The Shaker Heights Public Library belongs to the CLEVNET consortium and thereby shares a catalog and materials with member libraries. There is no charge for borrowing materials from other member libraries.

I.  Borrowing Requirements

1.   Library cards are issued free of charge to anyone who resides, owns property, works, or attends school in Ohio. Only one CLEVNET card is permitted per individual, except for Educator, Three for Me, and Three for Teen cards, which a cardholder may have in addition to a regular CLEVNET card.

2.   To prevent loss of library material and to protect cardholders from fraudulent use of library cards, the library requires cardholders to present a physical CLEVNET library card or its barcode via the CLEVNET-supported app for transactions at the Circulation Desk. A valid form of government-issued photo ID may be used in lieu of a physical card. Cardholders who do not have their physical card or government-issued photo ID with them may use their library card number at a self-check station. When presented with a valid library card for a transaction, library staff will generally not ask for additional identification.

3.   Cardholders are responsible for all material checked out on their cards and are responsible for paying replacement fees if material is damaged or lost. Cardholders are responsible for reporting lost or stolen library cards immediately. Cardholders are responsible for all material checked out on that card up to the time that they reported to the library that it was lost or stolen.

4.   Cardholders are responsible for ensuring that their library records, and those of any minor children, include current contact information. Most accounts must be renewed every two years to ensure that contact information is updated.

II.  Borrowing Privileges

1.   All cards come with free access to physical materials, digital content, and online resources provided by the Shaker Library and CLEVNET.

2.   All material owned by Shaker Heights Public Library is free of overdue fines. If a Shaker Library owned item is not returned within 21 days of the return date, or if it is damaged upon return, the cardholder will be charged the list replacement cost of the item. Cardholders may also borrow material from other CLEVNET member libraries, and the policies of the owning library apply in those transactions.

3.   The CLEVNET system will automatically attempt to renew eligible items one day prior to their due date. Cardholders may also renew eligible items in person, by phone, or online via the CLEVNET catalog. Online renewals require the library card number or cardholder’s username and PIN. Telephone renewals require a library card number or an item number. Under no circumstances will library card numbers be released via telephone.

4.   Cardholders using regular adult or juvenile cards may place holds on most materials found in the CLEVNET catalog. Cardholders may initiate their own requests through the library catalog or website or ask for staff to help request materials from CLEVNET libraries.

5.   Cardholders holding regular adult or juvenile cards may also request materials from libraries outside of CLEVNET via interlibrary loan. The library attempts to obtain material from other libraries for free whenever possible. However, some libraries charge a small fee for their material. Interlibrary loan fees over $15 must be paid by the cardholder. Additionally, cardholders may be charged a small handling fee if they request interlibrary loan material but do not pick it up from the library once it has arrived.

6.   Shaker Heights Public Library material may be returned to any CLEVNET library and will be discharged from the cardholder’s library card upon receipt by that library. Shaker Library material that is returned to a non-CLEVNET library in Ohio may be shipped to Shaker Library by that library but will not be discharged from the cardholder’s card until it is received by Shaker Library. The cardholder remains financially responsible for the material until it has been received and discharged by Shaker Heights Public Library.

III.  Standard Library Cards

Adult Cards
Adults aged 18 and over must present a government-issued photo ID and proof of a current Ohio address. A library card will not be issued if any accounts associated with the applicant are in collection or have a balance exceeding $50 (based on the government-issued photo ID).

• Checkout limit of 50 physical items
• Account is blocked if it has either a $10.00 balance or 10 overdue items
• Account must be renewed every two (2) years

Juvenile Cards
Juvenile cards are issued to minors under 18 and require the signature of the present parent or legal guardian at the time of registration. Non-parental custodians must show proof of guardianship. The parent or legal guardian must provide a government-issued photo ID and proof of a current Ohio address and assumes responsibility for all activity (including payment of all fines and fees incurred) on the card.

If any accounts associated with the government-issued photo ID are in collection or have a balance exceeding $50, another card will not be issued.

• Checkout limit of 50 physical items
• If a parent or guardian wishes to restrict their child from borrowing movies, they may choose to do so as part of the library card application process.
• Cannot check out wireless hot spots or laptops
• Account is blocked if it has either a $10.00 balance or 10 overdue items
• Account must be renewed every two (2) years

IV.  Additional Library Cards

Adult Temporary Card
Adult Temporary cards are issued to those 18 and over who are unable to secure a regular adult account due to being unable to provide proof of address or identification. Accounts may be converted into a full-privilege adult account once proof of current address and valid identification are provided.

• Checkout limit of 3 Shaker Library-owned physical items
• May only be used at Shaker Heights Public Library
• Cannot check out Wi-Fi hot spots, Launchpads, laptops, or video games
• No holds may be placed on the account
• Account is blocked if it has either a $10.00 balance or 3 overdue items
• Account must be renewed every two (2) years

Educator Card
Educator cards are issued free of charge to an individual with proof of employment (within last 30 days) at a school or licensed preschool/daycare and a current government issued photo ID. An Educator Card will not be issued if any accounts associated with the applicant are in collection or have a balance exceeding $50.

