TBLC
What kind of card will be used?
Libraries will continue to use their own cards and will attach a RECIPROCAL BORROWING sticker to the card.
Who should sign the letter of agreement?
Whoever is authorized to sign agreements for your library.
What if a person from outside the TBLC area requests a TBLC card from my library?
The TBLC Library Card program is available to patrons of participating TBLC member libraries only.
How do we know if a borrower is in good standing?
You will not know. You’ll take the same risk with non-residents as with a resident. To minimize your risk, be sure to get a current address.
Must an adult sign a child’s TBLC card?
If the policy of the lending library requires regular patrons who are juveniles to have an adult signature, then the TBLC juvenile borrower must have an adult signature file.
Is it important for my library to have a property stamp?
Yes, stamping books with a property stamp will help identify them as your materials and insure that they get back to you quickly. We suggest stamping on the title page or top edge.
Is a book considered returned when it reaches the lending library or when it is returned at another library?
It is returned when it reaches any participating library.
What if I have art or special materials in my library?
It is better to impose restrictions than not to participate.
Can public libraries share the name and address of a library card holder with another library seeking the return of overdue materials?
No. Public libraries may only release registration information in response to a court order or a state attorney subpoena. See Florida Statute 257.261.
Do other states have statewide borrowers cards?
Yes, many do. At least fifteen other states have them. Well-established programs exist in Kansas, Michigan, Illinois, Pennsylvania, Colorado and Connecticut.
Should I issue a card to a patron even though he/she has a TBLC sticker from another library? (For instance, a student from my local school.)
No, this causes duplicate registrations and makes tracking patrons difficult, but there may be times when it’s necessary.
When a card is expired will the TBLC sticker still be valid?
No, the patron needs to renew or re-register.
What if a patron comes in with a TBLC sticker on a card other than a traditional library card?
Students and faculty use their I.D.s as library cards. A lending library always has the option of further identifying a patron’s identity by requesting a drivers license or other I.D.
What kind of statistics will libraries collect?
Libraries will track number of items checked out by TBLC card holders and number of TBLC library cards (or stickers) distributed.
How do I collect these statistics?
Use the monthly TBLC statistics sheet provided by TBLC.