Rules and regulations - Joining the library

1.1 There is no charge for joining the library. Free membership is open to everyone.

1.2 You will need to bring along proof of your identity showing your name, current address and signature when you apply or re-apply for membership, (for example: driver's licence, birth certificate etc). If you are applying for the replacement of a lost or stolen computer membership card you will also need to bring along proof of your identity.

1.3 When you join the library you must complete and sign an application form to confirm that you agree to abide by the rules and regulations. When you are given/receive your computer membership card you must sign the card.

1.4 If you under 16 you will need an adult's signature as well as proof of your identity, (i.e. a parent, teacher, doctor)

1.5 If you are unable to sign the application form for yourself, you can choose another adult to sign on your behalf (e.g. Carer)

1.6 If you are registered as visually impaired, you must show proof of registration when you apply for membership.

1.7 If you are a student living in Kirklees you must produce evidence of your student status and either a home address or a Kirklees address.

1.8 An institution wishing to become a corporate member must nominate an individual representative as a signatory for the organisation.

1.9 A person registering at a library which uses a computerised issue system will be given a single membership card with a unique borrower's number, which must be used for all transactions including IT use.

1.10 A person registering at a library which uses a manual issue system will be allowed to borrow up to 10 items.

Rules and Regulations for library members

2.1 Your membership is permanent provided that, when a computer membership card has been issued, it is used at least once every two years.

2.2 You may use any public library in Kirklees, but it may be necessary to register separately at some libraries.

2.3 Your library membership card cannot be used by another person.

2.4 You are responsible for all items you borrow or charges incurred on your card, even if someone else uses the card with or without your knowledge.

2.5 You must IMMEDIATELY report the loss or theft of your membership card. If you do not report a loss/theft and your card is used by someone else you will be held responsible for any items borrowed or charges incurred.

2.6 You must inform the library staff of any changes of name and/or address.

2.7 You must produce your membership card when borrowing items or using the public access IT facilities. You must also produce your card when asking the library staff to access information held on your computer record to comply with Data Protection requirements.

2.8 If you want to stop using the library you must inform the library staff and hand in your membership card for cancellation.

2.9 The library can decide to suspend your membership if you build up substantial debt, i.e. outstanding overdue items and/or overdue charges. Your library membership will be reinstated after you have cleared your debt.

2.10 The library staff reserves the right to suspend your membership of the library if they consider that you have not observed the rules and regulations and/or Bylaws.

Borrowing Books and Audio Visual Items

3.1 You may borrow a maximum of 10 items at any one time. There may be restrictions on the number of AV items included within that figure.

3.2 You may return borrowed items to any public library in Kirklees.

3.3 When you return your items, you must ensure that those items are checked in by the library staff. If you do not wait to see that your items are taken off your loan records you may be held responsible for any discrepancies in these records.

3.4 You can borrow any item in the lending library with an adult's card.

Under 16s
3.5 If you are under 16 you may have access to the adult lending library book stock at the discretion of the library staff.

3.6 If you are 14 or over you may borrow CDs, CD ROMs and audio cassettes.

3.7 If you are under 14 you may borrow children's audio visual material. The loan of adult visual material to under 14s can be decided by the library staff.

Over 18s
3.8 If you are over 18 you may borrow video cassettes and DVDs.

16-17 year olds
3.9 If you are aged 16 - 17 you may borrow video cassettes and DVDs except those with an "18" certificate.

Using Public Access IT

4.1 If you want to use the public access IT facilities you must produce your own valid Kirklees library card on each occasion.

4.2 If you want to use the public access IT you must complete and sign the Terms and Conditions of Use Declaration Form before your first use. If you are under 16 you must obtain the signature of a parent or carer.

4.3 You may use the Internet free of charge for a maximum of 2 x 1 hour sessions per day.

4.4 Anyone may use word processing facilities for a maximum of 2 x 1 hour sessions per day with a valid library card.

4.5 Access to IT facilities may be refused to anyone with substantial charges (i.e. £5 or over) on their library card unless the charge is considerably reduced.

4.6 Abuse of public access IT will result in withdrawal of access at the discretion of the staff. (See IT Acceptable Use Policy for further details).

Library Charges

5.1 Books are loaned free of charge for a specific loan period.

5.2 If books are not returned or renewed by the due date, fines will be payable at the current rate as set annually by the Council.

5.3 Fines are payable on books renewed when already overdue.

5.4 Fines are payable on overdue children's items borrowed on an adult card.

5.5 Charges for specific rental periods will be made for the loan of audio visual items. The full rental charges will be reapplied if items are not returned by the due date.

5.6 Fines and rental charges on the outstanding items will increase until the agreed maximum charge has been reached.

5.7 A charge will be made for all reminder notices sent for overdue items.

5.8 A charge may be made for replacement of a lost membership card. The first stolen card will be replaced free of charge.

5.9 The full replacement cost or a standard charge will be made for lost items.

5.10 If you find and return an item which you reported as lost and which you have paid a charge for, you are entitled to a refund of the amount paid, less 10%, when you produce the receipt you were given when payment was made.

5.11 A rebinding or full replacement charge may be made for damaged items.

5.12 In addition to the charges listed in 5.1 - 5.11 above, some other non statutory services are chargeable, including the request service, the photocopying and facsimile service, the provision of computer print-outs, and other IT (information technology) services.

Concessions on Library Charges

If you are under 16 or 60/65 and over
6.1 There are concessions on fines for library members aged under 16 or 60/65 and over at the rate agreed annually by the Council.

6.2 There is no charge to library members aged under 16 or 60/65 and over for the first replacement membership card.

6.3 Kirklees Passport holders are eligible for concessions on certain charges as agreed annually by the Council.

6.4 Registered visually impaired people and those who suffer from any other disability which prevents them using a printed book, may borrow talking books, free of charge. Registered visually impaired may also borrow other audio items free of charge.

6.5 Hearing impaired people may borrow subtitled videos free of charge.

Overdue Items

7.1 A first reminder requesting the return of overdue items will be sent to you at a specified time after the date due.

7.2 Failure to return overdue items within a specified time after the first reminder has been sent will result in a second reminder being sent to you and ultimately a final notice.

7.3 If after 3 reminders the overdue items have not been returned and account may be generated. The matter will then pass into the hands of the Council's Debtor Management Service and legal action may ultimately be taken.

Renewal of Items

8.1 You may renew items for a further period by telephone, letter, e-mail or personal visit, provided that they are not required by another borrower.

8.2 No more than 3 renewals are permitted.

8.3 It may not be possible to renew items, which have been obtained for a library member through the inter-library loan service.

Requesting Items

9.1 Most items that are immediately available may be requested. Whilst normally every effort will be made to obtain an item, the library service cannot guarantee that it will be supplied.

9.2 When a library member specifies a date by which a requested item is required, the library service cannot guarantee to meet that deadline.

9.3 A library member is normally entitled to a free request when it is not possible to supply the item originally requested.

9.4 The decision on whether to buy or borrow a requested item rests with the library staff.

9.5 A book which is not in the stock of the Kirklees library service will only be obtained through the inter-library loan service for a library member.

9.6 An item, which has been obtained through the inter-library loan service to satisfy a request may be subject to certain loan restrictions imposed by the supplying library.

9.7 Audio visual items are not normally available through the inter-library loan service.

9.8 Library staff have the discretion to refuse to obtain any requested item.