Library Policies:

• Tri-County Library serves Henderson, Kaufman and Van Zandt counties.
• A valid Texas Driver’s License or picture ID must be presented before a card may be issued
• Children must be at least five years old to receive a library card.  Children between the ages of five to eighteen must have a parent/guardian's signature and provide a parent’s Texas driver’s license. 
• Minors eligible for their own card must provide a parent/guardian’s license or ID number.
• First time check out can be limited to three items; subsequent checkouts will go up to ten items if no fines are incurred.  No more than three videos may be checked out per patron.
• Library card or an alternate form of identification may be requested before items are checked out.
• Replacement cards are $5.00
• Books and audio books are checked out for two weeks. 
• DVD's are checked out for one week.
• Books can be rechecked if they have not been reserved.  Renewals will be given for an additional two weeks, and can be done over the phone, online catalog or through e-mail.
• Books may be reserved by phone, online catalog, email or in person and will be held three days after notification unless other arrangements have been made.
• 30 cents per day per book will be charged for overdue books.  One dollar per day per disc will be charged for audio and video materials.  Items will not be checked out to anyone who has an overdue item or a fine.
• Tri-County Library will place a “flag” on the driver’s license of any patron responsible for outstanding fines or overdue materials.  Flags will remain in place until the account is settled.
• Please do not leave audio books or DVDs in the drop box.  $2.00 will be charged for each video or audio tape left in the drop box.  If items left in the drop box sustain any damage, the replacement cost will be charged.
• Books not found in our library may be requested through Interlibrary Loan.  See librarian for information.
• Internet and computer access is available.  
• Staff can make photocopies for the public.  Copies are 25 cents per page for black and white and 50 cents for color copies. 
• Faxing services are available at $1.00 per page 
• Email scans are available at no charge
• The library will occasionally close for inclement weather.  Call ahead during poor traveling conditions.

Patron Code of Conduct:

• No tobacco products, food, or drinks will be allowed in the library.
• Disruptive or disrespectful behavior will not be tolerated.
• Unattended/unsupervised children are not permitted.  If an appropriate caregiver cannot be reached, unattended children will be placed in the care of local authorities.
• Abuse or misuse of premises will be reported to local authorities.
• Offensive language, conduct, or hygiene will cancel all library privileges.
• Threats against library staff, patrons, or property will be promptly reported to local authorities.
• When using cell phones, please be considerate of other library patrons.

Patron PRivacy/ Intellectual Freedom

Tri-County Library believes that patron privacy is of the utmost importance and extreme care and caution is taken when dealing with any and all personal information. The Library referes to the American Library Association (ALA) guidelines when devising policies regarding patron privacy.  Technology presents new issues regarding patron privacy and these guidelines "attempt to balance the need to protect reader privacy with the needs of libraries to collect user date and provide personalized services, while respecting and protecting the individual's right to make their own informed decisions in regards to how much privacy they are willing to trade for convenience or added benefits".  

Tri-County Library supports the individual's right to access information representing a variety of points of view regardless of the individual views and biases of Tri-County Library personnel and will adhere to the principles of intellectual freedom adopted by the American Library Association as expressed in the Library Bill of Rights, the Freedom to Read Statement, and the Freedom to View Statement.