Individuals of all ages are welcome to register for a Stowe Free Library card for free if they meet the following criteria:

• the individual is a resident of Stowe, as evidenced by living at a Stowe address (whether renting or owning); owning property in Stowe as a primary, secondary, or vacation residence; owning a time share property; or otherwise appearing on the Grand List
• can demonstrate an ability to receive mail from the Library by providing evidence of a valid mailing address (such as a valid driver's license, a utility bill, or a lease or timeshare agreement)
• children must be able to print their first and last names in order to apply for their own card and all children under 16 must have a parent or guardian with a valid Stowe Free Library card present in order to register.

Individuals who live outside of Stowe or who are visiting on a temporary basis may register for a Stowe Free Library card for the price of $10 per year per adult. Children 16 and under, provided they can print their first and last names and have a parent or guardian with a valid Stowe Free Library card present, may apply for a card for free. A non-resident card holder has all of the same privileges as a resident card holder, including access to Inter-Library Loan service.

Non-residents meeting one of the following criteria are exempt from the $10 fee:

• Students aged 16 through 18 who live in Lamoille county or Waterbury (with proof of identification)
• Employees of the Town of Stowe and of the Stowe public school system
• Stowe Free Library desk volunteers

All borrowers must have a valid Stowe Free Library card in order to borrow library materials. Materials may not be checked out until a card has been issued. Individuals must use their own cards to borrow materials; materials may not be checked out to another individual's card.

 

Use of the library card implies acceptance and adherence to all regulations of the Stowe Free Library. Patrons are responsible for all materials checked out on their library card.

 

Parents and guardians alone have the responsibility to monitor, guide, or restrict their child's reading or library use. The Stowe Free Library strongly encourages parents and guardians to talk with their children about the materials they access at the library.  Reserves for patrons under age 16 will be given to parents without prior permission from the child.

 

All library cards expire on a yearly basis, and non-residents will be required to pay their $10 annual fee. Please help keep the Library's records up-to-date by providing us with your current address and phone number and notifying the Library if your card is lost or stolen. The Library will conduct periodic purges of patron records that have been inactive for 5 years or longer.

Misuse of library materials, negligence in returning materials, or failure to make proper restitution for missing or damaged materials may cause library privileges to be discontinued.

The replacement cost of lost or damaged materials will be decided by the Director.

All circulating materials, with the exception of videos, may be checked out for two weeks with two renewals allowed. A patron may renew an item as long as another patron has not requested the item.

Videos may be checked out for one week with two renewals allowed.

Patrons have three days to pick up a reserved item or an item that has been ordered through interlibrary loan. If the item has not been picked up in three days, and the patron has made no special arrangements, the item will be placed back in regular circulation or returned to the lending library.

Reference books, including those in our Vermont Collection, do not circulate. Exceptions to check a reference item out overnight may be made at the discretion of the Director or the librarian on duty. The item must be returned before the Library opens the next day.

Inter-Library Loans may be checked out for two weeks. Renewals in general are not permitted; if a patron feels they may require an Inter-Library Loan item for an additional amount of time, they must contact the Stowe Free Library as soon as possible so that the Library may contact the lending library and seek additional loan time for the item.

Current issues of periodicals may not be checked out. All back issues may be checked out for two weeks.

Circulation limits, if necessary, will be set by the Library Director.

The Stowe Free Library has eliminated overdue fines on late materials. It is our sincere belief that the books, movies, and other materials will be returned on time, in a spirit of community sharing. Gentle reminders, along with compassion toward extenuating circumstances, are used to prompt patrons to return overdue items.

The Stowe Free Library will contact patrons regarding overdue materials according to the following schedule:

• The first overdue notice will be sent two weeks after the materials are due. This notice may consist of a telephone reminder or a note sent in the mail.
• The second notice will be sent two weeks following, one month after the materials are due.
• A bill and letter revoking borrowing privileges will be sent six weeks after materials were due. Privileges will remain revoked until the bill has been settled or materials have been returned.
•  If a bill is sent, the charges will reflect the current publisher's list price for each item that has not been returned.

At any time, patrons may renew their overdue items as long as another patron is not waiting for the item and the item has not been renewed more than twice. Items that have gone into suspension will be considered to have reached the renewal limit.

Library staff will offer to renew items for patrons when checking out new materials or when calling with an overdue reminder.

Parents/Guardians are legally responsible for debts incurred by children under 16 years of age.

Lost or damaged items must be paid for by the borrower. A patron may not borrow any further items until the bill for the lost or damaged material has been paid. Patrons may be charged a non-refundable processing fee for a lost or damaged item in addition to the replacement cost.

All circulation records of the Stowe Free Library will be kept confidential. This includes records identifying names of users with specific materials and all registration files identifying names, addresses, and telephone numbers.

Any information regarding patron use, including the identity of an individual who borrows or uses any materials, resources, or services of the Library, may not be disclosed except by court order, with the following exceptions:

• to persons acting within the scope of their duties in the administration of the Library;
• to the individual who borrow or used the materials, resources, or services in question;
• to the parent of a child under 16, as set out in the Library Patron Confidentiality Bill (Vermont S. 220)

Approved by the Library Board of Trustees in June 2008; revised and approved in November 2009.