1. Circulation Policy

The Karl Junginger Memorial Library recognizes a circulation policy of open access to all collections, formats, and types of materials housed within its confines by all individuals and does not abridge or deny access to any materials because of age, background, origin, or views. Librarians and governing bodies have a professional and public obligation to provide equal access to all library resources for all library users. This circulation policy has been adopted to ensure fair use and access to library materials for all library patrons in the community. This policy of open access is acknowledged by the American Library Association, the Library Bill of Rights, and the Karl Junginger Memorial Library Board of Trustees.

 

Eligible Card Holders

The library issues cards to individuals wishing to borrow physical and/or digital materials. General cards are issued for an eighteen (18) month period. Cards may be used at all member libraries within the Bridges Library System. Some restrictions may be placed on borrowers by member libraries.

Any resident of the State of Wisconsin is eligible to receive one (1) free library card within the Bridges Library System. Replacement cards may be subject to a fee.

All applicants must be physically present at the time of registration.

Children of any age are welcome to get a library card. The State of Wisconsin defines a child as a minor under the age of eighteen (18). The Library recognizes that legal parent(s)/Guardian(s) are ultimately responsible for their child’s choices and actions. Libraries and governing bodies maintain that parents or legal guardians, and only parents or legal guardians, have the right and responsibility to restrict access of their children, and only their children, to library resources. 

  • Minors ages zero (0) through seventeen (17) must have a legal parent/guardian with a valid ID physically present to sign for the library card.
  • If a parent’s/guardian’s library card is blocked because of outstanding unreturned materials (not overdue fines), the materials must be returned, or the replacement cost paid before any minor in the household is issued a card.
  • Minors residing in two households may be allowed a separate card for each legal guardian who claims responsibility for items checked out and usage of that card.

All applicants must present identification which is proof of name and current address. Acceptable proof includes a Wisconsin driver’s license, Wisconsin ID card, passport, and military ID. If any ID does not have a current address then an official piece of mail (such as a utility bill, rent receipt, or bank statement) with a Wisconsin Address is required to be issued a library card. Other acceptable identification is at the discretion of the library staff.

Library card privileges include, but are not limited to, the following:

  • Checkout of physical items in any of the Bridges Library System member libraries, dependent upon item and availability limitations.
  • Checkouts on digital platforms including the Wisconsin Digital Library accessible via Overdrive or the Libby app.
  • Access to online databases purchased by the Bridges Library System and /or the Karl Junginger Memorial Library.
  • Privileges to use the Library’s computers.

 

Special Library Cards

The library offers different types of Library cards.

Temporary Cards – Temporary cards may be issued to adults eighteen (18) years of age and older who have seasonal, transitional, or temporary residence in the area. Temporary cards may be turned into full Library cards with appropriate proof of residency. The temporary card is issued for a three-month period. Patrons who are working at a local business for a temporary period and who do not have a Wisconsin state ID or License will not be allowed to check out materials from other libraries in the Bridges Library Consortium. The maximum number of KJML items that these patrons will be allowed to check out at a time is five (5).

Outreach Cards – Outreach cards are for individuals confined to their homes due to illness, age, disability, or other qualifying circumstances. Any Waterloo area resident who is deemed temporarily or permanently unable to visit the library in person is eligible for Outreach status and services. Each request for service is assessed on a case-by-case basis. All requests are filled at the Library’s discretion. For more information please see our Outreach Policy 425.

 

Renewal and Expiration of Library Cards

In order to maintain a current, accurate database of cardholders, all library cards must be renewed periodically.

  • Library cards are active for eighteen (18) months whereupon the cardholder needs to contact the library for renewal.
  • Cardholders are responsible for informing the library of any changes to their account including name, address, and contact information.
  • When a cardholder becomes a legal adult by turning eighteen (18) years of age, their card will be temporarily blocked until the cardholder visits the library to fill out an application claiming responsibility for the card as an adult.

All library cards, regardless of their status, that have expired for three (3) years or more will be completely deleted from the system.

 

Cardholder Responsibilities

Cardholders or the legal parent(s)/guardian(s) of minor cardholders are responsible for all items, fines, and fees on their library card. Cardholders are responsible for understanding and following all policies, loan periods, and special requirements for items they check out.

Cardholders are responsible for their own library card and must notify the library immediately if they believe their card to have been lost or stolen. Cards presented at checkout will be presumed to be the owning cardholder’s library card.

Cardholders voluntarily release, discharge, waive, and hold harmless the Karl Junginger Memorial Library and its employees, the Board of Trustees, and the City of Waterloo from any loss, damage, or injury to persons or property arising from any material(s) checked out from the Karl Junginger Memorial Library.

Lost or damaged cards will be replaced at a charge of $1.00 for the first replacement and $2.00 for any subsequent replacements.

