Circulation
General
1. Persons holding a current Kanawha Public Library card in good standing may check out library materials and use the patron computers and available devices.
2. All programs, services, and online resources found on the Kanawha Public Library website are available to valid Kanawha library card holders on the library computers and devices, and on their own home computers or mobile devices.
3. The Kanawha Public Library is part of BRIDGES, Iowa’s eLibrary, facilitated by the State Library of Iowa. eBooks, audiobooks, magazines, and streaming video are available to Kanawha library card holders in good standing. Link for use can be found on the Kanawha Library website. Library staff can help patrons set up their devices.
4. Persons holding a current library card in good standing from an Iowa library may check out library materials and use the patron computers. Mobile devices will be available only for in-house usage.
5. Items will be checked out using an automated system.
Obtaining Library Cards
1. Any person who resides within the city limits of Kanawha or who owns property in Kanawha will be issued a borrower’s card without a fee. Identification showing name and current Kanawha address is required.
2. Any person who resides within rural Hancock County will be issued a borrower’s card without a fee. Identification showing a name and current address is required.
3. Kanawha Public Library will issue library cards in compliance with Open Access rules for statewide reciprocal borrowing. Identification showing a name and current address is required.
4. School age children will be issued their own cards with a parent’s or legal guardian’s consent. This person will be held accountable for the materials checked out on the child’s card. There is no minimum age for a library card; but for children aged 12 and under, a parent or legal guardian must be present. If a parent or guardian cannot be present, a Kanawha Public Library card registration form may be filled out and signed by the parent or legal guardian. Staff will contact this person to verify their signature. NOTE: The library cannot withhold materials from any patron, regardless of age. Library staff does not act in place of the parent. It is the responsibility of parents/caregivers to monitor their children’s use of library materials.
5. Borrowers are responsible for items checked out on their card. If a card is lost or stolen, the borrower must notify the library. Upon such notification, no further materials will be loaned on that card and a new card will be issued at no cost.
Loan Periods
1. Books and audio books on CD are loaned out for a period of 2 weeks and may be renewed twice for a total of 6 weeks.
2. Periodicals and puzzles are loaned out for a period of 2 weeks and may be renewed twice for a total of 6 weeks.
3. DVDs, board games, and kids’ kit bags are loaned out for a period of 1 week and may not be renewed.
4. The size of our collection and demand for specific materials—for special class projects, seasonal items, research material, etc.—may require a limitation on number of items checked out by any one person. The loaning of these materials is left to the discretion of the Director.
5. Reference books such as encyclopedias, dictionaries, atlases, materials without a bar code, or items labeled “Library Use Only” may not be taken from the library.
Reserves/Holds
Reserves or holds on titles which are owned by the Kanawha Public Library may be requested by patrons. Reserves will be checked out in the order they are placed in the automated system. Items on reserve will be held for three library working days. If items are not picked up after three library working days, they will be given to the next person who reserved them or placed back in general circulation.
Overdue, Lost, or Damaged Library Materials
1. No overdue fines will be charged. However, the Kanawha Public Library will send overdue notices or make phone calls to retrieve overdue materials.
2. Patrons having overdue items may not check out materials or use the patron computers until the overdue items have all been returned or payment has been received for lost or damaged items. Lost items are considered to be those that the patron concedes cannot be located or have been overdue for more than two months.
3. A failure to return library materials overdue two months or more is THEFT per state law (Iowa code section 714.5, entitled “Library materials and equipment—unpurchased merchandise—evidence of intention”). Taxpayers have purchased library materials for all citizens to use and enjoy; when one person abuses that privilege, it amounts to the theft of government property and the police can be called to respond. Please refer to full text of Iowa code 714.5 and Section 808.12 in appendices.
4. When library materials have been lost, the patron will pay the replacement cost. Replacement of same or similar materials will be made at the Director’s discretion. No refunds will be issued for returned materials since we do not charge overdue fines. If a patron doesn’t respond to calls and letters, the Director will involve law enforcement officials to help retrieve replacement costs.
5. The Director will determine the amount of damage to be assessed in the case of damaged materials.
6. Since many area libraries are on the same automated system; your overdue, lost, and damaged materials record will be viewed by all participating libraries until the record is cleared by the home library. The Kanawha Public Library will refer to the automation system before loaning out materials to any library card holders and service may be denied until the patron’s library record is cleared.
Interlibrary Loans
1. If the Kanawha Public Library does not have materials requested by a patron, the librarians will be glad to request the materials from SILO (State of Iowa Libraries Online). If not found on SILO, the materials may be requested from the OCLC-First Search (an out of state program)—if a fee is attached to this request, the patron will be notified before proceeding with the request.
2. The circulation period is set by the lending library. Renewals are up to the discretion of the lending library. If a renewal is requested by a patron, the lending library will be contacted and an answer will be given to the requesting patron.
3. Patrons will be charged $2.00 for each item requested to help defray the cost of return postage through USPS unless the items can be sent via IA Shares, the delivery service run by the State Library.
4. In return for utilizing interlibrary loan to satisfy the needs of our patrons, the Kanawha Public Library agrees to lend its materials to other libraries through the same interlibrary loan network, and to make an effort to have its current holdings listed in a tool that is accessible by other libraries throughout the state.
Confidentiality
1. The confidentiality of library records is central to intellectual freedom and directly related to the ability of citizens to use library materials and pursue information without fear of intimidation.
2. Confidentiality extends to information sought or received; and materials consulted, borrowed or otherwise acquired including: database search records, internet and electronic resources search records, reference interview and transactions, interlibrary loan records, and all other personally identifiable uses of library materials or information services.
3. All information stored in any medium belonging to a city is defined as a public record by Section 22.1(3) of the Code of Iowa, but Section 22.7(13) provides that certain “public records” are confidential, including: “The records of a library which, by themselves, or when examined with other public records, would reveal the identity of the library patron checking out or requesting an item or information from the library.” This same section specifically prohibits the release of such information except under court order.
4. At no time will the Library Director, who serves as custodian of the records, release records of circulation transactions or information requests except under court order. Furthermore, the Library will resist issuance or enforcement of any such process, order, or subpoena until such time as a proper showing of good cause has been made in a court of competent jurisdiction.
5. The confidentiality of circulation transactions and information requests is both library policy and state law. This information may be released only to the person who has borrowed the items upon presentation of the library card or by phone if the patron provides the card number. Parents may be told how many books are checked out to their children and when they are due, but may not be told the titles of the items.