Library Cards

You may obtain a library card if you are:

• a resident of Crenshaw County
• attend school in Crenshaw County
• work in Crenshaw County
• own real estate in Crenshaw County
• In order for children ages 5-17 to open their first library card account, their parent and/or guardian MUST ALSO OPEN A LIBRARY ACCOUNT, or already have an existing account that is in good standing.
• There is no charge for the first card. Replacement cards cost $2.00 each.
• If you do not meet any of the above criteria, you may obtain a non-resident library card for a fee of $25, valid for one year.

When obtaining a library card, you must present an official valid picture ID  (ex. driver’s license) showing your correct mailing address, or have a current bill or recently dated communication from the state or federal government, or one of their agencies, with you.

A child must be at least five (5) years of age to have an account under their name. In order for children ages 5-17 to open a library account, their parent/guardian MUST be present, either open an account or already have an existing account that is in good standing, and accept full responsibility for the minor’s account including any lost or damaged holdings, and any late fees assessed against that account.

New Card Holders:

There is a 3 month (90 day) probationary period for all new card holders which allows you to borrow one movie and one book, or two books, checked out on your account at one time. After be taken off of probation,  you will be allowed to check out 5 items (3 movies maximum) per visit. The probation period may be extended if a patron has unpaid fines, is chronically late returning items, or there are other issues with their account. Library privileges may be terminated for failure to return items, inappropriate behavior, or failure to observe all library policies.

General Policies

• No food or drink is allowed to be brought into the library.
• Library cards or official ID with a picture must be shown in order to check out materials and for computer usage.
• Respect others by working quietly.
• Bring materials to the front desk when you are finished using them.
• Clean up after yourself before you leave.
• Materials may be renewed up to two times*, via our catalog, through Facebook, in person, or over the phone.
• No more than 5 items may be checked out at one time per account.
• All items may be returned via the drop box. Use the media side for all non-print  holdings
• Patron privileges may be terminated for failure to return items or returning them damaged, failure to pay monies owed on an account, inappropriate behavior, failure to observe all library policies, and being the recipient of repeated warning.
• You are responsible for paying for or replacing any items that are lost or damaged, plus any fines due, on the accounts you are responsible for, at the time that the fees incurred. No fines are charged for Saturday, Sunday, holidays, or days where we closed in response to circumstances beyond our control.
• If you find a lost item after you have paid for it, you have 90 days to return it to the library and receive a refund if  the item is in acceptable condition.

Circulation Policies

- Books, music CDs, and audio books can be checked out for 2 weeks. If not returned or renewed by the due date, they will be overdue and a fine of $.10 per day will be charged for each item, which will max out at $4.00 per item checked out.

- Movies: DVD/VHS’s are limited to 3 per visit per card holder with the exception of people that are at the same residential address. Only 6 DVD/VHS’s are allowed checked out per residential address. You may keep movies for one week, unless otherwise stated.* After this time, they will be overdue and a fine of $1.00 per day per movie will be charged to the cardholder, which will max out at $5.00 per item check out. DVD privileges will be lost due to damaged DVDs or if you are habitually late returning items by the due date. Any patron holding movies for a month or more will lose all DVD privileges. If you lose or damage a DVD, you will be responsible for replacing (with a copy that is in Like New condition) or paying for the DVD plus any fines due.*

If a patron damages or loses a DVD case, a $2 fee will assessed to their accountthe patron must pay a $2 charge to replace it.

-Newspapers, magazines, yearbooks, genealogy and reference materials may be perused and used in the library but will not be lent out.

New/High demand holdings

• New holdings (both books and movies) and/or holdings that are in high demand will only be held for 3 days before they are passed onto the next person in the reserve queue. If you are unable to pick up the holding in the time allowed you will be moved down in the queue and we will contact you once it becomes available to you again. If you are consistently unresponsive to messages and leave the holding(s) sitting on the reserve table multiple times, you will be moved to the bottom of the reserve list.
• For DVDs that are in high demand the loan period will be shortened to 3 business days. You are welcome to put it on reserve again. We will not renew until the circulation class changes.
• For books the loan period will remain 2 weeks. You are welcome to put it on reserve again. We will not renew until the demand status changes.
• If one person at a residence is considered a risk OR has lost all or part of their library privileges, privileges of all those living at that residence may be suspended/revoked/reduced at the discretion of the Luverne Public Library and its staff.
• All holdings have a one-day grace period before fines are assessed. On the second day that a holding is late, fines for both days that the item is late will be applied to the account and late fees will continue to accrue against the account until the holding is returned or the fine cap has been met.

