Library Cards & Borrowing

Customers

Customers of the Rapides Parish Library may be any resident of Rapides, Grant, Avoyelles, Evangeline, Allen, Vernon, LaSalle, Natchitoches, or any of the Libraries Southwest Consortium parishes. Proof of address is required. If the customer cannot provide proof of address, the library card must be mailed to the customer. In this case, only two items may be checked out at the time the card is issued. Library cards may be used at any Rapides Parish Library branch. Borrowed materials may be returned to any Rapides Parish Library branch.

Customer types:

It is the right, privilege, and obligation of the Parent and/or Legal Guardian of a Minor Child (ages 0-17) to carefully consider and select and approve a specific Library Card that is most appropriate for their Minor Child including the library materials that are most appropriate for their Minor Child as well as monitor the reading and viewing activities of their Minor Child while at the library.

  • Adult: Age 18 and older
  • Minor: Ages Birth -17 (See options below)
  • Bookmobile
  • Child Development Centers
  • Institutions
  • Adult Guests (out-of-service area)
  • Bookmobile & Homebound Delivery
  • Virtual (Adults only)

**The “Guidance For Libraries Implementing 2023 La. Acts No. 436” issued by the Louisiana Office of the Attorney General on September 13, 2023, as well as La.R.S.25:225(C)(2)(b), specifically provide: “Library Card System Requirement: La.R.S.25:225(C)(2)(b) A library card system that requires a minor’s parent or guardian to select whether the minor is permitted to check out sexually explicit material physically available in the library.”

“Digital Content Selection Requirement: La.R.S.25:225(C)(2)(c)

The Library must have a system in place that allows a parent or guardian to select whether their minor child may check out digital content.”

Thus, in accordance with the above legal directive, the Rapides Parish Library offers three (3) options for a Minor’s Library Card:

  1. Restricted Minor Card: Birth to age 17—this Library card only allows the minor child to check out physical items from the Library collection and the minor child shall have NO ACCESS to check out Digital Content Materials; the Library card prohibits the Minor Child from checking out materials that have been identified as “sexually explicit” by the Library Board of Control pursuant to La. R.S. 25:225; under this option, the Minor Child will have access to all material in a library collection but will be restricted from individual library materials;
  2. Restricted Minor Plus Card: Birth to age 17—this library card allows the minor child to check out physical items from the library collection including those materials that have been identified as “sexually explicit” by the Library Board of Control pursuant to La. R.S. 25:225; and the minor child shall have NO ACCESS to checkout Digital Content Materials;
  3. Restricted Minor Plus & Digital Card: Birth to age 17—this library card allows the minor child to checkout physical items from the library collection including those materials that have been identified as “sexually explicit” by the Library Board of Control pursuant to La. R.S. 25:225; and the minor child shall have access to all Digital Content Materials.

Persons who live outside of the serviced parishes but who work or attend school in Rapides Parish are also eligible.  Persons who neither live, work nor attend school in Rapides Parish and who live outside the area may obtain a library card for an annual fee of $17.00, the per capita support to the Library of Rapides Parish residents. People who are here temporarily must be in the area at least six weeks in order to obtain a library card.

Circulation Periods

All customers must use their own library cards. If a customer wishes to check out items on another person’s card, they must present both their card and the other person’s card. The customer’s own card must not be blocked in order for them to check out for the other customer.

No more than 25 items may be checked out at one time per library customer. Outreach customers (BK, RC) will have items checked out for them consistent with the schedule of the service.
The circulation period for each type of library material is:

  • Reference – Not circulated
  • Requested books (2nd customer waiting) – 2 weeks
  • Books – 3 weeks
  • Kits – 3 weeks
  • Magazines – 3 weeks, 10 maximum
  • Compact discs, MP3-CDs or Playaways – 3 weeks, 5 maximum
  • DVDs or Blu-Rays – 3 weeks, 5 maximum
  • Electronic Resources – 3 weeks
  • Equipment, Passes, Laptops, and Hotspots – 1 week

Renewals

Items may be renewed for two additional loan periods if they are not on a request list. Items may be renewed by telephone at any branch or online. Laptops and hotspots are not renewable.

Fines

Library materials must be returned by the due date.  No late charges will accrue for materials including books, DVDs, audiobooks, and magazines, excluding laptops and hotspots, returned after their due date. However, items that reach six weeks past due may be charged to the patron’s record and attempts to collect replacement costs will be pursued.

Borrowing privileges and use of our public computers are suspended once a customer owes $25.00 or more.

Customers will be charged for lost or stolen library cards at the rate of $0.50 for minors and $2.00 for adults.

Laptops:

  • Late Fine: $10.00 per day with no grace period or fine forgiveness
  • Damage Fine: $25.00 per occurrence
  • Missing laptop bag: $45.00
  • Missing AC Adapter/Power Cord: $75.00

Hotspots:

  • Late Fine: $10.00 per day with no grace period or fine forgiveness
  • Damage Fine: $25.00 per occurrence
  • Missing Case: $20.00
  • Missing AC Adapter/Power Cord: $25.00


Customers will be charged for lost or stolen library cards at the rate of $0.50 for minors and $2.00 for adults.

Access to Public Computers

All customers who qualify for a library card (see above) are required to have one in order to access the public PCs. Adult guests, who live outside our service area, and who are here temporarily, are provided with temporary access.

Inter-Library Loans

With regard to the Library’s lending and borrowing items from other library systems (interlibrary loans), the Library is a part of the State Library of Louisiana’s inter-library loan network, and will follow the State Library’s guidelines.