• About the AACPL,
  
• Services for Patrons with Disabilities,
  
• About the Catalog and Databases
  
• AACPL Policies and Procedures, Regulations governing the use of the AACPL and AACPL grounds by Patrons
  
• Doors to Discovery and Diversion- AACPL's Three Year Service Plan,
  
• Branch Information
  
• Donations Policy
  
• Wireless Policy and Procedure Now available in all branches!
  
• Meeting Room Rules and Regulations
  

• Visual Impairment Aids.
  • Large-Print Materials - At all branches.
  • Low-Vision Reading Machine - For individuals with macular degeneration, cataracts, glaucoma and other visual impairments. Magnifies print up to 60 times its original size. At the North County Area Library and the Edgewater Branch.
  • Text-to-Speech Reading Machine - For those who are blind or have limited vision. Scans printed pages and reads them aloud. At the North County Area Library.
  • Text to Speech synthesizer (Jaws for Windows software) on ADA  machines at Annapolis, North County & West County Area Libraries.
  • Maryland State "Talking Books" Service - For those who are blind. Referral at all branches.
• Deaf/Hearing Impaired Aids
  • TTY/Modem equipped computer access at 410-222-4516
  • Sign-language interpreters with advance notice for library-sponsored programs. Call 410-222-7371.
• Reading Aids - For adults who are working to improve their reading skills and for adults who are learning English. At some branches the library provides a collection of literacy materials, known as the ABLE collection. Call 410-222-7371 for more information.
• Homebound Assistance - Library by Mail - Personalized library service. For county residents of all ages who are homebound, either permanently or temporarily, due to illness, disability, or injury. Delivers the full range of library services via the mail. Free of charge. Call the North County Area Library, 410-222-6270.

• Users can search the complete holdings of AACPL and see the availability and branch location of materials.
• Users can search databases of hundreds of magazine and newspaper articles and abstracts and other subscription databases.
• Users can access the Internet to find information around the world.
• The library's automated system also offers remote access via modem-equipped computer and touch-tone telephone access to patrons' personal library accounts. The phone numbers to renew items or check on your account are:
  • 410-222-4444 or 301-970-2131
  Login to your account on the Internet at http://www.aacpl.net to view your account, renew items or place hold on titles.

Library Cards

• Library cards are available free to those of all ages who live, work or own property in Maryland.  To receive a library card, present valid identification showing current address.  If ID is not available at registration, the card will be mailed.  Examples of valid ID are:

  Maryland Driver’s license
  MVA ID
  Driver’s license from another state with current Maryland address on it
  Auto registration
  Imprinted checks
  Lease agreement dated within the last 30 days
  Utility bill or other official mail postmarked within the last 30 days

• Children under 14 years of age need the signature of a parent/guardian to borrow materials.
• Library cards may also be obtained by registering online.
• AACPL library cards are good at any branch in the county system and at other Maryland public libraries, subject to their current policies and regulations.
• Report a lost or stolen card immediately to prevent unauthorized use.
• Patrons must have a library card number to use public computers in all the branches.

Account Information

• Account information may be accessed remotely without coming into a branch.  By utilizing remote access patrons can review a list of items placed on hold, check for items being held at a local branch, renew materials and check their account for overdue materials.  The library card and PIN are used on all remote transaction.
• Dial 410-222-4444 or 301-970-2131 from any touch tone phone and follow the instructions of the automated attendant; or
• Visit the Library’s website at www.aacpl.net and click on Account Information

Borrowing Materials

• Loan Period
• Most library materials can be borrowed for a 3-week period.
• The loan period for Popular DVDs is 3 days. Non-fiction DVDs may be borrowed for 3 weeks. 5 Popular and 5 Non-fiction DVDs may be checked out on one account at one time.
• Ten music CDs may be checkout at a time.
• Seven Day Express items are checked out for seven days.
• Renewing Materials
• Patrons can renew most materials up to three times at any branch unless someone has reserved the item. Patrons can also renew materials remotely via an Internet connected computer or touch-tone phone.  
• Patrons with more that $35 in fines/bills may not renew materials.
• Returning Materials 
• Materials borrowed at one branch can be returned to any branch in the county or any public library system in the state.
• Book Drops are available in each branch and are open 24/7.  If material deposited in the book drop is overdue, the fines will automatically appear on the patron’s account.
• Patrons may be notified of overdue material and holds via mail, a computer voice of the telephone or email.  If you have email notification, you will get a date due reminder notice three days before your items are due.

Fines

• To encourage prompt returns so materials are available, fines are charged for each day an item is overdue, excluding Sundays, holidays, and days that the library system is closed.
• A due date reminder notice is sent to persons with email notification 3 days before the due date.
• Overdue notices are sent via telephone, email or mail 1-5 days after the due date.
• A second overdue notice is sent after 7 days.
• A bill is generated and mailed if materials are not returned after 30 days.
• If you have overdue materials of $35 or more that have been outstanding for 45+ days, or have accumulated fines of $35 or more, the Anne Arundel County Public Library will refer your account to a collection agency. 

