All library materials are purchased for the benefit of the community. They are shared resources, and our borrowing policies establish a means to equitably share these items with each other. Please remember that if you want to use an item, someone else probably does too. Someone else may be waiting to use the items, so please return items on time.

Loan Periods

Books, audios, and music all check out for three (3) weeks. Movies check out for seven (7) days. Video games check out for three (3) weeks. All Lunenburg-owned items have a one-day grace period, and all Lunenburg-owned items, except video games, have one renewal. Automatic renewal is turned on. Your items will automatically renew once, if your account is in good standing, on the day they are due.

Fines

Lunenburg-owned items no longer have overdue fines assessed daily, though lost or damaged items are still expected to be replaced. Other libraries may still assess fines on the items that they own, even if you picked up the item at our library. You are still responsible for these fines. If you have questions about this, please ask. If it would ease your conscience when returning an item that is late, you are welcome to donate a fair amount to the Friends of the Lunenburg Public Library. Not all borrowers have the means to do so, and this barrier to access is one reason the library trustees decided to remove overdue fines.

Lost, Damaged, or Destroyed Library Materials

Lost or destroyed items are those that cannot be found by the borrower. Damaged items may still be usable, but most often are not, and were damaged in the possession of the borrower. If an item can be repaired to a condition that will be usable by others, the library often will not charge for replacement. Examples that might qualify as destroyed items which have been damaged beyond repair: water damage; mildew; and torn or missing pages. Patrons are required to pay the replacement cost for destroyed item(s).

Renewals

Materials may be renewed once even if the item has a hold. They may be available to be renewed beyond that upon request, if there are no holds on the item.

Lunenburg Public Library is a member of the CW MARS network and shares their policies.

Approved by the Library Board of Trustees on November 18, 2021.