Aurora Public Library > Library Cards

Library Cards

Approved by Library Board of Directors on April 12, 2006

Revisions Approved by the Library Board of Directors on March 14, 2012

General Policy:

There is no minimum age requirement to apply for an Aurora Public Library Card. A parent or designated guardian must accompany all minor children (under age 18) in person when applying for, renewing or replacing a library card and must be an Aurora Public Library cardholder in good standing. (See Policy on Minor’s Use of Library Cards).
Only one library card is issued per person.
A change of address should be reported immediately to the library.
A lost or stolen card should be reported immediately to the library.
All materials checked out on a card prior to a loss or theft being reported is the responsibility of the cardholder.
The library card is the property of the Aurora Public Library.
The library may confiscate the library card for violation of policies.
Patrons must return the card to the library upon request. This may be due to a failure to pay library fines, a failure to return overdue materials to the library or any other violation of policies. (See also the policy on Materials / Loaning of Materials)

Approved by the Library Board of Directors 2/8/2012

Policy on Minor’s Use of Library Cards:

A parent or designated guardian must sign for the library card application for minors (under age 18) unless they are married or otherwise legally emancipated.
A parent or designated guardian must accompany all minor children (under age 18) in person when applying for, renewing or replacing a library card and must be an Aurora Public Library cardholder in good standing.
A parent or designated guardian must provide proof of residency within the city.
A parent or designated guardian who resides in Aurora and has part-time legal custody of a minor child assumes full responsibility for obtaining a card for the child when the child is residing with him/her.
A parent or designated guardian is responsible for all materials selected for or by a child. The responsibility does not rest with the library.
A parent or designated guardian may designate restricted access to only juvenile and young adult materials at any time for his/her child upon signing a Parental Restricted Access to Library Materials Form
Minors upon turning 18 years of age and applying or reapplying for a library card as an adult are responsible for all debt owed on their card as a minor.

Approved by the Library Board of Directors 2/8/2012

Application Policy

To qualify to borrow library materials, an adult (18 years of age and older) or parent/designated guardian of a minor is required to fill out and sign a library card application form giving the following information: name, address, telephone, and birth date. The following must also be provided for minors: the name(s) of parent(s) or designated guardian, age, school attended and grade in school. To protect the safety and security of patron identification, and to provide for patron safety and material security, a photograph of each patron will be taken by Library staff at the issuance or renewal of a Library Card. The photograph will be stored in the Library’s patron database and/or on the issued library card.

Approved by the Library Board of Directors 10/12/09

Proof of City Residency

A person applying for a library card for him/herself or his/her child must show a photo identification card containing a current address to prove residency within the City of Aurora. (For specific forms and types of ID see the Library Card Registration Procedure Manual. See also the Policy on Minors Use of Library Cards.)

Lending Library Cards

Library cards are for the sole use of the individual to whom the card has been issued and are not to be loaned to others.

Lending a card to a person who is not eligible for library service on his/her own account (due to fines, residency outside the city limits, or for any other reason) is a very serious infringement of a patron’s agreement with the library and may be grounds for the loss of privileges.

Lost or Stolen Cards

A patron who loses his/her card or has it stolen should report this to the library immediately. Until the library receives notification, the patron is responsible for returning materials checked out on their card and/or reimbursing the library for the cost of any accumulated fines. A fee is charged for each replacement card.

Reciprocal Borrowing Program (RBP)

The library is a member of the Reaching Across Illinois Library System (RAILS). This membership entitles Aurora Public Library cardholders to participate in the Reciprocal Borrowing Program (RBP). RBP is a service in which all library cards in good standing may use other libraries subject to their local regulations.

