Library Card Information for
Children and Families
How to Get a Library Card for Your Child
- Visit the Baraboo Public Library. We are located one block off the square in downtown Baraboo at 230 Fourth Ave. The children’s department is on the lower level.
- Bring a parent or guardian. If at all possible, this should be the child’s legal guardian. This adult is ultimately going to be responsible for everything checked out on the child’s card.
- Bring photo identification. Parents or guardians must present either photo identification with current address or photo identification and some other proof of address (such as a piece of mail or a checkbook).
Teens are considered adults at age 16 and can obtain a library card themselves. However, they must present photo identification and proof of address.
- Ask a librarian for a library card. You can register at either the adult services desk or the children’s desk, and you’ll be able to start checking out library items and using the library computers that same day!
There is no minimum age for children to obtain a library card. However, you may wish to wait until your child can understand the responsibility that comes with checking out library materials.
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Congratulations! Your child now has a library card!
The library staff warmly welcomes you and your child in using its many programs and materials. We hope that this card will open up new worlds of free entertainment and information for you and your family!
A library card provides privileges and also responsibilities. As the adult listed on your child’s card, you are ultimately responsible for all items checked out and any charges incurred. Please be aware of the following and share it with your child:
- Returning Materials on Time – Be sure to keep the receipt you’re given when checking out materials so you can make sure materials are returned on time. In general, DVDs and videos are checked out for one week, magazines and music CDs for two weeks, and books and audiobooks for four weeks. There are exceptions, so please refer to your checkout receipt. You can also check on and renew your items from the library website: www.baraboopubliclibrary.org Click on “Search the Catalog” and then “My Account.”
- Overdue Fines – Be aware of overdue fines charged on materials that are returned late. Daily overdue fines on most items checked out at Baraboo Public Library are $.10 per day. Fines and charges over $5.00 will prevent further checkouts until they are paid.
- Lost Materials – Be careful not to lose materials. A lost item will incur a charge of full retail price to replace. It might be a good idea to designate a special place in your home to keep your library materials.
- Damaged Materials – Take good care of library materials! If library materials are damaged, charges will be assessed to cover repair or decreased value. If damage is severe enough for library staff to determine that an item needs to be withdrawn from the collection, you will be charged full replacement cost.
- Holds on Materials – Library staff are happy to assist you in placing holds on items from other libraries. Please let us know if you would prefer to be notified about your holds by phone or by email. Be sure to pick up your holds within 7 days of being notified that they have arrived, or they will be sent back to the owning library.
- Appropriate Selection of Library Resources – The Baraboo Public Library Collection Development Policy, as approved by the Library Board, states that “The responsibility for the materials chosen by children and young people rests with their parents or legal guardians. At no time will library staff act in loco parentis…Parents and guardians are encouraged to help their children select books and to guide their selections. Library materials will not be marked or identified to show approval or disapproval of their contents, and no library material will be sequestered except to protect it from damage or theft.”
As a parent, you alone are responsible for judging the appropriateness of library materials for your children. Library staff will not monitor or restrict anyone’s access to library resources. Be sure to maintain an ongoing dialog with your child about what library resources you think are appropriate for your child’s use.
Please contact us if you have any questions. We hope to see you and your family in the library soon! |
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Updated
October 5, 2009
