Red Feather Lakes library update for April 2016

This month we’re going to review basic services at Red Feather Lakes Community Library — those that you may not think much about or that are otherwise often taken for granted or assumed.

By Creed Kidd
Library Director

For example, applying for and obtaining a library card, a fundamental step at just about any library and certainly necessary here at your local mountain library to borrow materials. Many library services do not require a card — using a library computer, library wireless, reading the paper or a magazine, attending a library program, or conducting a meeting in our Stenzel Community Room. But borrowing materials — from toys to electronic kits to DVDs to books on CD to books (not to mention the live animal trap we have for those small varmints that are occasionally in the house or garage) — requires a card.

That allows us to create an account in your name by which items are charged to you and cleared on return. We have made much effort to make obtaining a card, checking out materials and returning items easy — as easy as we can and especially easy for you. No-hassle service.

Applying for a card should take no more than 10 minutes – five minutes for you to fill out the form and five minutes for us to type in the necessary information. Unless you have one of our old pre-2010 paper cards we do ask you for a photo id; in these days of identity theft we want to ensure that you are you for your protection.

If you’re under 17 we’ll ask a parent or other legal guardian to be present and to co-sign the application. As in other aspects of life, guardianship entails responsibility: ensuring that the number of items borrowed and the items themselves are appropriate for the individual using them.

Making it easy, all items can be borrowed for up to three weeks, up to 20 items borrowed at any given time. There’s no special rate or period for new items or high-demand items such as DVDs. Everything is treated the same — and that means that at any given time you check out items everything will be due back the same day — no confusing or hard-to-remember one-, two- and three-week items. Everything can be borrowed for 21 days.

If you need more time, we’re happy to renew them for another three-week period. You can do that online through your online library account or by giving us a call at 970-881-2664 or e-mail to help@redfeatherlibrary.org. The exception may be in the event that another local user has a hold on the item. In that case, we ask you to finish the item and then return it to the library so the other person may also enjoy it.