How to Get Your Card
Registration for a library card is required to borrow material. Applicants must furnish in writing their current, correct Charles City or New Kent home mailing address and telephone number. If the applicant has no phone number available for this purpose, or refuses to give one for privacy reasons, the Library Director may use personal discretion in waiving this requirement. Library cards will be issued and borrowing privileges extended at the time of application upon presentation of a valid driver’s license, or other photo identification card showing the applicant’s address.

No fee shall be charged for the initial card; however, two dollars ($2.00) will be charged for replacement of the card. Those people who own and pay taxes on property in Charles City or New Kent counties, even though their primary residence may be located elsewhere, are considered residents as long as they provide proof of ownership.

A Virginia non-resident of Charles City or New Kent counties may register for a library card upon payment of an annual fee. This fee entitles a non-resident of New Kent or Charles City to register for a card.

This card expires one year from the date of issuance.

Non-resident borrowers must present a valid driver’s license or other photo identification with proof of address.

Paid non-resident cards confer all regular borrowing privileges.

A non-resident fee is based on a per household cost for Charles City and New Kent counties.

Applications for children under eighteen (18) years of age must be countersigned by a parent or guardian.

A patron shall be responsible for all materials charged on his card regardless of use of the card due to authorized or unauthorized use by other persons. Lost or stolen cards will be replaced for a fee of two dollars ($2.00).

Borrowing privileges may be suspended, revoked, or limited to anyone whose current or previous record as a library borrower reveals willful or habitual disregard for the protection and return of borrowed material or for the evasion of payment for assessed damage to Library property.

A patron’s account will be blocked, and borrowing privileges suspended, once fines reach $5.00.

In accordance with the Code of Virginia, Section 2.1-342(8), patrons’ records shall be treated as confidential.

Borrowing Limits
Materials circulate for three weeks with the exception of DVDs which are circulated for 10 days.

Renewal of library materials is limited to one additional borrowing period. DVDs cannot be renewed.

High-demand materials, certain new materials or materials that have been reserved may not be renewed.

Borrowing new or recently added material is limited to 3 books, 2 DVDs, and 2 audio books per patron and may not be renewed.

At no time may a patron have more than 20 books, seven DVDs, or five recorded books checked out.

Placing Holds and Renewing Your Borrowed Items
Holds and renewals can be done by logging into My Account using your library card number and pin.  You may also phone your local branch to have a staff member assist you.

Library Fines
The fine for overdue items is ten cents per day. The maximum overdue fine on any book is ten dollars. The maximum overdue fine on audio-visual materials is the cost of replacing the item.

Material is assumed lost when the patron tells us that it is lost, or when the material has not been returned within 90 days of the due date.

Library materials are considered damaged when the item is in such poor condition that it cannot remain in circulation. Damage that is obviously the result of misuse or neglect will be charged to the patron. Examples include, but are not limited to evidence of chewing, evidence that liquids or food have been spilled on the item, an item that is damp, an item that has been defaced, and items with pages cut or torn out, etc. For audio/visual materials, examples include an item that has melted or been severely scratched.

The replacement cost for lost or damaged library materials is the retail price of the item plus $5.00 processing cost.

The Library does not allow patrons to supply items in lieu of replacement costs.

When a lost or damaged item cannot be replaced, restitution to the library shall be the original cost as listed in the bibliographic record plus $5.00.

• The patron may keep the damaged item after the fee has been paid and the item has been removed from the collection.
• HPL does not issue a refund if the lost or missing item is found after the fee has been paid. The patron may keep the item.

See the full Heritage Public Library Policy Manual for more information.