Non-Resident Fee

Herrin City Library Policy

Non-Resident Cards

  1. PURPOSE:  The purpose of this policy is to describe the parameters relating to obtaining borrowing privileges for non-residents of the Herrin City Library.
  2. DEFINITION: A non-resident is defined as “a person who resides outside the taxing area of a public library.” Non-residents have the option to annually purchase a card in order to obtain public library service. Cards are valid for one calendar year from the date of issuance. A non-resident who lives in Illinois and who does not have his or her principal residence within the territory of a public library service area may obtain a library card for each person in a household by paying a fee.
  3. SCOPE: Non-resident Cards are valid for one year.
  4. FEE: Herrin City Library charges a non-resident fee in accordance with Illinois State Law.  The fee is $55.
  5. Non-Resident Card Policy:
  6. Section 1. Individuals residing beyond the jurisdictional boundaries of the Herrin City Library whose closest public library is the Herrin City Library, and not residing within the boundaries of another public library, and owning no taxable property within the jurisdictional boundaries of the Herrin City Library, may purchase a Non-Resident fee card for the price of $55.00 a year. The fee entitles the entire family to use the Herrin City Library.  Non-resident cardholders may borrow materials from other libraries through Interlibrary Loan at the Herrin City Library. The ILLINET Interlibrary Loan Code indicates that interlibrary loan activity should be performed by the patron’s home library, whether city library, public library, school library, etc. The home library is fiscally responsible should the patron refuse to pay for lost or damaged ILL material.  
  • Section 2. Individuals residing beyond the jurisdictional boundaries of the Herrin City Library, but owning (as an individual, a partner, the principle stockholder, or other joint owner) taxable property within the jurisdictional boundaries of the Herrin City Library, may obtain a non-resident library card without payment of the non-resident fee upon presentation of the most recent tax bill upon that taxable property. The privileges and use of the Library are to be extended to each individual of taxable property whether owner, part-owner or lesser. Each non-resident library card issued pursuant to this section is limited to the exclusive use of the individual whose name appears on its face.
  • Section 3:  A valid non-resident library card issued by the Herrin City Library pursuant to this Policy shall accord a non-resident library cardholder all the services which this Library provides to its residents, including reciprocal borrowing privileges. Under the Illinois Compiled Statutes, an individual without tax-supported library service is eligible to purchase access to library service from the public library serving their school district. This patron card is referred to as a Non-Resident card. As of 2002, this Non-Resident card “shall allow for borrowing privileges at all participating public libraries in the regional library system.” So when a non-resident purchases a card from a public library within IHLS, that card is valid at any IHLS public library AND other Illinois public libraries.
  • Section 4:  The non-resident fee shall not apply to veterans with a service-connected disability of at least 70% who are exempt from paying property taxes on their primary residence.

1) The non-resident fee shall not apply to the unmarried surviving spouse of a veteran who has previously qualified for this exemption prior to his/her death. 

2) The non-resident fee shall not apply to an unmarried surviving spouse of a service member killed in the line of duty. 

3) Qualifying veterans or surviving spouses must present documentation from the county where they reside that indicates their residence is exempt from paying property taxes.

  • Section 5: Free Non-Resident Kids Cards

A free library card is available to all non-resident minors under the age of 18. A parent or legal guardian must sign and assume full responsibility for the library card. Responsibility includes all fees or fines incurred on the card. The card is for use by the minor only. The Free Non-Resident Kids Card replaces the Student Library Card Policy and meets with requirements of the Cards For Kids Act and Illinois Bill SB3497.

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Approved:  Tuesday, June 2016

Updated and Approved: May 2017

Updated and Approved: August 2018

Updated and Approved: January 2021

Updated and Approved: August 17, 2021

Updated and Approved: September 14, 2021

Updated and Approved: July 12, 2022