PAHRUMP COMMUNITY LIBRARY CIRCULATION POLICY

A. Application, Registration, & Requirements for a Pahrump Community Library Card.

All borrowers must be registered and must have a valid local or system patron card to borrow library materials.

Patrons must fill out an application form to register for a new library card. Picture identification and proof of current address are required. Applicants 15 years and younger must have a parent or guardian give their consent on the application form before a new card can be issued. This parental signature is not required for children who are renewing cards. By establishing an account, the parent/legal guardian accepts financial responsibility for the materials borrowed by his or her minor child and acknowledges that it is his or her responsibility to guide the selection of materials borrowed by their minor child.  

 Patrons agree to be responsible for all items borrowed with the library card issued in the their name, including items borrowed with it by others with or without their consent unless they have previously reported the loss of their card. They further agree to comply with all library rules and policies, both present and future, and to give prompt notice of change of address or loss of library card.   

Your library card will expire every two years and may be renewed as long as all outstanding fines and fees are paid in full, and you provide valid photo identification and verify your current address.

B.  Application process for Out-of-State Cards

If you do not have a current Pahrump address, you may apply for an out-of-state library card. You must provide photo identification and your current out-of-state address. The guest card will expire 1 year from the day the card is issued. There is a $25 fee for this card, $15 of which is refundable at expiration, upon request. A new out-of-state card is required each year.

C. Lost or stolen cards

You must immediately report a lost or stolen library card to the Library District. You will be held responsible for materials borrowed on your card until the Library District is notified. Once the Library District is notified, the library card will be blocked to prevent subsequent circulation of materials on it. You must show photo identification to request a replacement library card, for which a fee will be charged ($1.00).  All charges or loans attached to the lost library card will be transferred to the new card.

D. Responsibilities of Patrons

When borrowing materials you must have a valid library card. You are responsible for the return of all materials borrowed on your card and will be held financially responsible for any fines or fees associated with items on your account. You must notify the Library immediately if your library card is stolen or lost. A parent/legal guardian is responsible for the fines or fees associated with his or her minor child’s library card. A parent/legal guardian is responsible for guiding his or her minor child’s selection of library materials. The Library District is not responsible for damage to your personal property due to the use of library materials.

E. Loan periods and Borrowing Guidelines

  1. Books maybe checked out for two (2) weeks, and may be renewed once, by phone, online, or in person, unless the item is on reserve.

  2. Reference books and current issues of periodicals do not circulate.

  3. Interlibrary loans are due the date determined by Pahrump Community Library.

  4. DVD'S & Blu-ray can be checked out for a period of one (1) week, limit three (3) per adult card. 

  5. Audio CDs and CD-ROMs may be checked out for a period of two (2) weeks.

The director may establish the loan period for special collections, materials that are temporarily in great demand, such as for student projects, or materials added to the collection, which are in a new format, e.g., computer software.

There is a limit of 10 items a patron can borrow at one time.

F. Reserves /Holds

Patrons, either in person, online, or by phone, may place holds. Library staff will notify patrons when the materials are available, and those materials will be held for one week.

G. Renewals

Materials may be renewed provided there are no outstanding request and you have a valid library card in good standing. Renewals are limited to 2 times per item. Some materials (i.e. DVDs) may not renew, or may have more limited renewal privileges.

H. Fines and charges

The overdue fine amount for most items is 15 cents per item each day the Library is open. Please refer to the Fines and Fees Schedule for more information.  

I. Damaged materials

If materials are damaged so as to be judged by the library as being unsuitable for the collection, the patron must pay the replacement cost. A notice of these charges will be sent to the borrower.

J. Denial of Service

Service may be denied a Pahrump Community Library user who does not return overdue materials, does not pay outstanding fines, removes materials illegally, or repeatedly abuses Library Policies.

Items may not be borrowed if any of the following circumstances apply:

  • The borrowing limit of items has been reached.

  • Bills or overdue fines are $4 or more.

  • An item is more than 30 days overdue

  • Your library card has expired. Library cards may be renewed if all fines and fees are paid and your account information is verified.

Anyone can walk into any Library facility and read the newspaper and magazines, browse through the stacks, use the reference materials and computerized products, attend a program, and find answers to questions from the reference librarians.  But, if you want to check out books or other items or use the interlibrary loan service, you must have a Library Card.

K.  Interlibrary Loan (ILL)

Interlibrary loan service is provided to Library District residents to acquire materials not available in local libraries. To place a request, you must have a library card in good standing with no overdue items and less than $4 in fines.  You may have up to three active ILL requests at any given time. Loaning libraries may establish loan periods that differ from Pahrump Community Library. You must agree to abide by the loan restrictions of the Pahrump Community Library.

L. Confidentiality

As specified in Nevada Revised Statues 239.083, “Confidentiality of records of library which identify user with property used.  Any records of a public library or other library which contain the identity of user and the books, documents, film, recordings or other property of the library, which he used, are confidential and not public books or records within the meaning of NRS 239.010.  Such records may be disclosed only in response to an order issued by a court upon a finding that the disclosure of such records is necessary to protect the public safety or to prosecute a crime.”

The Pahrump Community Library adheres strictly to all sections of this Statute regarding the protection of the confidentiality of its users.

Adopted by the Pahrump Community Library Board of Trustees 1-12-15, revised 2/8/21