Library Policies

Policies of the Benicia Public Library

Library Cards:

  • New and replacement library cards are free.
  • Solano and Napa County cards are valid in Benicia; Benicia cards are valid in Solano and Napa County Libraries.

Application Requirements:

  • Eligible for a card at age 4.
  • Adults and children over 14 need a picture identification with name and verification of current address.
  • Parent or guardian’s approval/signature required for children under 15.

Your Responsibilities:

  • Bring your card with you to check out materials.
  • Report lost or stolen card promptly.
  • Notify library of change in name, address or phone number.

E-Cards:

  • With your e-card, you have 24/7 access to the Solano, Napa, and Partners (SNAP) Consortium's virtual services. The e-card allows residents of Solano and Napa counties to log-in and use our electronic resources and place holds from home without first coming to a library to get a card.
  • Complete the online application.
  • If you already hold a library card from any one of the SNAP libraries, you do not need to apply for an e-card.
  • For more information about the SNAP e-card click here.

Loans and Renewals

  • Most materials are loaned for 21 days. DVDs from the Browse Collection are loaned for 1 week only. Books from the Browse Collection are loaned for 14 days. Museum Passes are loaned for 24 hours. Some materials from outside our system may have restricted due dates.
  • The following categories are limited to 10 per card: Videos and DVDs, CDs, and books on tape or CD.
  • Materials may be renewed 2 times if not requested by another patron, except for these items, Browse Collection DVDs, Browse Collection books and Museum Passes which can't be renewed.
  • For phone renewal, call 746-4343.
  • For Internet renewal and go to follow the directions to access your information. Or click on the Your Library Card link at the top of any of the Benicia Library web pages.
  • A maximum of 50 items may be charged to one person.
  • You may return books from other SNAP libraries to us and ours to other SNAP libraries.
  • You can use the online computer catalog to view your personal library record by following the directions on the screen both in the Library and at home.

Fines and Fees

Overdue charges:

  • Adult materials: $.20 per day per item.
  • Children’s materials: $.10 per day per item.
  • Museum passes are $5.00 a day.
  • Items not returned within 7 days after the due date will be converted to "lost" and an overdue notice is mailed from SNAP headquarters.
  • Patrons with fines of $5.00 or more with lost books will not be allowed to check out more materials until overdue materials are returned and/or fines paid.
  • Lost items will be billed to the patron for the price of the item plus a $10.00 processing fee. Processing fees are non-refundable.
  • Damaged items will be billed according to the extent of the damage.

Requests, Holds and Interlibrary Loan

  • You may request items from our catalog but in the SNAP system
    • Find the item you would like and click on it to bring up the record.
    • On the left side of the screen will be some buttons. If you are ordering more than one item, click “Add this record to list”. If you are only ordering this item click on “Place hold” and follow the instructions for placing your hold.
    • If you are ordering multiple things and you are finished making your list, click on “View personal list” and then look on the left side of the screen to see which option you would like.
    • If you are in the Benicia Library, it will not allow you to place holds on items on the Benicia library shelves.
    • If you have any problems consult ask us for help.
  • If an item is not in the SNAP catalog, you may try and borrow it from a library in our Consortium by following the SuperSearch button on the catalog screen.
  • If you want an item that is not in our catalog or in SuperSearch, ask the staff about borrowing it from another library system or go to Request Partner and fill out a request for the item either for the library to order it from another library or for the library to purchase the item. (The librarians will make the final decision on whether they will borrow it from another library or purchase it) Information on how to use Request Partner.
  • Service is free.
  • Audiovisual items, textbooks and some genealogy items can be ordered from libraries outside SNAP or SuperSearch subject to availability.
  • It can take 6 weeks to 3 months for items to arrive from libraries outside of SNAP or SuperSearch.

updated 9/15/08