TYPES OF LIBRARY CARDS AND ACCOUNTS:

Aurora Resident Library Card (Fee is paid annually via property tax)
A three-year (3-year) term card issued to City of Aurora residents residing within the corporate city limits. Cards in good standing are eligible to participate in the Reciprocal Borrowing Program (RBP).
Nonresident Taxpayer Card (Fee is paid via property tax)
A one-year term card issued to a nonresident who, as an individual or as a partner, principal stockholder, or other joint owner, owns taxable property or who is a senior administrative officer of a firm, business, or other corporation owning taxable property within the city upon presentation of the most recent tax bill for that taxable property. Only one library card is issued per parcel owned. A nonresident taxpayer may receive no more than one card in his/her name regardless of whether more than one taxable parcel of land is owned. Cards in good standing are eligible to participate in the reciprocal borrowing Program.
Nonresident Library Card (Subscription Card – Annual Fee is Charged)
A one-year term card issued to persons residing outside the Aurora city limits and not paying taxes to another library service area.** Payment of an annual fee, based on the average amount of property taxes paid by Aurora residents, is required. Members of the household residing at the same address are also eligible for service by payment of the one fee. No refunds are given for moving away from the area. The annual fee must be paid in full. Nonresident Fee Cards are eligible to participate in the reciprocal borrowing program. (** Please note: Per Illinois State Law [Section 4-7 of the Illinois Local Library Act (75 ILCS 5 /4-7)], patrons wanting a library card who do not pay taxes to a community school district in Aurora should apply for a nonresident card at the public library located nearest their home and in the community school district to which they pay taxes.) Residents of the 60564 Postal Code must apply for a nonresident card with the Naperville Public Library.
Company Account (Fee is paid via property tax)
A one-year term account established for a business or corporation whose address is within the corporate city limits of Aurora. Accounts are established upon receipt of a signed Company Library Card Account application from the chief executive officer assuming responsibility for all use made of the card.
Organizational Account (Fee is paid via property tax.)
A one-year term account issued to an organization whose address is within the corporate city limits of Aurora. Accounts are established upon receipt of a signed Organizational Account Application from the chief executive officer assuming responsibility for all use made of the card.
Home School Account (Fee is paid via property tax)
A one-year term account issued to an Aurora Public Library cardholder to check out curriculum-related materials for home school use. A home school account is established upon receipt of a signed agreement from the parental home school provider assuming responsibility for all use made of the account. Personal library accounts must be valid and in good standing for continued use of the home school account. The home school account is ineligible to participate in the reciprocal borrowing program.
School Account
A one-year term account established by the principal at a school in a school district in the city limits of Aurora. Accounts are established upon receipt of a signed agreement from the principal assuming responsibility for all use made of the account. The agreement includes reciprocity in the loaning of materials between the Aurora Public Library and the school.
Bookmobile Classroom Account
A one-year account established for teachers in a school district within the city limits of Aurora. Issued for use when the bookmobile stops at schools during the school year and upon receipt of a signed agreement from the superintendent of the school district assuming responsibility for all use made of the account. The agreement includes reciprocity in the loaning of materials between the Aurora Public Library and the school.

Library Cards

How to Apply for a Library Card

You are entitled to a Resident Library Card at no charge if you reside within incorporated Aurora, Illinois.

A parent or designated guardian must accompany all minor children (under age 18) in person when applying for, renewing or replacing a library card and must also be an Aurora Public Library cardholder in good standing. See Policy on Minor’s Use of Library Cards.
Apply for a library card at any library location. To apply, a photo ID with current address is required. If the photo ID does not have your current address, see below for other acceptable forms of address verification:

Valid Driver’s License or State ID
Mexican Consulate ID
Valid Passport
Valid School ID

The following are acceptable forms of address verification:

Property Tax Bill
Voter Registration
Checks with printed name and current address
Current utility bills: Gas, Electric, Water
Lease/Mortgage Agreement
Current Readable Traffic Ticket
Auto Registration
Medical Insurance Card
Current Pay Check

Application Policy

To qualify to borrow library materials, an adult (18 years of age and older) or parent/designated guardian of a minor, is required to fill out and sign a library card application form giving the following information: name, address, telephone, and birthdate. The following must also be provided for minors: the name(s) of parent(s) or designated guardian, age, school, and grade in school. To protect the safety and security of patron identification, and to provide for patron safety and material security, a photograph of each patron will be taken by a member of the library staff at the issuance or renewal of a library card. The photograph will be stored in the library’s patron database and/or on the issued library card.

