Circulation Policy
Alanson Area Public Library

Obtaining a Library Card

Residents of the following municipalities are eligible for cards at the Alanson Library free of charge:

Village of Alanson                            
Littlefield Township
Little Traverse Township
West Traverse Township
Pleasantview Township
Friendship Township
Readmond Township                                         

In order to get a card, some form of identification/proof of address is required.  A driver’s license is preferred, but the library will accept a piece of non-personal mail as proof of residence. The registration form must be filled out at the library.  No cards will be issued until the patron has a signed registration form. If members of the same household wish to have individual cards, each member must fill out and sign a form.

Applicants under 18 years of age must have a parent or guardian give their consent on the application form before a new card can be issued. The parent or guardian must sign the form with the minor, and the parent or guardian assumes responsibility for any lost or damaged materials on the minor’s card.

All resident library cards expire after 1 year. In order to renew privileges, patrons must verify current address and must clear all outstanding fines and bills.

If an individual patron resides outside the above townships, there is a $35.00 annual fee to use the library. This fee encompasses all library services, including Inter-Library Loan through our consortium partners and the MeL statewide library catalog. If a family wishes to join as a group, the fee is $50.00 per family per year.

Seniors (over 60) who live out of our service area may obtain an Alanson Area Public Library card for $20.00 per year.

Borrowing Procedures and Policies

Loan Periods: Most  materials may be checked out by the patron for three (3) weeks, and then renewed for another three weeks, as long as there are no holds on the item. Magazines may be taken home as long as the library staff is notified.

Lost or Forgotten Cards: If a patron loses a card, there is a $2.00 fee to obtain a replacement. If the patron has forgotten the card and wishes to borrow, the record may be looked up as long as proper identification is presented, on a one-time basis. Cards that are lost must be replaced for the $2.00 fee.

Reserves/Holds: Patrons may place holds on materials using their library card number and PIN. Books will be held at the Hold desk for 10 days. After that time, the hold will be removed and the book will be returned to its original location or given to the next patron on the hold list. Patrons may not check out more than ten Music CD’s at a time from other libraries.

Fines and Charges: The fine for overdue materials is 10 cents per day if the item is not returned by the due date. If there are unpaid fines over $5.00 &/or 5 or more lost/overdue items, the user will be blocked and lose all library privileges, including checking out materials and using computers, until the fine is resolved.

Lost/Damaged Items: Patrons are responsible for returning their materials in the same condition in which they were borrowed. If an item is returned extensively damaged, the patron will be charged for the replacement of the item. The patron will be required to pay for lost materials. An item is assumed lost after it is not returned for eight (8) weeks after the due date.

Once an item is assumed lost, the patron record will be blocked and no materials can be borrowed until the item is returned or paid for. If a patron record is blocked, all library privileges are suspended until the fines are resolved. This includes use of the computers. No patron with a blocked record may use a computer until the record is unblocked. It is illegal to steal from Public Libraries as defined in the Library Theft Act 18 P.S. § 3929.1.  If items are not returned and no payment is made, legal action may be taken. 

Adopted January 1, 2015
Revised June 7, 2017
Revised August 5, 2020

Revised July 9, 2022