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Home:About Us:Operating Policy

1.1 Circulation of Library Materials

1.1.1 Borrowing Regulations

A. Ohio residents are entitled to free library services and may apply for a library card. By Ohio law, library records are confidential (see the Library’s Confidentiality policy for more information), and the Library does not permit spouses or other family members to use each other's library cards. The Library offers individual and teacher loan cards.

While the Library has a single-user policy, which prohibits the sharing of cards in most circumstances, it is impossible for the Library to ensure that all patrons using the Library’s user-directed, self-checkout machines, are in fact the rightful holder of the card. Patrons allowing others to collect items on their behalf, holds or other items, do so at their own risk. Patrons are asked to report lost or stolen library cards immediately so that the card can be blocked, preventing abuse or accumulation of fees and fines.

  1. Please see the Library’s Teacher Loan policy for information specific to this type of account.
  2. Existing Family Cards, registered on or prior to December 30, 2017, will be grandfathered for an initial, undetermined period. Existing Family Cards will be discontinued at a time and in a manner determined to minimize disruption to patron borrowing.

B. Any item that circulates for public use may be borrowed from the Library at the time registration is completed. Thereafter, the card issued in the patron's name, a state ID or driver’s license or school photo ID must be presented when borrowing items from the Library.

C. Each adult patron is held responsible for all items charged out on his/her card.

D. A Parent/guardian signature is required for children under 18 years of age. The parent/guardian will be responsible for guiding the child in the selection and use of library materials; this is not the responsibility of the Library. In addition, the parent/guardian is responsible for the payment of all charges incurred on the card. At time of registration the signing parent/guardian will have the opportunity to select which formats the child is allowed to borrow and whether or not the child may use public computers at the Library.

The signing parent or guardian may choose to change this access at any time. However, when a juvenile turns 18, all such restrictions will be removed.

This list includes but is not limited to:

  1. Internet computer access
  2. DVDs
  3. CDs
  4. Audio Books
  5. Magazines
  6. Video Games

E. Cards issued by the Wadsworth Public Library may be used at other SearchOhio member libraries at the discretion of those libraries, including the Cuyahoga County Public Library, Akron-Summit County Public Library and Stark County District Library. In addition, the Wadsworth Public Library will honor library cards issued by other Search Ohio member libraries.

1.1.2 Library Card

A. To qualify for a library card, patrons must complete an application form either in person or online at the Library’s website. A current photo ID displaying current address or proof of current address and a photo ID must be provided when the card is issued. Children under 18 years of age must be accompanied by a parent/guardian. Library materials may be borrowed at the time the application is completed.

B. A replacement card may be obtained upon the payment of any fines exceeding the maximum allowable amount in section 1.1.4 (see below); the return of all overdue library materials; and the payment of a $1.00 replacement fee.

C. No cardholder shall damage or fail to return library materials borrowed from the Library.

D. No cardholder shall abuse a library card issued by the Library without the risk of permanently losing borrowing privileges. Abuse of a library card shall consist of any of the following acts:

  1. Obtaining or attempting to obtain a library card by means of false identification or address.
  2. Using or attempting to use a library card which has been revoked.

1.1.3 Borrowing Periods

A. All items in the Wadsworth Public Library’s circulating collection may be borrowed for a period of 14 days.

B. Items checked out from other Search Ohio libraries circulate for the following periods:

  1. Print items – 21 days
  2. Media items – 7 days

C. Items checked out from OhioLINK libraries circulate for the following periods:

  1. Print items – 21 days
  2. Media items – 7 days

D. Wadsworth Public Library items may be renewed up to five times, as long as there is no outstanding reserve on the item.

  1. Items may be renewed at any service desk, by telephone or via the Library’s website.
  2. Interlibrary loan items from non-SearchOHIO libraries may not be renewed unless specifically permitted by the lending library.

