Loan Terms & Fees
Everything You Need to Know About Borrowing Materials
The Mattoon Public Library aims to make borrowing simple and accessible for everyone. Below you’ll find our full borrowing guidelines, loan limits, renewal rules, and any applicable fees.
No Late Fees
As of June 2020, the Mattoon Public Library no longer charges late fees. We want your library experience to be stress-free. However, patrons are still responsible for returning items on time.
Lost, Damaged, or Long-Overdue Items
If an item is never returned, significantly overdue, or returned damaged, replacement charges may apply. These may include:
- The cost of the item
- A processing fee
If the item is later returned in good condition, these charges will be removed from your account.
Note: These policies apply to patrons with a library card issued by the Mattoon Public Library.
Overdue & Lost Item Notices
We’ll help you stay on track with friendly reminders
- You will be notified by email or phone as items become overdue.
- After the third and final notice, items are automatically marked as lost in our system.
- Replacement fees will be charged unless the items are returned.
For Parents & Guardians
For cardholders under age 17, parents/guardians are financially responsible for lost or damaged materials.
If materials are overdue or marked lost:
- The child and parent/guardian lose borrowing privileges until the account is cleared.
Interlibrary Loan (ILL) Policies
Loan Periods
For materials borrowed from other libraries through ILL:
- Loan periods are set by the lending library, not Mattoon Public Library.
Fees
Mattoon Public Library does not charge late fees on ILL items unless:
- The item is significantly overdue
- The item is damaged or not returned
Loan Periods & Renewals
Unless otherwise noted, most items circulate for 3 weeks and can be renewed up to 4 times.
Renewals can be made:
- Online through your library account
- By phone
- In person
Exceptions
- New materials may not be available for renewal due to high demand.
- Laptops are available for in-library use only and cannot be renewed.
Loan Limits
Total number of items that can be checked out at one time:
| Item Type | Adult Limit | Under 17 Limit |
|---|---|---|
| Books | 25 | 15 |
| Audiobooks | 25 | 15 |
| DVDs | 3 | 3 |
| Videogames | 1 | 1 |
| Music CDs | 3 | 3 |
| Laptop (in-Library only) | 1 | 1 |
Loan Period & Renewal Table
Total number of items that can be checked out at one time:
| Item Type | Loan Period | Renewal Limit |
|---|---|---|
| All New Materials | 3 weeks | 0 |
| Books | 3 weeks | 4 |
| Audiobooks | 3 weeks | 4 |
| DVDs | 3 wekks | 4 |
| Videogames | 3 weeks | 4 |
| Music CDs | 2 hours | 4 |
| Laptops (in-house use only) | 2 hours | 0 |