In order to maintain privacy and receive accurate service, borrowers must present their own Library card at the time of checkout. The Library card may be presented in physical form or by using the CAFÉ app. Patrons will be allowed one time to show an ID in place of their library card.

Any cardholder with $10.00 or more of fines and/or fees on their card may not check out items. Suspension rules of other libraries in the Bridges Library System will be honored.

Responsibility for the choice and use of library materials by children rests with their legal parent(s)/guardian(s). Therefore, no borrowing restrictions are placed on children once they have obtained their legal parent’s/guardian’s signature and computer use permission on the library application.

The maximum number of items allowed checked out per library card at any given time is a total of 250 items. Limits for checking out media items at the Waterloo Library are 10 items in video format, 10 books in audio format, and 10 music items in audio format per card. There is a limit of a total of 100 items you may place on Hold.

 

Holds for Pick Up

Cardholders can request items to be put on “hold” to be picked up at a later time on the hold shelf. A request may be made in person, by phone, on the library system’s Café Catalog, or via the Café app.

To reduce errors and ensure privacy, holds can only be checked out from the library by the original holder or an associated account cardholder using their own library card.

There is a limit of one hundred (100) holds for all library materials except for Interlibrary Loan items.

Cardholders have seven (7) days to pick up their items. Items exceeding the given “hold to” date will be reshelved or returned to their owning library.

Cardholders may request that pending holds be inactivated until such time the cardholder desires the item(s).

The system will automatically cancel holds when a patron fails to claim the requested items before the “hold to” date. The system allows a cardholder to reactivate a canceled hold for 60 days. When a cardholder opts to reactivate a canceled hold, their name will queue to the bottom of the hold list.

Patrons may select or request Café pick-up locations other than Waterloo when placing holds. Items not found in the Café Catalog, which result in an Interlibrary Loan request, must be requested at the library where pick-up is desired.

 

Loan Periods

Circulating items (meaning items that are checked out by cardholders for use outside the library) have loan periods to ensure the items are returned in a timely manner for other library users to enjoy.

Books, Books in audio format, Kits 21 days
New Books, NF and Seasonal sets in video format, Lucky Day book materials, CDs, Certain Library of Things materials 14 days
DVDs/Blu-rays, Lucky Day DVDs/Blu-rays, Wi-Fi Hotspots, Magazines, Certain Library of Things materials 7 days
Certain Library of Things materials 3 days
Reference materials Non-Circulating

 

A renewal period of the same length as the initial loan period is granted for most items. If a hold has been placed by another patron, the item is not renewable.

Renewals are possible via the Café online catalog, the Café app, or by calling or visiting the Karl Junginger Memorial Library. There is no grace period for overdue materials. 

The library reserves the right to extend these loan periods for certain classes of patrons (e.g. teachers, institutions), at the discretion of the library staff.

 

Overdue/Lost/Damaged Materials

Materials are considered overdue if not received by the date due. Materials returned in the book drop when the library is not open are considered to have been returned on the library’s last open day.

Beginning September 2021 there will be no fines on library items except for the following:

  • Lucky Day/Browsing Collection
  • WiFi Hotspots
  • Library Fun Pass
  • Library of Things collections
  • Anything Equipment related (Chromebooks, laptops, Blu-Ray player, Ukulele, etc)

The daily fine rate varies for the above items. Ask library staff for details. 

The library sends out courtesy notifications when items are overdue. The cardholder is responsible for returning the materials on time and paying all fees incurred, regardless of whether they received a courtesy notification. It is the cardholder’s responsibility to update their notification preferences and keep track of the items on their account.

  • A courtesy notification is sent when items are seven (7) days overdue.
  • Another courtesy notification is sent when items are fourteen (14) days overdue.
  • A bill is mailed via USPS at thirty (30) days notifying the cardholder that the items are considered irretrievably lost and they will be assessed the replacement costs of the overdue materials.

If a cardholder’s payment by check is returned for insufficient funds, the original amount will be placed back on the cardholder’s account. Additionally, if the bank charges the library an insufficient funds charge, the fee the Library incurs will be passed on to the cardholder. After a check is returned from the bank for insufficient funds, payments to clear charges must be made in cash.

A cardholder may pay for material(s) that they believe is irretrievably lost at any time. No refunds will be issued once payment is made. If the item is later returned, the cardholder may keep the item.

Cardholders are responsible for all materials checked out on their library card. A cardholder is required to pay for material that is irretrievably lost or has been damaged while checked out.

The price of the replacement of Karl Junginger Memorial Library materials is determined by the current cost to replace and process the item as charged by the library vendor.

When materials are returned with damage that does not require replacement of the item all item damage is subject to additional fees assessed at the discretion of the Circulation Supervisor or Library Director.