Circulation Policy

Library Card Registration
The Pulaski County Library is supported primarily by taxes paid by the residents of this county. Therefore, library-borrowing privileges are available at no additional charge to residents of Pulaski County. Others may apply for borrowing privileges by paying the current fee established by the Board of Trustees. Students attending a local institute of higher learning and anyone owning real property (real estate, boat, or automobile) registered in Pulaski County may obtain a library card at no charge.

The library has a responsibility to protect the taxpayer’s investment in the collection of the library therefore; individuals requesting a library card must complete a Library Card Registration form and show identification. The patron may have photo I.D. entered into the circulation system if requested. First time library card holders may only check out 2 books per card. Once those are returned, more can be checked out.

Adults. Two pieces of ID are required, one piece of ID with photo and one piece containing the current address. Acceptable address identification includes, but is not limited to; Kentucky Driver’s License or state issue identification card, printed checks, car registration, military or government I.D., rental/lease agreement, current utility bill, or an envelope with recent postmark that shows the current address. Post office box numbers are not an acceptable form of identification.

Teens. Parents and/or caregivers may request a library card for a teen. Parents or caregivers must present verification of address for a teen under the age of 17 if the teen does not have such identification. The parent or caregiver must sign the Library Card Registration Form. This signature constitutes the parent or caregiver’s permission for the teen to have a card, and signifies a willingness to assume financial responsibility for all materials checked out on the teen’s card. The caregiver’s name will be entered into the teen’s application in the library circulation software under “responsible party”. A current Library card from the adult is acceptable identification and does not require any further proof of identity.

Children. Parents and/or caregivers may request a library card for a child. Parents or caregivers must present verification of address for child under the age of 13 if the child does not have such identification. The parent or caregiver must sign the Library Card Registration Form. This signature constitutes the parent or caregiver’s permission for the child to have a card, and signifies a willingness to assume financial responsibility for all materials checked out on the child’s card. The caregiver’s name will be entered into the child’s application in the library circulation software under “responsible party”. A current Library card from the adult is acceptable identification and does not require any further proof of identity.

Non-residents. People who do not own property in this county are considered to be non-residents. Non-residents are required to pay a yearly fee of $25.00 per person or $50.00 per family in order to obtain a library card. This is their contribution to the library in the place of paying taxes. EXCEPTIONS: If an individual license their automobile or boat in this county, they are exempt. If a person attends a local institute of higher learning, they are exempt. If a person has a card from one of these counties,

Adair, Casey, Clinton, Laurel, Lincoln, McCreary, Rockcastle, Russell, Wayne and Whitley and is in good standing in that county, (see reciprocal cards) they are exempt. The library does not receive any occupational tax money

Temporary Card. In special cases a patron may be issued a library card without a permanent residence. These cards will be allowed to check out 5 books and 1 DVD. When item(s) are returned, they can check out more.

Reciprocal Cards. The library board believes in cooperation among the public libraries of the Three Rivers Region. Therefore, they have agreed to allow any residents in the following counties, Adair, Casey, Clinton, Laurel, Lincoln, McCreary, Rockcastle, Russell, Wayne and Whitley who has no over dues or lost items on their accounts in those counties to obtain a Pulaski County Library Card at no cost. They must first request a reciprocal card and after the management staff has confirmed their status at their home library, we will issue the card. This process may take up to one week or more to complete. Library users should present their own library card in order to check out materials. Parents may use their minor child’s library card and vice versa, except for computer usage (See “Rules for Computer Use”). Library users without their library card must be verified by address.

Lost Cards. will be replaced for a $1.00 charge. The patron’s record will continue to show all materials charged to the former card number as well as to the new card.

Suspension of Borrowing Privileges
Borrowing privileges are suspended when a patron has too many items checked out or fines or other unpaid charges posted to their library card. A Patrons card will be suspended if they have more than 50 items checked out and $10.00 in fines. Privileges will be resumed when the amount falls below 50 books and/or $10.00 in fines.

Fees

Fax
Faxes are sent and received for $2.00 for the first three pages and $1.00 per page thereafter.  See our fax policy for details.

Out of County Library Cards
$25.00 per year per person or $50.00 per year per family.

Reserves or Holds

All circulating materials may be reserved except for those items that are not cataloged.  Reserves may be placed by patrons either in person, on-line, or over the phone.  Patrons will be notified by e-mail or telephone when the materials are available.  Holds must be picked up before other items can be placed on hold.  There is no charge to the patron for placing a reserve.  Reserves will be held for 48 hours before they are returned to circulation.  Reserves are limited to 15 items per patron.

Due Date Notification

A printed receipt will be given upon checkout listing the titles checked out and the date due.  The patron is responsible for knowing when their items are due.  If a receipt is lost, this information can be obtained by the cardholder at any public catalog terminal, by telephone, or on-line.

Lost/Damaged Materials

Patrons are responsible for all materials checked out on their card and any child they have signed as the responsible party in order for them to obtain a card.  When the actual cost of an item cannot be determined, as for older or generic items, a replacement price will be applied.  Items deemed not suitable for replacement will be evaluated and the department Supervisor will determine a fair price for the item.

Receipts may be given patrons who pay for lost/damaged materials.  Refunds are given to patrons who pay for lost materials, but return them in good condition within a year of paying for the material.  Materials damaged beyond use become property of the borrower upon payment.  At the discretion of the library staff, severely damaged materials may be disposed of upon return, but the borrower is still liable.  Information concerning these charges appears on the patron’s account history.

Overdues

Interlibrary Loan items have a charge of $1.00 per day if overdue.  These items do not belong to our library and need to be returned when due.

