Library Card Policy

  1. Resident Cards
    1. Anyone permanently residing within the Hancock County Public Library district or owns property in Hancock County is eligible to have a library card by completing an application form. Address verification is requested for all cards. Acceptable forms of identification are: current Indiana State issued identification (driver's license, Indiana ID) with a photograph and a current address, utility bills/first class mail received within the last thirty days, car registration or a current property tax receipt. Library cards will be handed to patrons.
      1. Adult Card
        • A person 18 years of age and older may apply for an adult card. The card expires 3 years from date of issue.
      2. Juvenile Card
        • A person younger than 18 years of age may apply for a juvenile card. The parent/legal guardian must be present to sign the application, present valid identification and proof of residency. The juvenile applicant does not need to be present. The card expires 3 years from date of issue.
        • Optionally, a person 13 to 17 years of age may apply for a juvenile card without a parent/legal guardian present. The juvenile applicant must complete an application and present valid identification. The juvenile's parent/legal guardian will be notified by mail that their child has applied for a juvenile library card. The card expires 3 years from date of issue.
    2. Cards are not transferable.
  2. Business & Institutional Cards
    1. A business, nursing home, daycare center, pre-school, county agency, public or private school located within the Hancock County Public Library district may apply for an institutional card for professional use by up to six designated employees. The card expires 1 year from date of issue.
    2. Cards are not transferable.
  3. Non-resident Cards
    1. An Individual non-resident card may be purchased by those who live outside the Hancock County Public Library district . The card expires 1 year from the date issued.

      Individual Cards: 12 months - $70.00*

      *Based on current operating expenditures per capita in accordance with Indiana State Library Laws

    2. Cards are not transferable.
  4. Reciprocal Borrower Cards
    1. A person who lives in the Vernon Township Library district and is a valid library card holder may apply for a Reciprocal Borrower's card by completing and signing an application form, presenting valid identification, and a current library card from Vernon Township Public Library. The Reciprocal Borrower card expires 1 year from date of issue.
    2. Cards are not transferable.
  5. Public Library Access Card
    The Public Library Access Card (PLAC) is the name for the statewide library card, enacted by (Indiana Code 4-23-7.1-5.1). The PLAC program allows an individual to borrow materials directly from any public library in Indiana. Books and non-book materials are eligible for loan through the PLAC program, but at least books that normally circulate must be available for loan. An individual who holds a valid public library card may obtain a PLAC. The fee for a PLAC is set each year by the Indiana State Library.
    1. Patrons with a valid library card from any Indiana public library are eligible for a PLAC (Public Library Access Card). They must be in good standing at their "home" library. The PLAC may be purchased from any public library in Indiana at an annual rate established by the state legislature. It may be used to borrow materials directly from any public library in the state. Patrons are responsible for returning borrowed materials to the lending library. Patrons will follow the rules and regulations of the lending library when borrowing materials.
    2. Persons applying for PLAC borrowing privileges at Hancock County Public Library must fill out a registration form and present a valid PLAC from their home library or their home library card. A Hancock County Public Library card and a PLAC, if necessary, will then be issued.
    3. PLACs will be mailed. All rules and regulations applying to resident card holders will apply to PLAC borrowers.
    4. A card issued on a PLAC is valid as long as the PLAC is valid.
    5. Cards are not transferable
  6. Teacher Cards
    1. Anyone who is a teacher or a substitute teacher at a Hancock County public or private school (K-12) or who is a Hancock County home school teacher will be issued a special teacher card upon request for school and professional use only. Appropriate identification is required (previous teacher privileges, school/homeschool consortium I.D. card, paycheck stub, letterhead, curriculum invoice).These cards are issued for the length of the school year including summer sessions with an expiration date of August 31. All library circulation policies apply to the teacher registered on the card. Teachers may reserve video format items for classroom use and may request extended loan periods for materials borrowed on the teacher card. The teacher registered on the card will be responsible for all library fines and materials borrowed on the card. Furthermore, if the teacher is a resident of Hancock County and has a personal card, both cards must remain in good standing at all times in order to retain library privileges.
    2. Cards are not transferable.
  7. Student Cards
    1. Students attending a Hancock County school or private kindergarten that do not reside within Hancock County are eligible for a student card with the Hancock County Public Library. Daycare and Preschool students are not eligible for this card. Student cards will expire August 31 each year and may be renewed annually.
    2. A person younger than 13 years of age may apply for a student card. The parent/legal guardian must be present to sign the application, present valid identification, proof of residency and school enrollment verification. The juvenile applicant does not need to be present.
    3. Optionally, a person 13 to 17 years of age may apply for a student card without a parent/legal guardian present. The juvenile applicant must complete an application, present valid identification and school enrollment verification. The juvenile’s parent/legal guardian will be notified by mail that their child has applied for a juvenile library card.
    4. Any student enrolled in a Hancock County school (K-12) will have the option to receive digital only access to library resources during the school registration process. Digital only access will be valid for 13 years.
    5. Cards are not transferable.
  8. Temporary Resident Cards
    1. Temporary residents of the Hancock County Public Library service area are eligible to have a library card, by completing an application and providing the following:
      1. Written proof of temporary Hancock County residency (e.g. lease, receipt, letter from permanent residence owner)
      2. Permanent forwarding address
      3. Valid driver's license or photo ID
    2. The card expires 6 months from the date of issue.
    3. A limit of 10 (ten) items may be checked out at any one time.
    4. All circulation policies apply to temporary resident cards.
    5. Cards are not transferable.
  9. Surrogate Borrower
    1. The Hancock County Public Library offers the option of surrogate borrowing as a benefit to homebound patrons. To set this up, the card holder must fill out the surrogate borrowing form, providing the names and contact information of the authorized borrowers.
    2. The surrogate borrower card will be kept at the Circulation desk.
    3. Cards are not transferable.

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