Section 3: Membership

• Section 3.1: Resident Membership
• Section 3.2: Non-resident Membership
• Section 3.3: Non-resident Property Owner Membership
• Section 3.4: Non-resident Cardholders’ Rights

Section 3.1: Resident Membership

3.1.1: The library will serve all residents within the library district’s boundaries.  Service will not be denied or abridged because of religious, racial, social, economic, or political status; or because of mental, emotional, or physical condition; age; or sexual orientation.

The use of the library may be denied for due cause.  Such cause may be failure to return library materials or to pay penalties; destruction of library property; disturbance of other patrons; or any other illegal, disruptive, or objectionable conduct on library premises as set forth in the patron behavior policy.

3.1.2:  A library card will be issued free of charge to an applicant who is a resident of the library’s district.  Library cards are issued for a period of three (3) years and are renewable upon request.  Current acceptable proof of residency is required upon initial application and all subsequent renewals.  A parent or legal guardian must sign an application for a juvenile card in the presence of a library staff member.  A juvenile is defined as a child under sixteen years of age.  A parent or legal guardian or a minor and/or ward shall be responsible for all materials borrowed, fines incurred and for the costs of materials lost or damaged.

3.1.3:  Library cards are non-transferable.  An individual is responsible for all materials borrowed with his/her card.  A cardholder, whose card is delinquent, is not allowed to utilize the card of another family member.  The library reserves the right to withdraw or suspend the cards of all family members of a delinquent cardholder.  If library cards are lost or stolen, the theft or loss must be immediately reported to the library.  Until reported, the cardholder is responsible for materials borrowed with a lost or stolen card.

3.1.4:  Matteson Area Public Library employees who do not reside in any library jurisdiction may receive a MAPLD card free of charge and for the duration of their employment.

3.1.5:  The MAPLD will not issue cards or circulate materials to patrons who are known to have delinquent accounts at another library in Illinois.

Approved on: October 21, 2013
Reviewed on: 4/13/2021

Section 3.2: Non-resident Membership

Individuals residing beyond the jurisdictional boundaries of a public library service area, whose residence is closest to the MAPLD, and who own no taxable property within the jurisdictional boundaries of MAPLD, may purchase a non-resident fee card using the Tax Bill Method meaning that the library tax levy rate or equivalent, including all special levies, is applied to the non-resident property owner’s principal residence assessed valuation on an individual, case by case basis.  Renters pay 15% of the monthly rent as the annual non-resident fee.

Section 3.3: Non-resident Property Owner Membership

The non-resident fee shall not apply to a non-resident who, as an individual or as a partner, principal stockholder, or a joint owner, owns or leases property that is taxed for library services or is a senior administrative officer of a firm, business, or a corporation owning taxable property within the district, upon presentation of the most recent tax bill on that taxable property.

Approved: October 21, 2013
Revised on: 4/13/2021

Section 3.4:  Non-resident Cardholders’ Rights

A valid non-resident library card issued by the MAPLD shall afford a non-resident library cardholder all the services which this Library provides to its residents, including reciprocal borrowing privileges, as well as all borrowing privileges at all libraries participating in a regional system.

Approved on: November 12, 2012
Revised on: 10/21/2013
Reviewed on: 4/13/2021