Apply for a library card in person at any of the library locations. To apply for a card, a Photo ID with current address is required. If the Photo ID does not have your current address see above for other acceptable forms of address verification.

Special Cards

Special cards or accounts are available for nonresidents, nonresidents owning property in Aurora, and Aurora companies and organizations. Below is a brief description of special cards and accounts. Some restrictions apply. For more information, contact the Circulation Department at 630-264-4100 (Main Library), 630-264-3400 (Eola Road Branch), or 630-264-3600 (West Branch).

Nonresident Card

One-year cards issued to persons residing outside the Aurora city limits and not paying taxes to another library service area. Payment of an annual fee, based on the average amount of property taxes paid by Aurora residents, is required (As of July 1, 2012, the fee is $160). Members of the household residing at the same address are eligible for a card by payment of the single fee.

Nonresident Taxpayer Card

One-year term cards issued to a nonresident who, as an individual or as a partner, principal stockholder, or other joint owner, owns taxable property or who is a senior administrative officer of a firm, business, or other corporation owning taxable property within the city upon presentation of the most recent tax bill of that taxable property.

Company Account

One-year term account established for a business or corporation whose address is within the corporate city limits of Aurora.

Organizational Account

One-year term account issued to an organization whose address is within the corporate city limits of Aurora.

Computer Use Only Card

The Computer Use Only Card is issued to individuals who do not qualify for any other library card type. This card may be issued to individuals who do not wish to purchase a nonresident card. Library materials may not be checked out on this card; it is for computer access only. The fee for this card is $1.

Reciprocal Borrowers Card

The Aurora Public Library participates in the Reciprocal Borrowing Program (RBP). RBP patrons must present and register the library card issued by their “home” library. RBP patrons have the same rights and responsibilities as Aurora cardholders, with a few exceptions: They cannot place holds or use Interlibrary Loan Services, and they do not have remote access to online databases. RBP patrons may use databases inside the library.

General Policy on Library Cards

Resident Library Cards are valid for three years.
Library cards may not be transferred from one person to another.
Change of address, telephone number, or name should be reported to the library immediately.
Lost or stolen cards should be reported to the library immediately. All materials checked out on a card prior to a loss or theft being reported are the responsibility of the cardholder.

Replacement fees for library cards are:

Adult card (not expired), $3
Ages 13 and under (not expired), $1
Computer use Only, $1

Policy on Minor’s Use of Library Cards

A parent or designated guardian must sign the library card application for minors (under age 18) unless they are married or otherwise legally emancipated.
A parent or designated guardian who is an Aurora Public Library cardholder in good standing must accompany all minor children (under age 18) in person when applying for, renewing or replacing a library card.
A parent or designated guardian must provide proof of residency within the city.
A parent or designated guardian who resides in Aurora and has part-time legal custody of a minor child assumes full responsibility for obtaining a card for the child when the child is residing with him/her.
A parent or designated guardian is responsible for all materials selected for or by a child. The responsibility does not rest with the library.
A parent or designated guardian may designate restricted access to only juvenile and young adult materials at any time for his/her child upon signing a Parental Restricted Access to Library Materials form.
Minors, upon turning 18 years of age and applying or reapplying for a library card as an adult, are responsible for all debt owed on their card as a minor.

How to Check Out Library Materials

Materials can be checked out at the Circulation Desk or at the Self-Check stations. You must have your library card with you to check out materials. Receipts listing checked-out items and their due dates are printed. Materials must be returned by the end of the loan period. An overdue fine is charged for material returned past the due date. Current periodicals are not available for loan.

Loan Periods

Note: Bookmobile loan periods may be different from this schedule.