Materials Recovery Process

Library materials are purchased for use by all citizens of Pulaski Co.  The Pulaski Co. Library establishes regulations for the loan of materials, including circulation periods, renewal processes, and fees for items where applicable.   The Library  The library will attempt to recover overdue materials and will notify patrons of unpaid fines where applicable.

  • The library will also provide sufficient information to allow any individual other than the holder of the borrower’s card to settle unpaid fees (where applicable) on that card.

However, authors, titles, or subjects of lost or overdue materials will not be discussed without presentation of the borrower’s card.

Procedure for past due items are as follows:

  • On the following Weekend, after items become overdue, the patron is notified by automated call, text message or an e-mail notice.

  • Notices are generated every 7-14days thereafter for a total of ten notifications.  Once per quarter, long overdue notices are generated and patrons are notified by automated call text or e-mail.  Overdue items at that time will be transferred to “lost” status.

  • Borrowing privileges will be suspended if your account is in excess of $10.00 or 51 items checked out.   Borrowing privileges will not be resumed until your account falls below $10.00 or 50 items checked out.

If you have any concerns about your account, please speak with a staff member.

Confidentiality of Library Patron Records

The Pulaski Co. Library supports every patron’s right to have his or her library card information remain confidential.  Library records include patron registration data, circulation records, overdue and reserve records, record of library visits, and/or any data that contains information that links a specific patron to specific materials or services used.  Each patron has individual control over his or her library card and presentation of the card permits access to information about the borrower’s current circulation record.  The library circulation system records items that are checked out on an individual’s library card.  The patron can request this service to be shut off.    

The library will not release information to any person, agency, or organization, except in response to a valid court order or subpoena, properly presented to the library director.  If an Emergency situation, the Library Director will make the decision.

Nothing in this policy shall prevent authorized library personnel from using library records in the administration of their regular dues.

Suspension of Borrowing Privileges

Borrowing privileges are suspended when a patron has too many items checked out or fines or other unpaid charges posted to their library card.  A Patrons card will be suspended if they have more than 50 items checked out and $10.00 in fines.  Privileges will be resumed when the amount falls below 50 books and/or $10.00 in fines.

CHECK-OUT PERIOD

  • New Library Card Holders can only check out 2 items per card.  After those are returned, they can check out more.

  • Regular collection books, circulate for 28 days.

  • Interlibrary Loans (ILL) and Radon Kits for 21 days

  • New books circulate for 14 days and may be renewed once, providing no holds are on the item.  Laptops and Hot spots circulate for 14 days also (no renewals)

  • Equipment, magazines and videos (VHS/DVD) circulate for 7 days

  • Reference material does not circulate

  • Special loans can only be approved by a department head.

LOAN LIMITS

After first checkout of 2 items, a maximum of 50 titles may be charged against a borrower’s library card.  This maximum is independent of the type of materials. 

  • Books – whatever is needed up to the maximum limit.

  • Videos/DVD – 5 each

  • ILL’s - 3 items

  • Periodicals/Magazines – 10 each

  • Equipment – 3 types

RENEWALS

Items may be renewed for the original loan period except for the materials listed below.  Renewals may be made at any branch, by telephone or on-line. 

Materials for which there is an ACTIVE reserve and special loan materials cannot be renewed.  Interlibrary loans, Radon kits, Laptops & Hotspots cannot be renewed.  Overdue items may be renewed one time on-line or by telephone unless there is a reserve.    New/ 14-day books, DVDs and CDs may be renewed one time, providing there is no hold on the item.

Revised and approved 11-14-2022

INTERLIBRARY LOANS

Click HERE to request an ILL

Interlibrary loan is a process the library uses to borrow material for patrons that are not owned in our library system.  Materials borrowed from other library systems for local library patrons do not fall under the same borrowing guidelines as locally owned materials.  Varying check-out durations, fees for borrowing materials and special handling may apply.

How long to fill the request?

The Library is in compliance with the Interlibrary Loan Code.  This code regulates the exchange of material between libraries in the United States and can be viewed in its’ entirety at  www.ala.org/rusa/guidelines/interlibrary#scope.

Interlibrary loan service is available for general or personal use and is not to be used in the support of academic programs for schools or colleges.  To request an Interlibrary Loan, you must comply with the following

  • Patron must have a Pulaski County Public Library card in good standing before requesting an Interlibrary Loan.

  • Item requested must be at least 1 year old

  • Titles already owned by our library system cannot be requested unless the item is missing more than 6 months.

  • Cannot request audio-visual materials (videotapes, DVD’s, etc.), textbooks or family history.

  • Items must be picked up within seven (7) days of notification or they will be returned to the lending library.  Any fines charged will be applied to the requesting patron’s library card account.

  • The library patron is responsible for any fees charged by the lending library. (please indicate in the MAXCOST field how much the patron is willing to pay)

  • The library patron is responsible for any replacement cost(s) if the item is lost or damaged  If the patron pays for an item and then finds item, the library will not refund costs.

  • Interlibrary Loan requests will be limited to 3 items at one time.  This means 3 items in any stage of progress (requests, materials waiting to be picked up, and books currently checked out to library patron.

  • Length of Interlibrary Loans is determined by the lending library.  Some materials can be renewed.  Renewal requests must be made seven (7) days prior to the due date.

  • All Interlibrary Loan requests must be in compliance with U.S. Copyright Law.

  • Overdue Interlibrary Loan items DO Accumulate Fines of $1.00 per day the item is overdue.  FREE Fridays DO NO pertain to Interlibrary Loan items.

Updated and approved 4-10-2017