Circulation Policy

GETTING A LIBRARY CARD

Please visit one of our three locations in Caroline County to sign up for a library card.

Anyone who lives or owns property in Maryland is eligible for a free Caroline County Public Library card.

Cards are also issued free of charge to non-resident Caroline County teachers and students attending schools in Caroline County and non-Maryland residents working in Caroline County Government.

Non-Maryland residents pay an annual fee of $40.00 (subject to change) for a Caroline County Public Library card.

A parent or guardian must sign for minors under the age of 18 if the minor does not have a valid Maryland driver’s license.

Borrowers under the age of 18 who have a valid driver’s license are allowed to sign for themselves.

Borrowers must have a valid library card and PIN (Personal Identification Number) to access their account online.

Cards are issued immediately when you register with proof of identity and current address. Identification must include the applicant’s photo, name, and current address. Acceptable documents for verification include:

  • A valid driver’s license
  • A valid Maryland State ID card
  • Verification established by a postcard sent from the Caroline County Public Library
  • Current employee or military ID
  • A current utility bill

Cardholders are responsible for all items borrowed on their card. To safeguard against unauthorized use, card numbers and PINs should be keep confidential.

Your library card may be presented at any location in Caroline County and be registered at any other Maryland Public Library, subject to their policies and regulations.

If you lose your library card, report the loss immediately.

Borrowers are responsible for items someone else might borrow with your lost card.

Borrowers should notify the library of change of address.

ORGANIZATIONAL LIBRARY CARD

An organizational card may be issued to borrowers checking items out for an organization and is not for personal use. These cards work the same as a regular library card, and help an individual manage checkouts for multiple individuals from the same organization.

GETTING A PERSONAL IDENTIFICATION NUMBER (PIN)

Personal Identification Numbers (PINs) are assigned during the registration process.

PINs are needed to access online services to place holds, review library accounts and to renew materials.

PINs can be reset at any time online or by calling any branch of the library. When calling the library to reset your PIN, you must have your library card number available. It is required before library staff can reset your PIN.

PINs should not be shared in order to protect borrower account information.

Your default pin will be the last four digits of your library card number

BORROWING

Any Caroline County Public Library cardholder may borrow books, magazines, audio materials, DVDs, audiovisual equipment, and pamphlets in the library’s collection.

Current magazines, reference materials and newspapers must be used in the library.

Parents are encouraged to accompany their children to the library to monitor access to the library’s resources, including the Internet.

Checkouts are limited to 50 items per record at any given time.

The regular loan period for most library materials is 3 weeks.

The regular renewal limit is 3, with the following exception.
Materials are not renewable when the item is on hold for another patron.

Holds may be placed on most items that are not currently available.

Borrowers are notified by email or mail when the item is available for pickup.

Holds may also be placed online from the library’s web site. Instructions for placing holds are available at each library branch and online.

Some material types have checkout and loan limits.

Borrowers may checkout up to 10 magazines, audiobooks, DVDs, and Music CDs.

Cardholders must be 18 years old to borrow entertainment DVDs or equipment.

The cardholder must be present to borrow DVDs.

The Caroline County Public Library and Caroline County Public Schools share materials when school is in session.

Holds may be placed on school materials from late August through mid May by calling the library or through the library’s online card catalog.

RETURNING AND RENEWING

Borrowers may renew items by calling the library, visiting any Caroline County Public Library location, or in “My Account” accessible through library’s website.

Your User ID is your Library Card number – 14 digits, no spaces. If you do not know your PIN, please call us and we can help you set it.

All library materials should be returned on or before the due date. Other people may be waiting for the materials you have checked out.

All materials can be returned to any Caroline County Public Library location or any public library system in Maryland. The library encourages borrowers to return DVDs to a Caroline County Public Library location.

Book drops are available at the all three Caroline County Public Library locations.

BOOKS BY MAIL

Books by Mail is a free service for borrowers who are unable to use the library due to a temporary or permanent disability.

Borrowers are provided with materials that meet their individual needs or interests.

While using this service, Books by Mail customers will receive their requests by mail only.

After registering for the Books by Mail service, materials will be sent to your home in a reusable mailbag through the United States Postal Service.

To help make Books by Mail work for you:

  • When returning items, reverse the address card. The card is addressed and postage is stamped for return mail.
  • Due dates are printed on the receipt. Items are due 3 weeks from check out. Please make an effort to return the materials by the due date or renew if you need more time.
  • Borrowers will be charged for lost or damaged materials.
  • There may be a wait for new books or bestsellers. The library makes every effort to fill requests quickly.

Email info@carolib.org or call the Central Library in Denton for more information about Books by Mail.

INTERLIBRARY LOAN

Materials not owned by the Caroline County Public Library or other Eastern Shore Regional Library member libraries may be ordered through the state-wide interlibrary loan service, Marina.

Interlibrary loan items may be borrowed for 3 weeks.

Checkouts are limited to 10 interlibrary loan items per account at any given time.

Items borrowed from another Maryland Public Library may be renewed 1 time.

Items borrowed from outside the Maryland network are not renewable.

Interlibrary loan materials that are lost or damaged may restrict a borrower from placing future interlibrary loan requests.

FEES

As of September, 2019 the Caroline County Public Library no longer charges extended use (late) fees.

 

Fees for lost or damaged library materials:

The library charges full replacement cost for items that are lost or damaged.

A processing charge of $5.00 is added to borrower accounts for the following:

  • Processing fee for each billed lost or damaged item.
  • Items returned without cases, boxes or inserts.
  • Books returned without their slipcovers.
  • Items returned with damaged or missing barcodes.

Charges for returned checks are added at the discretion of the library.


Fees reviewed and approved by Board of Library Trustees 10/9/2019