Policies

Mission

The mission of the Ingleside Public Library is to assembly, preserve, administer and promote the use of library materials and services designed to meet the cultural education, informational and recreational needs and interest of its community.

Policies & Procedures Manual

The Board of Trustees of the Ingleside Public Library adopted the Policies and Procedures Manual (PDF) on May 28, 1996, so that the Library may provide an atmosphere conducive to the appropriate use of its services and facility. The use of the library is intended to be reading, studying, writing, and listening to written or electronically transmitted materials - any other use is not permitted. The public is required to comply with these Rules and Regulations.

Prohibited Actions

The following actions are prohibited on Library property:

  • Selling and/or soliciting
  • Distributing or posting printed materials/literature that have not been approved by the Library
  • Soliciting for money or items or services
  • Soliciting for purposes of prostitution
  • Possessing or consuming alcohol or illegal drugs or being under the influence of alcohol or drugs
  • Smoking or other uses of tobacco
  • Consuming food or beverages in any type of container or bringing in packaged or unpackaged food or beverages
  • Sleeping or putting your head on the table
  • Not wearing shoes or shirts, or wearing clothes unbuttoned or unzipped
  • Putting feet or legs on the furniture
  • Bringing animals or pets into the library (except guide dogs for the blind or hearing-impaired)
  • Any loud, unreasonable, and or disturbing noises created by persons, radios, tape players or TVs
  • Intentionally damaging, destroying, or stealing any Library property or a patron’s or employee’s property
  • Taking Library materials into restrooms
  • Removing library materials from the premises without authorization through established lending procedures
  • Playing cards or games of any kind
  • Adults using the Children’s area; this area is for children and their parents or care providers only.
  • Leaving a child under eight years of age unattended by a responsible person
  • Leaving any child or young adult (up to age 17) in the Library after closing time

Your Library Card

Your new library card is your passport to a world of knowledge, entertainment, and pleasure. The library staff is dedicated to providing personalized service in a professional manner. We welcome your suggestions and comments on improving our services and providing materials and programs for the community.

Getting Your Library Card

If you are a resident of San Patricio County you may receive a library card free of charge. All library cards are issued for one year and replacements for lost cards are $2 each. To obtain your library card, you will need to provide proof of residence. Your identification may be a driver’s license, a utility bill, a rent receipt, or a piece of mail with your current address on it and canceled by the post office.

About Your Library Card

A library card is issued to you individually and it should be treated as one of your credit cards. You are responsible for all materials checked out, or “charged” on that card. If you loan the card to someone else, you are still responsible for the materials. If your library card is lost or stolen, please notify the library immediately so we can issue you a new card. The number on your missing library card will then no longer be valid at the library. Also, please inform the library of any change of address or telephone number.

View our Policies and Procedures Manual (PDF).

Using Your Library Card

You must present your library card each time you check out materials. New patrons may check out 5 items. Established patrons can check out up to 20 items. Videos are limited to 6 per library card. Only adult patrons may check out videos. Videos are due back in three days. Books, magazines, and audiocassettes may be checked out for 2 weeks.

Reserves

If you don’t find the materials you are looking for on the shelf, please check with staff for availability. We are happy to take reservations for books or videos in our collection or on order. You may also email requests for reserved materials by emailing Belinda Casanova.

Inter-Library Loan

If you don’t find the book you are looking for on the shelf, please let us know and we will be more than happy to order the book for you from another library at no additional charge. You may email Irene Riojas your Interlibrary Loan request.

Renewals

The library is happy to renew items for you at the library or over the phone however; we cannot renew materials for which there is a waiting list. All fines must be paid before an overdue book may be renewed. When renewing materials over the phone, please be prepared to give us your library card number.

Overdue Materials

As a courtesy to our patrons, the library will call and remind you of your overdue materials. New materials may not be checked out if you have overdue materials or owe fines.

Lost or Damaged Materials

Materials that are lost or damaged must be paid for before other materials can be checked out. Please notify the library immediately of any lost material. The patron is responsible for paying the retail value for the lost item, plus a $5 non-refundable processing fee. If a lost item is found and has been paid for, the price of the item will be refunded and the $5 processing fee retained by the library.