1 Week: Qwik Pik Bestseller Books, DVDs, and Video Games
2 Weeks: New Adult Fiction
4 Weeks: All other books, books on tape/CD, music CDs, magazines, videos and playaways
8 Weeks: Sheet music, sculptures

Check-out Limits

Patrons may have 75 items checked out at any one time. Cardholders under age 4 are limited to 5 items checked out at any one time. Due to the limited availability of some items, check-out limits have been placed on the following items (Bookmobile loan periods may be different from this schedule):

2 video games per library card.
5 DVDs and playaways per card
10 of the following : books on cassette/CD, music CDs, CD-ROM, magazines per card
6 sculpture, 2 Viewmaster viewers, 6 Viewmaster reels per card
5 downloadable titles from Overdrive per card
No limit on VHS videos per library card

Check-out and hold limits for cardholders under age 4:

May check out juvenile items only (print and non print except for video games). No adult print or non-print materials may be checked out on this card.
May have no more than 5 items checked out at a time
May not reserve or hold items

Renewals

Some materials can be renewed for one additional loan period. Materials may be renewed in person, online at My Account or by calling any library location. Items on reserve for others may not be renewed.

Fines & Fees

Overdue Fines

15 cents per day per item, with the exception of videos, DVDs, Qwik Piks
$1 per day per item for DVDs, Qwik Pik Bestseller Book, and video games
$1 per item for audio visual materials if not returned in the audio-visual drop

Note: Bookmobile fines may be different from this schedule.

Additional Fees

$1 Computer Use Only Card
$1 initial purchase of a computer print card (Value may later be added to the card.)

Overdue notification is a courtesy. Notification can be made by telephone, regular mail or email. To ensure prompt notification, please inform the library of a change in contact information. The library is not responsible if notification is not received. Contact the library if you wish to receive email notification.

Lost & Damaged Materials

When an item that has been checked out to a patron is reported lost, the patron will be charged the replacement cost of the item.

Replacement costs for Interlibrary Loan materials are determined by the lending library. Patrons will be liable for the cost of a damaged item, except where such damage is determined to be the result of normal wear and tear.

Where to Return Materials

Patrons may return materials to any Aurora Public Library location in person or by using the book drop. Book drops are provided as a convenience to patrons. The library is not responsible for items left in book drops. Book drops are for the return of books and magazines only. Audiovisual materials should not be returned in the book drops. Audio-visual materials may be returned in the audio-visual drops available at the Main Library, Eola Road Branch and West Branch locations. Church Road Outreach Services has a book drop.

Restriction of Borrowing Privileges

Library patrons may be barred from checking out items or accessing the Internet when $10 or more in fines or fees have accumulated on their account. Accounts totaling $30 or more in fines and/or replacement cost will be sent to collection and a $10 collection agency fee will be added.

Library cards will not be renewed for any patron with unpaid fines, fees or overdue materials.

Library Patrons Account Access

Patrons may access their accounts using the library’s online card catalog through the library’s website: www.aurorapubliclibrary.org. A Personal Identification Number (PIN) and library card number is needed to access the account. The PIN number must be established for you by a library staff member.

Patrons have access to the following information about their library card account:

Items checked out on their card
Date when the materials are to be returned
Fines, blocks, account messages
Materials waiting for pickup at the library
Requested items not yet available
Home address on file with the library

Patrons have the ability to perform the following transactions:

Renew materials (not on hold for another patron)
Request material that is at another APL location
Reserve material that is currently checked out to another patron
Reserve Interlibrary Loan materials

Notification and Pick-Up of Reserve Items

Patrons will be notified when a reserve item becomes available. Notification may come by telephone, mail or email. To ensure prompt notification, please inform the library of any change in contact information. Contact the library if you wish to receive email notification.

Reserve items will be held for a patron for eight days. If the item is not picked up, it will be made available to the next patron in line or placed back in circulation. Each library branch has a “self-serve” pick-up area for all reserves near the circulation desk on the main floors. If you have any questions or problems, contact the Circulation Department at 630-264-4100 (Main Library), 630- 264-3400 (Eola Road Branch), or 630-264-3600 (West Branch).

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