Membership and Loan Policies

Residents:  

The first card is issued free to any person 4 years of age or older who is a full-time resident of Etowah County.

Etowah County residents over the age of 18 must show positive photo ID and proof of their current home address. Acceptable forms of ID include:

• A valid Alabama driver’s license or ID card
• A valid license or ID card from another US state along with proof of their current local address
• If a license is not available, a current utility bill, deed, lease, mortgage, bank statement, or car registration with the name of the applicant will be an acceptable form of identification along with a valid government issued photo ID (passport, military ID).

Student cards are issued to children ages 4-17 years if:

• A parent or legal guardian accompanies the child to sign the application card and agrees to be responsible for all items borrowed on the card. Grandparents, relatives, or other adults may not obtain a card for a minor child.
• A parent or legal guardian agrees the child may check out any item in the library’s collection with their library card, including those in the adult collection, as well as access materials in the library’s digital collection that are intended for adults. It is the parent’s or legal guardian’s responsibility to decide what materials are appropriate for their child to borrow and to supervise their child’s access to and use of all library materials.  If a parent or legal guardian does not agree to these terms, they may borrow library materials for the child on their card instead.
  • Chapter 520-2-2 Supplemental State Aid to Public Libraries requires Alabama Public Libraries to “approve written guidelines that establish library cards for minors under the age of 17 must require parental approval before a minor’s card is permitted to check-out materials from the library’s adult sections.”
  • SIP2 authentication may be blocked on a child’s card upon request. This will block access to Camellia Net/Libby but may not block access to the Library’s other digital collections.
• A parent or legal guardian shows a positive ID with their current permanent home address.
• The parent’s or legal guardian’s RCPL card is in good standing (no long overdue materials or significant fines).

Parents/legal guardians may apply for cards for their minor children; otherwise, cards must be applied for by the person to whom the card is issued.  The library’s director may grant exceptions for issuing cards to adults who are homebound or unable to visit the library due to health issues.

RCPL cards expire annually, and upon expiration, all patron information must be verified and updated before a card can be renewed.

Patrons must present photo ID to check out materials if they do not have their library card.

Non-residents:

Alabama residents who do not live in Etowah County may be issued a free library card provided the person meets at least one of the following conditions:

• The person is employed full-time in Etowah County (may require verification in the form of a letter from the employer on company letterhead, paycheck stub, or company ID).
• The person is enrolled in an Etowah County school (public, private, or college); proof of enrollment or a valid student identification card may be required for adult cards, parental verification is acceptable for K-12 students.
• The person owns property in Etowah County (verified through current property tax receipt from Etowah County).
• Non-resident cards issued to minors age 4-17 are subject to the same rules and conditions as residents.

Spouses and minor children who reside in the same household as a person eligible for a free card are also eligible for a free card. Other relatives or individuals residing in the household are not eligible for a free card.

Verification of eligibility must be confirmed once a year when the library card expires.

Alabama residents who meet none of the eligibility requirements for a free card may be issued a card provided they show positive ID with their current home address and pay an annual non-refundable $10.00 out-of-county fee. The non-resident designation must be noted on the patron’s record. The out-of-county fee covers the individual’s spouse and minor children residing in the same household. Other relatives or individuals residing in the household are not covered by this fee.

For the purposes of the non-resident policy, minor children are those age 18 & under or those still enrolled in high school.

New Borrower Privileges

On the day that a new card is issued, patrons are limited to borrowing two items.  When the items are returned (no earlier than the following day), normal limits apply.

Launchpad tablets may not be borrowed the first day a new card is issued.

Borrowing privileges are suspended until overdue materials are returned and fines are paid.

** ALL magazines checked out on the same day must be returned before additional magazines can be checked out.

No item should be due on any day that the Library is scheduled to be closed.

Fines are NOT charged for days when the Library is closed.

Materials (except Launchpad Tablets & Games) may be returned in the curbside return located at the back of the building.

There will be a $5.00 fee assessed for each Launchpad Tablet or Game returned via the book/AV return.

Renewals

Items (except magazines) may be renewed twice, providing the title is not on reserve for another patron.  Items may be renewed online or by phone during regular library hours.  Magazines may not be renewed.  The staff reserves the right to restrict renewals on books that are in high demand (i.e., best sellers, school assignments, holiday books, etc.).  Renewal requests made via email or left on the Library’s voicemail system cannot be guaranteed.

There is a 10-book limit per card.  In addition, patrons may check out eBooks, digital audiobooks and magazines in the Libby App or via the Camellia Net website.

Non-fiction books are limited to 2 books per subject for each family.  Further restrictions may be deemed necessary by library staff due to school assignments, etc.

Audiovisuals are limited to 3 audiobooks and 3 DVDs per card (this is in addition to the 10 book limit).

One Playaway Launchpad tablet and 1 Game may be checked per adult card.

Patrons may also check out 5 magazines per card. (The most current issue of a magazine may NOT be checked out.)  All magazines checked out on the same day must be returned before additional magazines can be checked out.  Patrons may also check out unlimited digital magazines through Camellia Net.

Reference books may not circulate.

Patrons will be charged the replacement cost of the item plus a $3.00 processing fee for most items; there is a $5.00 processing fee for a Launchpad Tablet.   When a patron pays for a lost or damaged item, an overdue fine will not be charged.  

Refunds may be granted on items found and returned within 6 months of their original due date.  The processing fee is non-refundable.