• Library Use & Circulation Policy

  • The Columbia Public Library offers full Library service to all residents of the city. The Library facilities are available during regular Library hours, for use by any person who conducts themselves courteously and treats the Library materials and equipment with respect and care. Library materials may be loaned out to patrons that have a valid library card in good standing. Materials not found in the Library will be borrowed for patrons through interlibrary loans. Computers are available for public use; however, patrons must have library cards in good standing to use them. A large meeting room is available for use during library hours, and must be booked in advance by a Columbia Library cardholder.
• Hours:M-Th. 9:00 a.m. – 8:00 p.m.; F 9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.; Sat 9:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.
• Holiday Closings: New Year’s Day; President’s Day; Good Friday; Memorial Day; Independence Day; Labor Day; Veterans Day; Thanksgiving; the day after Thanksgiving; Christmas Eve (open 4 hours); Christmas Day. The library will close at 5:00 p.m. on the following days: the day before Thanksgiving and New Year’s Eve. In order to offer library services and facilities on days that offer the greatest convenience to library patrons, holiday closings are subjected to substitution. (Example: President’s Day could be substituted for Lincoln’s Birthday.) Any member of the Library Board may propose a substitution day. Approval of the substitution required a majority vote of the Board members present.

Procedures:

• Library Lending Periods: Books, audiobooks, DVDs, music CDs and juvenile movies are due in two weeks. Magazines are due in one week. Kits, hotspots, and other 3-dimensional items are generally due in two weeks unless otherwise specified. Most items are able to be renewed two more times, meaning a patron can potentially have an item for six weeks. Materials borrowed from other libraries have different lending periods. Patrons can return items from other Illinois Libraries to us and the Illinois Heartland Library System’s delivery service will return them to the owning library at no cost.
• Library Late Fees: A fine of $0.25 per library day is charged for an overdue item.  DVDs will be charged $0.50 per library day. The fine must not exceed the value of the overdue item. Full replacement cost must be paid for a lost item or irreparably damaged item. If item was borrowed from another library, processing fees may be added. Patron will be restricted from borrowing items, using digital library resources, and using library computers if charges exceed $5.00.
• Maximum Checkouts: There is no limit to the number of physical items a patron may check out. Digital platforms each have check out limitations.
• Computers: Anyone with a library card or a photo ID may use our computers. Users must sign in at the front desk and have less than $5.00 in fines on their library account. Computer use is limited to two hours per day. If computers are full and another person is waiting, usage is then one hour at time of use. Children age 12 and under must be accompanied by an adult who has signed in at the front desk to use the computer. Teens 13-17 years old must have a consent form signed by a parent or guardian (Internet Usage Policy).
• Library Card: To obtain a card you must present two documents with your current address. Resident cards are renewed every three years. Non-resident cards are good for one year. The fee is the average library tax paid by property owners within the City of Columbia. Patrons must have their library card or State issued photo ID with them to checkout. A lost card will cost $5.00 for replacement.

1. Resident:
   • Patron cards are issued to any applicant who is a resident of the City of Columbia. The card may be used at any participating library in Illinois. Children must be entering kindergarten to obtain their first card.
2. Nonresident
   • Nonresident households with in the Columbia school district may pay the library fee once per year. This amount is equal to the library fee city residents pay in their annual property taxes. Those in the household may each have a library card (Illinois Library Laws, 1/1/94). Nonresident fees are nonrefundable. Illinois State Law regulates where (which public library) individuals/families may obtain a nonresident card.
3. Nonresident property owner or lease of property
   • Nonresident fee shall not apply to a nonresident who, as an individual or as a partner, principal stockholder, or other joint owner, owns or leases property that is taxed for library service shall not be required to pay for a library card. One card will be given for family use for the one year. 
4. Nonresident student card fee exemptions
   • Exemptions to the non-resident fee are granted to non-resident children 18 and under. In accordance with Illinois Law SB3497 and with the approval of the Board of Trustees, nonresidents 18 and under that reside within, Columbia Unit #4 (per State of Illinois guidelines) may apply for a library card at no cost and with the borrowing privileges restricted to that person (Non-resident Student Card policy). Card will expire 1 year from date issued.
5. Nonresident Veteran card fee exemptions
   • The nonresident fee shall not apply to veterans with a service-connected disability of at least 70% and who are exempt from paying property taxes on their primary residence in compliance with the Disabled Veterans’ Standard Homestead Exemption [35 ILCS 200/15-169].
   • Disabled veterans or surviving spouses of service members killed in the line of duty that have not remarried may receive library cards at no charge per Illinois Administrative Code [Title 23: Education and Cultural Resources, Subtitle B: Cultural Resources Chapter 1: Secretary of State, Part 3050 Public Library Non-Resident Services] (Source: Added at 45I11. Reg. 9538, effective July 19, 2021). (See Non-Resident Library Card Fee Exemption for Disabled Veterans or Surviving Spouse)
   • In each instance, proof of eligibility must be presented. This may include a property tax bill showing exemption from property taxes, or official documentation from the Department of Veterans Affairs stating the individual’s Veteran status, and the Veteran’s percentage of service-connected disabilities. Free nonresident cards may be extended to the disabled Veteran’s (or surviving spouse’s) entire household.

Additional Services

• Printing, Faxing, Copying, and Other Service Fees

Printer or copier use is $0.25 per page for one-sided black print and $0.30 for double-sided. Color prints and copies are $0.50 for one-sided and $0.75 for double-sided. There is no cost to scan documents to email. Patrons are to be aware of the copyright law of the United States (Title 17, United States Code), which governs the making of photocopies.

• Fax Service

Library staff will manage the fax process. The cost is $1.00 for the first page and .50 for each additional page unless the number is toll free. Received faxes cost $0.25 per page. We reserve the right to terminate service after 3 unsuccessful attempts.

• Laminators

The library offers two different laminators. Library staff will manage the laminating process. We offer a small machine that laminates 8.5×11 paper or cardstock in 3 millimeter film, which costs $0.75 per sheet. Our larger machine laminates poster-sized paper or cardstock up to 25 inches wide in 3-millimeter film. The cost is $1.00 per linear foot. The large laminator takes 20-30 minutes to fully heat up. You need to be present in order to have projects laminated. Library assumes no responsibility for materials that do not turn out as expected.

• Electric Comb Binding Machine

The library has an electric comb binding machine with a 330-sheet binding capacity, and the machine can punch up to 20 letter-sized sheets at one time. The library has 11-inch black plastic combs available for purchase in 3/8, ¼, ½, and ¾ inch diameters. The machine is easy for patrons to use, but you will have to ask staff for access at the front desk.

• Ellison die-cut machine

Machine is available for public use. There is no charge for machine use, but patrons must bring their own paper.

Library Use & Circulation Policy – Revised February 14, 2024