Library borrowing privileges/Evergreen
A patron must present their Evergreen card each time they wish to borrow materials, and their account must be in good standing to borrow materials.
In most cases, 100 items may be checked out simultaneously on an individual’s Evergreen Indiana library card. There is a limit of 6 DVDs from Lincoln Heritage Public Library, and a maximum total of 10 DVDs from all Evergreen libraries checked out simultaneously, ten videos, six art, and one gaming software item per Evergreen Indiana library card. Maximum borrowing limits are calculated at the consortium level, not the library level.
If a patron forgets their Evergreen Indiana card, they should:
•Return to the library after retrieving their library card (in this instance, materials may be held for a limited time pending the patron’s return).
•Present a valid Indiana Driver’s License that displays a current address;
•Present a valid Indiana State ID which displays a current address
•Purchase a replacement library card for two dollars ($2).
Collections: Exempt Patron
All member libraries are entitled to seek recompense for their materials when lost and/or damaged by a patron regardless of the patron’s home library. The “Collections: Exempt” switch may be activated for patrons who exclusively access their home library collection (i.e., the reciprocal borrower or student). Patrons borrowing materials from other libraries may be referred to a collections agency by the owning library in the case of lost or damaged items. They may not have the “Collections: Exempt” switch activated. Exempt patrons are, by default, not accessible by the collections agency’s search protocol. Libraries should place an alert on patron accounts for whom extenuating circumstances would suggest alternate forms of recovery should be pursued. Libraries pursuing collections against another library’s patrons should review affected patron accounts for such notes and give appropriate consideration before submission to Unique Management or any other collections agency.
Purging of Inactive Patron Records
Patron accounts will be automatically marked inactive when the patron’s privilege expires. Patron accounts that do not reflect fines or fees, items checked out, or claims returned activity will be deleted automatically three (3) years after being marked inactive.
Renewals
Renewal requests may be made in person, by phone, or via the online catalog “My Account” feature. Certain categories of materials are not eligible for renewal. If a “HOLD” has been placed on an item, it may not be renewed.
Checkout Loss of Privileges
A patron’s access to materials may be limited due to overdue materials or fines and fees. A patron’s card will be blocked, and no circulation services may be obtained with it if the patron has 15 or more overdue items, or owes $10 or more in unpaid fines and/or fees. Outreach patrons will not be blocked until they have 50 or more items overdue. The number of overdue materials and/or the number of fines/fees that will result in a patron being “blocked” is calculated at the consortium level and not at the library level. A patron’s card may be “blocked” if a related group or family member’s cards are “blocked.” A patron may also be “barred” if circumstances warrant.
Fines/Fees
To encourage the prompt return of materials, the Evergreen Indiana libraries have established a schedule of fines and fees to encourage the timely return of materials by their due dates. Overdue materials incur fines of 25¢ per day per item with a $10.00 fine cap per item.
Lincoln Heritage Public Library went fine-free on Monday, April 2, 2023. You will not incur fines for material(s) checked out from Lincoln Heritage Public Library. If you keep your item(s) for 28 past their due date, they will be marked as lost, and you will be charged the replacement cost. If you return your materials in good condition, the replacement cost fee will be removed from your account. We will also continue to bill for damaged items. The library will not issue refunds for lost items that have been paid for and are later returned.
Return any lost materials that may be been overlooked over the last few years, months, or weeks. All fines will be waived if the materials are returned in good condition.
Any Lincoln Heritage Public Library materials checked out from another Evergreen Library are still subject to fines per the circulating library’s fine policy.
Paying Fines/Fees
Evergreen Indiana library fines and fees may be paid at any Evergreen library. Patrons may pay all or a portion of overdue fines. A patron’s record will remain blocked or barred until the fines and fees are paid, or the patron has resolved the matter with the particular library to restore his or her privileges. A patron may be (or remain) “blocked” if a related group or family member’s cards are “blocked.”
Check-in Lost Items
A patron may inform library staff that an item is “LOST.” The price of the item and any outstanding fines and fees, plus a processing fee of $10.00 per item, if the book belongs to another Evergreen library, will be assessed to the patron’s card. A patron is encouraged to notify the library that an item is “LOST” to stop accruing additional overdue fines. The associated circulation fees are reassigned to the owning library upon issuance of the 45-day notice or declaration of loss or damage. Some Evergreen Indiana Libraries have contracted with third-party vendors for collection services. If third-party collection services are used, a fee for collection services will be added to the patron’s record.
Recovering Lost Items and Refunding Payment
A patron will not be refunded for a “Lost” item for which a patron has paid. In addition, no fines/fees and third-party collection fees will be refunded.
Holds and Intra-Evergreen Indiana Lending
Evergreen cardholders in the resident, non-resident, PLAC, outreach, temp, and staff
card profiles have full access to the consortium and may place holds on any Evergreen library’s holdable materials. Reciprocal borrower, student, transitional, or teacher profile cardholders may place holds only on the materials owned by the library that issued the library card. Holds may be placed on most items in any Evergreen Indiana library (see list of exceptions below). Patrons will have one week to pick up the held item after the hold is filled. Some Evergreen Indiana libraries may impose a fee for failure to pick up a hold. Patrons may have 20 unfilled holds in the system.
Evergreen Indiana does not allow holds to be placed on the following items by any patron:
•Reference materials
Evergreen Indiana does not allow Evergreen Indiana library patrons to place holds that would generate Intra-Evergreen Indiana [transiting] loans on the following item categories:
•Art •Bestsellers •CDs •DVDs•Equipment •ILL •Kits •Media•New Books •Realia •Reference •Software•Software/Gaming •Talking Book•
Any Evergreen Indiana library cardholder may borrow these items. It is the patron’s responsibility to proceed to the owning library and check out the material. The patron may return such materials to any Evergreen Indiana library for transit to the owning library. A library may place six-month age protection on new items. Local patrons may place holds on such items. Non-local patrons may place holds on such items, but the materials will not be transited until the six-month age protection expires. Non-local patrons may place a hold on such an item, select the owning library as the pickup location, and proceed to the owning library to check out the item. Patrons may place their holds via the OPAC and may select their pickup location and notification method. The software will refuse holds requests which do not conform to Evergreen Indiana policies. Patrons may choose any pickup location for holds. Patrons whose Evergreen Indiana cards are “blocked” or “barred” will not be allowed to place holds until their card privileges are restored.