B.     Library Use & Circulation Policies

- The Columbia Public Library offers full library service to all residents of the city. The Library facilities are available during regular Library hours, for use by any person who conducts himself/herself courteously and treats with respect and care the Library materials and equipment.  Items to be loaned from the library are available to the holder of a valid borrowing card.  Materials not found in the library will be borrowed for patrons through interlibrary loans.  Computers and a typewriter are available for patron use.  A large meeting room and a smaller meeting room is available for use during library hours, and must be booked in advance.

- Hours are:  Mon-Thurs 9:00 - 8:30, Fri 9:00-5:00, Sat 9:00-4:00    

- Holiday Closings: New Year's Day; Lincoln's Birthday,(or President’s Day) Good Friday, Veterans Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, Thanksgiving and the day after Thanksgiving, Christmas Eve (4 hours);Christmas and New Year’s Eve( 4 hours).  In order to offer library services and facilities on days that offer the greatest convenience to library patrons, holiday closings are subjected to substitution. (Example: President’s Day could be substituted for Lincoln’s Birthday.)  Any member of the Library Board may propose a substitution day.  Approval of the substitution requires a majority vote of the Board members present.

- Patron cards are issued to any applicant who is a resident of the City of Columbia.  The card may be used at any Illinois library.  Children must be entering kindergarten to obtain their first card.

- Nonresidents may purchase a library card. (Illinois Library Laws, 1/1/94) "Privileges and use of the library may be extended to persons residing outside of the city, incorporated town, village or township.  For such use, the Board shall charge a nonresident fee at least equal to the average cost paid by residents of the City of Columbia."     

-     Nonresidents who own or lease city property may have one card for family use.

-Books, audio/books and videos are due in two weeks, magazines, one week. A fine of five cents per library day is charged for an overdue item.  The fine must not exceed the value of the item.  ALL materials charged on a card are the responsibility of the card's owner.  Full replacement cost must be paid for a lost item.  The library will send overdue notifications.  Removal of a patron's card from the active file is the result of failure to return or pay for lost items.     

-A "NOTICE" of the Illinois Library Law (Article 16B. Protection of Library Materials) is posted in the vestibule.  Warnings of the consequences of theft, vandalism of materials and failure to follow the law are explained in detail.

-Audio/books and videos must not be placed in the outside book drop.  The parking lot book drop is for after hour use only.

-All lost and damaged items must be replaced by patrons at cost plus processing fees.

-There is no limit to the number of books checked out.  However, we ask that you limit the number of one subject to two books at a time.  This allows others who need books on the same subject to find material.  This also pertains to magazines, two "Times" & two "National Geographic" are fine but taking all the current magazines of one title does not leave much choice for others.

-Linking Patrons: The library has the ability to link patrons by family connections and address.  This allows the library to check on what each member of a family has checked out or to check on fines accrued by the family.  Permission must be granted by the family to link them. (amended 05/08/2007)

-Computers with "Microsoft," "Windows," "Print Shop," "Lotus," "CD Rom," and "Internet" are in place for public use.  Sign up boards are available for using these computers.  Internet may be used for 1 hour once a day.  The other computers may be used for one hour unless no one else has signed up.  A typewriter is also available for the public.  Paper used with the printers is .10 cents per page for black print and .25 for color print.  A copier is also available at 10 cents per copy.  Patrons are to be aware of the copyright law of the United States (Title 17, United States Code), which governs the making of photocopies.  Reproduction is not to be "used for any purpose other than private study, scholarship, or research."

  -A laminator is available for public use.  The cost is .50 per sheet.

  -An Ellison machine is available for public use.  No charge for using but must bring own paper.

  -The Fax is available for public use.  The cost is $1.00 for the first page and .50 for each additional page.  A charge of .25 per  page for received faxes.