Austin Public Library Circulation Policies
Star Cards | Youth Star Cards | Nonresident Library Cards | Temporary Residence Library Cards | Group Cards | Check-out Limits | Loan Periods | Reserves, Requests and Teleholds | Renewals | Overdue Charges |
Method of Payment |
Lost or Damaged Materials | Delinquent Accounts | Interlibrary Loan Service | Gold Card | Spanish
Star Cards
A customer must have a valid Austin Public Library Card in order to check out materials. Library materials may not be checked out while there are outstanding items or charges on a borrower's record. The initial Star Card for City of Austin residents is free of charge. A $5 fee is charged to replace any Austin Public Library Card.
A Star Card may be obtained by presenting a completed application form at the Faulk Central Library or any branch. In addition, a valid photo ID and proof of current residence address will be requested. Acceptable IDs include a driver's license, Texas Department of Public Safety ID, U.S. passport, Non U.S. driver's license, International Passport, Credencial para votar en Mexico, Resident Alien Registration Card, and military, school or employee photo ID or non-U.S. passport with a Social Security Card (if available).
Initial Star Cards are issued at the time of successful application. Two items may be checked out upon successful registration for a Library Card. Additional items may be borrowed once the Star Card has been entered online within 48 hours.
Adult resident cards are good for one year. To apply for a new card or to renew an expired existing card, proof of current address must be provided.
Customers may also obtain a Personal Identification Number (PIN) at the time of registration or by presenting a valid Austin Public Library and current photo ID at any Austin Public Library circulation desk. If a customer has less than $10.01 total in Library fines or estimated fines on unreturned overdue items, customers may renew or request library materials online over the Internet at http://www.cityofaustin.org/library/. Estimated charges are the charges a customer can expect to pay if unreturned overdue items will be returned today.
The cardholder is responsible for all materials checked out on her or his card and for all charges incurred by the use of the card. To minimize liability, lost or stolen cards should be reported immediately at any Library location, or by calling (512) 974-7475, Monday-Thursday, 10 a.m.-8:55 p.m.; Friday-Saturday, 10 a.m.-5:55 p.m.
Youth Star Cards
Initial Youth Star Cards are available free of charge to children under 17 years old, regardless of residency. Children applying for Star Cards should be accompanied by a parent or guardian with acceptable identification, or a parent or guardian with acceptable identification may apply for a Star Card on behalf of a child by presenting the child's Social Security Card. An adult signature is required for a Youth Star Card.
Youth cards are good for one year, or until the borrower's 17th birthday, whichever occurs sooner. To apply for a new card or to renew an expired existing card, proof of current address must be provided.
Nonresident Library Cards
Nonresident Star Cards are issued to adult out-of-city residents for an annual fee of $60 or a quarterly fee of $20, valid for one year or for three months from the date of purchase, respectively. A $5 fee is charged to replace any Austin Public Library Card.
Customers of Austin Energy are eligible for a discounted nonresident fee of $30 per year. Senior citizens 65 and over are eligible for a discounted nonresident fee of $27 per year. Austin Community College students and faculty presenting current ACC ID or paid fee receipt may register for a free Austin Public Library nonresident Star Card good for the current semester, courtesy of ACC.
Nonresidents presenting a valid TexShare card from another library system are eligible to register for a free Austin Public Library nonresident Star Card good until the expiration date on their TexShare card. Please see the Texas State Library "TexShare" brochure available at any Austin Public Library location, or visit the TSL Web site (http://www.texshare.edu) for information on participating libraries and how to obtain a TexShare card. Austin Public Library cardholders, who have had their Austin Public Library Card for at least 2 months, and are in good standing are also eligible to apply for a TexShare card to borrow materials at other participating library systems.
Gift certificates for nonresident cards may be purchased at the Faulk Central Library or any branch.
Temporary Residence Library Cards
Adult customers residing at a temporary residence within the City limits of Austin are eligible for a free Library Card. The customer must present a valid photo ID and proof of existing occupancy at the address for at least 30 days.
Adult temporary residence library cards are good for 1 year. To apply for a new card or to renew an expired existing card, proof of existing occupancy at the temporary residence address for at least 30 days must be provided.
Examples of a temporary residence may include hotels, motels, shelters, rehabilitation centers, etc.
Group Cards
The Austin Public Library offers special Group Library Cards for use by educational and service groups, such as public, home and private schools, hospitals, day care centers, group homes, or nursing homes. Benefits include a 6-week loan period for books, LPs, audiocassettes, CD-ROMs and CDs (except for Interlibrary Loan items which have a 3-week loan period), and separate tracking of items if the responsible individual wishes to have a personal card as well. Note: No items may be renewed on Group Card or transferred to any other card. Group cards are good for one year. To apply for a new Group card or renew an expired existing Group card, proof of employment or affiliation of the institute is required.
