Membership

• Membership is free to all residents and ratepayers of the Mid-Western Regional Council area.
• Applicants must provide current photo ID showing current address, or 2 other forms of ID (e.g. driver's licence, rates notice, utility bill).
• Applications for junior membership (under 16 years) must be signed by a parent or guardian who accepts responsibility for items borrowed on the card. The parent or guardian must also provide current photo ID as indicated above.
• Membership is valid for 2 years from the registration date and can be renewed as required.
• Library Members can cancel their membership at any time. The Library may also refuse or cancel a membership if the person is not eligible for membership, after 2 years of inactivity, if the person is deceased, or if the person has failed to comply with Library policies and procedures. 
  
• Non-residents may apply for reciprocal or temporary membership if appropriate, loan limits apply.
• Mid-Western Regional Council Library reserves the right to suspend membership, borrowing rights or access to facilities if deemed necessary.
• To borrow items members must present their library membership card (physical and digital cards will be accepted). If you are borrowing on behalf of someone else (e.g. a family member), you must bring that person's library membership card.
• If members change their contact details, please notify the Library as soon as possible.
• Report lost cards to the Library immediately. Members will be held responsible for any items borrowed before the loss is reported.
• Membership details are confidential and will not be disclosed to other parties. The Library abides by the Privacy and Personal Information Protection Act 1998.
• By becoming a Library Member, or visiting any of our library branches, members and visitors are agreeing to all terms and conditions.
  

Borrowing / Loans

You may borrow up to 20 physical items, in total, on a library membership card at any one time, with the following limits applying:

• General book collections can be borrowed for 21 days, with a maximum of 20 items at any time
• Non Fiction books can be borrowed for 21 days, with a maximum of 3 items on any particular subject at any time
  
• Audiobooks can be borrowed for 21 days, with a maximum of 6 items at any time
• Magazines can be borrowed for 21 days, with a maximum of 6 items at any time
• DVD items can be borrowed for 7 days, with a maximum of 6 items at any time
• Games can be borrowed for 21 days, with a maximum of 2 items at any time (by persons aged 12 years and over)

The Library does not accept any responsibility for damage caused to a member's personal equipment as a result of using borrowed media such as eBooks or DVDs, or as a result of using Library computers or equipment.

Returns

Please return items no later than the due date.

After hours chutes are available at all branches.

If you are unable to return items by the due date, please contact the Library.

Renewals

Items may be renewed up to 2 times, for a period of 21 days each time, or 7 days each time for DVDs. Long overdue or reserved items cannot be renewed.

Items can be renewed either:

• online, before the due date,
• in person, at any of our branches, or
• by phone or email if you would like a staff member to renew your loans.
  

Overdue Items

Although the Library does not charge overdue fines for the late return of items, we kindly request you return items on time so other members can access them. 

Reminder notifications will be sent if an item becomes overdue. If items are still not returned after 8 weeks, your library membership card will automatically incur a replacement cost, plus an administration fee, for each item. 

Lost or Damaged Items

Your library membership card will automatically incur a replacement cost, plus an administration fee, for each item lost or damaged whilst in your care.

Charge disputes or requests for a fee reduction or waiver will be assessed by the governing body of the Library on a case by case basis.

Suspension of Borrowing Privileges

If you have an item which is 4 weeks or more overdue, you will be automatically suspended from borrowing items until the overdue item is returned, or until payment has been made for any lost or damaged items.

Reservations

Reservations may be placed on items that are on loan, or recently purchased items still being processed. You will be notified once the item is ready for collection, and the item will be held by the Library for fourteen (14) days before being placed back on the shelf for other members to borrow. 

No charges are incurred for placing a reservation.

Speak to Library Staff in person, or via phone or email if you would like us to place a reservation for you. You can also place reservations online using the Library Catalogue. 

Interlibrary Loans

Items not held by the Library may be requested from a range of other external public and academic libraries for a fee. Please note that non-refundable charges apply for these requests. See Council's fees & charges.

Please use the Interlibrary Loan Request Form to place a request. You will need to enter your barcode number and PIN to use this service.

As a general rule, items published within the previous 2 years are generally not available for Interlibrary Loan. For these items, please refer to the Suggest a Purchase section below.

