If you have any questions about library cards please contact the Circulation Desk at 630-924-2750 during regular business hours.

Residents of the Village of Bloomingdale

The Bloomingdale Public Library is a tax-supported public library. This means that people residing within the jurisdictional boundaries of the Bloomingdale Public Library pay taxes to support the library. Those who live within the jurisdictional boundaries of the Bloomingdale Public Library need pay no additional fee to be eligible to receive their first library card.

Library cards are valid for three years and are nontransferable. The card may be renewed without additional fees, provided the library cardholder continues to reside within the jurisdictional boundaries of the Bloomingdale Public Library, has the expired card and is a patron in good standing.

There is a fee to replace damaged, destroyed, lost, or stolen library cards.

A Bloomingdale Public Library cardholder in good standing may use their card at most Illinois public libraries to check out materials.

ADULT RESIDENTS

Adults wishing to register for a borrower’s card, renew an expired borrower’s card, or replace a lost, stolen, damaged, or destroyed borrower’s card at the Bloomingdale Public Library must bring with them two forms of identification which bear their current name and address.

One item must provide photo identification and a current address; the other must be a recently dated piece with the applicant’s current address. Acceptable proofs of identification and residence are listed below. One item must be provided from each list.

MINOR RESIDENTS

Children under the age of eighteen must be accompanied by a parent or guardian when applying for a library card. The parent or guardian must supply acceptable adult identification as described above and sign the statement of responsibility for the library card at the time the library card is issued.

ALTERNATE METHOD FOR RESIDENTS (ADULT & MINORS)

In the event that the patron does not have a second proof of address on hand when registering or re-registering, the circulation staff can register the patron on a provisional basis.

In this instance, the patron must provide personal (i.e. photo and name) identification and proof of name and address. These two items may be the same, i.e. drivers license and state I.D.

The library will not give the card to the patron at the time of registration; instead, the card will be mailed to patron’s supplied home address in order to confirm residency. The patron’s record will be blocked until he or she brings the library card to the circulation desk to activate the card. The patron will only be permitted to check out three items at the time of issuance, and will have a limit of three items until he or she activates his or her card with circulation.

Once the card is activated, the provisional status is lifted and the patron may check out materials under the guidelines that govern all library transactions.

RESIDENTS OF COMMUNITIES OTHER THAN BLOOMINGDALE

Individuals residing outside the jurisdictional boundaries of the Bloomingdale Public Library, but within the boundaries of another public library, are considered Reciprocal Borrowers and may borrow materials from the Bloomingdale Library upon presentation of a valid public library card. See the section on Reciprocal Borrowers for more information.

Non-resident cards will be issued upon payment of the established fee to individuals residing outside the jurisdictional boundaries of the Bloomingdale Public Library who are not within the boundaries of another public library. See the sections on Non-Residents and Non-Resident Taxpayers for more information.

NON-RESIDENTS (who own no property in the Village of Bloomingdale)

The Bloomingdale Public Library participates in the reciprocal borrowing program of the DuPage Library System and the non-resident card program whereby the holder of a Bloomingdale Library non-resident card is entitled to the same rights as the holder of a resident library card including the right to reciprocal borrowing.

Non-resident cards will be issued upon payment of the established fee to individuals:

1. residing beyond the jurisdictional boundaries of the Bloomingdale Library,
2. not within the boundaries of another public library,
3. who do not own property within the Village of Bloomingdale, and
4. who are served by Glenbard East High School (Glenbard Township High School District No. 87) or the area of Lake Park Community High School District No. 108 where the Bloomingdale Public Library appears to be the closest public library to their home.

If individuals live outside of the high school service areas described but can show a commonality of interest with the Village of Bloomingdale or the Bloomingdale Public Library that would make the choice of the Bloomingdale Public Library logical, they may also be entitled to a non-resident card upon payment of the established fee.

The fee for a non-resident card for homeowners shall be calculated under the Tax Bill Method established by the Illinois State Library's regulations for non-resident taxpayers and for non-resident renters shall be 15% of the monthly paid rent. The non-resident fee will cover all residents at the particular address.

Purchasers of non-resident cards must provide a tax bill or rental receipt prior to issuance of the non-resident card.

Non-resident cards are issued for one year from the date of purchase and may be renewed by repeating these procedures.

