Circulation Policy

Approved 4/14/2011

I. Patron Registration

Application Process

1. Applicants must complete the card application and provide valid photo identification and proof of current address. A list of acceptable forms of identification is available in the LINK Circulation Manual. 
2. Applicants under the age of 14 must have a parent or legal guardian’s signature on the application. 
3. Young adults (age 14-17) without valid photo identification and proof of current address require a parent or legal guardian’s identification and signature.

            South Central Library System (SCLS) Residents

1. Reedsburg Residents will be issued a Reedsburg Library Card
2. Rural Residents of Sauk County will be issued a Sauk County Card
3. Residents that reside in a community with a SCLS library will be issued a 30-day temporary card and application will be forwarded to their home library for issuance of a permanent card.

Non-SCLS Residents / Reciprocal Borrowers

1. Applicants who live in a Wisconsin library system with a reciprocal borrowing agreement with SCLS may apply for a library card.  Applicant must present a borrower’s card from their home system, valid photo ID and proof of current address.  An SCLS barcode will be added to the patron’s existing card.
2. Applicants from systems without a reciprocal borrowing agreement with SCLS are not eligible for borrowing privileges.  In Wisconsin, this is limited to residents of Milwaukee County.
3. Application forms for the Winding Rivers and Southwest Library Systems are available.  We will forward the completed form provided by these systems to the home library or system headquarters.  We will issue a 30-day temporary card, so the patron can use our library in the interim.

Temporary Registration

1. Seasonal workers, students and other temporary residents are eligible for a library card.  Applicants must show a valid photo ID and proof of current local address. 
2. If the address provided will be valid for less than 120 days or if a permanent address is not provided, the account type will be Limited Use, restricting the patron to a three-item limit.
3. If a temporary resident is staying with relatives in the area, it will be suggested that the relative may register for a card and allow their guest to use it.

Child Custody

1. The library patron database permits just one library account per person.
2. If shared custody or a change in guardianship impacts a child’s registration, the situation will be referred to the parents to work out, through legal means, if necessary. 
3. Parents may choose to use their own card for their children’s materials if a custody issue is a concern.
4. Parents may be asked to present the card or reasonable proof of guardianship to receive or change information in a child’s record.

Card Updates and Replacement

1. Automatic address update requests occur at regular intervals.  Staff will ask the patron to state current address, phone, birthdate and file the record.  ID and proof of address may be requested for confirmation. 
2. New cards are issued at a charge of $1.00 if card is lost or damaged.
3. Free replacement is permitted if a patron has moved.

Special Rules and Circumstances
Registration scenarios not addressed above or provided for within the LINK Circulation Manual will be at the discretion of the Library Director.

III. Confidentiality of Library Records

The Board of trustees of the Reedsburg Public Library recognizes that the reading activity and interests of library users are and should be private and its protected under Wisconsin Statute 43.30 (1) which reads in part:

Public Library records. (1m) Records of any library which is in whole or in part supported by public funds, including the records of a public library system, indicating the identity of any individual who borrows or uses the library’s documents or other materials, resources or services may not be disclosed except by court order or to persons acting within the scope of their duties in the administration of the library or library system, to persons authorized by the individual to inspect such records, to custodial parents or guardians of children under the age of 16 under sub.(4), to libraries under subs. (2) and (3), or to law enforcement officers under sub. (5).

The Board interprets this document to include all transactions associated with the use of library materials including interlibrary loan hold shelf, records of reference questions, computer use and other documents or electronic records which would link the individual with particular materials or services.

Library record inquiries by persons other than the cardholder require permission from the cardholder.  Permission requires a signed hold authorization form, or the library card of the patron inquired about.

Disclosure of records to custodial parents or guardians of children under the age of 16 is permitted.

It is the policy of the Library to contact legal counsel immediately and to resist the issuance or enforcement of any such process, order, or subpoena until such time as a proper showing of good cause has been made in a court of competent jurisdiction.  Requests for registration and circulation information by law enforcement officials should be referred to the Director.

The above Wisconsin Law is overridden by the USA PATRIOT Act. (Uniting and Strengthening America by Providing Appropriate Tools Required to Intercept and Obstruct Terrorism).  Among other provisions, the USA PATRIOT Act: 1) authorizes the FBI, or any police department deputized by the FBI, to obtain a search warrant for “any tangible thing” which can include books, records, papers, floppy disks, data tapes and computers with hard drives. It permits the FBI to compel immediate production of records from a library including circulation, borrower registration, and    Internet usage records, without probable cause, (but with a search warrant), 2) prohibits a library employee who receives such a request under the law from talking with anyone, except an attorney about the request (search warrant from the Foreign Intelligence Act includes a “gag order”), 3) prohibits notification to a patron that his/her records have been requested, and 4) preempts and overrides all state laws declaring library records to be confidential. 

Though we cannot guarantee complete privacy, the Reedsburg Public Library uses several measures to maintain the privacy of our patrons according to library policies: 

The library does not keep any records relating to patrons that contain personally identifiable information, which are unnecessary to the efficient operation of the library.

The library keeps records of Internet usage only long enough to get a circulation count. 

The library system will not save online catalog searches

The system does not maintain individual borrowing history unless the patron elects to opt-in to this service.

Library Hours: Monday - Thursday: 8:30 am to 8 pm Friday: 8:30 am to 5 pm Saturday: 9 am to 4 pm Sunday: Noon to 3pm Summer Hours: (Same except:) Saturday: 9 am to 1pm Sunday: Closed

Reedsburg Public Library 370 Vine Street Reedsburg WI 53959 (608) 768-READ (7323) Fax: (608) 524-9024 rplstf@scls.lib.wi.us

July 26, 2011