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Library

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1. How do I get a library card?

Local
Residents of Douglas County, age five and older are eligible for library cards at the Superior Public Library. The initial card is free. Applicants must present a picture identification and proof of residence, such as a piece of mail that’s been delivered to the new address, a printed receipt with their name and address on it, or check blanks with their address printed on them. In order for children under age 14 to get a library card, they must be accompanied by a parent or another adult willing to take financial responsibility for materials checked out in the child’s name. The parent or adult must provide proper identification. Applicants must be present to be issued a card. Library cards expire after four years, after which another free card will be issued. A Superior Public Library card can be used at any library in the Northern Waters Library Service area.

Out of State
As of January 1, 2003, non-residents of Wisconsin wishing to check out materials from Superior Public Library will be charged a twenty dollar annual user’s fee. In exchange, non-residents of Wisconsin will be allowed to place holds, a service currently reserved for in-state patrons. Non-residents of Wisconsin will still be asked to use their home libraries for inter-library loan service.
** Cloquet residents will be exempt from the fee because Cloquet Public Library and Superior Public Library have a reciprocal borrowing arrangement.

Other Wisconsin Residents
Wisconsin residents living outside of Douglas County are also eligible to check out materials by using their Merlin system library card, by having their home library card
bar-code, or by being issued a Superior Public Library card with proper identification.

2. How many items can I check out at a time and for how long?

Videos and DVDs - 4
Books on tape - 4
Books on CD- 4
CD’s - 4
Art prints - 1
Puppets - 1
Magazines - 8 total, with 4 of kind
Books - any reasonable total number, but preferably no more than 4 per call number, particularly items used for school reports.

Loan Periods:

Books (including new books), books on tape, books on CD, CDs, puppets, puzzles, holiday pamphlets, Wisconsin government documents--3 weeks

Magazines and videos--1 week

Inter-library loan items--2 weeks

Art prints--6 weeks

All items are due by closing time on the due date.

3. Can I renew the items I have checked out?

All items belonging to the Superior Public Library or any of the Merlin Consortium libraries can be renewed twice, unless someone else is waiting to check them out and has put a hold on them.

*Note: Inter-library loan items (non-Merlin/you filled out a paper form) are not renewable.
Renewals can be made in person, on the phone or through the library’s web page here.

4. Can I request an item that is checked out or owned by another library?

Holds:

Holds can be placed on all circulating material belonging to the Superior Public Library and members of the library consortium. Holds can be placed in person or on-line. There is a hold limit of 10 items at a time per patron. Patrons will notified by phone, e-mail or mail when reserved books are available. Items will be held for one week.

Inter-library Loans:

Wisconsin residents may request materials from other libraries using inter-library loan for items that are not available within the Merlin consortium.

Loan Periods:

Books (including new books), books on tape, books on CD, CDs, puppets, puzzles, holiday pamphlets, Wisconsin government documents--3 weeks

Magazines and videos--1 week

Inter-library loan items--2 weeks

Art prints--6 weeks

All items are due by closing time on the due date.

5. What happens when my items are late, lost, or damaged?

Patrons are expected to return materials on time and in good condition or promptly pay fees or fines incurred.

Adult Fines:
Overdue books, books on tape, books on CD, CDs, holiday pamphlets, Wisconsin government documents and magazines--10 cents per day, with a maximum fine of $2 per item.
Overdue videos--$1 per day, with a maximum fine of $6 per item.

Children’s Fines:
Overdue books, books on tape, books on CD, CDs, puppets, puzzles and magazines--10 cents per day, with a maximum fine of 50 cents per item.
Overdue videos--50 cents per day, with a maximum fine of $2 per item.

A replacement fee will be charged for items that are lost or non-returned.

Fees for damaged materials will be determined at the discretion of the circulation staff on a case by case basis. Some examples include books and other items that are wet, torn, dirty, weather-damaged or smelly.

Materials that include more than one piece will be billed according to how it can be replaced. For example, a book on tape missing one tape would likely be billed for the entire set, unless a replacement for just one tape was available.

If a patron incurs more than $5 in charges, they will not be allowed to check out any more items until the total is reduced to $5 or less. At that time they will have the option to pay the remaining fine or bring it in the next time they come in. They cannot keep a “running tab.”

Overdue notices are sent out when materials are three weeks past the due date. At six weeks past the due date, the patron is billed for the overdue items. If the items are returned, the patron needs only to pay the late charges.