Overdue Policies

An Agreement

Libraries and their patrons have an agreement.  The library buys and provides books, movies, magazines, audiobooks,  and many other materials for patrons to check out and take home for a specified time.

The patron’s part of the agreement is that they will take care of the materials they are using.  And they will bring back the materials that they take home so that others can share the materials also.   

Most libraries charge overdue fees whenever patrons are late returning materials.   This is not meant to be burdensome to the patron, but to give patrons an incentive to return the materials on time so that other patrons can use them.

specific overdue fee information

Overdue movies – a fee of fifty cents per day is charged for each day the movie is overdue
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All other overdue items – a fee of five cents per day is charged for each day the item is overdue

If a patron’s total overdue fee for all items is above 5 dollars, the system will block that patron’s account from further checkout activity. 

overdue notices produced

Our system produces overdue notices on three specific predetermined dates in our billing cycle.  The predetermined dates for movies are different than for other items, because the overdue fee for movies is greater.   Because of this, the system produces an overdue notice for movies and a separate overdue notice for all other items.  If the items are not returned after three overdue notices are produced, the system will produce the first bill.  The system will place the item in LOST status and charge the patron the price of the item.  If the item is returned, the patron is only charged for the overdue fees and not for the cost of the item.

email notification

Patron’s emails can be added to their account so that the overdue notices will send an email to the patron.   If you check your email frequently, this notification can be quite helpful.

cell phone notification

Patrons can sign up for the SHOUTBOMB text messaging service to use their mobile phones to receive text notices about overdue items and fees.

telephone calls and bills

Staff of the El Paso District Library telephones patrons during the billing cycles of the movies and other items.  This serves as a friendly reminder that  items are overdue.  The staff sees this as a service to help patrons save money to hopefully prevent further overdue fees.   This reminder also helps other patrons who would like the materials to come back to the library so that they can use them, also.  

If a patron prefers email or cell phone notification, they can notify the library and the staff will no longer make phone calls.

However, all patrons will be notified when items go to LOST status regardless of email, text message, or phone call preferences.

A bill will be sent in the mail to the patron whenever an item goes to LOST status.   The system charges the replacement price of the item.  If the patron returns the item, the fee will decrease.

children under age 18

Children can get their own library cards starting at age seven.   Many parents use this as an opportunity to teach children responsibility.  However, parents/guardians are ultimately responsible to pay for library fees on their children’s accounts.