Physical Item Circulation Policy

Basic Rules

  1. Borrowers must present a valid library card to check out library materials. Patrons may present their card in electronic format from a smart phone once identity is verified and noted in their account.
  2. A fine will be assessed on each item loaned which is not returned according to the following below.
  3. Repair or replacement costs for damages to materials beyond normal wear and tear will be determined by a librarian.
  4. Account holders will be held responsible for all materials checked out to their library accounts and for all fines accrued on their account.  Patrons are responsible to protect their cards from unauthorized use by others.
  5. Parents or guardians are responsible to monitor the accounts of their minor children, whether their child’s card is attached to the parent’s or not.  Parents are responsible for all materials checked out on their children’s cards and to pay fines, fees or replacement costs that accrue.
  6. Patrons may reserve circulating materials. Hold notices will be sent by email or text to patrons who provide valid electronic addresses. No printed hold notices will be sent.

Loan Period

  1.  All circulating materials will be loaned for a period of three weeks. Items are considered overdue if returned or renewed after the close of business the day they are due.
  2. Patrons with disabilities may request a longer initial loan period of up to six weeks.  After this initial loan period, the standard circulation rules will apply.
  3. Due dates will not be set for days the Library is closed.
  4. Kits and tablets cannot be renewed. All other materials that are not on hold for another patron may be renewed up to three times. Borrowers with delinquent accounts may renew materials if no other patron has requested them.
  5. Borrowers may not have more than 100 items checked out at any given time. The Library Director may authorize additional items to be checked out on each account.

Fines and Fees

  1. Fines of $1.00 per day will be charged for overdue videos (any format) kits and tablets. Fines on other overdue materials will be 10 cents per day.
  2. Fines will stop at $10.00 for each overdue item.
  3. Borrowers will be assessed a replacement fee for individual items lost or damaged equal to the current retail price of the material plus a $5.00 fee to cover the cost of ordering and processing. No refunds for lost or damaged materials will be issued. Items are considered "lost" if they are 60 days overdue.
  4. Borrowers will be assessed a replacement fee for items that are parts of kits or associated with tablets (such as but not limited to power cables or protective cases) that are lost or damaged equal to the current retail price of the material plus a $5:00 fee. If the individual part cannot be replaced, the borrower will be assessed the cost of the kit or tablet.
  5. Replacement cost of rare or valuable material will be assessed on an individual basis as determined by the Library Director.
  6. A minimum fee of $20 will be assessed for each returned check.
  7. Patrons with delinquent accounts will not be allowed to check out any materials until all fines are paid in full and materials are returned or all replacement fees are paid in full. Patron accounts are delinquent if the following conditions exist    1. They owe fines or fees of more than $10.00.   2. They have any items more than 8 weeks (56 days) overdue.
  8. The Library reserves the right to seek appropriate and reasonable action to recover materials, fines, replacement costs or fees through the use of courts, law enforcement, or collection agencies. If the amount owed for unreturned materials and processing fees is $100.00 or over, the patron will be referred to a collection agency. Patrons referred to a collection agency shall be assessed a recovery fee in addition to all other costs or fees allowed by law to defray the cost of recovering delinquent accounts.
  9. Patrons who wish to appeal fine assessments may appeal to the Library Director. Patrons not satisfied with this disposition may then appeal to the Library Board through the Library Director, who will forward the request to the Board along with staff recommendations. The Library Board shall make final determination of the matter. The patron shall be notified of this action in a timely manner.
  10. The Library may charge a fee for credit or debit card use.

Borrower Categories

Residents of Highland shall be provided accounts free of charge. Highland residents must show a government or school-issued photo ID and proof of residence to obtain a card. Proof of residence may be one of the following issued within the last 90 days: a bank statement, utility bill, rental agreement, or mail with a canceled postmark with the applicant’s name and address. Resident accounts are renewed every 3 years.

  1.  Cards for children 12 and under will be attached to a parent’s/legal guardian’s account. All checked out items, fines, costs, holds, and charges accrued with the child’s card will appear on the adult’s account and will be the responsibility of the adult account holder.
  2. Minors ages 13-18 may have their own library account with their parent’s/guardian’s permission, or they may have a card attached to their parent/guardian’s account.
  3. When minors turn 18, they may open an adult account. Fees and fines from their previous account will still be the responsibility of the parent/guardian. Any fines or fees incurred under the new account will be the responsibility of the account holder, not the parent/guardian.
  4. Employees of Highland City shall be provided accounts free of charge and shall be held to the same rules as indicated in library policies.
  5. Non-residents of Highland may purchase a library account for $70 per year and shall be held to the same rules as indicated in Library policies. Non-residents may receive multiple cards for use by immediate family that reside in the same household (no matter what age), but they will all be attached to one non-resident account. The holder of the account will be responsible for all fees, fines, costs and items checked out by all cards attached to their account.
  6. Alpine School District certified teachers and media specialists in schools within Highland, Alpine, and Cedar HIlls city limits who do not reside in Highland City qualify for free non-resident cards. Educators are personally responsible for the account, not their school nor their school district. Those with educator accounts are not eligible for additional attached cards.
  7. Registered users of any North Utah County Library Cooperative (NUCLC) library shall be provided non-resident accounts free of charge, provided their account at their "home" library is in good standing. Registered users of junior NUCLC members will be charged a reduced non-resident fee of $40. If the registration of a NUCLC member’s "home" library card expires in less than a year, their Highland card will have the same expiration date as their home library card. NUCLC patrons may not request interlibrary loans or participate in programs which require registration. NUCLC patrons who are under 18 will require a parent signature.

Approved by Highland City Library Board July 9, 2008 Revised by the Highland City Library Board, March 25, 2009, September 23, 2009, November 18, 2009, July 28, 2010, September 22, 2010, September 28, 2011, September 25, 2013, May 28, 2014, February 28, 2019, May 23, 2019, October 2019, February 27, 2020, May 27, 202, October 28, 2021, September 22, 2022

 Circulation Policy (PDF)