For additional information and requirements, please ask at any Library location or call (512) 974-7475, Monday-Thursday, 10 a.m.-8:55 p.m.; Friday-Saturday, 10 a.m.-5:55 p.m.
Check-out Limits
With the exception of Temporary residence Star Cards, there is no limit on the number of books that may be checked out on a valid Library Card once it has been entered online within 48 hours. Videocassettes and DVDs each have a limit of 5 items per Library card. CD-Roms, CDs, audiocassettes and recordings each have a limit of 20 items per Library card. Additional location-specific limits may be set at times due to demand for particular materials.
Loan Periods
7 days
| videocassettes and DVDs |
| 3 weeks | audiocassettes, books, compact discs, CD-ROMs, recordings, vertical file materials |
Library materials may be returned to any Library location.
Reserves, Requests, and Teleholds
Any circulating item may be requested and held for a customer through "Telehold" procedures, the manual Reserves system, or online over the Internet. "Telehold" service is obtained by calling any Austin Public Library location to request a shelf search for a particular item. If the item is located on the shelf, it can be held at that location or forwarded to another location to be held for the customer, at no charge. Alternately, a reserve card may be submitted for any item at any Austin Public Library location, and the Library will attempt to locate a copy to hold at the location of choice for the requester at no charge. Customers may also place their own requests for titles online via the Library's Web Catalog at no cost if their account has less than $10.01 total in library fines or estimated fines on unreturned items on their account. Estimated charges are the charges a customer can expect to pay if unreturned overdue items will be returned today. This requires a PIN (see Star Cards section above). There is a 10 item reserve limit on a valid Austin Public Library card at one time.
Renewals
Austin Public Library materials may be renewed once, except for items on reserve/request, items on which fines are owed, and items checked out on Group Cards. Materials may not be renewed over the telephone. Items may be renewed, however, via the Library's Web Catalog if there are no overdue items or outstanding charges of more than $10 on their account. A PIN is required for this service (see Star Cards section above).
Overdue Charges
The fine for any adult book, audiocassette, compact disc, CD-ROM, recording, map, or pamphlet is 25¢ per item per day. (The maximum fine charge is $18.25 per item for an adult book, audiocassette, compact disc, CD-ROM, or recording.)
The fine for any adult videocassette/DVD is $1 per day with a maximum charge of $10.
The fine for any juvenile book, audiocassette, compact disc, CD-ROM, or recording is 5¢ per item per day. (The maximum fine charge is $10 per item for a juvenile book, audiocassette, compact disc, CD-ROM, or recording, or all maps or pamphlets.)
The fine for any juvenile videocassette/DVD is $1 per day with a maximum charge of $5.
No Library materials are due on dates the Library is closed for holidays, but overdue fines do accrue during holiday periods and days the Library may be closed.
Method of Payment
- Acceptable Payments (in person at any Library location or mailed to:
Library Customer Service Office
P.O. Box 2287
Austin, TX 78768-2287)
- Cash
- Personal Checks (for the exact amount)
- Money Orders
- Traveler’s Checks
- Credit Card payments over the phone at (512) 974-7475
- Credit Cards are accepted at the following locations:
Lost or Damaged Materials
Charges for lost or irreparably damaged items include the cost of replacing the item plus a $10.25 non-refundable service charge per item.
Delinquent Accounts
The Austin Public Library has contracted with a collection agency to assist in recovering non-returned library material and unpaid fines. Unreturned materials and/or unpaid fines 56 days or more past due will be submitted to Unique Management Service and a service charge of $10.00 will be added to the balance. Unique Management will forward seriously overdue accounts to national credit reporting agencies.
Interlibrary Loan Service
Many books not available in the Austin Public Library may be obtained through Interlibrary Loan. For additional information, please ask at any Library location.
Gold Card
A gold Austin Public Library Card is available for a donation of $25 or more to the Austin Public Library. Application may be made at the Faulk Central Library or any branch library. Gold Card donations are used to purchase additional books for the Library System. Donations are tax deductible and may be renewed on an annual basis. Gift certificates for Gold Cards may be purchased at the Faulk Central Library or any branch.
Information provided on this Web page is subject to change through action of the Austin City Council or the Austin Public Library.
For problems regarding your library card,
please send email to circ.link@ci.austin.tx.us.
ALIS CS 10/2006 |
