Circulation Policy

Purpose

The materials owned by the Orange County Public Library belong to the people of Orange County. We aim to make them as freely available and with as few barriers as possible.

To protect the privacy of the patrons of the Orange County Public Library, we are in accordance with the American Library Association's Code of Ethics: "We protect each library user's right to privacy and confidentiality with respect to information sought or received and resources consulted, borrowed, acquired, or transmitted."

Policy Statement


Library Cards

Eligibility
Anyone who lives, works, or owns property in Orange County, is eligible to obtain a full-privilege library card. Residents of the surrounding counties of Person, Caswell, Durham, Chatham, and Alamance counties are also eligible to obtain a full-privilege library card. A government-issued photo ID card and proof of residency are required to obtain a library card. A matrícula consular ID or faith ID may be used in lieu of a government issued photo ID. (updated February 2022)

If an Orange County resident is unable to provide proof of residency, alternate arrangements may be made at the discretion of the Circulation Supervisor or Branch Manager. Residents of counties other than those mentioned above may obtain a library card by paying an annual fee of $25.

Account Security
In order to protect your privacy and account from misuse, a library card with a unique number is assigned to you. We prefer that you bring your card, or a digital copy of the barcode, to the library each time you visit to use a computer or check out materials. If you forget your card, we will ask you to show us your photo ID in order to access your account. If a library card is lost or stolen the cardholder is responsible for notifying the library as soon as possible. Unless a card has been declared lost or stolen, the library assumes that any person presenting the card has the permission of the cardholder to access the account.

All accounts are set to expire every two years to ensure we have a patron’s correct contact information. All that is necessary to renew an account is a verbal confirmation of this information.

Replacement cards may be issued for $1.

Loan Periods

  • Book Club Kits: 6 weeks
  • Books and other materials (including CDs, audiobooks, WiFi to Go, and Kindles): 21 days
  • Downloadable hoopla materials:
    • e-books, Comics, and e-audiobooks: 21 days   
    • Music: 7 days
    • TV shows and Movies: 3 days
  • Downloadable Overdrive e-books and e-audiobooks: Patron’s choice of 7 or 14 days
  • DVDs: 7 days
  • Lucky Day Collection: 14 days


Maximum Loan Limits
Forty items is the maximum number of items that can be checked out on a card at any given time. (Downloadable items from Overdrive and hoopla do not count toward your 40 item maximum.) Within that limit you can have:

  • 1 Book Club Kit or Literacy Bag
  • 1 hotspot per family
  • 2 Lucky Day items
  • 5 DVDs
  • 5 video games

OverDrive and hoopla have separate limits:

  • 3 downloadable hoopla items per month
  • 3 downloadable Overdrive e-books and e-audiobooks

Renewals
Two renewals are allowed on all circulating materials, except items that are on hold. 

Overdue Items
Patrons are responsible for knowing when their items are due. As a courtesy, overdue notices will be sent automatically by telephone call, email, or U.S. mail. Three overdue notices will be sent per item: when an item is 3 days overdue, 1 week overdue, and 2 weeks overdue. When an item is not returned and is 30 days overdue, the item’s replacement cost plus a $5 processing fee will be charged to the patron’s account and a final notice or bill will be sent in the mail. 

Hold Requests
Patrons can place hold requests if their account is in good standing (i.e. fees of $5 or less). Holds can be placed at the library, by phone, or online. Holds may be placed on items; however, library materials are available on a first-come, first-served basis. The library cannot guarantee that these holds will be immediately filled. Patrons will be notified by email or automated phone call when a hold is available and ready for pickup.

Holds are available for pickup for 7 days. After the 7 days, the items will be put back into circulation. Holds may not be placed on items that belong to the Lucky Day Collection.

Holds for Items at Other Branches
Holds for items located at another branch will be treated the same as all other holds. Items will be pulled from the shelves and sent via courier to the patron’s preferred pickup location. 

Hold Request Limits

  • Patrons can place a holds request on up to 15 items
  • A limit of 3 holds requests can be placed on Overdrive items
  • hoopla items never require holds requests

Fines
The Orange County Public Library does not charge fines for overdue materials.  

Replacement Fees for Lost or Damaged Materials
Patrons must pay for any materials lost or damaged during their loan period. The replacement cost is the item’s list price plus a $5 service charge. We cannot accept a patron-purchased item as a replacement unless approved in advance by library staff. If a book is out-of-print or a price is unavailable, a default replacement cost will be charged. Default replacement costs are based on the average costs of materials. If a lost item has been paid for and is found and returned within 7 business days, a refund will be issued by the Orange County Finance Department.

Hotspots
If an internet hotspot is returned without any one of its parts (hotspot, cable, or plug) the patron’s account will be charged the full $49 replacement fee.

Replacement Costs for Other Materials

  • $2 for a damaged DVD or Jewel Case
  • $3 for damaged barcode or cover
  • $10 per disk for audiobooks returned with missing disks (the fine will be assessed if a replacement disk can be provided by the vendor). If a replacement disk cannot be provided, the full replacement cost will be charged

Borrower Suspension
If accumulated fees exceed $5, borrowing privileges will be suspended until charges are paid or arrangements for payment are made with the Circulation Supervisor or Branch Manager. If a patron has a balance of $50 or more for more than three months, the account will be submitted to the county attorney’s office, as per the county’s Delinquent Accounts Policy.

Other Library Card Options

Computer Use Card
A computer use card is available to individuals who do not have the proper documentation to receive a full-use card. Computer use cards allow a patron to use the library’s public service computers and online resources.

SEA (Student Easy Access) and Educator Accounts

Responsibility

The Library Director is the final authority with regards to enforcing this policy.

Revised February 2022

                
                                                
        
                 
  1. Purpose
  2. Policy Statement
  3. Responsibility

The materials owned by the Orange County Public Library belong to the people of Orange County. We aim to make them as freely available and with as few barriers as possible.

To protect the privacy of the patrons of the Orange County Public Library, we are in accordance with the American Library Association's Code of Ethics: "We protect each library user's right to privacy and confidentiality with respect to information sought or received and resources consulted, borrowed, acquired, or transmitted."