Issuance of Library Cards
Application for a new library card may be made at any public service point of the Ann Arbor District Library. The Ann Arbor District Library issues resident and non-resident library cards to patrons regardless of age.
Persons Under 18 Years of Age
Must have application signed by parent or an adult acting ‘in loco parentis’ for the minor. A library card may be issued to anyone (babies included) regardless of age. The person who signs the library card application for a child under the age of 18 years is responsible for any outstanding fines, bills or overdue material on the child's library card.
Individual Library Cards Issued for no fee
To borrow materials from the Library without paying the non-resident fee, users will be required to prove they qualify for one of the categories listed below. Procedures for such proof are developed by Library Management and approved by the Director.
Residents
Patrons who live within the Ann Arbor District Library boundaries are eligible for a library card for no fee.
Non-Resident Property Owners or Renters
Property owners or renters (and their families) who do not reside within the Ann Arbor District Library boundaries, but who own or rent property within the Ann Arbor District Library boundaries, are eligible for a library card for no fee. Families include persons living at the same address.
Resident Business Library Cards
Employees of businesses, institutions, or organizations who work at locations within the Ann Arbor District Library boundaries are eligible for library cards for no fee. Any W-2 employee of such a business, institution, or organization may apply for a library card. Applicants will be required to prove their current employment with an eligible business, institution, or organization to receive a library card. Procedures for such proof are developed by Library Management and approved by the Director.
Non-Resident Retired Employee
A retired employee of the Ann Arbor District Library or its predecessor the Ann Arbor Public Library, as verified by the District Library's Human Resources office, is eligible for a library card for no fee. ("Retiree" includes all former W-2 employees of the Library as defined in this section who did not separate from employment with the Library prior to retirement.)
K-12 Staff and Students
Non-resident staff and students of approved schools serving students in grades K-12 located within Ann Arbor District Library boundaries are eligible for a library card for no fee. Applicants will be required to prove their enrollment status to receive a library card. Procedures for such proof, and a list of approved schools, are developed by Library Management and approved by the Director.
Washtenaw Library for the Blind and Physically Disabled @ AADL Patrons and their Families
The fee for a non-resident card will be waived for individual non-residents who qualify for services through the Washtenaw Library for the Blind and Physically Disabled @ AADL and their families. All circulation policies will apply to this non-resident card including, but not limited to, issuance of cards, collection of fines, circulation of materials, renewal of materials, and lost materials. Families include persons living at the same address.
Tutor Cards
Any non-resident tutor who brings a letter from a licensed non-profit tutoring organization may be issued a library card for no fee.
Temporary Residents
Residents who are living at hotels, shelters, or other residences within the Ann Arbor District Library boundaries and/or are waiting until new homes in the Ann Arbor District Library boundaries are ready for occupancy are eligible for a temporary library card for no fee.
Hospitalized Individuals
Individuals hospitalized in facilities within the Ann Arbor District Library boundaries are eligible for a temporary library card for no fee.
Library Cards for a fee
A person or business that does not qualify for a no fee library card under Section 3.1B of this policy is eligible for a non-resident library card. Procedures for library card application are developed by Library Management and approved by the Director. The fee for a non-resident library card is $150.00 per year for an individual card or for all cards issued to people living or employees working at the same address. Monthly payment of $12.50 is the minimum that will be accepted. Non-resident cards issued will expire at the end of the paid period. Upon request, a portion of the fee ($150.00) for an annual non-resident library card will be refunded prorated on a monthly basis for any unexpired months.
MILibraryCard
The Ann Arbor District Library does not participate in the MILibraryCard program.
Homebound Patrons
Any resident of the Ann Arbor District Library boundaries who is temporarily or permanently homebound is eligible to request Homebound Service.
