Overdue Policy

Posted: July 27, 2007

In a Nutshell:

Overdue Policy:

Fines will be assessed for the late return of library materials according to the amounts listed below:

In-house materials, not properly returned to the circulation desk: $1.00 per hour or fraction of an hour after the due time with no grace period.

Audiovisual equipment: $1.00 per day with no grace period to a maximum of $20.00; damage to AV equipment will be charged at the cost of the repair.

All print materials: $.10 per item per day to a maximum of $5.00 per item for items classified as adult materials; $.10 per item per day to a maximum of $3.00 per item for items classified as children's materials.

Videocassettes and DVDs: $.50 per item per day to a maximum of $10.00 per item.

There is no grace period for overdue items. The materials are due on the date printed on the receipt for the individual items. Different due dates may be printed on a receipt depending on the type of item checked out.

Effective January 1, 2004, overdue notices will not be sent through the mail. Electronic notices will be automatically sent through e-mail to patrons who provide their e-mail addresses to the library and keep them current.

Bills will be sent 60 days after the overdue notice was sent to the patron. It will be assumed that the bill has been delivered if it is not returned to the library by the post office. Bills that have been returned to the library by the post office will initiate a stop on the patron's card until the correct address can be obtained.

Refunds for items that have been found will be made only for items that were originally owned by the joint library. The refund will be for the amount paid, less the cost of the service charge. Refunds will be available only within 30 days of the payment for the item. Items that originally belonged to another library will not be eligible for a refund from the joint library but may be pursued with the original owning library following the policies of that library.

All money obtained through fines, sales, donations or other means will be retained for the use of the library in accordance with the contract for joint library services. That money is to be utilized for library purposes at the director's recommendation under guidelines set up by the Library Board. Unused funds from one calendar year may be carried over into subsequent calendar years.

Theft of library materials will be in accordance with Wisconsin States Statutes 943.60. Collection of the materials by the police and withdrawal of library privileges may be made at the discretion of the library's director if no response is received to the notification of overdue materials. Use of a collection agency to assist in the retrieval of items not returned to the library may occur.

Lost and/or irreparably damaged materials will be charged at prices listed in Books In Print Online or a flat rate dependent on the type of material. The flat rate will represent the average cost to replace an item in a particular format. A service charge of $5.00 per item will be added to cover the costs involved in processing the materials. Partially damaged items will be charged in proportion to the amount of damage at the discretion of the director. Totally damaged items that have been fully paid may become the property of the person who paid the bill. Partially damaged items remain the property of the library.

Village of Kimberly ordinance No. 2, 1982, will be in effect for failure to return materials or to pay appropriate penalties. Court proceedings may be initiated in the municipal court of either the Village of Kimberly or the Village of Little Chute, depending on which location is involved in the failure to return materials or to pay appropriate penalties. The services of a collection agency may be employed.