Access to Records
(Library Records Confidentiality Act 75 ILCS 70/1).
Sec. 1. (a) The registration and circulation records of a library are
confidential information. No person
shall publish or make any information contained in such records available to
the public unless: (1) Required to do so
under a court order; or (2) The information is
requested by a sworn law enforcement officer who represents that it is
impractical to secure a court order as a result of an emergency where the law
enforcement officer has probable cause to believe that there is an imminent
danger of physical harm. The information requested must be limited to
identifying a suspect, witness, or victim of a crime.
Access to patron records is limited to library staff, to the specific individual who has registered for a library card, and the parents or legal guardians of children under the age of 18 years. Registered library users making requests in person regarding their library account must present their library card or a photo identification card. When presenting a photo identification card, staff will ask the individual to verify the phone number listed in the database. For children under the age of 18 years, a parent or legal guardian may, upon providing the child’s library card or their own photo identification, make requests regarding the child’s library account.
Registered library users making telephone requests regarding their library account must provide their library card number. Staff will ask the individual to verify the phone number listed in the database.
Individual library card holder’s information is also available via the public catalogs and the internet. All registered library users are encouraged to create their own personal password.
All residents of the district who are five (5) years of age or above are eligible for a library card.
To obtain a library card each adult (18 years and older) must provide a photo identification card with the individual’s name and address (a Drivers License, State of Illinois identification card, Firearm Owner’s identification card, etc.). If the address on the photo identification card is not current, a second form of identification must be provided with the individual’s current name and address (a utility bill, checkbook, voter’s registration card, etc.).
For children ages 5-17 years, a parent or legal guardian must also sign the application in the presence of a staff member. The above identification requirements must also be provided.
All card holders should use their Library card to charge out material. In the event that a card holder does not have their Library card, the card holder may show a photo identification card to use their library card. In the event that a parent does not have their child’s Library card, the parent may show a photo identification card to use their child's library card. The library will also honor library card numbers that have been digitized on a handheld device.
Any parent or legal guardian of a child under age 18 may complete a Materials Limit Form. Children whose legal guardians have completed a Materials Limit Form will be prohibited from checking out the materials from those sections of the Adult and Young Adult collections that their parent or legal guardian have identified as restricted. These restrictions do not guarantee that children might not find other ways to access restricted materials.
Each library card holder is responsible for all items borrowed on their card.
Approved January 26, 2011