| Lending rules
Public Library at Scharloo
The Library at Scharloo is the main building of the Curacao Public Library Foundation.
The Library also has a branch at Barber and 2 bookmobiles that serve 33 areas in the island.
Reading and borrowing
The Library is a public space. There are books, magazines, newspapers, works of reference, videos and language courses. All these materials of the library can be used free of charge, but if you want to take home books, videos or any other material, you should register for membership.
To consult any material you need a sédula/ID.
Registration and membership
To borrow books you need a valid library pass. The pass is free up to the age of 17. Young adults up to 24 and individuals aged 60 and older are granted a discount.
Tourists/trainees on a temporary stay in the island pay a membership fee and a deposit per person.
The library pass is personal. You are responsible for the material you borrow in your name. The library pass is valid for one year, except if your age category changes during that period. Then the pass will be valid until your next birthday.
If you lose or miss your library pass, it is highly important for you to report that to the library without delay to prevent unauthorized use of the pass. You will receive a duplicate pass against payment upon production of your ID. You should timely submit your name and any change of address.
Membership will terminate on the expiry date, by the member’s death and by notice of termination of membership of the individual who borrows materials, given in writing or by word of mouth. Upon premature cancellation of membership fees will not be refunded.
Identity
A library pass will only be issued when proof of the individual’s identity and address are available.
Children up to the age of 13 should have a parent or guardian register them with their ID and address.
Valid proof of identity:
- Curaçao driver’s licence + identification of address
- Dutch driver’s licence + identification of address
- School pass + identification of address
- Antillean ID card + identification of address
- Dutch passport+ identification of address
- Non Dutch passport, with residence permit registered in the passport by the immigration authorities.
Valid address identification: copy of bank or giro bank statement / Civil Registry certificate, tenancy agreement/ SVB card / Aqualectra bill/ UTS bill. Any proof of identity should be of a recent date (not older than 2 months).
Lending pass and borrowing materials.
You can only borrow materials with a valid library pass.
Your library pass entitles you to borrow materials from the main library. To borrow from the bookmobile or the branch library you should register there. Materials from the reference room, the newspaper room and the Antilliana/Caribiana section cannot be borrowed.
Young members up to the age of 13 can borrow materials in the youth section only.
When you have a book or other material registered at the lending desk, you will receive a voucher. This voucher contains the principal data of the material, for example, the author and/or title. For each title the latest return date is stated.
Return and overdue charges
You can return borrowed materials either at the library or at the bookmobile in your area.
At the library at Scharloo you will receive a voucher as a receipt for materials returned. In case of late return of borrowed materials you will have to pay overdue charges.
Overdue charges are calculated at a daily rate. Collection proceedings will be started if you fail to return materials borrowed after three reminders. All expenses occurred will be for your account.
Additional service by means of the book deposit box
To avoid standing and waiting in line you can use the book deposit box 24 hours a day.
Returned materials are processed on the same day. Overdue charges, however, should be paid at the lending desk. You can do so also the next time you visit us.
Damaged materials
The library takes it that you handle borrowed materials with care.
Check if the materials you want to borrow are in good condition. If you notice any damage to the material, please report it to the lending desk. Doing so you avoid being held liable later on for the damage and any expenses that may be involved.
Don’t try to fix the damage yourself, but inform the library of it.
If you have lost or damaged the material beyond repair, you will have to compensate the new-for-old value in full. For videos this is a fixed amount. If the material involved can be repaired, the cost of repair will be charged to you (this is also a fixed amount)
The library also makes a small charge for a damaged bar code sticker.
Rewind videotapes after use. Videos of the library can be viewed only in the family circle or for educational purposes. Public presentation or copying is explicitly prohibited.
Amount of materials to be borrowed
| |
books |
videos, etc. |
|
| Children: 2 thru 13 |
3 |
x |
Borrowing only in youth library |
| Teenagers:14 thru 17 |
3 |
3 |
Borrowing also in youth/adults library (3 books) |
| Youths: 18 thru 24 |
4 |
3 |
Borrowing also in youth library (3 books) |
| Adults/60+ |
4 |
3 |
Borrowing also in youth library (3 books) |
Lending period
| Materials |
Lending period |
| Books, magazines |
3 weeks |
| Videos |
1 weeks |
| Language courses |
6 weeks |
Extending lending period
The lending period for books and videos can be extended.
Lending periods for language courses can be extended only once.
Mind that an extension is treated as a new lending period.
You cannot get an extension on any item if another person has reserved it.
You can ask for an extension by phone only twice during opening hours of the library.
Petition/Reservation
If the material that you want to reserve is not available, you may make a petition/reservation for it. You can have that done through the lending desk or you can do it yourself by means of our online catalogue. Additional information on this catalogue is available at the information desk. You can also make reservations by phone during opening hours of the library. You will be notified when the material you want has come in, or that it is not available. You will have to pay reservation charges when you collect the material.
Liability
The library is not liable for personal property that has been left behind in materials borrowed. The library is not liable for any damage caused to your video appliance by any video borrowed from the library.
The library is not liable for theft/loss in its building.
Other provisions
It is not allowed use cell phones in the study room and the Antilliana/Caribiana section.
Food and beverages (neither hot meals nor alcoholic drinks) are only allowed in the newspaper room downstairs. Smoking is not allowed.
Library materials are protected against theft.
Theft will be reported to the police. Library ‘guards’ are authorized to keep an eye on things to make sure that everybody complies with the rules.
You can state your suggestions and comments on preprinted forms and deposit them in the suggestion box on the ground floor.
All cases that are not referred to in these regulations will be decided by the Board.
Also the rules laid down in the visitors’ regulations are applicable to the Public Library Foundation. Both are binding upon the all visitors and borrowers of materials.
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