Circulation Policy

The Canton Public Library values the pursuit of individual and community goals by ensuring the open exchange of diverse materials and ideas. In support of our values and our mission, “Canton Public Library connects your community,” the library offers materials for loan, interlibrary loan services, and access to the library's digital or electronic resources to all Canton residents, Canton property owners, students of the Plymouth-Canton School District and other schools located in Canton Township, and persons who work at a business located in Canton. Residents of neighboring communities whose libraries share their collections are welcome to share in our physical materials.

CPL is part of a southeast Michigan-based library cooperative known as The Library Network (TLN). Membership in this cooperative allows us to offer residents the advantage of borrowing from more than 60 public libraries within Wayne, Washtenaw, St. Clair, and Oakland counties. Reciprocal borrowing between member libraries is encouraged. Patrons living within the legal service area of a reciprocating TLN member library that meets Library of Michigan certification requirements, and who have a valid library card from their home library, may borrow from CPL. Reciprocity is subject to any rules, regulations or policies imposed by CPL or TLN.

Deviation from this policy by library staff is permitted with approval from the library director or their designee.

1. LIBRARY CARDS
To borrow materials from CPL, patrons must have a valid library card. Library card applications are available at the Check Out Desk within the library and online at www.cantonpl.org.

  1. To obtain a library card to check out physical materials, users must provide proof of residence, as outlined below. Only one card will be issued per patron. A charge may be assessed for reissuance of a lost card.
  2. Only one card will be issued per patron. A charge may be assessed for reissuance of a lost card.
  3. Check Out Desk staff will issue a card to Canton residents and others eligible for a CPL card. Residents of other TLN communities must obtain a card from their home library.
  4. To be issued a card, Canton residents who are minors (under 18) must complete a card application, which must be signed by a parent or guardian who agrees to be liable for payment or return of the materials identified in the minor’s library record, including the responsibility for any late, damaged, or billed materials. Library employees will not assume the responsibility of restricting borrowing due to ratings or content of materials. To assume responsibility for items checked out on their cards, and to update authorized access information, minors are encouraged to renew their cards on their 18th birthday.
  5. Resident and TLN-associated accounts expire every three years on the patron’s birthday. Other cards, as described below, expire one year from the date of issue. Remote renewals may be provided over the phone at the discretion of the Library. For a full renewal, patrons must provide proof of residency as required for the original issuance of a card.
  6. CPL does not participate in the MILibrary Card statewide program.

2. TYPES OF CARDS AND ELIGIBILITY

  1. Standard: Canton resident or property owner with proof of residency or ownership. Family members at the property owner’s residence may also receive a standard card. Standard cardholders are entitled to all library services provided by CPL.
  2. Non-Standard, valid only at CPL: Non-Standard cardholders shall have unrestricted use of the Library's facilities and programs and have the same circulation privileges as standard cardholders. Non-standard cards are issued in the following manner:
    1. Employed in Canton: Present a photo ID, proof of address, and a current check stub or security badge imprinted with the name of the Canton business. Electronic proof of employment provided on an e-device is also acceptable. Only the employee will be entitled to a Canton Public Library card.
    2. Go to School in Canton: Present a current student ID, report card or other paperwork verifying the patron is currently a student at a school that is either located within the boundaries of Canton Township or is within the Plymouth-Canton School District. Electronic proof of enrollment is also acceptable. Only the student will be entitled to a Canton Public Library card.
    3. An Exchange Student, live-in nanny or person living under the guardianship of a Canton resident family: Present a CPL card application, completed and signed by an adult member of the host family, the employer of the nanny, or the guardian, and applicant.
    4. For individuals posted in Canton Township by their employer (including the military) either as a place of employment or for work housing: Present a photo ID, and formal documentation (for example, on letterhead) from the employer that includes the assignment to Canton and the length of assignment. Length of assignment must be 6 months or longer to be entitled to a card.
  3. Purchased Card: Non-residents wishing to purchase a Canton Public Library card to be afforded all the rights and privileges available to residents, may do so at the cost of $200.00 per year, per address, payable on the date of issue. Non-resident cardholders shall have unrestricted use of the Library's facilities and programs and have the same circulation privileges as standard cardholders. Each family member living at the same address will be eligible for a card.
  4. Members of qualifying TLN libraries: A valid library card from the patron’s home library, photo ID, and proof of address. TLN cardholders shall have unrestricted use of the Library's facilities and programs, and access to physical materials except for materials deemed to be part of a specialty collection. Further, TLN cardholders shall not have access to the Library's digital or electronic resources or services that are restricted by contract to Canton Residents only. Additionally, non-Canton cardholders shall not have any interlibrary loan privileges.

