Circulation Services Policies

I. LIBRARY CARD ELIGIBILITY/REGISTRATION

Library cards are issued upon request and free of charge to all residents of the Village of North Aurora.

  • In-Person Application
    A resident of the Village of North Aurora can apply for a library card at the Messenger Public Library Circulation Desk. Adults must present a photo ID and current proof of residency in the Village of North Aurora to obtain a library card. A parent or guardian (responsible party) must present proof of residency and sign the library card of an applicant under age 18.
  • Examples of Accepted forms of Photo ID:
    Driver’s License
    State ID
    Military ID
    Foreign Consulate ID
    Passport
  • Examples of Accepted Proof of Residency
    Current mortgage or lease documents
    Current utility bill
    Current bank statement, printed personal check, or payroll check showing name and address
    Current property tax bill
    Current credit card, insurance, cable TV, or medical billing statement

    Non-acceptable: Personal mail, change of address forms, and post office boxes are not acceptable as proof of residence.

II. TYPES OF LIBRARY CARDS

A. Resident Card
Residents of the Village of North Aurora are eligible to receive library cards. Residents 18 and older may register for library cards in person. A photo ID and current proof of residency are required. A parent or guardian (responsible party) must be present and sign the registration form and library card for residents under 18.
Resident cards are valid for 2 years.

B. Cards from other Illinois libraries
The Messenger Public Library participates in the Reciprocal Borrowing Program operated under the auspices of the Reaching Across Illinois Library System (RAILS) and the Illinois State Library.
Reciprocal Borrowing patrons must register the library card issued by their home library and do not receive a Messenger Public Library borrower card.
Reciprocal Borrowing patrons have similar borrowing privileges to Messenger Public Library cardholders with the following exceptions:
Reciprocal Borrowing patron privileges are valid for 1 year.

C. Non-resident Card

Non-residents living outside of the Messenger Public Library service area and not within another library service area may apply for a non-resident card. Applicants for a non-resident card must present a photo ID, proof of residency, and pay a fee based on their current property tax bill in order to receive a library card.  Payment of the non-resident card fee entitles each member of the payee’s family at that address to be issued a library card.

Non-resident cards are valid for 1 year.

D. Non-resident Renter Card

Non-resident renter cards are valid for 1 year.

Non-residents who rent and reside in a property outside of the Messenger Public Library service area and not within another library service area may apply for a non-resident renter card. Applicants for a non-resident renter card must present a photo ID, proof of residency, and pay a fee equal to 15% of their monthly rent in order to receive a library card. Applicants must present a current lease or rent receipt.

E. Non-resident Taxpayer Card

Non-resident taxpayer cards are valid for 1 year.

A non-resident who owns taxable property in the Village of North Aurora may register for a library card. Only one non-resident taxpayer card will be issued per taxable property. Non-resident taxpayers must present a photo ID and current property tax bill in order to receive a non-resident taxpayer card.

F. Other Card Registration

Messenger Public Library staff will work with North Aurora community schools through the school libraries on an interlibrary loan basis. A card may be issued to a community school administrator, or other designee, for the purpose of using materials or services. The school administrator or other designee must agree to be responsible for all materials borrowed.

A library card may be issued to an individual not meeting all of the registration criteria if, in the judgment of the Library Administrator, special circumstances exist that warrant and justify issuing such a card.

G. Other Library Users

Persons not eligible for borrowing privileges are welcome to use library materials and resources within the library.

III. CARDHOLDER RESPONSIBILITIES

A. A library card is issued to an individual and is not transferrable. Patrons are responsible for all materials checked out on the card, including those resulting from the use of a lost or stolen card. A patron’s responsibility for checked out materials does not end until the materials, including all parts (jackets, discs, cases, booklets, etc.), are returned in good condition.

B. Lost or stolen library cards must be reported to the Circulation Department immediately. Cardholders are encouraged to report lost or stolen items with personal identity information to the North Aurora Police Department.

C. Library cards are the property of the Messenger Public Library and may be restricted or revoked at any time. Library cards are automatically invalid when a patron moves outside of the Messenger Public Library service area.

D. Any material circulated by Messenger Public Library may be borrowed by patrons without regard to age. A parent or guardian (responsible party) is responsible for their minor child’s use of library materials and services, including payment of any fines or charges.

E. Patrons under 18 may use the library’s computers unless a parent or guardian (responsible party) chooses the “opt out” option on the library card registration form.

F. A patron will have their borrowing and computer privileges suspended if their library card has a total of $20 or more in fines and fees.

IV. LOAN PERIODS

A. Messenger Public Library Materials Loan Periods

Click here to view loan periods.

B. Materials not on hold for another patron will be automatically renewed once (with the exception of Quick Picks.)

C. Extended loan periods may be available upon request for materials not on hold for another patron.

D. Reference books (with the exception of some circulating reference materials in the Youth Services Collection), newspapers, and current issues of periodicals do not circulate.

V. RESERVES (Hold requests)

Messenger Public Library cardholders may place a hold on items that are checked out or otherwise unavailable. Reserves may be placed in person, by phone, or via the library’s website.

Reserves are held at the library for 7 days.

Patrons will be notified by phone or email when materials are available. Text notification is also available.

VI. INTERLIBRARY LOAN SERVICES*

Messenger Public Library cardholders may request materials not available in the MAGIC Library Consortium through interlibrary loan services (ILL). Materials borrowed through ILL will circulate in accordance with the policy of the lending library. Click here to view the Interlibrary Loan Policy and Appendices.

VII. FINES AND FEES

A. Messenger Public Library Materials Overdue Fines

Click here to view fines and fees. It is the policy of Messenger Public Library to collect fines for overdue materials. Notices are sent as a courtesy when materials are overdue. However, borrowers are responsible for returning or renewing materials on time and paying all fines whether or not a notice has been received.

B. Charges for lost or damaged material

If materials are lost, or damaged and judged by library staff as being unsuitable for the collection, the patron must pay the replacement cost and processing fee. The processing fee covers processing time and materials.

A lost item that is found and in good condition may be returned to the library within 30 days of payment and the replacement cost will be refunded less any overdue fines.

Generally, an item that has been lost longer than 30 days will not be accepted back into the collection except at the discretion of the Head of Circulation Services or Library Administrator.

The library does not accept replacement items in lieu of payment of replacement costs for lost or damaged materials. Replacement items will be purchased by the library from library vendors.

C. Library card replacement

In the event that a library card is damaged, or reported lost or stolen, a replacement card will be issued with a photo ID and payment of a $1 replacement fee. The original card will be invalidated at the time of replacement.

D. Borrowing restrictions

Library staff may deny borrowing privileges to cardholders:

Restrictions for reciprocal borrowing patrons are outlined in Section IIB above.

Some collections are restricted to use by Messenger Public Library cardholders only.



Online Resources

    eMedia Library digital books     NoveList Plus