Circulation Policy

A. Registration
All borrowers must be registered and must have a valid local patron card to borrow library materials.
Patrons must fill out an application form to register for a new library card. The following statement will be printed on the registration form for the patron’s information and acceptance:
I apply for the right to use the Fitzwilliam Town Library and promise to obey all its rules, to take good care of all materials I borrow, to pay all fines or damages charged to me, and to give prompt notice of change of address.
Signature _________________________________

Identification is required. A driver’s license or student ID 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. The responsibility for the reading, listening and viewing of library materials by children rests with the parents and legal guardians of the child. This parental signature is not required for children who are renewing cards.
Materials cannot be checked out until a library card is issued.
All library cards expire after 2 years. In order to renew a library card, patrons must confirm contact information.

B. Loan periods
2 weeks for books, magazines, audio books, board games and puppets.
One week for videos, except for New DVDs, which circulate for 2 days.

Interlibrary loans are due on the date indicated by the lending library.
Books may be renewed twice if there is not a waiting list for the title.
The director may establish the loan period for special collections, materials which are temporarily in great demand, such as for student projects, or materials added to the collection which are in a new format.
There is no limit on the number of items a patron can borrow at one time, with one exception — two items on a subject is the limit for a known school assignment.

Please see separate policies for the Metal Detector or Telescope for details on their loan requirements.

C. Reserves
Reserves may be placed by patrons in person, online or over the phone. Patrons will be notified by telephone when the materials are available. There is no charge to the patron for placing a reserve or for interlibrary loan services.

D. Fines and charges
There are no fines for most overdue materials, although overdue videos accrue fines at the rate of $1.00 per day. A first notice is sent after the material is due. If the material is not returned within a designated period, a bill will be sent for the material with the cost of replacement of the material and a $5.00 service charge for processing, cataloging and postage. Patrons who have been mailed an overdue notice may be denied borrowing privileges until those overdue materials are returned or paid for if lost and/or damaged.

E. 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. A notice of these charges will be sent to the borrower; a sample of the notice follows:

Dear____________________________ At the time a library patron borrows materials from the public library collection, the patron assumes the responsibility for the care and timely return of the materials. Recently materials checked out on your library card were returned to the library damaged beyond the point of being usable in the Library’s collection. The titles and costs of these materials are listed below:
———————————- $———
Your assistance in clearing this matter promptly will be appreciated and will be necessary in order to retain your borrowing privileges.
Thank you in advance for your prompt response to this matter.
Sincerely,

F. Confidentiality
As specified in New Hampshire Statutes Title XVI 201-D:11 Library User Records; Confidentiality. –
I. Library records which contain the names or other personal identifying information regarding the users of public or other than public libraries shall be confidential and shall not be disclosed except as provided in paragraph II. Such records include, but are not limited to, library, information system, and archival records related to the circulation and use of library materials or services, including records of materials that have been viewed or stored in electronic form.
II. Records described in paragraph I may be disclosed to the extent necessary for the proper operation of such libraries and shall be disclosed upon request by or consent of the user or pursuant to subpoena, court order, or where otherwise required by statute.
III. Nothing in this section shall be construed to prohibit any library from releasing statistical information and other data regarding the circulation or use of library materials provided, however, that the identity of the users of such library materials shall be considered confidential and shall not be disclosed to the general public except as provided in paragraph II.

The Fitzwilliam Town Library adheres strictly to all sections of this Statute regarding the protection of the confidentiality of its users.

Approved by the Board of Trustees on January 6, 2014

Revised and approved by the Board of Trustees on May 7, 2018

Reviewed and approved by the Board of Trustees on August 9, 2021

Reviewed and approved by the Board of Trustees on August 1, 2022

Reviewed and approved by the Board of Trustees on August 7, 2023

Revised and approved by the Board of Trustees on August 5, 2024