GETTING A LIBRARY CARD

Library Card Policy

Library Cards

The materials and resources of the library are available on an equal basis to all individuals with a valid library card. This applies to persons with a Bridgeview Public Library card or another Reaching Across Illinois Library System (RAILS) member card and to other cardholders with reciprocal borrowing privileges.
All residents of the Village of Bridgeview are entitled to a free library card. The card is issued for two years. Two pieces of identification must be shown at the time of registration. One must have a picture on it. Persons under the age of 18 must be accompanied by a parent or guardian when applying for a card. Exceptions to the requirements may be made in the director’s discretion.

Responsibilities of Cardholders

Cardholders are responsible for all materials borrowed on their card. This includes returning the materials in a timely manner and in the same condition as when the materials were borrowed. Materials kept beyond the loan period will be considered overdue, and fines or replacement fees will be assessed. Replacement fees will also be assessed for lost or damaged materials.

The library sends out overdue notices as a courtesy. Patrons are responsible for timely return of materials whether or not they receive the overdue notice.
There are no age restrictions on the borrowing of materials from the Bridgeview Public Library. Parents or legal guardians are responsible for monitoring the materials used by their children.

Renewal of Library Cards
Library cards when issued are valid for two years. An expired card may be renewed upon proof of continued residency within the Village of Bridgeview. All fees and fines must be paid before a card can be renewed.

Lost or Stolen Library Cards
Cardholders are responsible for materials checked out on their cards until the card is reported lost or stolen to the Bridgeview Public Library. To replace a lost or stolen card, a patron must prove residency in the Village of Bridgeview again.

Non-Resident Library Cards
Non-Residents of Bridgeview that live in a town that does not have a library, and where Bridgeview Public Library is the closest Library to their residence, may obtain a Non-Resident Library Card. Bridgeview Public Library uses the Non-Resident Fee Mathematical Formula to determine Non-Resident Library Card fees. Non-Resident Library card fees are posted on the Bridgeview Public Library website annually.

*Non-Resident Fee Mathematical Formula:

Divide library income from public property tax source by local population to get the cost per capita figure

Multiply per capita figure by the average number of persons per household (found on census website) to obtain the average cost per household for family library card fee.

Confidentiality of Patron Records
As required by the Illinois Library Records Confidentiality Act (75 ILCS 70/1 et seq), a library patron’s registration and circulation records are confidential. No individual’s records will be released to any person or agency except pursuant to a court order or other legal exception. Library staff may provide information to a minor’s parent or legal guardian about fines or overdue materials. For specific questions about confidentiality, please contact the library director.

Loan Rules

No materials will be automatically renewed if there is a hold on the item. Barring any holds, the following are the loan periods and automatic renewal periods for various materials:

Material	Initial Loan Period	Automatic Renewals Available
Audio Books	3 weeks	Up to 5
Books	3 weeks	Up to 5
CDs	3 weeks	Up to 5
DVDs	1 week	0
Games	1 week	0
Launchpads	1 week	0
Magazines	1 week	0

Fees and Fines
The Bridgeview Public Library is a fine free Library. This means that any user checking out materials at BPL, regardless of residency, will not be charged overdue fines. Instead of an overdue fine, an alert will be placed on user accounts once an item is overdue for 14 days or longer. This alert will prevent future use of the Library card. Once an overdue item is returned, the alert is removed, no fines are assessed, and the Library card can be used again.
BPL cardholders should be aware that they are subject to the lending policies, including any applicable fines, of other libraries that they visit. Interlibrary loan materials remain subject to any applicable overdue fines established by the lending library.

BPL will charge for some services and materials that are lost, damaged, or unreturned.

