September is library card sign-up month and the Great Falls Public Library is offering prizes, in partnership with local businesses, for those who sign up for a library card.

The prizes include water bottles, gift cards to Scheels and Cassiopeia Books, hats, bookmarks, notebooks, books, stickers, pens, pencils and more, but supplies are limited.

The Great Falls Public Library board recently approved changes to its library card types as part of a new, streamlined circulation policy.

The library previously had a large number of card types that had different rules, complicating record-keeping and the GFPL’s participation in the shared catalog system with other Montana libraries.

Sara Linder-Parkinson, the public service librarian, told the board during their Aug. 25 meeting that since the library joined the Montana State Library’s shared catalog system in 2020, libraries had developed more standardized card user types.

Library staff reviewed the GFPL card application and the cardholder categories, then reviewed peer libraries to develop a comprehensive circulation policy that includes borrower types, lending periods, fees for non-returned materials, and guidelines for borrowing materials from other libraries.

The policy is standard practice at other libraries, according to library staff.

Linder-Parkinson said the proposal was to reduce the card types down to a resident card, institution card, limited card, homebound card and non-resident card.

All cards are free, other than the non-resident card.

Institution cards are for entities such as the Belt and Cascade libraries, and teachers for their classrooms.

That type of card requires a letter from the entity stating it accepts the financial responsibility for lost books and materials.

Limited cards are for those new to town who don’t yet have a permanent address. They’re good for 45 days and nonrenewable.

Non-resident cards cost $30 and are renewable annually.

Patrons can only hold a card with one Montana library at a time, so if they get one from the GFPL, any card with another city or county library will be canceled and if a patron owes fines to that library, those must be paid first.

Brian Patrick, recently appointed GFPL board member, moved to approve, and the vote was unanimous.

The changes make resident cards the primary type, including staff, parents and homeschool families.

The probationary period is no longer required with proper identification.

The new policy includes clear language of acceptable forms of identification and overdue/hold notices with options for email and text with final bills for lost items by mail.

Library staff have developed a new library card application and will be encouraging patrons to add email addresses or text notifications to their account if they haven’t already.

GFPL items are checked out for 28 days.

Libraries in the Partners Sharing Group may have different loan times and items checked out via self-check may default to a shorter loan period, but patrons can ask a staff member to set the due date to the full 28 days.

GFPL items renew automatically up to two times, unless another user has a hold on the item.

GFPL is a fine-free library, but patrons are responsible for charges for lost or damaged items. A processing fee may also be charged. The library does not accept replacement copies of lost or damaged items.

Library card account notices can be sent by email or text:

• due date reminders are sent three days before an item is due
• first overdue reminder is sent seven days after item is due
• second overdue reminder is sent 21 days after item is due
• billing notice is sent 60 days after item is due, replacement costs added to patron’s account

Patrons with overdue materials or unpaid charges exceeding $10 cannot continue to check out items until those issues have been addressed.

Library cards may be replaced at any time for a small fee with a picture identification.

The new library card categories are:

• resident card: for residents or individuals paying property taxes in Cascade County. Individual must be present to apply for card with appropriate identification; those under 14 must have a parent/guardian present; active duty military and their dependents are eligible for resident library cards upon presentation of military identification; unlimited checkouts and access to all e-resources; renewable every three years
• institutional card: free for representatives of schools, daycares, and group homes or similar
  institutions with a letter of authorization from the establishment; appropriate identification required; unlimited checkouts and access to all e-resources; renewable annually
• limited use card: free for visitors who have recently moved to Cascade County to assist with establishing proof of residence, with appropriate identification; postcard mailed from GFPL and returned to GFPL to establish residency; two checkouts until postcard returned and access to all e-resources; non-renewable, converts to resident card with proof of residency
• homebound card: free for residents of Cascade County who are unable to physically come into the library; appropriate identification required; unlimited checkouts and access to all e-resources; renewable every three years
• non-resident card: for those living outside Cascade County; $30 annual fee; appropriate identification required; unlimited checkouts and access to all e-resources

The newly adopted policy details acceptable forms of identification:

Government identification examples:

• driver’s license: valid, unexpired licenses
• identification card: non-driver photo identification cards
• U.S. passport: valid or recently expired
• tribal identification: enhanced tribal cards or recognized tribal enrollment card
• military identification: valid, unexpired identification card

Any other form of identification will be evaluated at the time of request, according to library policy.

Proof of residence examples (may be paper or electronic):

• vehicle registration
• insurance card
• utility or phone bill
• personal check
• voter registration card
• bank statement
• postmarked mail/package
• tax statement
• rental agreement/lease/deed
• hunting or fishing license
• any other proof of residence will be evaluated at the time of request