It’s Simple to Get a Card

Applying for a library card may well be the last simple thing to do on this planet.

Besides a one-page application that asks for such basics as name, address, driver’s license and education level, a prospective card holder need only show identification and proof of address. A signature accepting responsibility for all materials borrowed from the library is also required.

If the applicant is under 18 years old, a parent or guardian’s signature is required. A child old enough to be able to print his or her name is also eligible for a library card.

Penalties for overdue materials range in price from library to library, but the most common late fee is 10 cents a day per item and 5 cents a day for items from the children’s collection. Each library has its penalty rates posted.

Card holders typically can borrow books, compact discs, records and audiocassettes for up to four weeks. Videos and films tend to have shorter loan periods ranging from 24 to 48 hours. A 50-cent insurance fee is usually required for video and film loans, and the late penalty for such items is typically $3 per day per title.