Library Cards

All residents of the Warren Newport Public Library District are encouraged to apply for a library card so that they may avail themselves of the variety of materials, services, and programs offered by the library. Library cards will be provided in as expedient a way as possible to facilitate participation in library services.

Eligibility

1. Any person residing in the Warren-Newport Public Library District will be eligible to receive a library card.
2. Any person owning a piece of property, or being the principle stockholder in a business, or being a partner in a business, or renting business property located within the boundaries of the library district is eligible for one library card with the business’s name appearing on it. The business official who obtains the card is responsible for all use made of it until it is reported lost or stolen.
3. The library will offer each school in the service district a building-level library card, which can be used to check out materials and access online databases. See the Library Services to Schools Policy for more detail.
4. A library card is issued to a specific person and is not transferable. The person to whom a card is issued is responsible for all use made of the card until it is reported lost or stolen.
5. A library card remains the property of the Warren-Newport Public Library District.
6. A library card must be presented each time a patron wishes to check out or reserve materials or to use Internet computers.

Identification

1. Any person applying for a library card shall provide two forms of identification to verify proof of residency in the library district. Acceptable forms of identification include:
   1. Driver’s license or state ID
   2. Cancelled mail with current postmark
   3. Banking checks
   4. Real estate tax bill from Lake County
   5. Current utility bill
   6. Illinois Motor Vehicle Registration
   7. Matricular consular cards
2. A district resident under the age of 18 must be accompanied by a parent or legal guardian in order to apply for a library card. The address of the parent/guardian having primary custody will be used to determine a child’s residency. In the case of joint custody with both addresses being in the district, the parents/guardians must choose only one address for the library card.

Nonresident

1. A nonresident is defined as any person residing outside of an area served by a public library in the State of Illinois.
2. A nonresident who wishes to use a public library must apply for and pay for a nonresident library card at the public library that is closest to his or her residence and that serves residents of the school district in which the nonresident has his or her principal residence.
3. The Warren-Newport Public Library is not the closest public library to any nonresident and so does not issue nonresident library cards.
4. The Warren-Newport Public Library honors nonresident cards from other public libraries in Illinois.

Temporary Cards

1. Temporary cards are issued to patrons who will be residing in the district more than one month but less than one year.
2. Proof of current residency in the district will be required for temporary card applicants. Acceptable proof of residency includes:
   1. Rental agreement
   2. Motel/Hotel agreement of no less than 30 days
   3. Cancelled mail
3. An appropriate expiration date will be placed on the card and entered in the database.

Other Illinois Library Cards

1. The Warren-Newport Public Library honors all valid library cards issued by any other public library in Illinois, pending verification of the home library.
2. Two forms of identification are needed for the registration of a library card from another Illinois public library.
    

Staff

1. Staff members not residing in the Warren-Newport Public Library District will be issued a Warren-Newport Public Library card.

Re-Registration

1. A library card expires three years after it is issued.
2. Any patron re-registering a library card shall provide identification to verify his or her residency in the library district. See Section II A of this policy.
3. Any person applying for a Warren-Newport Public Library card after moving from another library district will be required to meet any obligations he may have with his former library.
    

Presentation of Library Card

1. A library card should be presented each time a patron wishes to check out or reserve materials or to use Internet computers.
2. A patron who has been issued a library card may check out without that library card upon presentation of a valid Illinois driver’s license or state ID card with an address matching the address in our records. A patron between the ages of 12 and 18 who verifies information in our database may use a school ID with photo in lieu of a state ID.

Replacement

Patrons are responsible for having cards replaced by the library when the cards are lost, damaged beyond use, or stolen. A replacement fee will be charged. See the Fines and Fees Policy.