Policies
Registration: | Cards are issued free of charge to people over the age of 8 who are residents of Massachusetts in certified library communities, year-round residents of Chilmark, immediate family members (husband, wife, minor children) of taxpayers in Chilmark. Children under the age of 8 may use cards of parents or guardians. All others will pay an annual $1 fee. Any replacement card is $1 per card. |
Circulation: | In order to check out materials, you must present your card. Each person shall have only one valid card issued in his or her name. All materials circulate for two weeks, except new adult books, periodicals, videocassettes and DVDs. New books and all issues of magazines circulate for one week. The current week's newspapers will not circulate. Videos and DVDs circulate until the next library day. You may take out up to 15 items at a given time per cardholder. The limit is 3 videos or DVDs per cardholder, to be included in the 15 items. |
Renewals: | All materials may be renewed in person or by phone if they have not been reserved. If materials are renewed on or before the next day the library is open, there will be no fine. You may renew on the phone answering machine when the library is closed. |
Reserves: | Materials may be reserved in person at the desk. You will be contacted by telephone. Reserve materials will be held for one week. |
Fines and Fees for overdue materials: | All overdue materials must be returned and fines paid before you can take out new materials. Per calendar day (including days the library is closed, including holidays): adult books, periodicals, videocassettes and DVDs. 5 cents per day per item for adult books, magazines, audio cassettes, compact disks $1.00 per day per cassette case or DVD case for videos and DVDs. No fine will be charged for overdue books to children under 14 years of age. Overdue videos and DVDs taken out by children are $1 per day. The staff has maximum costs for fines by type of item. |
Responsibility for lost materials: | Lost or damaged materials must be paid for at replacement cost. Each adult is responsible for materials charged to his or her card. Parents or legal guardians are responsible for replacement of materials charged to their children's cards. |
Access to materials and basic services: | All materials and basic services are available to all users regardless of age, in keeping with the policies of the American Library Association. The library supports the Intellectual Freedom Act. |
Confidentiality of circulation records: | In compliance with the law, library patron circulation status and personal information is confidential to library personnel and card holder only. |
Computer user policies: | Are available from the staff. A Chilmark Public Library card is needed by individuals who wish to use the computers. |
Library User Behavior: | Visitors are asked to respect the rights of other users of the library and to cooperate with library staff in maintaining a safe, comfortable and reasonable quiet environment. Parents or legal guardians are responsible for supervising the behavior of their children under the age of 8. |