Privacy of Patron Records
Michigan Library Privacy Act (MLPA)
The MLPA (MCL 397.601 et seq.) Section 3 provides: "Unless ordered by a court after giving the affected library notice of the request and an opportunity to be heard thereon, a library or an employee or agent of the library shall not release or disclose a library record or portion of a library record to any person without the written consent of the person liable for payment for or return of the materials identified in that library record."
Confidentiality of Library Record
Absent a court order, documents, records or other information retained by the Ann Arbor District Library that personally identifies a library patron, including the patron’s name, address, or telephone number, or that identifies a person as having requested or obtained specific materials from a library (“Library Record”) may only be disclosed or released by the Library to the patron or to another person with the written consent of the patron or a person designated in writing by person liable for payment for or return of the materials identified in that library record. A patron may request information about their library card record over the telephone. They must provide their borrower ID number or identifying information. Access by other individuals is allowed only with the written permission of that patron. A Library Record is not subject to disclosure under the Michigan Freedom of Information Act. Transactions cannot be transferred from one patron record to another, including fines or fees. A patron's record is not to be used to determine residency for anyone else. Materials cannot be checked out to a patron without that patron's permission; possession of another patron's library card or valid picture I.D. implies permission to use the card. Patrons may designate another person to pick up material ‘on hold’ provided the material is checked out to the requesting patron. Patrons may opt in to a checkout history service. Access to the history will be online only. Staff will not be able to retrieve or reproduce the reading histories.
Renewal of Library Card
A patron may renew their library card at any public service point of the Ann Arbor District Library. Renewal procedures are developed by Library Management and approved by the Director.
Circulation of Material
Materials are circulated to patrons of the Ann Arbor District Library who have been issued library cards. The patron's card must be current and have no delinquencies which would stop checkout of Library materials.
Reference Materials
Reference materials do not circulate to staff members or patrons without permission from a department manager or supervisor.
Stolen Items
Library materials stolen from a patron remain the responsibility of the patron. A receipt may be offered to the patron for insurance purposes.
Claims Returned
The Library allows the use of the “claims returned” function to clear disputed items from a patron’s record. The “claims returned” function absolves the patron of responsibility for the item including responsibility for the replacement cost if the item is never found.
Refunds for “Lost” or “Billed” Materials
A patron may receive a refund for payment of a “lost” or “billed” item that is returned after being designated as “lost” or “billed” by the Library. The item being returned must be in library condition, as determined by a Circulation Supervisor. The amount of the refund will be the amount paid for the item.
Renewal of Materials
Eligible Library materials checked out Downtown or at the Branch Libraries may be renewed online, or at any public service point.
Return of Materials
Library materials may be returned to any Ann Arbor District Library location.
Payment Policy
Borrowing privileges under an individual’s library card will be suspended once the amount owed on the card exceeds $25.00. Partial payments will be accepted.
Fines
Library Administration is authorized to develop operational policies to discourage the careless or malicious damage or destruction of Library materials, and to encourage the timely return of materials on loan.
Financial penalties included in this policy or any procedures developed by the Library and approved by the Library Director should not exceed the cost of replacing or repairing the damaged or overdue materials.
Neither this policy nor any procedures developed by the Library to implement it should be construed as abrogation of the right to prefer legal charges against individuals perpetuating acts of vandalism or theft.
MATERIALS DAILY FINE MAXIMUM FINE
Tools-Reserved Up to $50.00 Cost of Item
Collection of Fines, Fees, Replacement Charges
Patron accounts will be sent to a commercial collection agency designated by the Ann Arbor District Library for collection when there is an unpaid balance of $25.00 or more of fines, fees, and/or replacement charges. A non-refundable $10.00 fee will be applied to accounts referred to a collection agency.
Policy adopted by the Ann Arbor District Library Board December 12, 1995.
Revisions adopted September 15, 1997, March 16, 1998, March 13, 2000, January 9, 2001, October 8, 2001, June 20, 2005, June 19, January 26, 2009, February 17, 2014, November 13, 2017, May 23, 2022, and October 23, 2023