Circulation Policies
Patrons must have a Piqua Public Library card in good standing to check out materials. Good standing refers to an active card (not expired) that does not have any fines and/or overdue items.
A maximum of 100 items may be checked out on a single library card at any given time. Additional limits may apply to specific types of items due to limited availability or high demand. Loan periods are determined by the type of material being borrowed. Items are eligible for automatic renewal up to three times, provided there are no existing holds on the item.
There are no fines for the returning of overdue items that are in good condition, with the exception of Interlibrary Loan (ILL) materials. The fees for late Interlibrary Loan materials will be set by the loaning library. The cost of an item plus a $5.00 processing fee will be charged for any lost or damaged materials.
Holds may be placed on items that are not readily available or for patron pick-up. Patrons will be notified that an item(s) is ready for pick-up by email and/or phone. Holds will be kept at the circulation desk for no more than one (1) week after the patron has been notified the item(s) is available for pick-up. Holds that are not picked-up within the designated time limit will be transferred to the next hold in line or returned to the shelf. The library cannot guarantee when or if a hold will become available.
Check out limits for items are listed as follows:
Books
Adult fiction and non-fiction – for 4 weeks
New adult fiction and non-fiction – for 2 weeks
Book discussion – for 6 weeks
Interlibrary Loan – up to 5 items for 4 weeks
Juvenile fiction and non-fiction – for 4 weeks
Audio-visual
DVDs fiction and non-fiction – for 2 weeks
CD books – for 4 weeks
CDs – for 4 weeks
Interlibrary Loan DVDs – up to 5 items for 1 week
Other
Magazines – for 2 weeks
Puzzles – up to 2 items for 2 weeks
Jean’s Bags – up to 1 item for 2 weeks
Memory Bags – up to 1 item for 2 weeks
Equipment – up to 5 items for 1 week
Laptop - in library use only for 1 hour
An outdoor book return is provided at the rear (north) of the building, in the back parking lot to return items when the library is closed.
ILL Policies
Patrons must have a Piqua Public Library card for at least six (6) months that is in good standing to request interlibrary loans. Good standing refers to an active card (not expired) that does not have any fines and/or overdue items.
Patrons can order up to five (5) items at one time via ILL. The library does not request ILLs in bulk for patrons or outside book clubs. The library will attempt to fill any reasonable ILL requests, but cannot guarantee an item will be available via ILL as this decision is up to the discretion of the loaning library.
Once ILLs arrive, they will be held at the Circulation Desk for five (5) business days. If a patron does not pick up requested ILL items three (3) times, ILL privileges will be suspended, and their account will be notated. Exceptions can be made in cases of extenuating circumstances prohibiting the patron from being able to pick up items (e.g., illness, injury, serious acts of nature, etc.).
If a patron does not return an item prior to fines being added to the library’s ILL account(s), the patron’s ILL privileges will be revoked, and the patron is responsible for the cost of the item(s). ILL privileges will not be reinstated even after the patron returns the late item(s) without permission of the Library Director.
Placing ILL Requests:
Staff at the Information and Reference Desk place the Interlibrary Loan requests. If a patron asks staff at a different desk about a specific book not owned by PPL, refer them to the second floor Information Desk
I&R staff handle ensuring patrons requesting an ILL meet the requirements (card in good standing with no notes saying they cannot request ILLs and have had their card for at least six months).