1. DVDs, videos & video games may be reserved and renewed once unless there is a reserve for the item.

2. The rules of the agency from which the DVDs/videos are checked out apply.

3. DVDs & videos must be returned to the library by closing of the seventh day, or to a library bookdrop prior to opening on the eighth day.

4. The overdue fine rate is $.10 per day for adult DVDS/Videos and $.05 per day for juvenile DVDS/Video, with a maximum fine of $5.00 per adult DVDS/Videos and $3.00 per juvenile DVDS/Videos. There is no grace period.

1. Maximum total items a borrower may check out: 75
2. High Demand Collection Limit
   • DVDs: 7 per card
   • Ereaders: 1 per card
   • Lucky Day Books: 1 item per card
   • Lucky Day DVDs: 1 item per card
   • Video Games: 2 per card

• Maximum number of holds/reserves a borrower may have: 25

• DVDs/Videos
• Children's DVDs/Videos
• Lucky Day DVDs
• Video Games

• New Fiction
• New Nonfiction with long reserve lists
• Lucky Day adult and children's best sellers
• Magazines
• Children's magazines

• Ereaders

• Audiocassettes
• Books on CD
• Children's books and A-V items except videos and magazines
• Compact Discs
• Fiction
• Foreign Language Books & Compact Discs
• Large Print
• New Nonfiction
• Pamphlets
• Paperbacks
• Young Adult books and paperbacks

• Literacy materials

• ILL Items (Interlibrary loan) - Due date is set by the lending library and can be anything from one day to one month.

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Most library materials can be renewed one time if the items have not been reserved by another library user. Items may be renewed in person, through the library's catalog on the Internet and by telephone (236-5203).

There are NO renewals on reserved items, Lucky Day best sellers, Lucky Day DVDs, reference books, and interlibrary loan materials.

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• Reference Material -- $1.00 per day/per item
• Interlibrary Loan Material -- $1.00 per item/per day
• Ereaders - $1.00 per item/per day

b. The library will not charge fines for days when it is closed.

c. Fines will begin the first day the item is overdue. There is no grace period.

d. The maximum fine is $5.00 per item for adult material except for reference and interlibrary loan material for which it is $10.00 per item. The maximum fine for juvenile material is $3.00 per item.

e. The library does not charge fines for material checked out on school cards at schools and daycare centers; for materials checked out on teacher cards; for deposit collections placed at nursing homes and daycare centers; or for material checked out to homebound delivery patrons.

f. Patrons are allowed to check out material or use public internet stations until their total accumulation of fines for returned, and as yet unreturned, items reaches $5.00. When this amount is exceeded, the patron must reduce the fine to below $5.00 before additional material may be checked out or public access internet may be used.

In April 2005 the Oshkosh Public Library began using Unique Management Systems (UMS), a specialty library collection agency, to collect charges for unreturned library materials. UMS is able to handle files directly from the library's computer system.

Why?
It's all about sharing. The materials that are kept out for long periods of time are not available to other library users. Despite our best attempts, a small number of library users (less than 1%) do not return library materials or pay for their replacement. This places a burden on all taxpayers who must foot the bill for repeated attempts to contact those delinquent users, pay to replace and process non-returned items, and collect fines and charges.

How does the overdue system work?

• First Notice at 10 days overdue.
• Bill at 30 days overdue.
• Service is denied when fines or bills reach $5.00.
  • At 45 days overdue, all users owing $25.00 or more for unreturned materials are referred to UMS. A non-refundable fee of $15.00 is added to the user's account. This covers the cost for the collection agency's work.
  • 46 days overdue - UMS sends the user a letter asking them to contact their library to return the item and pay the fines and fee.
  • 67 days overdue - UMS sends the user another letter.
  • 81 days overdue - UMS starts calling the user.
  • 109 days overdue - UMS sends a final letter.
  • 165 days overdue - UMS reports the user to three national credit bureaus.
• The schedule for e-mail overdue notices is different from mailed paper notices and phone calls.

What should I do?

• Promptly respond to library notices to return the material.
• Pay fines promptly.
• Pay bills for lost materials or return the materials within 12 days of receiving the bill notice at 30 days overdue.
• Once the library submits the bill to UMS at 45 days overdue, the non-refundable fee of $15 is added to your account. The fee and any overdue fines must be paid even if you return the item after being contacted by UMS.
• If you are contacted by UMS and do not remember which items have not been returned, contact the Oshkosh Public Library Circulation Department at 236-5203.
• Return items to or pay for them at the Oshkosh Public Library.
• The Oshkosh Public Library accepts Visa and Master Card for payments.
• Do not ignore the letters sent by UMS on our behalf. Your credit rating will be affected if you have not cleared your account by the time an item is 165 days overdue.
• If you are contacted by UMS on our behalf, and you question the accuracy of the bill, please contact the Oshkosh Public Library Circulation Department at 236-5203.

Privacy & Resposibility

• UMS, the collection agency, receives only the patron identification information and amount owed. They do not get information about which titles the patron has checked out.
• Library users are responsible for all use made of their card until it has been reported as lost or stolen to the Oshkosh Public Library Circulation Department.

Library users are responsible for the proper care of all library materials.  Any damage should be reported upon the return of the items.  Library users are required to abide by copyright restrictions on the use of DVDs, videos, sound recordings, and all other materials.

*Prices may be higher if replacement cost is significantly more than price listed here.

*A standard processing fee of $5.00 is included in the prices for all items except: paperback collection and board books which have a fee of $2.00 and magazines and pamphlets which have a fee of $1.00.

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Amounts may be increased when the severity of damage warrants. Full replacement charges will be assessed for any material damaged beyond use.

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• Patrons - 18 years old and above - $1.00
• Patrons under age 18 - $.50

By default, standard replacement prices may be assigned to overdue material that reaches the "bill" stage.  At a patron's request, authorized staff may make exceptions for in-print material that is significantly lower priced than these prices.  Library staff will check reputable sources for prices.  If prices are adjusted, the standard processing fee will still be charged.

The standard replacement price and processing fee will be charged for all out-of-print material unless the library can demonstrate that the value of the item exceeds the standard price.

In lieu of paying the standard replacement price, a patron may replace a lost item with an exact edition copy of the lost item. The standard processing fee will be assessed to patrons who choose this option.

Payments will be refunded up to one year after the item is paid for, if the item is located by the borrower and returned to the library or is located by the library and the borrower can be contacted.

Billing practices of libraries loaning materials to Oshkosh Public Library patrons may vary.

The following charges apply for computer printouts, photocopies & Fax copies.

• Computer print-outs: $0.10 per page (black & white) ; $0.25 per page (color)
• Fax copies: (takes debit, credit, or prepaid cards; available at the 2nd floor reference desk): $1.50 for first page ; $1.00 per subsequent pages
• Microfilm or Microfiche prints: $0.25 per page
• Photocopies: $0.10 per page

Vital Statistics, Genealogy and Local History Retrieval and Delivery Charge

A $5.00 fee will be charged to customers outside the Winnefox Library System service area for each request for retrieval and delivery of a print from photocopiers, microfilm or computer printers from a newspaper of an obiturary or similar record.

Notary Public Service:
Available in the library's Administrative Office: 9:00 am - 5:00 pm, Mon.-Fri.  No charge.

The Oshkosh Public Library is not responsible for damage caused to a borrower's equipment when using library materials.