COVID-19 and Library Fines
During the COVID-19 crisis, we are quarantining returned items before we handle them and check them in. The items will remain on patron accounts during the quarantine process. We will not be charging overdue fines during this season, with the exception of wifi hotspots.
For our complete policy on loan periods, fines, and lost or damaged items, please see our Circulation Policy on our Library Policies page.
| Item | Loan Period | Renewal Limit | Overdue Fine* |
|---|---|---|---|
Books, CDs, AudioBooks, Magazines | 3 weeks | 3 times | 10 cents per day |
DVDs | 1 week | 3 times | 10 cents per day |
Wi-Fi Hotspots | 1 week | No renewals; ask staff for assistance renewing if no one is on the waitlist. | $1.00 per day |
Please note: These loan periods apply to Mahomet Library items only. Loan periods for items borrowed from other libraries are set by those libraries.
Card Limits
Overall Borrowing Limits: Patrons may have up to 100 items checked out to a card at one time.
DVD Checkout Limits: Patrons may have up to 5 Mahomet Library DVDs checked out to a card at one time.
Audiobooks on CD Checkout Limits: Patrons may have up to 20 Mahomet Library books on CD checked out to a card at one time.
Music CD Checkout Limits: Patrons may have up to 20 Mahomet Library music CDs checked out to a card at one time.
Item Request Limits: Patrons may have up to 50 requested items ("on hold") at one time.
Digital Title Limits: Limits on digital downloads are set according to the policies of the eResource consortia to which the library belongs.
Fine and Fee Limits: If a patron's fines and fees exceed $5.00, the patron's card cannot be used to borrow physical or digital materials until the balance is reduced below that threshold.
Overdue Item Limits: If a patron has more than 25 overdue items, the patron's card cannot be used to borrow physical or digital materials until the the number of overdue items is reduced below that threshold by returning or renewing them. Please note: once the items have been renewed or returned, the system will add overdue charges to the patron account. If the total charges exceed the fine and fee limits above, then the card will remain blocked until the the balance is reduced.
Renewing Materials
Most items can be renewed up to 3 times, unless another patron has requested the item. You can renew items by:
accessing your online account. (Please note: Your password is the last four digits of your phone number unless you have changed it.)
calling the library at (217)586-2611.
visiting the library.
Lost or Damaged Items
If items checked out on your card are lost or damaged, you are responsible for the replacement cost. Unfortunately, we cannot accept replacement copies of lost or damaged items.
Paying Fines and Fees
You can pay your fines and fees:
- By check or cash at the library
- By credit card at the library self check stations
- By credit card online
To pay fines or fees online:
Log into your account with your library card number and password. (Your password is the last four digits of your phone number unless you have changed it.)
Choose Fines and Fees from the My Account menu.
Select the fines and fees you wish to pay and click Pay Fees Now. The system will take you to a secure credit card processing site to complete the transaction.
When finished, click Return to Account.
Library Overdue Notifications
You may elect to receive library notifications by text, email, phone, or mail. The library sends out the following notifications related to overdue items:
| Timeframe | Notice Sent |
|---|---|
3 days before the due date | A pre-overdue notice, reminding the patron that the due date is coming up |
| 1 day after the due date | An overdue notice, alerting the patron that the item is now overdue |
| 7 days after the due date | A second overdue notice |
| 14 days after the due date | A third overdue notice, sent by physical mail even if email, text, or phone call is the usual notification method |
| 30 days after the due date | A billing notice, sent by physical mail even if email, text, or phone call is the usual notification method. (Please note: at this point, the long-overdue item is marked as “lost” in our system and the patron will be billed for the item’s replacement cost.) |
Sixty (60) days after the original due date (1 month after the billing notice), the patron's account will be sent to our collections agency if the account balance is $25 or more AND the patron owes for at least one lost or damaged item. (Please see Collections Agency below.)
Collections Agency
Mahomet Public Library uses Unique Management Services (UMS) to manage delinquent patron accounts. Library trustees did not make this decision lightly, but the accrued total owed to the library, mostly for lost or damaged items, reached a level that made it necessary to take this action to steward taxpayer resources properly.
Patron with (a) unpaid charges for lost or damaged items AND (b) total account balances in excess of $25 will be referred to UMS 30days after the final billing statement from the library, which is 2 months after the items were first overdue. UMS bills the library for each account submitted; therefore, a $10 fee will be added to the patron’s account balance to cover this expense.
Patrons with large fine balances, but no charges for lost or damaged items, will not be referred to UMS.
The library trustees chose UMS for its reputation in working with libraries. Unlike other collection agencies, Unique seeks a collaborative, rather than adversarial, interaction with patrons. Even so, the library would like to work with patrons to avoid the final step of sending their accounts to collections. Patrons who wish to avoid this process and the $10.00 fee, but cannot pay their balances at this time, may contact Kate Smith, Business Manager, to discuss a payment plan.