E. Items from other SearchOhio libraries may be renewed for the following time periods

  1. Print items – three renewals if there is no reserve on the item
  2. Media items – three renewals if there is no reserve on the item

F. Items from OhioLINK libraries may be renewed for the following time periods:

  1. Print items – six renewals if there is no reserve on the item
  2. Media items – three renewals if there is no reservation on the item

1.1.4 Fines Levied on Wadsworth Public Library Materials

NOTE: Due to the COVID-19 pandmic, late fees have been suspended and will be forgiven until further notice.

A. Fines will be charged for all days the Library is open.

B. The Library’s after-hours book drops are available whenever the Library building is closed. Items placed in the Library’s after-hours book drops are considered ashaving been returned on the day that the Library building was last open.

C. Wadsworth Public Library overdue fines are as follows:

  1. DVDs and video games - 50 cents per day
  2. All materials other materials– 10 cents per day

D. The maximum fine per item is as follows;

  1. DVDs and video games- $5.00
  2. All other items - $3.00

E. Cardholders owing ten dollars ($10.00) or more in fines [and/or charges] will be prohibited from borrowing, placing holds and from accessing public computers. If a patron receives an overdue notice for an item that he/she returned, the Library will annotate the item in the patron’s account as “claimed returned.” An account may have only three claimed returned items on it at any one time.

1.1.5 Fines Levied on Search Ohio and OhioLINK Materials

NOTE: Due to the COVID-19 pandmic, late fees have been suspended and will be forgiven until further notice.

A. Overdue fines for materials borrowed from other Search Ohio Libraries are as follows:

  1. All materials 25 cents per day
  2. Maximum overdue fine is $5.00

B. Overdue fines for materials borrowed from OhioLink libraries are as follows:

  1. All materials 50 cents per day
  2. Maximum overdue fine is $15.00

1.1.6 Lost Materials Owned By Wadsworth Public Library

A. If a patron cannot locate an item at the time it is due to be returned, the patron may formally report it “lost,” thereby stopping the further accumulation of fines.

B. A patron will be charged a “lost item fee” to replace a lost item. This fee includes the
replacement cost of the item and a $2.00 processing charge per item. The Library will not refund this replacement cost in the event that the item is later returned by the patron

C. Patrons may replace a lost item with a new copy of the same title in the same edition plus a $2.00 processing fee.

1.1.7 Lost Materials Owned By Other Search Ohio or OhioLINK Libraries

A. A replacement fee of $25.00 will be billed for any Search Ohio item not returned within 30 days of the due date.

B. A replacement fee of $125.00 will be billed for any OhioLINK item not returned within 30 days of the due date.

1.1.8 Damaged Materials

A. When items are no longer able to be circulated; need excessive cleaning and repair; or when pieces of an item are lost or in need of replacement, a fee will be assessed.

B. These fees will vary depending on the type of problem and format of the damaged item.

C. If a damaged item needs to be replaced, the patron will be charged the replacement cost of the item, plus a $2.00 processing charge per item.

D. Damage to peripherals will result in full repair and/or replacement costs. Non-Wadsworth Public Library materials that are damaged will be billed by Wadsworth Public Library at the value listed by said Library plus a $2.00 processing fee.

E. Patrons may replace a damaged item with a new copy of the same title in the same edition plus a $2.00 processing fee.

1.1.9 NSF Fees

In the event the Library receives funds for fines, fees, and/or lost materials, etc. by check, and the check is returned because of non-sufficient funds (NSF) by our depository, the Library will:

A. Place the pertinent paid fines and fees back on the patron’s Library record,

B. Add an additional $15 fee to the patron’s record for the NSF returned check, and

C. Note “cash or credit card payments only” on the patron’s record.

1.1.10 Authority

The Director has the authority to waive or modify any part of this policy at his/her discretion.


revised: 8/1/2008, 1/16/2009, 1/25/2010, 3/15/2010, 8/15/2011, 2/20/2012, 1/1/2018, 4/15/2019