MATERIAL          _________________DAILY FINE _____MAXIMUM FINE

Magazines  -----------------------------------$0.25----------------------$3.00*
Fiction “Pocketbook “Paperbacks -------0.25------------------------6.00*
Children’s Softcover Fiction ---------------0.25----------------------- 6.00*
Entertainment DVDs------------------------ 1.00---------------------- 10.00*
All other materials------------------------------.25-----------------------10.00*
* or $1.00 less than the cost of the item.

Collection Agency Referrals

If you have overdue materials of $35 or more that have been outstanding for 45+ days, or have accumulated fines of $35 or more, the Anne Arundel County Public Library will be referring your account to Unique Management Services, Inc., a collection agency specializing in the recovery of outstanding library materials or funds.  A $20 service charge will automatically be added to the balance.  AACPL is committed to providing materials that meet patron needs.  Non-returned books, CDs, DVDs and videos deprive other library users of valuable pieces of our collection.  To protect taxpayer dollars and ensure equal access to all of the items on our shelves, AACPL will make every effort to recover lost materials.

• Ask for the Library Basics sheet at any library branch for further information on Library policies and procedures.
• The Library Donations Policy

The Anne Arundel County Public Library is committed to providing to residents of Anne Arundel County educational, cultural, recreational and informational materials and services.

The Board of Trustees of Anne Arundel County Public Library establish the following rules in order to facilitate the broadest and most equitable use of the Library facilities:

1. Respect for the rights and needs of all Library users shall be maintained at all times and use of the library's materials shall be so supervised that the broadest number of people can be adequately served.
2. All members of the public will so conduct themselves that they will not interfere, by their actions or speech, with the legitimate rights of other Library users.
3. Conduct considered improper in the Library includes, but is not limited to:
1. Public disturbances;
2. Offensive or abusive language, talking in loud tones or making other loud noises;
3. Sleeping;
4. Gambling;
5. Loitering;
6. Using, possessing or being under the influence of alcohol, narcotics or hallucinogenic drugs substances;
7. Offensive personal hygiene;
8. Staring;
9. Harassment of others;
10. Indecent exposure; and
11. Sexual acts.
4. In order to maintain a safe and pleasant environment for children and parents in the children's area, adult patrons who are not engaged in Library activity which requires materials from the children's area may be asked to relocate to other areas of the Library.
5. Parents/caregivers are responsible for supervising their children while in the library and ensuring that their children obey library rules and regulations.  Parents/caregivers may not leave children under the age of 8 unattended in the library at any time (MD ANN Code, Family Law5-801).  The state of Maryland requires that a caregiver be at least 13 years old.  Police may be notified if children are left unattended at closing.  
6. Food and beverages may not be brought into the Library, except in Library Meeting Rooms with permission from Branch Manager or designee.
7. Smoking is not permitted. Open fire is not permitted in the library, including the use of candles in the meeting room.
8. Appropriate attire is required.  For example, shoes and shirts must be worn.  Bathing suits are not proper attire.
9. Library furnishings and materials are not to be rearranged or disarranged by patrons without permission of Branch Manager or designee.
10. No loitering in, nor overcrowding of, toilet facilities shall be permitted at any time.
11. Only animals assisting people with disabilities are allowed in the building.  Animals may not be tied or unattended on library grounds or in the building. ( Anne Adel County Code, Article 12, Title 4, Subtitle 8-801,9-905). 
12. Solicitation of funds, distribution of literature or promotional material, sale of goods and petitioning are forbidden by any person or agency other than the Library System or those approved by the Library Board of Trustees .
13.  Library materials must be checked out before they are taken out of the building .  Packages, briefcases and any other container may be examined before patrons and staff leave the building. 
14. A security system protects the Library collection against unauthorized removals. All patrons and staff must follow reasonable requests to determine what materials have activated the alarm when passing through the system.
15. Cell phones must be set to silent or vibrate.  Cell phone conversations in lobby only.
16. Inappropriate use of bicycles, skateboards, roller skates, or other sports equipment in the building and grounds is not allowed.
17. All library users must follow the rules for library computer use outlines in the AACPL Internet Statement.
18. The library system prohibits activities that disrupt the library or its network such as:  the use of personal software programs on the library's computers, making attempts to modify, gain access to files, passwords or data belonging to others, seeking unauthorized access to the library's or any other computer system, altering software or hardware components of any network, database or computer, or rough handling of equipment such as pounding on keyboards.
19. The settings on the library's printers may not be changed.  Patrons may only use paper provided by the library.  Printing on labels and envelopes is not allowed.
20. All patrons must follow all reasonable requests of the Library staff.
    
    Failure to comply with one or more of the Library's established regulations may result in suspension of Library privileges. Suspension of Library privileges may be appealed to the Library Administrator in writing.

  APPROVED by the Library Board of Trustees.