• Checkout limit of 100 Shaker Library-owned physical items
• May only be used at Shaker Heights Public Library
• Holds may be placed only on materials owned by Shaker Library.
• Account is blocked if it has either a $10.00 balance or 10 overdue items
• Account expires July 31 of each year; employment and address verification must be provided each year to renew the card

Three for Me Cards
Three for Me cards are issued to minors ages 17 and under and do not require the signature of a parent or guardian. A parent or guardian may choose to prohibit their child from getting a card. The child’s name, birth date, and address must be provided by the child or an accompanying caregiver.

• Checkout limit of up to 3 Shaker Library-owned print materials
• May only be used at Shaker Heights Public Library
• No holds may be placed on the account
• Account is blocked if it has either a $10.00 balance or 3 overdue items
• Account expires when the cardholder becomes 18 years of age

Institutional Cards
Institutional cards are issued free of charge to institutions, such as licensed daycares and schools, within the Shaker Heights service area. Institutional cards require the written approval of the institution’s administration. The institution is responsible for any charges to the account.

• Checkout limit of 50 physical items
• Account is blocked if it has either a $10.00 balance or 10 overdue items
• Account must be renewed every two (2) years

V.  Confidentiality of Library Records

To comply with Ohio law and the Shaker Heights Public Library Confidentiality of Library Records Policy, the library does not release personal information, allow anyone to pick up items being held for another customer, or disclose information about what another customer has borrowed from the library or what charges are on another customer’s account, except in the following circumstances:

1.    A person designated by a customer who presents that customer’s card may receive information from that customer’s record and/or complete transactions on that customer’s behalf.

2.    A parent or guardian who is listed in the “care/of” line of a minor’s record may, upon presentation of a government-issued photo ID, receive information about the record, and make payments on the account. In order to borrow materials on a minor’s card, the parent or guardian must provide the minor’s library card or be accompanied by the minor and present government-issued photo ID.

VI.  Loan Periods, Renewals, and Holds

These policies apply to materials owned by the Shaker Heights Public Library. The library lends material from other CLEVNET member libraries, and the policies of the owning library apply to those materials.

Eligible items may not be renewed if there are outstanding holds. Some popular materials may not be eligible for holds to ensure a wide selection of new material is available to cardholders. Due to limited availability, limits may be set for the number of items in certain media formats that a cardholder may have checked out.

Extended loans may be made available to cardholders upon request and are subject to approval of staff in Adult or Youth Services.

Item	Loan Period	Renewals	Holds Allowed
Laptops (in-library use only)	3 hours	0	No
Newly released feature films	14 days	0	Yes
Other movies and DVD sets	14 days	1	Yes
Magazines	14 days	1	No
Bestsellers	14 days	0	No
New books	14 days	5	Yes
Wireless hotspots	14 days	0	Yes
LaunchPads, Video games	14 days	0	No
Memory care materials	14 days	0	No
All other material	21 days	5	Yes

VII.  Lost or Damaged Items

1.    An item more than 21 days overdue is considered lost, and the replacement cost will be charged to the cardholder’s account. The cardholder must either return the item, at which time the charge will be removed from the account or pay the replacement cost of the item.

2.    The library cannot issue refunds for lost and paid items.

3.    Damage to material beyond normal wear and tear is the responsibility of the cardholder. Replacement charges are assessed for damaged items.

4.    Due to cataloging and processing costs, replacement copies of material purchased by the customer will not be accepted for lost or damaged items.

5.    Customers seeking a reduction in fees for material lost due to theft must provide a copy of an official police report filed at the time of the theft and containing an itemized list of library property. All decisions in such circumstances are subject to administrative approval.

VIII.  Collection Services

To protect its investment of public money in library material and services, the library works with a collection agency to retrieve long-overdue material or excessive unpaid account balances.

1.    A customer account with total charges of $50 or more that is 42 days past due will be sent to collection and a $10.00 non-refundable service charge will be added to the account.

2.    The collection agency will contact the customer by phone and letter over the following 120 days in hopes of resolving the problem.

IX.  Payment

Shaker Heights Public Library accepts payment of fines and fees for all CLEVNET libraries by cash, check, or credit card. Payment may be made in person, online, or by mail. Any fees charged by the bank for a returned check will be assessed to the cardholder’s account. The library reserves the right to refuse to accept checks from a cardholder who has had previous checks returned.

X.  Bankruptcy

The Shaker Heights Public Library will comply with Discharge of Debtor decrees by bankruptcy courts. Once the library is notified that a bankruptcy has been filed, collection activity is suspended on the customer’s account and on the accounts of any minor children (to the extent that the charges existed prior to the date of the bankruptcy filing) until the library is notified of the outcome.

1.    Cardholders who have:

• • Filed for bankruptcy,
  • Named Shaker Heights Public Library as a creditor,
  • Received a discharge, and
  • Presented the appropriate documents to the library

shall have outstanding balances for fines, fees, and collection agency charges removed from their accounts. Only Shaker Library charges owed as of the date of the decree will be waived.

Approved by the Shaker Heights Public Library Board of Trustees, 10/2007, 9/15/2010, 6/13/2011, 2/12/2013, 6/9/2014, 5/11/2015, 6/3/2016, 10/10/2016, 6/19/2017, 10/15/2018, 8/20/2019 (effective 10/1/2019), 7/18/2022, 8/19/2024