Evanston Residents
Evanston Public Library cards are free of charge to all Evanston residents living in zip codes 60201, 60202 and 60208. To verify residence, current government-issued photo identification with the resident’s home address must be provided. A current school issued ID from an educational institution located in Evanston may be provided in place of government issued identification when necessary.
If the address on the identification is not current, one of the following items must also be shown to verify residence: current property tax bill; a current utility bill; a current title/lease/renter’s agreement; current account statement from bank/credit card/phone/etc; or mail postmarked within the last 30 days to the resident’s home address. An account statement or bill must be not more than sixty days old.
At the time of registration for a library card, the applicant will provide the following information: legal name, street address (PO Boxes are not acceptable), and signature. Applicants may choose to include date of birth, as well as demographic information related to race/ethnicity and language spoken at home. Additionally, to receive some notifications, a telephone number, email address, and wireless carrier information may need to be provided.
Children under the age of 14 must be accompanied by a parent or legal guardian, who must present photo identification as described above.
Library cards issued to Evanston residents will not expire so long as the patron maintains residency in Evanston. Patrons may need to provide current photo identification as listed above when moving residences if the Library is unable to verify their Evanston residency.
Residents of Temporary Housing in Evanston
Clients of temporary housing in Evanston must present valid picture identification as listed in 7.1.1 and a letter from the local organization indicating they are a client. These cards will be valid for three years.
University and College Students
College and university students who do not have a permanent residence in Evanston must provide both their temporary Evanston residency and permanent residency when not at school. These cards will be valid for one year.
Library Card Terms
Each library cardholder must safeguard their own library card. Lost or stolen cards must be reported immediately to the Library to prevent unauthorized use. A patron may grant permission to other individuals who may use their library card for checking out materials or managing activity of the account. Cardholders are responsible for all materials checked out on their library cards.
Types of Library Cards & Accounts
City of Evanston Employee Cards
An Evanston library card may be issued to each non-resident employee of the City of Evanston. This card will become void when the employee no longer works for the City of Evanston. This card is only valid at Evanston Public Library Branches.
Non-Resident Taxpayers
Library cards are available without charge to people who pay Evanston property taxes, but do not live within the City limits including; an individual or as a partner, principal stockholder, or other joint owner owns taxable property or is a senior administrative officer of a firm, business, or other corporation owning taxable property in Evanston. Only one card will be issued for each parcel of property. Applicants should present their current tax bill and acceptable identification as described above. Such cards are valid for one year and may only be used at the Evanston Public Library.
Business Borrowing Privileges
Library borrowing privileges may be extended to businesses located in Evanston. The applicant must be the sole owner, a partner, principal stock holder, joint owner, or senior administrative officer of a firm, business, or corporation located in Evanston. The applicant must present a letter on the organization’s letterhead indicating that the organization will take responsibility for all materials borrowed and indicating who in the firm is authorized to borrow materials. Such cards are valid for one year and may only be used at the Evanston Public Library.
Organizational Borrowing Privileges
Not-for-profit organizations and units of local government located in Evanston may obtain library-borrowing privileges by presenting a letter on organizational letterhead indicating that the organization will take responsibility for all materials borrowed and indicating who in the organization is authorized to borrow materials. Such cards are valid for one year and may only be used at the Evanston Public Library.
School Borrowing Privileges
Library borrowing privileges may be extended to District 65 schools, Evanston Township High School and other schools located in Evanston. To receive a school card, the school principal shall complete an application form, attach a list of teachers and/or staff eligible to use the card and return the form to the Library. These cards are only valid for use at the Evanston Public Library. The school card will expire at the end of the school year.
Non-Resident ”Fee” Cards
Non-residents may purchase a library card for use at the Evanston Public Library if such non-residents are eligible for an Evanston Public Library card under the current State of Illinois rules and regulations governing the issuing of such cards. The minimum fee for such a card is determined by a formula prepared by the Illinois State Library. The Library Director calculates said fee annually and reports it to the Library Board at the April meeting. When necessary the Library Board will adjust the non-resident fee to equal or exceed the fee determined by the Illinois State Library formula.
The applicant for a non-resident card must meet the same identification requirements as a resident of Evanston. Such cards may only be valid for one year and may only be used at the Evanston Public Library.
Registration of Reciprocal Borrowers
The Evanston Public Library will register for use any currently valid library card from a Reaching Across Illinois Library System (RAILS) library or from any library having reciprocal borrowing agreements with RAILS or with the Evanston Public Library. In addition to presenting a currently valid library card, the applicant must also present valid photo identification.
Account Suspensions, Denials and Appeals
Library Card Account Suspension
The Evanston Public Library reserves the right to suspend the Library card account for violation of library rules or in other instances determined by the Library’s Administration.
Appeals
Anyone who believes that they have been unfairly suspended or denied a library card and is not satisfied by the decision made by the Library Director or designee, may appeal to the Library Board. Notice of an appeal should be made in writing to the Library Director, who will inform the appellant of the date of the meeting at which the appeal will be heard.
