Community and Cultural Affairs

Provincial Library Service

Circulation Policy (April 1, 2005)

Library membership: Membership in the Provincial Library Service is free and permits access to material at all libraries in the system as well as to other library services such as the InfoTrac subscription databases and public computer (including Internet) access. Library cards must be presented to staff in order to borrow library material and use library services. Individuals must fill out a registration form and show one piece of identification indicating a current address before receiving a library card. If no appropriate ID is available, a 30-day temporary card will be issued.

Individuals 17 years of age and younger are required to have a parent or legal guardian sign their library membership and Internet membership applications when the application is presented.

Lost cards: Please report lost cards as soon as possible so staff can prevent others from borrowing material on your card. The cardholder is responsible for all items borrowed on the card.

Change of address: Please notify the library of any changes to mailing addresses or telephone numbers.

PIN number: Using our online catalog at www.library.pe.ca/abbycat/, the library card and PIN number allow access to cardholder accounts where individuals may see and renew what is currently checked out, and also view outstanding charges. Users may also place holds on materials. At registration, the PIN number is the last four digits of your telephone number. The PIN number may be changed at the branch or online. Please contact the library for further information.

Loan periods:

Most items may be borrowed for three weeks.
High-demand books, videos, magazines, DVDs may be borrowed for one week.
In general, the latest subscription issues of magazines do not circulate. Back issues circulate for one week.
Reference works and special collections must be consulted at the library.
Longer loan periods may be arranged for special circumstances.

Item Limits: Individuals may have up to 25 books or other items out at one time. Within this limit, a maximum of five children’s cassettes, compact disks, DVDs or audio books and a maximum of 10 videos may be borrowed.

Material requests: Individuals may request books from any PEI public library, either in person, by phone, or online. Most items in the catalogue (except reference books, and other non-circulating material) may be requested. When the item arrives at the local branch, a notification will be sent by mail or e-mail.

Material returns: Returns may be made to any branch of the Provincial Library Service.

Material renewals: Only one renewal is allowed, and only if no other patron has put a hold on the item. Materials may be renewed at the local branch, online, or by phoning the branch.

Suspension of library privileges: When the user has more than five items overdue or $10 or more in outstanding charges.

Charges:

Charges are assessed on a calendar basis (including holidays), not just on the basis of when the library is open. Items are considered late if they are returned after the library is closed for the day. Charges are assessed for any time between when the item is due and the book is returned or renewed.

15 cents per day for all materials
Max overdue charge of $3 per item
No overdue charges will be levied against materials owned by a school that are borrowed from a joint-use facility.
No overdue charges will be levied on the “Booker” card for teachers for Public Performance videos.

Replacement cards – $2 each.
Materials not returned or returned damaged: The replacement cost of the item will be invoiced to the cardholder if the item is not returned within three weeks of the due date, or if materials are returned damaged. When the material is returned, overdue charges will be applied to the item. An item that has been “claimed returned” will be considered “lost” after 30 days. A typical replacement value:

Hardcover or one-week loan book: $40
Paperback book or magazine issue: $10
Compact disk or cassette: $25
Children’s hardcover book: $20
Children’s cassette: $15
Video: $45 and up

Appeal process: At the request of a user, charges may be reviewed by the supervisor.

For further information: Contact information for your local branch which may be found at www.library.pe.ca/, or look in the Blue Pages under “Libraries.”

(April 1, 2005)