Library Services

Getting a library card

Anyone over the age of 18 who lives in our service area can get a library card with the correct identification. Correct identification includes: Current photo I.D. Proof of correct street address (not PO Box) If the photo ID has the correct address that is all you need, otherwise you would need to bring an alternate proof of address in addition to the ID. Children must be in school/school age to get a library card. In order to get a library card for your child you will need to bring your correct identification and the child must be with you. The first card is free. A replacement card is $2.00.



Online resources

Overdrive: Enjoy ebooks and audiobooks for free through your library (must have library card) Sign Up HERE Download the App, Libby, HERE Evergreen Indiana App: Access your account, search for items, place holds and many other services are now available on the go. Look for it in the play store on your mobile device. Inspire: Inspire is Indiana's Virtual Online Library. It includes full-text magazine and journal articles, websites, pamphlets, images, almanacs, full-text historic newspapers, multimedia, library catalogs and much more. Check Out Inspire HERE



Services in our building

In addition to having a great collection of books, audiobooks, magazines, and DVDs to check out for free, the library offers many other services: Public computers Free wifi Printing/Copying: black & white or color (small fee) Faxing (small fee) Free meeting rooms (conditions apply) Document scanning



Fines and Fees

Fines Overdue materials: Beginning Monday, October 12, 2020 the Benton County Public Library is no longer charging daily overdue fines. Items marked lost/damaged items: Cost of item + $10.00 processing fee (Items that are 28 days overdue will be marked LOST and the cost of the item plus a $10 processing fee will be added to the account. The cost of the item will be removed if the item is returned in usable condition) Fees Copies/computer printouts: Black & white .10 a page Color: .25 a page Faxes: First page $1.00 Additional pages .25 Receiving faxes .10 a page



BCPL Circulation Policies

Check-outs Patrons with accounts in good standing are able to check out up to 100 items with their library card. (Although we do not recommend this amount) Within that 100 items patrons are allowed to have up to 10 movies checked out at a time. Overdues A patron's card will be blocked, and no circulation services may be obtained with it if the patron has 15 or more overdue items, or owes $10 or more in unpaid fines/fees. A patron's account will remain blocked until the fines/fees are paid or the patron has resoved the matter with the owning library to restore their privileges. Overdue notices are sent as a courtesy from the Evergreen Indiana Libraries. Failure to receive notices does not exempt patrons from the responsibility for the payment of lost items or overdue fines/fees. Renewals Most items may be renewed up to two times. A patron may make a renewal request in person, by phone or via the online catalog "My Account" feature. Certain items may not be eligible for renewal, such as items that have been placed on HOLD by another patron. Holds Most Evergreen cardholders have full access to the consortium and may place holds on any Evergreen library's holdable materials, with a few exceptions: Reciprocal borrower Student Teacher These profile cardholders may place holds only on the materials owned by the library that issued their library card. Patrons can have no more than 20 items on hold that are waiting to be filled and will have one week to pick up a hold that is ready (4 days for movies). Patrons whose cards are blocked due to maximum overdue items or fines/fees will not be allowed to place holds until their card privileges are restored. *These policies are in accordance with Evergreen Indiana Circulation Policy and are subject to change at any time. For a complete list of policies ask at the BCPL circulation desk or go to the Evergreen Indiana website: http://evergreen.lib.in.us/eg/opac/home



BCPL Internet Use Policies

The library has six (6) computers on the first floor for adult use (age 16 and up) and six (6) computers on the second floor for children's use (age 15 and below). Patrons are allowed up to one hour of computer use per day. Library staff may be available for basic computer assistance only if time and scheduling allows. The internet will be managed in a manner consistent with appropriate library behavior Abusive or disruptive behavior will cause computer use to be terminated. The library does not offer email accounts to the public. There are several sources for free email accounts available on the internet. The public is not allowed to download files from the internet to our computers. Information needed may be printed out for a small fee (see fines and fees). *Internet users must respect all copyright laws and licensing agreements pertaining to software, files or the resources obtained via the internet. The following uses of library-provided internet access are not acceptable:

