Loan Periods, Renewals & Fines
Loan Periods
| Item | Loan Periods |
|---|---|
| Books | 3 weeks |
| Magazines | 3 weeks |
| Audiobooks | 3 weeks |
| Console Games | 2 weeks |
| DVD/Blu-ray Movies | 2 weeks |
| DVD/Blu-ray TV Series | 2 weeks |
| Playaways | 2 weeks |
| Beyond Books (Home & Kitchen) | 2 weeks |
| Beyond Books (Jigsaw Puzzles) | 3 weeks |
Lost or Damaged Item Fees
You can pay all fees in person at the Library with cash, check, or credit card. You may also pay your fees with a credit card online by logging into the SWAN Catalog and viewing the Fines tab under My Account.
For any lost or damaged items, you will be charged the cost of the item.
For more information, please see our Circulation Policies.
Renewing Items
Your Library materials may automatically renew two days before their due date. Some items are ineligible for automatic renewal, and items may only be renewed twice. If you have an email address in your account, you will receive an email about the items that were and were not renewed.
If you do not have an email address, you will need to log in to your account to check your due dates. Login to the SWAN Catalog with your library card number and PIN and look under My Account. You will see a list of items you have checked out and their due dates under the Checkouts tab.
For more details about automatic renewals or to check the due date/renewal status of your items, call the Library at 708-672-8017. Please have your library card number available.
Fine Free
As of March 1, 2021, there will be no overdue fines for anything you check out at Crete Public Library.
Fine Free Policy Details
- Any patron who checks out items at Crete Public Library will no longer accrue overdue fines.
- All previous overdue fines for items checked out at Crete Public Library will be removed from all patron accounts, excluding bills for lost or damaged items or fees assessed by other libraries.
- Your library account will be blocked when any item checked out at Crete Public Library is more than 14 days overdue. This applies to all patrons who check out items here, including cardholders from other libraries.
- You will receive an overdue notice at 7 days and 21 days overdue.
- You will be billed for “lost” items at 42 days overdue. This has not changed.
- Accounts will go to collections at 60 days overdue. This has not changed.
- Once overdue items are returned, your account will be automatically unblocked.
- You remain responsible for any existing bills for lost or damaged items.
- You remain responsible for any existing collection agency fees.
- Automatic renewals and renewal/non-renewal limits will remain the same.
- Crete Public Library patrons will still be subject to overdue fines at other libraries.
FAQ
Why are you eliminating overdue fines?
The Board of Trustees wants to make the Library experience more positive and to encourage more Crete residents to use their library for books, movies, programs, and information. Going fine free eliminates a common barrier to library services.
Does this mean I can keep my checkouts indefinitely?
No. Items still have specific check out periods. Renewable materials may be renewed up to 2 times, unless someone has placed a hold to request them. Items will still be overdue if not returned on or before their due date.
What happens if I lose an item?
Your account will be billed for any lost items. If you return an item that you have been billed for, the bill will be removed from your account. If you are unable to return the item, the bill will remain on your account. Your account may be sent to collections if the bill remains unpaid. The collection agency charges a $10 collection fee which is added to your account and cannot be waived.
Will I still have fines if I check out items at other libraries?
Yes, if other libraries do not offer fine free service, you will accrue fines for overdue items checked out at those libraries.
What about the money the library loses if overdue fines are no longer assessed?
Fine revenue has not been a significant source of library funding. Nearly all of our revenue comes from property taxes. The revenue generated from fines was a very small part of the library’s budget.
Will my taxes go up?
Your taxes will not increase because the library has eliminated overdue fines.