Library Membership

1.  Library membership is open to all adults (ages 18 and up) who are residents of Springfield or own property in the Township. Proof of residency in the form of a driver’s license, voter registration card, utility bill, property deed, rental agreement or other valid documentation must be presented at the time that the application for a library card is made. For those owning property in Springfield, proof of ownership in the form of a current tax bill must be presented.

2.  Library membership is open to all minors (under the age of 18) who are residents of Springfield. The application form must be signed by the minor’s parent or legal guardian and the parent or guardian will also be required to show proof of the minor’s residency. The adult who signs for the minor’s card must also be a library card holder in good standing. By signing the minor’s library card application, the parent or guardian agrees to assume responsibility for any fines and/or fees incurred by the minor.

Effective January 20, 2020, any minor issued a library card will have his/her library card electronically linked to that of the parent or guardian who served as the legal signatory on the child’s library card application. Notices of overdue or lost items will be communicated directly to the responsible signing adult as well as the minor child. In the event that a minor’s account becomes blocked due to excessive accumulated fines or lost items, the library account of the adult legal signatory shall also be blocked until such time as accumulated fines and fees have been paid and the minor’s library account has been unblocked.

The parent or guardian must also sign the DVD permission statement on the back of the library card application in order for the juvenile library card holder to be able to borrow DVDs from the Library’s collection. Further, the application contains a provision waiving any confidentiality or privacy rights of the minor regarding Library materials in accordance with New Jersey Statutes Annotated 9:2-4.2 (Parental Access to Children’s Records).

a. Every parent, except as prohibited by federal and State law, shall have access to records and information pertaining to his or her unemancipated child, including, but not limited to, medical, dental, insurance, child care and educational records, whether or not the child resides with the parent, unless that access is found by the court to be not in the best interest of the child or the access is found by the court to be sought for the purpose of causing detriment to the other parent.

b. The place of residence of either parent shall not appear on any records or information released pursuant to the provisions of this section.

c. A child's parent, guardian or legal custodian may petition the court to have a parent's access to the records limited. If the court, after a hearing, finds that the parent's access to the record is not in the best interest of the child or that the access sought is for the purpose of causing detriment to the other parent, the court may order that access

3.  Library cards for Springfield residents and property owners must be renewed every three years with appropriate proof of residency or property ownership provided as detailed in paragraph 1.

4.  M.U.R.A.L. (Middlesex Union Reciprocal Agreement Libraries) patrons who are in good standing in their home town libraries are eligible for borrowing privileges at the Springfield Free Public Library.   The following rules apply:

1. Borrowing privileges for MURAL patrons must be renewed annually with appropriate ID provided.
2. MURAL patrons must present the library card from their town of residence each time they wish to borrow materials from the Springfield Free Public Library.
3. In those cases in which a patron either works or attends school in Springfield but is also a resident of a MURAL community, the terms of the MURAL agreement supersede any other provisions of this library membership policy.
4. Anyone under 18 years of age registering for borrowing privileges under the terms of the MURAL agreement must have a parent or legal guardian co-sign their library borrowing application in person. The parent who signs for the minor’s borrowing privileges must also be a patron in good standing at the public library in their community of residence.
5. MURAL patrons will be assigned a lower priority status than Springfield residents so that any holds they place will not be satisfied until after all holds for Springfield residents have been satisfied, regardless of the order in which the holds were placed.

5. The Springfield Free Public Library is also a full member of the Libraries of Middlesex Automation Consortium, hereon referred to as LMxAC. Because all libraries within the consortium share the same automated library catalog and circulation system, it is possible for Springfield library patrons to use the LMxAC online catalog to make direct requests for materials that are owned by any of the member libraries; patrons also have the option of asking library staff members to make these requests on their behalf. Patrons are also permitted to stipulate whether they would like the materials delivered directly to the Springfield Free Public Library or to another LMxAC library. Patrons of the Springfield Free Public Library may also use their library cards at other LMxAC member libraries as long as they are in good standing. Springfield library patrons will be held responsible for overdue fines and/or replacement and processing fees for any items borrowed from other LMxAC member libraries.  A patron’s account will be blocked at all LMxAC member libraries if overdue fines have accumulated over a $5.00 threshhold or if there are missing or damaged items outstanding on a patron’s account, regardless of which member library owns the item.

6.  People who do not reside in Springfield or one of the MURAL communities but who are employed in Springfield may apply for borrowing privileges upon presenting proof of employment that identifies the employer as being located in Springfield. This may take the form of an employee ID badge, pay stub, or a letter from the employer on company stationery.  Borrowing privileges for library patrons in this category must be renewed on an annual basis with appropriate ID provided.

7.  Non-residents who attend a public or private elementary, middle or secondary school in Springfield may apply for borrowing privileges after presenting proof of enrollment. A parent or legal guardian must sign the application form for non-resident students under the age of 18 and the parent must present proof of address even though he or she does not live in Springfield.  All other rules for minor patrons will apply, as specified in section 2 of this policy statement.  Borrowing privileges for patrons in this category must be renewed annually with appropriate ID provided.

8.  People who do not reside in Springfield and do not qualify for borrowing privileges as detailed in the preceding sections may purchase a Springfield Free Public Library card for an amount that is not less than the per capita amount that the Township of Springfield allocates for library services for that given year, rounded up to the nearest dollar.  The current amount is $65.00.  Non-resident paid cards must be renewed annually and the fee paid every year.

9.  The library charges a non-refundable fee of $3.00 for the replacement of a lost library card.

10.  Cardholders must immediately report a lost or stolen library card to the Circulation Department.  Cardholders are liable for materials charged out from the time of the loss to the time the loss is reported.  The cardholder’s maximum liability for materials charged on a card that has been reported lost or stolen is $50.00.

Approved November 21, 2019