The Pollard Memorial Library

| Rules of Loan | Fees |

Library Cards

Residents of Lowell are eligible for Pollard Memorial Library cards, and must provide proof of name and current Lowell address to obtain a library card.

Any child not yet in high school or the home school equivalent who is a Massachusetts resident may get a card with a parent's or guardian's signature. The person signing will be held responsible for items on the child's card that are lost or damaged.

There is no age limit for getting a library card. Parents can now request a special "Born to read" card for their newborn or toddler. Newborns, toddlers, and children under the age of 7 (or up to 1st grade) will be issued a "bunny" library card. When the child reaches age 7 or is in first grade, the parent can request a regular Pollard Memorial Library card "free of charge".

Children in the 7th grade and above may get a library card with positive ID (such as school ID, driver's license, etc.) or a parent's signature. Anyone not yet in high school should use the Children's form. High School students may use the Adult form with school ID. A letter will be sent to the parent/guardian of any student registering without parent signature - notifying then that their child has registered for a library card.

Massachusetts State Law (G.L. c78: 7) prohibits disclosure by a public library of a patron's identity or patron's borrowing history. The law does not differentiate among categories of library patrons and applies equally to records of minor patrons and those of adults.
By state law, public libraries may not disclose records which reveal a minor's borrowing information to the minor's parents, regardless of whether the parent is paying the fine on overdue items or the parent has signed the children's library cards.

The Pollard Memorial Library will be happy to mail a list of checked-out or lost items to the cardholder's home. Parents can also look up their child's records using the "My Account" feature on the IPAC online catalog. They will need the card number and the PIN number.

Residents of other towns in the Merrimack Valley Library Consortium (MVLC) must obtain a library card at their home library for use in the Pollard Memorial Library and other MVLC libraries.
Out-of-state residents:
We provide free Lowell-use only cards to Lowell City employees and teachers who live out-of-state (if the employee lives in another MVLC town, they must get a card from their local library). MVLC consortium-wide cards can also be purchased or renewed for $75-00 per year.

Out-of-state employees of Lowell National Historic Park, Lowell Heritage State Park, U. Mass Lowell, and Middlesex Community College can also apply for free Lowell-use only cards.

Applicants must present a valid ID and proof of employment. Both work and home addresses and phone numbers should be listed on the patron record.

This waiver DOES NOT APPLY to other out-of-state residents who work in Lowell.

Out-of-state students from U. Mass Lowell or Middlesex Community College can get Lowell-use only cards for $25.00 per year.

Library cards are not transferable. The user is responsible for all materials checked out on his or her card. If card is lost or stolen, please report it immediately. Report change of name, address or phone number immediately. There is a $1.00 charge to replace a lost card.
Copies of the library card registration forms are available here. Click one of the links below to print a libary card registration form. Complete the form and bring it with acceptable identification to the library to make the registration process easier for you.
- Adult Form
- Children's Form

All users must have a library card in hand to check out materials at the Pollard Memorial Library.
Borrowing privileges will be suspended at all MVLC libraries if materials are not returned or if overdue fines are not paid.
Most museum passes are available only to Lowell residents with valid library cards.

Item	Borrowing Limit	Borrowing Period	Renew?	Fees/Fines
Audiocassettes	None	3 weeks	2	.05/day to $2.00 per item
Books	None, except those on school assignment reserve	3 weeks	2	.05/day to $2.00 per item
CDs	None	3 weeks	2	.05/day to $2.00 per item
CD-ROMs	One (1) per person	1 week	No renewals	.05/day to $2.00 per item
Magazines/Pamphlets	None	1 week	2	.05/day to $2.00 per item
Puppets	Two (2) per person	1 week	No renewals	.05/day to $2.00 per item
Videocassettes/DVDs	None	1 week	No renewals	$1.00/day to $5.00 per item

Full replacement costs are charged for lost or damaged materials.

DVD and Video package or paper insert damage/loss:	$5.
CD package damage or loss of paper insert:	$5.
Lost library card:	$1. card replacement fee.
Rent-a-bestseller:	$1. first week of checkout and $.25 per day each additional day. No reserves.
Museum passes:	$5 per day overdue fine.
Janway colored bags:	$7.
Rent-a-DVD:	$2.00 at checkout for 1 week. $1.00/day late fee, $5.00 maximum.

By the PML Web Committee
Last updated June 25, 2007.
http://www.pollardml.org/circpol.html
Send comments to mloref@mailserv.mvlc.lib.ma.us