Borrowing and Access to Library Materials Policy

Membership

Library membership is free and available to all residents of the province. Residents are those whose primary residence is in Prince Edward Island or who own property in the province. Non-residents are eligible to receive a limited membership. To obtain a library card, applicants must complete an application form and present identification. A limited membership, with restrictions, may be issued if acceptable identification is not presented.

Youths less than 16 years of age are required to have a parent or legal guardian sign their membership form. Parents and legal guardians sign with the understanding that borrowers have access to the entire collection and accept responsibility for all materials borrowed in the applicant’s name. In signing a library card, individuals accept for themselves or for their child(ren) responsibility for the use of all library services and collections in accordance with library policies and regulations.

Change of address, name, or phone number should be reported. Loss or theft of a library card must be reported immediately. Library members are responsible for any materials borrowed on their card until loss or theft is reported. Members are asked to verify their contact information every two years.

Access to Materials

PEI Public Library Service card holders are members of one public library system. With a library card, members may borrow items from any public library in the province. Library members must present their library card to borrow materials. A person may consult library materials on-site without a library membership or library card.

Borrowing Privileges, Holds, and Loan Periods

The library reserves the right to limit the number of items checked out and the number of holds members may have at one time.

Library members are responsible for ensuring that materials are returned by the due date so they will be available to others. Borrowing privileges may be suspended if amount owing is more than $20.00.

Replacement Fees for Lost or Damaged Materials

Library members, or for youths under 16 the parent/legal guardian who signed for their membership, will be charged the replacement cost for an item when it is lost or damaged beyond use while checked out on their card. Library employees will determine if an item must be withdrawn from the system due to damage. Replacement costs are assessed based on the value of the item recorded in the automated library system. If no price is recorded, a default price will be charged dependent on material type.

Items will be declared lost and charged to a member’s account when they have been overdue for 30 days, or when acknowledged as lost by library member. Identical replacements for lost or damaged materials may be accepted with manager’s approval.