The Board of Library Trustees of the Benicia Public Library has established the following policy for the circulation of library materials.

Loan Periods

The Benicia Public Library strives for consistency with the Solano Partner Libraries and St. Helena (SPLASH) consortium in loan periods. Therefore, all items checked out after September 1, 2006, from the Benicia Public Library will have a Universal Loan Period of 21 days.

There are two exceptions to the universal 21-day loan period. Due to their unique nature and limited supply, the Universal Loan Period does not apply to the Lucky Day DVDs and Tools.

The Lucky Day DVDs and Tools circulate for one week;

When loan periods differ from those of other regional libraries, the policy in effect at the Library issuing the patron card will apply. The Library may modify loan periods in order to maintain consistency.

Renewal

With the exception of the Lucky Day collection items and materials on hold for another patron, items can be renewed a maximum of two (2) times. Lucky Day materials may not be renewed. Renewals are automatic and will take place 3 days before due date, it the item is allowed to renew.

InterLibrary Loan Materials

Interlibrary loan materials are items borrowed from outside the SPLASH jurisdiction and are considered specialty items. Materials on loan from other libraries for Benicia Public Library patrons will circulate for the time period allowed by the lending library. Interlibrary loan items must be returned to the library by the original due date, pending approval of the extension. Extensions to this time period may be requested in person, by phone, or by email message to the interlibrary loan staff. Due to the wide variance in loan policies, extensions are not guaranteed, and a request for an extension does not alter the original due date of the interlibrary loan item while the extension request is pending. A maximum of two (2) extension requests per item is allowed, if approved by the lending library. Failure to return items by the due date jeopardizes the borrowing status of the Benicia Public Library and may result in a suspension or loss of ILL privileges for the patron. Overdue items must be returned prior to new requests being processed. Charges incurred for overdue or lost items from the lending library will be placed on the patron’s account.

Interlibrary loan items may be subject to immediate recall.

Section 4.4, Policy on Claims Returned, does not apply to Interlibrary Loan items.

Damaged items from outside our jurisdiction will be considered lost and the patron will be charged full replacement cost of the item(s).

Library Cards

All California residents are eligible to receive a library card. Proof of identity is required at time of registration with a picture ID. Children age 17 and under must be accompanied by a parent or legal guardian or have an application signed by the parent or guardian. There is no minimum age limit for library cards.

A Benicia Library card is issued free to every patron. If a patron wants a Benicia library card, but already has a valid card issued by any library in the SPLASH consortium, they must exchange it to receive a Benicia SPLASH card. Cards issued in the SPLASH consortium are valid at all SPLASH member libraries. The Benicia Public Library will replace lost or damaged cards free of charge.

Additionally, all students in the Benicia Unified School District are automatically granted library borrowing privileges through their student ID cards, which function as modified library cards, providing access to online databases, books, audiobooks, and nonfiction DVDs.

Check Out Without a Library Card

Benicia Library card holders age 15 and over may check out materials, without presenting their card, upon providing valid photo identification. Card holders age 14 and under may check out materials, without presenting their library card, upon providing sufficient alternative identifying information.

Limits on Items Checked Out

The Library limits patrons to a maximum of 50 checked-out items at one time. There may be other limits imposed on a temporary basis.

Exceptions

Exceptions to this policy may be granted by the Library Director. The Library Director's decisions may be appealed to the Board of Library Trustees.

Adopted: October 28, 1991

Revised: February 24, 1992

Revised: May 8, 1995

Revised: August 28, 1995

Revised: October 9, 2001

Revised: July 10, 2006

Revised: August 14, 2006

Revised: August 11, 2008

Revised: April 13, 2009

Revised: November 13, 2012

Revised: June 21, 2016 (Effective: July 1, 2016)

Revised: April 7, 2020 (Effective: July 1, 2020)