Library Cards Policy
Upon proper application, including evidence of residence, any resident of Park Forest shall be issued a library card which will entitle him or her to use the services of this library and all other SWAN member libraries. Library cards for Park Forest residents shall be valid until the termination of residence in the Village. Library cards for Olympia Fields residents shall be valid until the termination of residence in the Village and as long as the Olympia Fields Public Library Board continues to contract services through the Park Forest Public Library. Library photographs of the patron are optional for patron cards and records.
Identification
All applicants for a new library card must present proof of identity and current residence. An ID can serve as proof of identity and residence, as long as the ID shows the current residence. If the ID does not show the current address, then the patron will need a current utility bill or other valid correspondence from a government agency to prove residence.
The Park Forest Public Library will accept a valid government-issued ID as proof of identification. These include but are not limited to:
- Valid Driver’s License or State-Issued I.D. card
- Passport
- Firearm Owner’s Identification (FOID)
If your chosen ID does not contain your current residence, you will need to provide one of the following:
- Current Utility Bills
- Valid correspondence from federal, state or local government agencies with a current postmark
This list is illustrative, and there are other acceptable forms of identification.
Applicants under the age of 18 may use identification of a parent or guardian as proof of residence.
The minimum age to obtain a library card without a guardian present is 16 years old. Children under 16 must have a parent or guardian present to register for a library card. If a guardian who is not the parent of the child wants to register the child for a library card, proof of guardianship must be presented.
No patron shall be registered for a Park Forest library card who has a patron library card at another SWAN library.
Challenging situations will be handled on a case-by-case basis at the discretion of the Patron Services Coordinator. The Library Director will be informed about challenging situations so that the Board of Trustees, if necessary, may be called upon for policy revisions.
Homebound Residents
Homebound residents may call the library and request homebound services. If the homebound resident requires a new, replacement, or renewed library card, a staff member will bring the necessary application to the homebound resident and verify the resident’s identity and residency. Once the card has been processed at the library, the staff member will then deliver it to the resident.
Business and Institutional Library Privileges
Library borrowing privileges may be extended to businesses located in Park Forest. The applicant must be the sole owner, a partner, principal stock holder, joint owner, or senior administrative officer of a firm, business, or corporation located in Park Forest. The applicant must present a letter on the organization’s letterhead indicating that the organization will take responsibility for all materials borrowed and indicating who in the firm is authorized to borrow materials.
Not-for-profit organizations and units of government located in Park Forest may obtain library borrowing privileges by presenting a letter on organizational letterhead indicating that the organization will take responsibility for all materials borrowed and indicating who in the organization is authorized to borrow materials.
Teacher Loan Cards
Teacher loan cards are available to certified full-time educators or media specialists working in schools served by the Park Forest Public Library.
Application
All applicants for a new library card as well as those who wish to renew their library card must complete and sign an application. The application will require current name, address, and telephone number, and month, day and year of birth, and shall contain the following contractual language:
“The undersigned applicant for a library card agrees to the following conditions:
“1. I will assume financial responsibility for the loss of or damage to any library materials checked out on this card.
“2. I will pay all fines for library materials that are not returned on time and all service charges for lost and damaged materials.
“3. I will inform the Park Forest Public Library of any change in the name, address, or phone number of the bearer of this card.
“4. I will report the loss of this card to the Park Forest Public Library and will assume financial responsibility for materials checked out on the card before its loss is reported.
“5. I assume responsibility for the use of this card by a minor and will in no way hold the Park Forest Public Library responsible for supervising the use of library materials by minors using this card.
“6. Library cards remain the property of the Park Forest Public Library and must be returned upon request.
“Signed ________________________
“Date __________________________
“If an applicant is under 16 years of age, the application for a library card must be signed by a parent or guardian.”
Applicants for a new library card must appear in person at the library or the registration site at the time of application. Exceptions will be made for medically homebound residents.
Replacement of Lost Library Card
A resident requesting replacement of a lost card must present one piece of identification listing name and current address or one photo identification plus one proof of current address (from previous list).
Non-Resident Cards
In
Purchasing the Library Card
A non-resident must purchase the library card from the public library geographically closest to the individual’s primary residence. The administrative rules to implement the law prescribes how the non-resident determines which public library is closest.
- First, school district – the non-resident purchases their library card from the public library within their high school or unit district (see Section 3050.25 (a)).
- Second, if there is not a public library within the school district, the commonality of community interest will determine the appropriate library for the non-resident to use. If there is any uncertainty, the System determines from which library the non-resident purchases their library card (see Section 3050.2 (c) with the cooperation of local participating libraries).
- Third, if there is more than one public library within the school district, the commonality of community interest will determine the appropriate library for the non-resident to use. If there is any uncertainty, the System determines from which library the non-resident purchases their library card (see Section 3050.25 (c) and the cooperation of local participating libraries).
Figuring the Purchase Price of the Non-Resident Card
The library divides its tax revenue by the library’s population; this number is multiplied by the average household population. This is the fee charged to all non-residents when purchasing a library card. One fee is charged per household.
Free Non-Resident Cards for Qualifying Kids, Veterans, and the Spouses of Veterans
The non-resident fee shall not be charged to non-resident pre-school through 12th grade students whose household income makes them eligible to receive free or reduced price lunches under the National School Lunch Program and the National School Breakfast Program, as determined by Income Eligibility Guidelines established by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA). A qualifying student must present documentation from the school or school district that indicates the student’s eligibility for free or reduced price meals.
A veteran with a service-connected disability of at least 70% who is exempt from paying property taxes on their primary residence due to the Homestead exemption for veterans with disabilities (35 ILCS 200/15-169 (b-3) (3)) is entitled to a non-resident library card without a fee. Furthermore, an unmarried surviving spouse of a veteran who previously qualified for the exemption, as well as an unmarried surviving spouse of a service member killed in action are also entitled to a non-resident card without payment of a fee. The qualifying veteran or surviving spouse must present documentation from the county where they reside that indicates their residence is exempt from paying property taxes. (35 ILCS 200/15 (c) (c-1))
Denial of Library Service
In order that the library’s limited resources can be made available to all of the library’s patrons, the library will expect its patrons to return materials on time and to pay for the loss of or damage to library materials.
The library will not permit a Park Forest library card to be used and will not issue a new library card if the patron has accumulated library fines in excess of $5.00 in the SWAN system.
The Park Forest Public Library will not circulate materials to borrowers registered at other libraries who are known to have overdue obligations (in the form of unpaid fines or overdue, lost, or damaged materials).