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Borrowing Policies

Library Cards, Internet Guest Passes and Borrowing Policies 

Adults and children of any age are welcome to use the Library’s collections and services or participate in programs, provided they follow the Library’s Code of Conduct

Borrowing Library materials to take home, remote access to research databases, downloading digital materials and use of computer workstations and laptops all require presentation of a Library Card. Our policies set specific guidelines for getting a Library Card or Internet Guest Pass and for borrowing or using Library materials and equipment. The topics below explain these policies. 

Library Cards 

WHO MAY HAVE A LIBRARY CARD 

Newburgh Free Library Cards are issued to individuals who: 

  1. Live or own property in the Newburgh Enlarged City School District 
    OR 
  2. Work or go to school in the district and do not live in another Library area within the Ramapo Catskill Library System (RCLS). 

If you are not eligible, see Non-Newburgh Residents. 

Applying for a New or Replacement Card. You may apply in person or online.  

IDENTIFICATION 

Patrons 18 and older need a photo ID and proof of their current physical address (e.g., a bill, pay stub, mail from a government agency, apartment lease, rent receipt, car insurance). 

Adult Residents of the Newburgh Enlarged City School District may apply online for a library card. Non-residents must apply in person. 

If you don’t have acceptable identification, see Internet Guest Passes below. 

Acceptable Identification documents (English)

Acceptable Identification documents (Spanish)

CHILDREN’S LIBRARY CARDS 

We encourage parents to give their children the gift of a library card. All children under 18, including babies, who live in the Newburgh Enlarged School District are eligible. Children from infancy through age 11 will need a parent’s or guardian’s signature on the registration form. 

Children must bring their cards with them for all Library transactions, including signing up to use computers.* Children’s cards are coded to allow them to use computers for: 

  • Under Age 11* 
  • Ages 12 through 15 
  • Age 16 and over (Adult Workstations) 

*Children under age 11 may also use Early Literacy Station computers in the Children’s area that do not require reservations. 

What Identification Do Children Need? 

  • For school-aged children, registration in a district school is the only identification required. 
  • Parent identification is necessary for private or home-schooled students and for children younger than school age. 

Internet Guest Passes 

Internet Guest Passes may be granted to individuals from outside our service area or for patrons who have forgotten their library cards. An Internet Day Pass allows you up to 2 sessions on a computer and is good only for that day. It does not allow you to borrow library materials. 

Non-Newburgh Residents

If you are not eligible for a Newburgh Free Library Card you may still use the Library’s resources in-house. 

If you want to borrow materials but: 

  1. live in another RCLS area, you must first go to your home library (usually located in the community where you pay your school or property taxes) and apply for a library card. This card may be used at any library within the RCLS service area. 
  2. live outside the RCLS service area, you can be issued a Newburgh card for an annual fee of $50.00 for adults and $5.00 for students. 

Nonresidents may not apply for a library card online due to fee and identification restrictions. 

If you want to use Library workstations for Internet or MS Office, you will need an Internet Guest Pass. 

Confidentiality of Borrower Records

New York State Law and American Library Association policies require that all borrower record information, including the titles of requested or borrowed materials, be kept confidential. For this reason 

  • We do not tell you the title of a requested item when we call to notify you of availability. This information is available if you receive email or text message notification and can also be viewed online under My Account. 
  • Titles of materials you have borrowed are permanently deleted from your record when the items are returned. Titles of Lost or Claims Returned items are kept in your record until paid for or otherwise resolved so that we can have clear conversations with you about them. 
  • Children’s records are equally protected by these laws and policies. 

Loan Periods & Renewal

The Newburgh Free Library sets different loan periods depending on the type of material (collection & format). The following is a general guideline for loan periods on items owned by the Newburgh Free Library and is subject to change.

ItemMax AllowedLoan Period
Max Number of Items Per Card50 
Adult Books2014 or 21 Days
Juvenile Books2021 Days
Children’s Wonderbooks121 Days
Audiobooks 21 Days 
Games221 Days
DVDs – Television Series & Movies for Adults 10
(5 Newburgh + 5 Other RCLS Libraries) 
7 Days 
DVDs: Juveniles 7 Days 
Instructional DVDs 21 Days 
Music CD 

10 

21 Days 
Magazines 7 Days (Juvenile & Adult) 
Chromebooks13 months/Adult Patrons Only
Laptops 2 Hours 
Adults with library cards and photo ID can use a laptop in the library for 2-hour session. Laptops are checked out for 3 hours to allow time to pick up, set up, print and return the laptop. The daily fine for laptops begins to accrue 1 hour after the time due. A laptop is considered to be lost at the end of the business day on which it was checked out.
Note: Computer users can have two active sessions per day, whether using a desktop computer, a laptop or both.
Museum Passes 3 Days 
Museum Passes are loaned to Adults with clean (no fines, or overdues) Newburgh Free Library cards. The maximum fine is $50 and passes are considered to be lost 7 business days after the due date. 

Although most materials can be renewed, some are restricted to one loan period. These include but are not limited to: 

  • Express (14-Day) Books 
  • Juvenile DVDs 
  • Periodicals (magazines) 
  • InterLibrary Loans from non-RCLS libraries 

Fines & Fees

The Newburgh Free Library does not charge fines for most overdue materials, however, we do charge replacement costs for non-returned or damaged items. We do not accept direct replacement of the item.  Other libraries may charge an additional processing fee. 

The following is a general guideline for fines on items owned by the Newburgh Free Library and is subject to change:

item fine 
Adult Materials including: Books, Audiobooks & Other Print Materials Fine Free 
Adult Media including: CDs, DVDs (Movies & TV Series), Instructional Media Fine Free 
Juvenile Materials including: Books, Audiobooks & Other Print Materials Fine Free 
Juvenile Media including: CDs & DVDs Fine Free 
Laptop Computers, Hiking Kits, & Museum Passes $10/day. For maximums see under Loan Period 

Fees are as follows and are subject to change:

service fees 
Photocopies $0.10/page 
Computer Printouts $0.10/page B&W, $0.50/page Color 
Faxing $1.00/page 

Group Visits 

We ask that groups larger than five who would like a tour of the library or to get library cards to please call (845) 563-3600 at least one week in advance. 

Loss of Library Privileges

You may not be able to check out materials if you owe more than $10.00 in charges of any type. 

Restoration of Library Privileges

Your borrowing privileges will be restored when your charges have been paid, including the return of any overdue item and payment for any lost items. 

Do you have another question? Call Circulation Services (845) 563-3600 or email nflservices@necsd.net

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