Materials Circulation Policy

One of the goals of the Watsonville Public Library is to provide library materials for customer use as requested. Policies and procedures governing the circulation of materials have been implemented by the library to foster fair and equitable availability of library materials to customers and to reasonably ensure the return of the materials for future use.

The library staff strives for a consistent, efficient materials circulation procedure to implement as a team. While there will be exceptions to any rule or procedure, library customers will appreciate that the consistent application of rules, policies and procedures ensure fair and equitable availability of library materials for all users. Staff will be mindful that the ultimate goal is to get materials into the hands of the customers for their use.

All circulation transactions with customers will be handled with an open, friendly, respectful, helpful and professional manner. Staff must adhere to the principals of confidentiality of library customer records and circulation transactions in general, and specifically as required by California law.

Borrowing Privileges and Obligations

• A library card must be presented in order to borrow materials.

• All materials are loaned for 3 weeks.

• Library card holders may borrow up to 99 items, including:

  • ONE language cassette set,
  • SIX videos (VHS/DVD),
  • SIX audiobooks (cassette/CD),
  • SIX music cassettes and/or compact discs,
  • SIX periodicals.
    ***For checkout purposes only, multi-unit sets count as one***

• Materials may be renewed up to two times, if they are not on hold for someone else. The renewal may be placed either in person, by telephone (during regular library business hours) or via the Library Account feature of the library's online catalog.

• Library card holders are responsible for all materials checked out on their card, any overdue fines, and all charges resulting from the loss or damage of library materials checked out to them.

• Library card holders are required to:

  • notify the library if their address or phone number changes.

  • notify the library immediately if their card is lost or stolen.

  • notify library staff of damage to materials they are borrowing when checking the item out, or as soon as the damage is noticed. Staff will make a notation for the record.

Reserves

Library materials may be reserved at no charge. Reserves may be placed via the library's online catalog or by requesting assistance from staff.

Interlibrary Loans

In the event that the library does not have material requested by a library customer, staff may place a request for the materials through another library. The interlibrary loan request is placed by the library customer at the Reference Desk. Reference staff and other staff will submit a request to the other library, as needed. When the interlibrary loan materials are delivered to Watsonville Public Library, the library customer will be notified to come check out the requested materials at the Circulation Desk. They will return materials to the Circulation Desk and pay any overdue fines or other fees, as required.

Overdue Fines and Fees

Staff strives to check in materials returned on the same day except in the case of materials left in the book drops after closing. Items returned after the due date are charged the following:

• Children's materials: 10 cents per day per item to a maximum of $1.00.

• Videos: $1.00 per day per video to a maximum of $10.00.

• Videos that are not rewound: $1.00 per video.

• Lost or damaged video case: $4.00 per case.

• Missing/damaged book cassettes will be charged $7.50 each.

• All other materials: 20 cents per day per item to a maximum of $2.00.

• Lost items are billed according to the replacement cost posted in the library's records. This charge is reimbursable if the item is presented with a receipt within 6 months and is in good condition.

• A $5.00 non-refundable fee is charged for each lost item.