Registration

All borrowers must be registered and must have a valid library card to borrow library materials.

Patrons must fill out an application form to register for a new library card. Identification is required. A driver’s license is preferred; however, any other official ID or recent non-personal piece of mail may be acceptable.

Applicants under 18 years of age must have a parent or guardian give their consent on the application form before a new card can be issued. Parent or guardian must be present to fill out consent form. Materials cannot be checked out until a library card is issued.

A letter confirming your mailing address will be mailed to you. This letter must be presented at the circulation desk in order to receive you library card. You will be allowed to check out one item at this time. If  this item is retuned on or before the due date, the patron will be allowed to check out up to 15 items.

Non-Residents

Any person applying for a non-resident library card must meet the same requirements as a resident patron. An annual fee will be charged to obtain a library card. The fee will be $25.00 per year. A non-resident is anyone who lives outside Cleveland County or the regional system (Dallas, Grant, Hot Spring counties). If you work, go to school or pay taxes in any of these counties you are eligible for a resident card. You will be required to show proof that you live, work, go to school or pay taxes in the county.

Lost or Forgotten Cards

If a patron loses his/her library card, he should notify the library as soon as possible and request a replacement. There is a $2.00 charge for the first replacement card and $5.00 charge for the second, third, forth, etc. replacement.

All patrons, adult and juvenile, are expected to bring their library cards with them if they intend to check out items or use the libraries computers. An individual who repeatedly ignores this expectation may be denied the privilege of checking out materials until they present their card at the library.

Loan Periods

• 2 weeks for books and audio books.
• 2 days for videocassettes and DVD’s.
• 3 days for magazines.

Reserves

Reserves may be placed by patrons either in person, over the internet or by phone. Patrons will be notified by telephone when the materials are available. If the item is not picked within three days, it will be placed back in circulation. There is no charge to the patron for placing a reserve.

Fines and Charges

The fines for over due books, audio books and magazines are 5 cents per day per item, $3.00 maximum. The fines for Videos and DVD’s are $1.00 per day, per item, $5.00 maximum. Patrons and their family members who have overdue items or charges shall be denied borrowing privileges until those overdue materials are returned or paid for if lost and/or damaged.

Damaged Materials

If materials are damaged so as to be judged by the library as being unsuitable for the collection, the patron must pay the replacement cost.

Interlibrary Loan

Because of limited budget and space, the library cannot provide all materials that are requested. Therefore, interlibrary loan is used to obtain from other libraries those materials that are beyond the scope of this library’s collection.

The patron is responsible for the return postage on all interlibrary loans.

Internet

Patrons may access the library’s card catalog and their account by going to catalog.hsc.lib.ar.us. To access your personal account you will need your library card number and a password. Ask for your password at the circulation desk.

Gifts and Donations

The library accepts gifts of books and other materials with the understanding that they will be added to the collection only if appropriate and needed. If they are not needed because of duplication, condition, or dated information the director can dispose of them as he/she sees fit or put them on the book sale rack. The same criteria of selection which are applied to purchased materials are applied to gifts. Memorial gifts of books or money are also accepted with suitable bookplates placed in the book. Specific memorial books can be ordered for the library on request of a patron if the request meets the criteria established by the Board.

By law, the library is not allowed to appraise the value of donated materials, though it can provide an acknowledgment of receipt of the items if requested by the donor.