  • Violating any local, state or federal statute.
  • Vandalizing, damaging or disabling the property of another-individual or organization.
  • Accessing another individual's materials, information or files without permission.
  • Violating, copying or otherwise using the intellectual property of another individual without permission.
  • Using the internet for solicitation, advertisement or other commercial purposes.
  • Accessing, uploading, downloading, distributing or transmitting pornographic, obscene or sexually explicit material.
Disclaimer: The internet contains many valuable resources but there is no federal, state or local control of its users or content at this time The library staff cannot monitor or control access to such material nor protect users from offensive material on the internet. Users are cautioned that the accuracy, completeness and currency of information found on the internet varies widely. Critical judgment should be used to evaluate all sources. The Benton County Public Library staff and board shall not be responsible for anyone's inablility to use the public access computers at the library. Anyone who uses a public access computer agrees to abide by all library computer use policies, guidelines, and procedures and releases the library staff and board from all claims which may arise from use of said computers. The Benton County Public Library makes no warranties of any kind, neither expressed or implied, for the internet access it is providing. The library is not responsible for the accuracy, nature, or quality of information gathered through library-provided internet access. NOTE TO PARENTS ON USE OF INTERNET BY MINORS: The library believes the benefits of the internet exceed any potential disadvantages. Even should the library institute technical methods to our systems to regulate patron's internet access, those methods could not guarantee compliance with the library's Acceptable Use Policy. The library cannot censor access to material nor protect users from offensive information. Parents and guardians of minor children must assume responsibility for setting and conveying the standard that their children should follow when using the internet. It is recommended that parents use the internet with their children. Parents may exclude their children from using the internet by notifying staff who will note that child's account.



Children's Computer Use Rules

  • Only patrons age 15 and under may use the children's computers.
  • An active library card is needed to log on to the computers.
    • By owning a library card a child is given permission to use the computers unless specifically excluded by a parent/guardian.
    • If a parent wishes to exclude their child from using the internet computers they should notify a library staff member who will note the child's account.
  • Patrons are allowed to use the computers for up to 60 minutes per day.
  • Only one patron is allowed at each computer.
  • Computers will automatically shut off 15 minutes before closing except on Tuesday and Thursdays when they will automatically shut off at 7:00pm.
  • Patrons must be respectful of the library, it's staff and each other at all times.
  • Children are expected to use "inside voices".
  • No food or drinks are allowed near the computers
  • Computers are not to be used to look up forbidden/illegal items.
  • Violating any of these rules may result in being logged off the computer for the day.
  • Repeated violations could result in computer use restrictions.



BCPL Unattended Child Policy

The Benton County Public Library welcomes children and patrons of any age into the library during our open hours. The library wants a safe and secure environment for children while they are here, however, the library and it's staff are not to act in loco parentis (in the place of a parent). Any person under the age of 18 is legally a minor and considered a child by the library. The responsibility of a child rests solely with their parent or guardian at all times. The library staff respects the privacy of all library patrons and will only intervene when, in the opinion of the library staff, the safety and well-being of a child is threatened.

  • Children are expected to follow all library policy.
  • The library is not responsible for unattended children or for the wherabouts of any child should they leave the premises.
  • Staff members must be able to contact the parents/guardians of any child left alone in the library. If a child is unable to provide parental contact information and/or emergency information they may not be allowed unsupervised in the library. Authorities will be called if a child is left in the library without this information.
  • Maturity is based on the ability of a child to be self-sufficient in a public setting. Regardless of the age of the patron, if there is any question about the competence of the individual to care for themselves then the parent, guardian or police will be called if there is no one in the library to attend to them.
  • The library reserves the right to limit the length of stay for an unattended minor.
  • Continued disruptive behavior will result in a staff member contacting a parent/guardian to retrieve said unattended child and could result in the temporary loss of the child's library privileges.

  • If necessary, a staff member will stay with the child until a police officer, parent or guardian is able to retrieve them. Under no circumstances may a staff member take an unattended child anywhere.

Note: Disruptive behavior includes, but is not limited to: loud talking, arguments, foul language, running in the library, disturbing other patrons, disrepecting library staff or mistreating library property. A minor child is defined as anyone under the age of 18.