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Membership, Borrowing, Fees, & Fines

Membership | Get a Library Card Online | Borrowing | Fees & Fines

MEMBERSHIP

Any resident of the Borough of Sayreville five years of age or older may join the library free of charge.  Proper identification must be presented when applying for or renewing a library card.  Both name and address must appear on the identification.  Cards must be renewed every three years and are not transferable.  

In order to join the library, children must be at least five years of age at the time of registration.  Proof of age is required, and the parent or guardian accompanying the child must have a Sayreville Library Card in good standing.  Applications for all children's cards (through sixth grade) must be signed by the parent or legal guardian.  Children may not use adult cards to borrow materials.  

Additionally, any individual employed within the Borough of Sayreville is eligible for a free Sayreville Library Card.  Proper identification and proof of employment within the Borough of Sayreville are required to establish membership.  However, if your home library participates in a reciprocal borrowing network, a Sayreville card is not necessary. You will simply use your library card from your home community as long as they participate in the LMxAC, MURAL, or Open Borrowing networks.  To find out if your library participates in any of these agreements, please contact the circulation desk in-person or by phone at (732) 727-0212, ext. 3.  

Other persons may purchase an out-of-town card for $30 per year.  

The following documents may be accepted as proof of Sayreville residence when obtaining a library card, or renewing an expired card:

  • Driver’s license
  • Official NJ identification issued in lieu of a driver’s license
  • Lease
  • Utility bill
  • Current pay stub with name and street address
  • Sayreville Board of Education school schedule. (High school students must also present their Sayreville War Memorial High School photo identification.)
  • Sayreville Board of Education report card from a school within the Sayreville school system

All identification listed above must be current and include name and a Sayreville Borough street address.

Get a Library Card Online

BORROWING INFORMATION

Patrons are responsible for all items checked out on their library cards.  If a card is lost or stolen, advise the library immediately so that the card may be blocked.  If items charged out to a patron are lost, damaged or destroyed, the patron must pay the cost of the item plus a processing charge and any applicable late fees.  Refunds will not be issued if the lost material is found after payment.

 Loan Periods:

Material Type Borrowing Period Renewal Policy Borrowing Limits
New Books 2 Weeks 1 renewal permitted if:
1) Item(s) is/are not overdue and
2) There are no reserves on the item(s)		 5
Battle of the Books 1 Week No Renewals 1
All other circulating books & magazines 3 Weeks 1 renewal permitted if the item(s) is/are not overdue 25 ( Max. of 3 per subject (5-digit Dewey Decimal Number)
DVDs with a running time of fewer than 3 hours 5 Days No Renewals 3
DVDs with a running time of 3 hours or more, TV series, & instructional titles 2 Weeks No Renewals 1
VHS Tapes 5 Days No Renewals 3
Audiobooks
(Cassette or CD)		 3 Weeks 1 Renewal 5
Music CDs 1 Week 1 Renewal 5
Reference Books and New Magazines (latest issue) Non-circulating n/a n/a
Interlibrary Loan Material (via JerseyCat) 3 Weeks No Renewals 5
  • Materials that are eligible for renewal and not overdue may be renewed by phone: 732-727-0212.
  • Outside bookdrops are only open when the library is closed.  When the library is open, materials must be returned inside.  All library materials (books, CDs, DVDs, VHS tapes) can be left in the bookdrop.
  • Materials returned in the outside bookdrops after closing, but before opening the next day, will be considered to have been returned before closing.
  • When the library is open, always put any items you're returning in the inside bookdrop before making your new selection.

FEES and FINES

Residents of the Borough of Sayreville may join the library free of charge.
Non-residents may purchase an out-of-town borrower's card for $30.00 per year.

Note: Many local libraries participate in a network that provides reciprocal borrowing privileges between libraries.  So even though you may not be a resident of Sayreville, you may be permitted to borrow materials if you have an account in good standing with your hometown library.  Check with the circulation desk for details and to see if your library participates.

Fine & Fee Schedule:

Fines Amount
Overdue: VHS & DVD $2.00 per item per library day
Overdue: Standard Inter-Library Loan Item $1.00 per item per library day
Overdue: All other books & magazines 20 cents per item per library day
Lost Barcode or case $3.00
Lost DVD Sleeve or DVD Insert $5.00
Lost Library Material (Sayreville item) Cost of material + $5.00 processing fee
Lost JerseyCat Item Price determined by lending library
Lost Interlibrary Loan Item Price determined by lending library
Lost Interlibrary Loan Insert Card w/ Barcode $5.00 per card
Lost Library Card Replacement $3.00
Fees Amount
Video Rentals Issued by Sayreville Patrons Exceeding the Maximum Allotment of three 5-day DVDs, one 14-day DVD, or 3 VHS tapes $2.00 per extra item
Video Rentals by Out-of-Town Borrowers $2.00 per rental
Temporary Borrowing Card $1.00
Non-resident Borrower's Card $60.00 per year
Photocopies 10 cents per copy
Computer Printing -- Internet or MS Office First 10 b/w pages free; additional b/w-10 cents; 25 cents color
Sale items Books: 50 cents each or 3 for $1.00
Videos: $1.00 each
  • Items may be checked out with a fine balance of up to $4.99
  • Fine balance of $5.00 or more: All fines must be paid in full to regain borrowing privileges.
  • Lost and Damaged Items: Patrons must pay a library-determined replacement price plus a processing fee of $5.00 per item lost.  Substitute items will NOT be accepted in lieu of lost or damaged items. 
6/09