NON-RESIDENT TAXPAYERS

A non-resident who as an individual, or as a partner, principal stockholder, or other joint owner owns taxable property located within the Village of Bloomingdale, or who is a senior administrative officer of a firm, business or other corporation owning taxable property within the Village, upon presentation of the most recent tax bill upon that taxable property and completion of the non-resident taxpayer form will be issued one non-resident card for each such parcel of taxable property without additional payment. The card is valid for one year and may be renewed by repeating these procedures. This provision also applies to any residential institution (a nursing home, group home or long-term care facility for either children or adults) located within the jurisdictional boundaries of the Bloomingdale Public Library. Any school, business, commercial enterprise or residential institution located within the jurisdictional boundaries of the Library may enter into a contract with the Library for additional library cards under terms to be agreed upon.

RECIPROCAL BORROWERS

Individuals residing outside the jurisdictional boundaries of the Bloomingdale Public Library, but within the boundaries of another public library, may borrow materials from the Bloomingdale Library upon presentation of a valid public library card issued by a DuPage Library System member library and authorized for reciprocal borrowing privileges, or upon presentation of a valid library card issued by any other public library service agency with which the Bloomingdale Public Library or the DuPage Library System has a reciprocal borrowing agreement.

At the time of first usage, a reciprocal borrower must:

1. present their current valid library card,
2. present an acceptable picture identification showing the borrower's current address,
3. complete a Reciprocal Borrower's Registration Form,
4. and must be in good standing at their home library.

It is the policy of the library, regarding the circulation of books and other materials to individual borrowers, to respect the confidential nature of the library user’s identification with specific materials, and his or her right to privacy.

Accordingly, circulation records and other records identifying the names of library users with specific library material are recognized as confidential in nature and shall not be made available to the public or to any agency of state, federal, or local government except pursuant to such process, order or subpoena as may be authorized under the authority of, and pursuant to, federal, state, or local law relating to civil, criminal, or administrative discovery procedures or legislative investigative power.

The Bloomingdale Public Library does not make available lists of registered library patrons except in compliance with the law.

Access to a patron's own records may be obtained by telephone or online if the patron supplies his or her library card number and can verify his or her identity by providing information that is consistent with information in the Library's database. Patrons who wish to check out Library material but have forgotten their Library cards may ask staff to charge items to their cards and staff will comply if time allows staff to verify patrons' identities. The records of material checked out by minors are also protected by confidentiality laws; however, because parents or guardians are responsible by signed agreement with the Library for materials checked out by minors in their care, the Library will consider that minors have given consent to release of information to parents or guardians regarding overdue materials in consideration for the Library card. Notices of overdue material shall be sent to the parent or guardian listing such overdue materials, but information regarding other materials checked out by minors will not be released.

The Library will consider that a patron has given consent to waive confidentiality and will release an item on hold if the patron provides his or her Library card or the Library's notice of the availability of the item on hold to a person who staff can identify as a family member.

By signing your or your minor child's library card you agree to abide by the rules of this, and any other libraries you may visit.

Possession of a Bloomingdale Public Library card grants you many benefits:

• It grants you the right to borrow materials from our collection of more than 120,000 items, including DVDs, books on cassette and CD, software packages, compact discs, and popular fiction, non-fiction, and reference books.


• In addition, you have quick access to the collections of eight other local libraries with a combined collection of over 1.5 million items.


• It also grants you access to the collections of nearly every public library in Illinois - either by visiting them in person to borrow materials, or by requesting materials to be delivered to the Bloomingdale Public Library for you to pick up.


• It allows you to access our online catalog from home to look for items – you may also place holds on items and be notified when they are ready to be picked up.


• It grants you access to the databases, such as the Auto Repair Reference Center or Heritage Quest, that are available to you in your home via our webpage. For more information see Premium Research Databases page on this website.


• It allows you to check out eBooks and eAudiobooks from your home or office computer through MyMediaMall.


• It grants you free access to our public computer labs with over 30 computers, scanners, and black and white and full color printers.


• It allows you to register for programs ranging from Romper Rhymes for 3 month old babies to our Introduction to Computers classes designed for seniors.

The library also offers many other services to the public to make their lives easier and more interesting. For more information on additional services check out:
Library Services

Please take care to return your materials on time and in good condition. All materials are your responsibility until they are checked in by the staff at the Circulation Desk.

Please, do not leave materials on or by the bookdrops, the front door, or back dock; the library is not responsible for loss or damage of items that are improperly returned.