Other Items – within five (5) days of notification, excluding Sunday and holidays.
3. Interlibrary Loans – within (5) days of notification, excluding Sunday and holidays.

If a patron does not pick up the items within these timeframes, the items will be returned to the shelf or passed to the next waiting patron. A patron who does not pick up a reserved item within the timeframe is automatically removed from the waiting list for that item and must make a request to be put back on the list.

Fines Policy

Fines for overdue items are 10 cents per day per item except for videos/DVDs. Videos/DVDs are $1.00 per day per video/DVD. A maximum of $10.00 shall be charged for each overdue library item. Patrons owing more than $10.00 for overdue items will be blocked from borrowing further items until the fine is paid.

Circulation Desk staff should discreetly request payment of fines before checking out new items to the patron. Each patron shall be responsible for any fines, fees or other charges due as a result of late, lost or damaged library materials, in accordance with the Library’s standard schedules. Failure to pay these fines may result in the suspension of borrowing privileges. Upon approval by the Library Director, patrons may make arrangements to pay fines incrementally while retaining borrowing privileges.

Library Card Registration Policy

Library cards are issued as follows:

1. Residents – No charge. County taxpayers and/or residents will be issued a library card for a period of three (3) years.  Residents must show proof of county residency, such as:
• Driver’s License
• Pike County Tax Bill
• Voter’s Registration Card
• Utility Bill with personal address
2. Institution/Business Cards – No charge. The business owner or authorized personnel will be issued a library card in the name of the local business or institution (not the individual). The authorized business person must provide a statement on their organization's letterhead that the business assumes responsibility for library materials borrowed on their business card, no matter which employee they may authorize to use it.
3. Access PA Statewide Library Cards – No charge. Library cards will be issued to a resident of another county within the state of PA who shows a library card from his/her home library with an Access PA sticker on it for a period of one (1) year.
4. Temporary Residents – $10.00 non-refundable. Library cards will be issued to temporary residents for a period of four (4) months on an individual basis. Valid identification is required, such as of another county within the state of PA who shows a library card from his/her home library with an Access PA sticker on it for a period of one (1) year.
5. Out of State Residents – $25.00 non-refundable. Library cards will be issued to out of state residents for a period of one (1) year.
6. Cards for Minors – Pike County Public Library Cards are issued to residents regardless of age. Parents must sign responsibility for cards issued to minors (designated as those under 17 years of age.)

Cards for minors not accompanied by a parent or guardian – A parent or guardian who is unable to accompany a minor to the library for the purposes of obtaining a library card, may send a letter (signed, dated and including the home address) giving permission for the library to issue a card to the child. The child must be accompanied by an adult (relative, neighbor, or child care provider).