Material/Service	Fee	Overdue Fine	Maximum Fine
Black & White Copies	$0.20/page	N/A	N/A
Color Copies	$0.50/page	N/A	N/A
Fax	$2.00/50 pages	N/A	N/A
Computer Guest Pass	None/1 hour per day	None	None
Meeting Rooms Bridgeview Non-Profit Bridgeview For-Profit All Other Groups	None $50.00 $100.00	None	None
Non-Resident Library Card	*See Mathematical Formula (page 9)	None	None
All Circulating Materials	None	None	None
Lost, Damaged, or Unreturned Items	Cost of Item	Cost of Item	Cost of Item

Interlibrary Loan

Our library mission is to provide educational, informational, cultural, and recreational resources and services to people in the Bridgeview community. If those needs cannot be met using our collection, our staff borrows materials from other libraries.
Interlibrary Loan is a partnership with other libraries. We will borrow materials from other SWAN (System-Wide Automation Network) consortium libraries for Bridgeview patrons only. Interlibrary loan of materials from non-SWAN libraries or requests for photocopies are reserved for the patron who has received his/her library card at our library. This includes those individuals living outside our service area who choose to purchase an annual non-resident card.

All Bridgeview cardholders have equal access to all the interlibrary loan services we offer. Reference librarians and other staff members are available to help locate items at our library and other libraries. Applicable fees will be applied for out of state materials borrowed or loaned. The library complies with the Interlibrary Loan Guidelines set up by the Reaching Across Illinois Library System (RAILS) Resource Sharing Plan (2018), the ILLINET Interlibrary Loan Code for Illinois (2015) and the American Library Association Interlibrary Loan Code (2001).

Proposed 9/13/2021
Adopted 12/13/2021

Bridgeview Public Library is a member of the RAILS Library System.
Your library card will be honored at:

any of the public libraries in the RAILS Library System
all academic libraries in the RAILS Library System
any public library in several other library systems in Illinois, including Chicago Public Library

2024 Annual Ordinance Authorizing Public Library Non-Resident Cards

$298.00 per family

If you are a Non-Resident of Bridgeview, live in a town that does not have a library, and Bridgeview Public Library is the closest Library to your home, you may obtain a Non-Resident Library Card for $298.00 per family. Please call 708-458-2880 for more information.

2024 Annual Ordinance Authorizing Public Library Non-Resident Cards

Non-Resident Fee Mathematical formula:

Divide library income from public property tax source by local population to get the cost per capita figure

Multiply per capita figure by the average number of persons per household (found on census website) to obtain the average cost per household for family library card fee.

Library income from public property tax sources

property tax income $1,845,174.00

divided by

total population 17,027

equals cost per capita $108.37

Multiplied by average number of persons per household 2.75

equals average cost per household for a family library card $298.00

Accessing Your Library Account Online

To access account, have your library card number and PIN number ready.
PIN number is the last four digits of the phone number on file.

Visit the URL: catalog.swanlibraries.net
Scroll down to find the Bridgeview Library or type library name in search box.
Click on Catalog (in blue) underneath: Bridgeview
On the top of the webpage, click on Log In.
Input your information in the correct fields and click the Login Button.
When logged in your name will appear on top of the page.
Click on My Account to view your Checkouts, Holds, and Fines.

Checkouts
View items checked out and their due dates. Renew items by clicking the box next to item and then clicking the blue Renew button located at the top or bottom of the list.

Holds
View items that are on hold on library card. Status of hold(s) and pickup location(s) are displayed. Click the box next to item to: Cancel Hold, Edit Pickup Location, Suspend Hold, or Cancel Hold Suspension. Green exclamation points next to items designate holds available for pick up and last pick up date.

Fines
View a list of fines. Red exclamation points designates fines on the account. To pay fines, click the box next to the item with a fine. A minimum of $1.00 is required to pay online. There is also a $0.50 convenience fee. Fill out the information and click the blue submit button on the bottom of the window.

IF USING A PUBLIC COMPUTER, MAKE SURE TO LOG OUT OF YOUR ACCOUNT BY CLICKING THE LOG OUT BUTTON LOCATED AT THE TOP OF THE WEBPAGE.