New loan policies increase access to materials

Heights Libraries is making it easier for customers to access print and audio-visual materials with some recent updates to its loan policies.

• Customers are now able to check out up to 100 items per card; the previous limit was 75.
• Magazines and Playaway Views (small portable video players) can now be checked out for three weeks instead of one week.
• Blu-Rays can now be renewed up to two times; renewals were previously not permitted.
• All “3 for Me” card customers (kids and teens ages 18 and under) can now check out adult print materials. This card used to limit cardholders to checking out juvenile materials.

“These policies are right in line with our ongoing mission to make it easier and more convenient for customers of all ages to access free materials and information,” says Heights Libraries Director Nancy Levin. “In particular, our decision to allow ‘3 for Me’ card holders to check out a wider variety of materials–we used to restrict these juvenile cards to juvenile materials, but then realized children, especially teens, may need access to adult items for schoolwork, especially nonfiction items.”

3 for Me cards are designed for minors who, for whatever reason, are unable to get a parent’s or guardian’s signature for a regular library card application. The card allows them access to three books at a time.

These new loan policies take effective immediately.