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----------Service Policies---------

(Link to Policy re:Donating Books and Other Items)

Sign up for a free library card.

Adult cards are issued to persons 18 years of age or older. Patrons may receive a card by showing a photo ID and verification of current address. Documents accepted to verify address include auto registration, recent utility bills, voter registration card, lease/rent agreement, etc.

Juvenile cards are issued to children 17 years of age or younger; a parent or legal guardian must show proof of legal address as listed above and sign the registration form.

No materials may be checked out without presentation of a valid card. Charge for replacing lost library card: All replacement library cards are $2.00, regardless of age.

Cards are valid for use at county-member libraries in Berks County (including Reading Public Library and the County Bookmobile), and Reading Area Community College.

Loan Period, Renewals and Reserves

• All materials may be checked out for three weeks except videos/DVDs, which may be checked out for one week.
• All materials may be renewed once, except items with reserves on them.
• Reference materials do not circulate.
• Items may be renewed if there is no waiting list for that item.
• Reserve materials will be held for seven days after notification of availability.
• Renewals may be done over the phone or online. (If overdue, you must call or visit the Library to renew your materials.)

Fines for Overdue Materials

• Juvenile:
• Books, audio materials, magazines… no fines
  VHS tapes… $ .10/day
  DVDs… $ .50/day

• Adult and young adult (YA):
• Books, audio materials, magazines, VHS tapes… $ .10/day
• DVDs, Interlibrary Loan... $ .50/day

• Maximum fines:
• VHS tapes/DVDs (adult & juvenile)....$10.00
• Books, audio materials (adult)....$5.00
• Magazines (adult)....$ 2.00

All fines are calculated by the calendar day. Returns may be made at any Berks County Public Library System member location. Damaged books are charged at the replacement value plus a $ 5.00 processing fee

Overdue Notices

Patrons with overdue materials will be contacted by telephone, email, or mail.

• First Notice- "The following item(s) is (are) overdue…... If you have any question concerning this notice, call 610-926-1555."
• Second Notice- "The following item(s) is (are) very late. Fines are becoming substantial. Please take care of the problem immediately. If you have any questions about this notice call 610-926-1555."
• Final Notice- "This is your final notice to return the item(s) listed below. If we do not receive the material(s) within seven days, you will be billed for replacement costs and processing fees. Please contact us about this at 610-926-1555."
• Billing Notice- "The following charges have been incurred since the last notice and should be paid immediately. Thank you for your prompt attention to these charges." If over $10.00, your circulation privileges are suspended until the matter is taken care of.
• Collection of billed charges- Seven days after mailing Billing Notices described above, a collection request will be filed with the Credit Bureau of Reading & Berks County. Charges reported will be the amount on the patron's Billing Notice plus 20% to cover the collection service fee.

::Book Donations::

Books must be in good, clean condition and will be accepted during our regular operating hours. Please do not leave boxes of books outside the front door.

SVCL does not accept the following materials:

• Encyclopedias
• Textbooks
• Magazines
• Reader's Digest condensed books

SVCL reserves the right to place the donations where they can be best utilized aka the bookshelves, the Friends book sale and our book sale cart, etc.

If you have any questions, please call the Library at 610-926-1555 or email the Director at svcl@berks.lib.pa.us.