 

Conference Room Policies

• The James A. Watts meeting room is available to non-profit organizations and clubs.
• Meetings must be scheduled in advance with the library.
• Meetings must be open to the public and free of charge to all who attend.
• Meeting room is not intended for extended use by any one group or organization.
• For more information, please call the Luverne Public Library at 334/335-5326.
• We may have to reschedule your meeting if something comes up on our end. We will notify you as soon as possible

 

Inter-library Loan Policies

• Inter-library loan services are available to all library patrons whose accounts are established and are in good standing.
• Inter-library loan (ILL) is available for print media (both fiction and non-fiction) only.
• Patrons are required to pay the ILL postage when they come in to pick up their holding.
• Failure to pick up or return materials on time may result in revocation of ILL privileges.
• Copyright laws will be followed when a number of items are requested from the same source.

Internet and Computer Policies:

• You are welcome to bring in your own device. Please let us know so we can include the information in our statistical report.
• You must present your library card or photo ID when using one of our computers
• Students performing research or working on class assignments, and people doing something job related have priority for computer use and have no time limit.
• There is a 30 minute time limit unless you are doing job or school related work. Patrons playing games or on social network sites are strictly limited to 30 minutes per day and/or may be asked to get off if there are people waiting to use a library computer.
• You may call ahead and reserve computer time for special research or homework needs.
• Items can be printed at .25 cents per single sided page, or 40 cents per double sided page. You are responsible for everything you print.
• Installing, downloading, or modifying our computer’s hardware or software is prohibited, unless permission is given by a staff member.
• No more than 2 people allowed at each workstation at a time. If a group's behavior or conversation disturbs other library users or library staff, then 1 person will be asked to leave the workstation.
• When finished, please leave the computer on and return to the desktop page. Remember to sign-out of all your accounts.
• Digital files may be downloaded onto a USB stick or thumb drive that you provide.
• No disks, CDs, or other storage device brought into the library may be inserted into the library's computers without permission by a staff member of the LPL.
• Parents are responsible for monitoring the sites viewed by their children.
• The Luverne Public Library will follow and strictly enforce Alabama Law 13a-12-200.3 that specifically prohibits the dissemination or display of obscene matter.
• Users will respect copyright laws and licensing agreements.
• Internet computers will not be used for illegal activity, to access illegal materials, or to access materials that by local community standards would be obscene.
• There is a 5-hour limit per person per week for computer usage unless the computer is used for schoolwork, research, or something that is job related.
• You will lose the right to use a computer if any of these rules are violated.
• The Luverne Public Library is not responsible for any damage, which may occur as a result of the use of this system, such as loss of data from delays or service interruptions due to mechanical failures.
• The patron and/or the parent or guardian or said patron may be financially liable for any damage to a workstation's hardware or software or for any illegal or unethical acts performed through our system.

Adults and students are reminded that not all sources on the Internet provide accurate, complete, or current information. Please remember that many times you will find the specific information you need right here in our books, periodicals and reference materials.

Children Policies:

• Children under the age of seven (7) must be accompanied and supervised by a responsible adult (age 18 or older) at all times while in the library. The library will not assume responsibility for the safety of young children.
• Children, age seven (7) through ten (10), must have a responsible adult present within the library. All patrons will be expected to display appropriate behavior, conductive to maintaining a peaceful atmosphere while in the building.

PARENTS AND CAREGIVERS, NOT THE LIBRARY STAFF, ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE ACTIONS AND SAFETY OF CHILDREN VISITING THE LIBRARY.*

*NOTE: An exception may be made for children attending organized library events and programs. These children may be in the program area without parents or caregivers; however, parents or caregivers must remain within the library facility during the event or program.

- A Caregiver must be at least 18 years of age and have emergency contact information for the guardian/parent with them.

 

All children DURING Library business hours:

• Children eleven (11) and up may use the library without supervision, HOWEVER, the library facility is not to be used as childcare and the staff are not to be used as sitters.
• If a child wishes to leave the library, the library staff cannot legally detain him or her.
• Children are subject to the same rules of conduct as other library users. If an unattended child is requested to leave the premises, he or she will be encouraged to call a parent or guardian and inform them of the situation, but we are not responsible for them if they do not.
• If a child under the age of six (6) is found unattended, or violates the Code of Conduct, the parent/guardian/caregiver will be informed and asked to take responsibility for the child and his or her actions.

AFTER Library Business Hours:

• It is assumed that children will not be left at the library after hours. However, it is sometimes unavoidable that:
  • - Libraries must close to unusual weather or emergency situations
  • - Parent/caregivers/guardians are not on time to collect a child.
• In these cases, children will be offered the opportunity to contact their parent/caregiver/guardian and make suitable arrangements for pickup.

LIBRARY STAFF CANNOT ASSUME RESPONSIBILITY FOR CHILDREN LEFT AT OUR FACILITIES. The local police department will be notified and asked to come to stay until all children are picked up.

Parents allowing their children to become unruly or destructive will be asked to leave and be held responsible for any damages their child has done.