Checking Out Books, Movies, and Other Items

Library Cards | Loan Periods, Renewals, and Limits
Hold Requests | Interlibrary Loan |  Materials Recovery

Library Cards

Who can get a library card?

Library cards are issued to individuals who reside within the Barrington Public Library District and to individuals who own or rent property within the Barrington Public Library District.

A child in eighth grade or younger may receive a library card in his/her own name with the signature of a parent or legal guardian who shows his/her photo I.D. and proof of residence.

Each patron is responsible for all books and other materials charged to his/her library card and any charges or fees incurred. Parents and legal guardians are responsible for materials charged to their children’s library cards and any charges or fees incurred. Library cards are not transferable except among family members who share the same legal address.

Schools, preschools, governmental units, non-profit organizations, and businesses in the Barrington Public Library District are eligible for the book bag program, although library cards will not be issued.

How do I get a library card?

Library cards are available at the Hospitality Desk, which is immediately to the left inside the library's front doors.

Photo identification (driver’s license, state I.D. card, school I.D.), proof of residence (driver’s license, residential ownership or rental, property tax bill, utility bill), and a fully-completed registration form are required. In addition, library staff may contact the township assessor’s office to verify district residence. A post office box is not considered valid proof of residence.

Library cards issued to individuals who reside in the library district expire after three years. Library cards issued to nonresidents expire one year after the date of purchase. Library cards will be renewed upon request, with photo identification, if all outstanding charges and fees are paid.

I have a library card from another library. May I check out materials at the Barrington Area Library?

Yes. A cardholder from an Illinois library participating in the Statewide Reciprocal Borrowing Program, but outside the Barrington Public Library District, must show photo identification with a current address in addition to a card from his/her home library.

The library is intended primarily for the use of the residents of the Barrington Public Library District and members of the North Suburban Library System libraries. Nonresidents who do not pay taxes to a library district must apply for non-resident library cards at the public library closest to the person’s principal residence.

Nonresidents who pay property taxes to another Illinois public library may purchase a Barrington Area Library card for an annual fee which is established by the Board of Library Trustees. The annual fee for a property owner is the library's tax rate, which varies by county, multiplied by the assessed valuation of the non-resident's property. The annual fee for a renter is 5% of his or her monthly rent. A nonresident will be required to show his/her most recent property tax bill or lease for this fee to be determined. No temporary cards are issued.

I forgot my Barrington Area Library card at home. May I still check out?

Yes. A patron must present a valid photo identification card (driver’s license, state I.D. card, school I.D.) to charge out materials.

I lost my library card. What should I do?

Library cards that are lost or stolen should be reported missing immediately so that use of the card can be stopped. The patron is responsible for all materials borrowed on his/her card until the card is reported missing.

Where else can I use my Barrington Area Library card?

Barrington Area Library cards are honored at Illinois libraries participating in the Statewide Reciprocal Borrowing Program. Participating libraries may impose certain restrictions. Patrons are expected to abide by the lending library’s loan rules.

The Barrington Area Library card is also a debit card and may be used in equipment requiring debit cards. Non-residents may purchase debit cards for use in the library’s photocopiers and printers. The Barrington Area Library is not responsible for unused funds on lost, stolen, damaged, or abandoned debit cards.

Loan Periods, Renewals, Limits, and Extended Use Charges

Please view this chart for detailed information on loan periods, renewals, limits, and extended use charges.

Patrons may wish to receive an email reminder two days before an item is due by submitting an email address to Circulation Services. All email addresses will remain confidential.

Hold Requests

Barrington Area Library cardholders may be place hold requests on circulating materials except for Grab & Go items and Book Discussion Kits owned by the Barrington Area Library.

To preserve patron confidentiality, specific information about requested materials will be disclosed only to the individual who placed the hold request. The requested item must be charged out with the card on which the hold request was placed.

When more than one hold request has been received for the same item, they will be filled in the order in which they were received. Specific hold dates cannot be honored.

Items will be held for 6 days from the time of notification. If not picked up during that time, the items will be returned to circulation.

Interlibrary Loan

Materials not available in the Barrington Area Library may usually be obtained through interlibrary loan, except for most items less than six months old and some audiovisual materials.

This service is available to Barrington Area Library cardholders only except for books requested for Barrington area book groups and institutions which are ineligible for North Suburban Library System services. There may be a charge for this service.

Each patron may have up to ten items in the interlibrary loan process at one time. Items will be held in Circulation Services for 7 days. If not picked up during that time, the items will be returned to the lending library and the patron will be charged $5.00 per item.

To preserve patron confidentiality, specific information about interlibrary loan materials will be disclosed only to the individual who placed the request.

The Barrington Area Library will loan through interlibrary loan all circulating materials except Playaways, art bags, framed art, equipment, some e-books, adult puzzles, theme kits, toy kits, and items in great demand by Barrington Area Library patrons. DVDs and videocassettes are loaned for two weeks with no renewal available. All other materials are loaned for four weeks with one week renewal available.

Materials Recovery

When an item is six days overdue, the voice messaging or email system will notify the patron to state the number of items overdue. On the seventh day, notices will be mailed to those patrons that the voice messaging or email system was unable to reach the previous day.

The voice messaging or e-mail system will again notify the patron on the 13th day an item is overdue. On the 14th day, notices will be mailed to those patrons that the voice messaging or email system was unable to reach the previous day. The voice messaging or e-mail system will again call the patron on the 20th day an item is overdue.

On the 21st day, notices will be mailed to those patrons that the voice messaging or email system was unable to reach the previous day.

An item is declared “lost” 28 days after it is due, and the retail price of the item plus a $5.00 processing fee is added to the patron’s account. This replacement fee is in lieu of extended use charges, and any charges due for the item will be rescinded. An identical item, as judged by the library staff, plus a $5.00 processing fee may be substituted.

A bill is mailed to the patron 28 days after an item is due. A bill also is mailed whenever $25.00 or more in overdue charges or fees are charged to his/her account. The bill notifies the patron that continued failure to pay may result in referral to a collection agency.

45 days after an item is due, overdue accounts will be referred to a collection agency; the patron will be charged for any associated fees assessed by the collection agency.

If the item is returned with a receipt and in good condition, as judged by library staff, within six months of when the item was declared lost (28 days overdue), the price of the item will be refunded. If the item is returned six months after payment is received, no money will be refunded.

If an item is damaged beyond repair, as judged by the library staff, the patron will be billed the retail price of the item plus a $5.00 processing fee. If this charge remains unpaid, it will be treated in the same manner as an overdue book. An identical item, as judged by the library staff, plus a $5.00 processing fee may be substituted.

Any unpaid charges totaling $25.00 or more for overdue, lost, or damaged materials, including missing parts of multiple part sets, will automatically cancel the patron’s right to borrow items until such charges are satisfied. The patron is responsible for any charge incurred even if a notice is not received.