Borrowing Policies

Up to 99 items, including a maximum of 10 DVDs, can be checked out to an account at any given time. A maximum of 25 holds (requests for specific items) can be placed on an account.
 

Renewals

Except for special items, materials may be renewed twice for more time. Materials are automatically renewed for another loan period two days before the due date, unless they have already been renewed twice or there are holds placed by other patrons. You may also renew items from your account online or by contacting the library. Please let staff know if you need materials beyond the normal parameters. 
 

Late & Unreturned Items

Exeter Public Library has eliminated overdue fines for all materials. Please note, however, that materials from other libraries may still carry overdue fines, and materials that are overdue for more than six weeks are considered lost and billed to the patron. We encourage patrons to continue to return all materials in a timely manner so that others may have access to them.

Deleted Unreturned Items

After a certain period of time (usually a couple of years), unreturned items are deleted from the catalog. Unreturned items lose all of their value during the period that they are unreturned, and a title may no longer be useful or relevant. The library will not accept deleted unreturned items or waive the replacement fee for them.

Refunds for Lost & Paid Items

The library will issue a refund for lost & paid items if the item is returned within one month of the pay date. Once paid for, lost items are the property of the patron. Patrons may choose to return the item so that it is available to others in the community, but a refund will not be issued more than one month after the pay date.

Claim Returns

Occasionally it happens that an item is returned but fails to be checked in and remains on the patron's account. The library will search for any such item upon request. If not found, the item will be reported as a "claim return," which absolves the borrower of responsibility for the item. Patrons may have up to two claim returns on their account at any given time.
 

Damaged Materials

We strive to circulate only materials in seemly and serviceable condition. Beyond normal wear and tear, as well as minor issues that can be noted or repaired, materials damaged by patrons are withdrawn from circulation and their replacement cost billed to the patron. Bills are sent by email. A paper bill is sent only if the patron does not have an email address on file.
 

Interlibrary Loan Policy

Exeter Public Library is a member of the Ocean State Libraries (OSL) consortium, which means a library card issued from any OSL library will allow a library user to borrow materials from any OSL member library, free of charge. In compliance with state law, Exeter Public Library extends full access and borrowing privileges without charge to all Rhode Island residents. Rhode Island library users are also able to borrow materials from non-OSL libraries in and outside of Rhode Island, using the Interlibrary Loan (ILL) service. ILL is governed by the Library of Rhode Island (LORI) standards.

Users may request materials through ILL by contacting a staff member. There is no guarantee that the materials requested will be available from another institution. There is no charge for placing an ILL request, but the patron is required to pay any charges the loaning library may require (notice will be given of these charges prior to requesting the item) and is subject to normal fines and fees for overdue and lost materials.

Exeter Public Library participates in complete resource sharing to both consortium members and non-consortium libraries of all circulating materials, with the exception of those materials classified as equipment and those materials classified as special loan.
 

Approved by the Exeter Public Library Board of Trustees 4/21/2022