Suggest a Purchase

Items not held by the Library may be suggested for purchase. Please use the Suggest a Purchase Form to send us your suggestions. You will need to enter your barcode number and PIN to use this service.

Please note: for fiction items, upcoming or items published within the previous 12 months will generally be considered for purchase. For non-fiction items, upcoming or items published within the previous 2 years will be considered. For all other items, please refer to the Interlibrary Loan section above.

Children and Young People

Mid-Western Regional Council is proud to be a community role model for promoting National Principles for Child Safe organisations by upholding the National Child Safe Principles. View Council's Children and Vulnerable People Policy.

Library staff are not responsible for the care, safety or supervision of children under 12 years of age, unless they are registered to attend a dedicated Library program. Children under 12 years of age must be in the care of a responsible adult at all times unless in extenuating circumstances deemed acceptable by Library staff on a case by case basis. Library staff do not monitor information available online or in published works, and cannot be held responsible for their content. Restricting or monitoring access to collection items and content on the internet by children under 12 years of age is the responsibility of the parent or guardian. 

Mid-Western Regional Council Library is guided by the Library Council of New South Wales' Children's Policy Guidelines for NSW Public Libraries.

Access to Classified Library Resources

The Library exercises no censorship or limitation on access to publications classified 'unrestricted' under the Classification (Publications, Films and Computer Games) Act 1995. 

Material rated as 'MA15+' or above by the Office of Film & Literature Classification will not knowingly be made available for loan to members under the age of 15 years. 

MA15+ items may be borrowed on a junior card in the presence of a consenting parent or guardian.

Please see our Collection Development Policy for more information.

Computer, Internet and WiFi Access

See Conditions of Use for Public Computers.

During school hours, school-aged users may use the public computers for schoolwork only; gaming and similar activities are not permitted.

The WiFi public download daily limit is 50GB at Mudgee Library, and 5GB at Gulgong, Kandos and Rylstone branches.

In accordance with amendments to the Online Safety Act 2021, Part 4A - Social media minimum age: Australians under the age of 16 are restricted from having an account on 'age-restricted social media platforms'. We encourage members to adhere to the act when using library facilities.

Library Noticeboards

Noticeboards are for the exclusive use of Council, Library and community not-for-profit events only. Advertisements for businesses will not be permitted.

Code of Conduct

• Users are required to comply with all rules stated in the Library Regulation 2018
• Users must not, without the consent of the governing body of the Library, use the Library for any purpose other than reading, studying, researching, or engaging in Library programs.
• Users must not, without the consent of the governing body of the Library, undertake filming, recording and photography within the building.
• Users must not disrupt or otherwise interfere with other people using the Library.
• Users must not bring objects into the Library that may create an unsafe environment.
• Users are not permitted to smoke or vape inside the Library, nor within ten (10) metres of any entrance or exit.
• Users are not permitted to bring food inside the Library. All drinks must have a secure lid (no soft drink/fizzy drink allowed).
• Bikes and scooters (including electric bikes and scooters) are not permitted inside library buildings. These items must be stored outside the building or secured in the designated bike racks. 
• Animals are not permitted inside the Library, except for Assistance Animals who have full Public Access Rights under the Disability Discrimination Act 1992 (DDA 1992). Staff may request documentation showing that the Assistance Animal is qualified, accredited, and serving the person they are with. Emotional Support Animals are not permitted inside the Library as they are not recognised under Australian law.
• Users must meet acceptable standards of personal hygiene and dress.
• Users must safeguard their own personal belongings. The Library is not responsible for any theft, loss or damage of personal belongings, and nor should the Library be asked to mind or watch any personal belongings.
• Users must comply with the Copyright Act 1968 and any other legislation or specifications related to the access, duplication, retention and use of Library collection materials.

A Library staff member may direct a person to leave the Library and not re-enter the Library for such period as the staff member directs, if the staff member is of the opinion that:

(a) the person has contravened any provision in the Library Regulation 2018, or

(b) the person's condition, conduct, dress or manner is likely to give offence to any person in the Library or to interfere with any other person's use of the Library. 

A Library staff member may also direct a person to leave the Library at closing time, or in an emergency situation.