3. ACCEPTABLE FORMS OF IDENTIFICATION

  1. Government-issued photo ID such as a current driver’s license, Michigan State ID card or passport, or other official badge or card with name and photo.
  2. Alternate examples of proof of residency include: state issued ID with current address, a copy of lease agreement, property tax receipt, official mail mailed to Canton address within the last 90 days, voter’s registration card, personal check imprinted with current address.

4. PATRON RESPONSIBILITY

  1. Patrons are responsible for all items checked out on their card.
  2. Patrons will supply CPL with correct current contact information upon receipt of a card, and agree to inform the library of any updates to home address, phone number, or email as soon as possible.
  3. Patrons must report a lost or stolen card immediately and are held responsible for all materials checked out on their card until the library is contacted. The library will provide to patrons a list of items checked out for insurance or police reports.
  4. Patrons agree to return borrowed items by the due date.

5. BORROWING

  1. Library materials are available for check out with the exception of materials designated as non-circulating.
  2. Materials circulate according to a predetermined borrowing schedule.
  3. Patrons will receive information regarding due dates of materials at the time of check out.
  4. CPL loan policies are available to patrons online and at the Check Out Desk.
  5. Library materials can be put on hold for a limited period of days and must be checked out on the account of the patron making the request.
    1. Patrons with a CPL or Plymouth District Library card may request a hold on most circulating materials online, by telephone or in person.
    2. Other TLN cardholders can request a hold on items currently available on the shelf by telephone or in person. Items will be put on the hold shelf at the time of request.

6. RENEWING MATERIALS

  1. Most materials may be renewed after the original checkout unless they are on hold for another patron.
  2. Materials deemed to be a part of a special collection may not be renewed.

7. INTERLIBRARY LOAN

  1. CPL offers, to Canton cardholders only, the ability to borrow items not available in its collection through interlibrary loan service. Interlibrary Loan (ILL) is a cooperative agreement between libraries to lend and borrow materials from their collections.
  2. Processing and postage fees may be charged to the patron’s record.
  3. Patrons will be notified by CPL when requested materials are ready for pickup.
  4. All items must be returned to the Canton Public Library with ILL bands/labels and any due date cards intact to guarantee proper check in and return to the lending library.
  5. Replacement charges and fees for interloan materials are levied identically to those charged for CPL materials, as outlined below.
  6. Patrons who have been billed for interloan materials must pay for the items in full before borrowing privileges are restored. Billed interloan materials are not eligible for refund.

8. REPLACEMENT CHARGES AND FEES

  1. Patrons who keep materials for more than twenty-one days past the due date will be billed for replacement of the materials. Processing and billing fees will be added to the cost of the billed material. Patrons may request a refund for a billed item up to three months after the date of payment, if the item is returned in shelf-ready condition. CPL will not refund any collection agency fees.
  2. CPL expects materials to be returned in the same condition as borrowed.
    1. At the library’s discretion, a replacement charge (including the actual cost to replace the item and a processing and billing fee) may be added to the record of a patron who returns materials deemed by the library not to be shelf-worthy*.
    2. At the library’s discretion, a charge, according to a preset fee schedule, may be added to a patron’s account for replacement of obviously damaged audio visual or protective cases.
    3. Library borrowing privileges may be suspended on a patron’s record until all fees associated with a damaged item are settled.
  3. Once the replacement fee is paid, the damaged material becomes the property of the patron. Due to space constraints and hygienic issues, the library will keep billed, damaged materials for three months from the date the charge is added to the patron record. The library reserves the right to immediately dispose of any materials in a condition deemed to be a risk of any type.
  4. Patrons who accrue more than the maximum account balance listed in the borrowing schedule, and not paid within the prescribed period of time, may be sent to a collection agency. Patrons are responsible for all fees assessed due to collection agency submission.

*Highlighting, tears, soiling, damage by liquids, insect damage, or any other obvious damage as determined by library staff.

9. PRIVACY ACT

In compliance with the Michigan Library Privacy Act 455 of 1982, Canton Public Library does not identify the titles of materials borrowed or on hold by a cardholder to anyone other than the cardholder or person given written authorization by the cardholder.

  1. All records are kept confidential and only shared with the cardholder and those individuals to whom the cardholder has given written authorization and/or as a result of appropriate legal orders.
  2. To allow others to have admittance to an account, cardholders must specify, in person, and in writing, names of those allowed authorized access, to be added to their records.
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