The Cross’ Mills Public Library is a member of Ocean State Libraries (OSL), a consortium of public libraries in Rhode Island that are linked through a state-wide communications network. The Library cards issued at the Cross’ Mills Public Library are free of charge and are valid at all other OSL member libraries in Rhode Island.
The Cross Mills Public Library participates in complete resource sharing of all circulating materials with the exception of those materials classified as equipment and those materials classified as special loan.
Registration: Anyone can use the resources of the Cross’ Mills Public Library. Only registered patrons mayborrow library materials. To obtain an OSL library card, a photo ID with a current address must be presented; a driver’s license or a student ID is preferred. There is a $1.00 fee for a replacement card.
Young Adult Borrowers: Students ages 13 to 17 may provide proof of their enrollment in a public or private school in Rhode Island (class schedule, transcript, report card, etc.) in lieu of a photo ID if they do not otherwise have one. Proof of home address must still be provided if not stated on school enrollment documents.
Juvenile Borrowers: Children aged 0-12 must have their application signed by a parent or guardian*, who may provide the above identification/address validation on their child’s behalf. Both the parent or guardian and the child should be present to apply for a library card. *The parent/guardian is responsible for the lost or damaged materials borrowed by their child.
Card Expiration: As long as the account remains in use, the borrower’s information will remain on file. However the OSL system automatically deletes the information after three years of no use.
Patron Rights and Responsibilities: The cardholder has the right to use all the materials and services of the OSL member libraries. He or she is expected to return the materials promptly and in good condition. The library should be notified if there is a change of name, address, or telephone number.
Suspension of Borrowing Privileges: Borrowing privileges are suspended if library materials are not returned or charges are not paid. It is the libraries’ policy to charge the replacement cost of lost or severely damaged materials. Patrons owing fines of more than $5.00 will be restricted from borrowing items until the balance is $5.00 or less. Restricted patrons are still welcome to use the resources and services the Library has to offer.
Loan Periods for CMPL Materials: Books and audiobooks circulate for a period of three weeks. DVDs and magazines circulate for one week. Generally, reference books do not circulate; however some reference materials may be checked out for three days. Museum passes circulate for two days.
Renewals: Renewals are automatic if no one else is waiting for the item. Most items will be renewed for 2 additional loan periods. Library materials can also be renewed in person or over the phone during library business hours, or online by logging in to your account.
Overdue and Fines: Patrons have the responsibility of returning materials they have checked out on or before the due date. The Library’s structure of fines and overdue notices are used to reduce the number of overdue materials. An overdue fine of $0.10 a day will be charged for all books, magazines, and audiobooks. DVDs will incur a fine of $1.00 a day. The maximum fine per book/audiobook is $6.00. The maximum fine per
audiovisual item/museum pass is $10.00
Holds: Holds may be placed on any circulating item in the OSL system. If a title of interest in unavailable at Cross’ Mills Public Library, the patron may request the item by placing a hold through the online catalog. It will be delivered to the Cross’ Mills Public Library when it becomes available and can be picked up here. When more than one hold is placed on an item in the OSL system, a queue will be established, and each request will be filled in the order in which it was received. However, Cross’ Mills Public Library cardholders will be given first access to books owned by the Cross’ Mills Public Library.
Returns: After hours, library materials may be placed in the drop slot at the side of the front door or in the book drop at the head of the driveway. Books from other OSL libraries may be returned at Cross’ Mills Public Library and Cross’ Mills Public Library books may be returned at any other OSL library.
Library Notices: Ocean State Libraries provides a notification service for held items, overdue materials and other service-specific reasons. Notices are available via telephone, mail or email. Cardholders will have to select a notice preference and provide a valid telephone number or email address on their account. Borrowers may also elect to receive SMS Text Alerts on their mobile phone (this is in addition to the method by which notices are sent which is chosen at the time of application). Bills for overdue material will be sent to the mailing address on record at the Library. Note: In the case of borrowers who receive their notices by email, it is their responsibility to make sure that emails sent from addresses with @rilibrary.org in the sender information be allowed through any filters they may have in place on their Inbox. Cardholders who have provided an email address will receive a Courtesy Notice reminding them of material due two (2) days before the due date. Failure to receive a reminder of items due notice does not absolve the borrower from any fines or fees associated with material being returned late.
Interlibrary Loan: Items not available in the OSL system can usually be obtained from other libraries through an interlibrary loan. Patrons wishing to retrieve sources using interlibrary loans must be in good standing with the library as far as fines and overdue fees. The item can be requested from any staff member. Once the ILL is requested, it generally takes from several days to three weeks for the materials to arrive. Any charges from the loaning institution will be passed on to the user. The lending library sets a due date on materials. The items are due back to our library in time to return them to the lending library.
Non-Resident Borrowers: Visitors from out-of-state or abroad are welcome to use the Ocean State Libraries public libraries’ resources on-site. Many of the resources accessed from the public libraries do not require the issuance of a library card
Non-Resident Full Access Cards: Non-Resident Full Access cards are issued for 1 year and carry an annual fee equal to the cost of Rhode Island library service per cardholders, rounded up to the nearest $5. Currently, that fee is $150 and can be paid at any OSL library. Only visitors who reside in a community that provides public library service to its residents may apply for a Non-Resident Full Access card. Visitors may apply for a Non-Resident Full Access card using a current photo ID and if that does not include the applicant’s address, then he/she must provide a proof of address (not a P.O. Box.) All other registration procedures are applicable. Non-Residents need to visit a library in-person to apply for a Full Access Card.
Non-Resident Local Use Only Cards: At their sole discretion and policy, some libraries may issue Local Use Only cards to visitors. CMPL issues Local Access Cards to visitors. A visitor may have, at most, 1 Local Use Only card in the Ocean State Libraries database. Local Use Only cards may be used to borrow materials from the issuing library only and may not be used to place holds from other OSL libraries. Local Use Only cards do not allow the borrower access to the Ocean State Libraries’ digital eZone site.
Board approved: June 17, 2003
- Mission Statement and Service Policy
- Statement on Confidentiality and Privacy
- Library Patron Code of Conduct
- Displays and Exhibits Policy
- Computer, Internet, and Wireless Use Policy
- Fundraising and Donations Policy
- Materials Selection Policy
- Social Media Policy
- Unattended Children Policy
- Use of the Library by Outside Groups
- Anonymous Letters Addressed to the Board of Trustees
- Photography, Filming, and Video Policy