Fees and Issues with Library Materials
Borrowers with Overdue Items or Bills
The Library notifies patrons by email or phone call prior to an item’s due date and notifies patrons by email or phone call when items are overdue. These notices are sent as a courtesy to patrons and bills or fees accrued are due to the Library whether or not the patron sees or receives any notice. It is each patron’s responsibility to return items before or when due.
Bills or Fees may be waived by the Access Services Manager or designee when, in their judgment, there are mitigating circumstances. It is the goal of the Library to assist patrons in maintaining valid accounts so cardholders have access to all services.
Patrons are not permitted to check out physical library materials or renew their library account when they have long-overdue materials, owe bills or fees that total $30.00 or more. Library materials are considered lost when they are 45 days overdue. Patrons are expected to pay for the replacement of lost materials. An additional processing fee is also charged for lost materials. Refunds are made if lost materials are returned in good condition to the Library within 30 days after items are billed. The processing fee is not refundable.
The Library makes use of a collection service to obtain the return of or payment for billed library materials. Accounts will be sent to collections if the total amount billed is over $100 and an additional $10 collection service fee will be applied.
When informed that a patron has overdue books or owes fines at another library, the Evanston Public Library may deny borrowing privileges until those materials are returned or the debt is paid.
Borrowers with Damaged or Missing Materials
There is no charge for normal wear and tear on any item. If an item is damaged by a patron so that further circulation is impossible, the patron is charged the full replacement price of the item plus a processing fee. The Access Services Manager or their designee determines the charge for damage that can be repaired. Patrons may replace lost or damaged books owned by the Evanston Public Library with a new book that is an exact ISBN match. Replacement items must be new and not used or marked. Otherwise patrons are to pay the specified replacement fee. In either case, a processing fee is assessed.
The Evanston Public Library does not accept replacements for non-print material.
Damage to material is assumed to be accidental unless there is reason to suspect otherwise. Patrons found defacing or destroying library materials are required to pay for the items plus a processing fee. Suspension of Library privileges and legal action may be taken if the damage is extensive.
Confidentiality
It is the policy of the Board of Trustees of the Evanston Public Library to ensure the privacy of the users of its services and considers any patron-identifiable library records to be confidential in nature. Patron-identifiable library records are collected only when they are necessary for the fulfillment of the Library’s mission or for the purpose of protecting public property and are not to be used directly or indirectly to identify the types of materials used by individual library patrons. Patron-identifiable library records include any information that links a patron to use of particular library materials, resources, or services, or that identify a patron’s choices, tastes, or research interests. Such records include, but are not limited to, all types of registration and circulation records, inter-library loan requests and records, patron requests to reserve, or obtain certain materials, staff notes pertaining to patron requests for assistance, and all correspondence with patrons having to do with use of library resources including email and social media. Even records that do not include a patron’s name, but refer to some other identifiable characteristic, such as the patron’s library card number, address, date of birth, race/ethnicity, language spoken at home, or phone number are considered patron-identifiable library records. In addition to physically extant records, patron-identifiable library records include computers, computer components, and other electronic storage media containing such records.
Patron-identifiable information does not include statistical records relating to use of the Library or its materials and services that cannot be used to identify particular patrons or information concerning behavioral issues in the Library’s records concerning particular patrons.
No identifiable library records shall be made available to members of the public, the press, or any agency of state, federal, or local government, except pursuant to such process, order, or subpoena as may be authorized by a court under the authority of and pursuant to federal, state or local law relating to civil, criminal, or administrative discovery procedures or legislative investigatory power. Any costs incurred by the Library in any search through patron records, even under court order, shall be chargeable to the agency demanding such search. Only the Library Executive Director and designee are authorized to accept and respond to such court orders. If the order requires immediate compliance, the designated librarian-in-charge, may respond to such an order, but should first attempt to notify the Library Executive Director or designee. Whenever possible the Library’s staff should seek to have the court order reviewed by the City Attorney or his/her designee before complying.
Patron-identifiable information may be disclosed without a court order only in the following circumstances:
- A patron may have access to any patron-identifiable records the Library holds about them, if the patron presents their library card or valid photo identification. Telephone callers who provide their library card number will be treated the same as in-person visitors.
- If the patron is a minor, the minor’s parent or legal guardian may have access to the circulation records of that child if the parent or guardian is in possession of the child’s library card and is able to provide appropriate identification for themselves.
- When contacting a patron, patron-identifiable information (such as the title or subject of a requested item available to be picked up) may not be left on an answering machine, voice mail, or email to the patron, unless the patron specifically requests this form of identification at the time of the request. The Library cannot be responsible for maintaining confidentiality in the notification process if these methods are selected by the patron.
- The Federal Protection of Children from Sexual Predators Act requires the Library to report possible violations of child pornography laws to the Cyber Tip Line at the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (www.cybertipline.com). Reports received by the Cyber Tip Line are forwarded to the appropriate law enforcement agencies. Such disclosures should be made only by the Library Director or designee, and whenever possible they will consult with the City Attorney before making such a disclosure. The Library is protected from liability for good faith disclosure to the Cyber Tip Line.
