How to join the Library

Any member of the public is welcome to use the library building, its collections and its services. Borrowing privileges are for members only.

Free memberships are available to:

• residents of the City of Westmount - what do I bring?
• Westmount business owners and their employees - what do I bring?
• students and full-time staff of Westmount schools - what do I bring?
  

Westmount City Council has determined the following fee structure for library membership for non-residents:

• $119 for non-resident
  
• $50 for non-resident seniors (55 years and over)
• $50 for non-resident students with a current student card
• $180 for family membership (parents and children under 18)

Don't forget to bring along...

Residents:

• a proof of residence, which can be a recent bill dated within the last 2 months with your name and address (Hydro-Québec, Bell telephone, credit card bill, bank statement, etc…)
• photo identification (driver's license, medicare card, student card, etc…)
  
  Not accepted as proof of residence:
• Leases
• Personalized cheques
• Hospital cards
  
  

For owners of Westmount businesses and their employees:

A single card only is issued to Westmount businesses for the owners and their designated employees.

• Bring a letter from the owner or manager, listing all employees who are authorized to use the library card.
• The owner/manager is responsible for all items taken on a business membership.

For students and teachers in Westmount schools:

The students and full-time teachers from Westmount schools (including Dawson College) can obtain a free membership.

• Bring a valid student or teacher card or similar form of ID and proof of residence.
  
  

If I don't live in Westmount, can I join the Library?

Westmount City Council has determined the following fee structure for library membership for non-residents:

• $119 for non-resident
  
• $50 for non-resident seniors (55 years and over)
• $50 for non-resident students with a current student card
• $180 for family membership (parents and children under 18)

Your library membership card
When you become a member, you will receive a barcoded library card that you will need in order to borrow library materials and to use certain services.

• Treat your library card like a credit card.
• You are responsible for all items borrowed on your card.
• Report lost or stolen items immediately.
  
  

You can't find your card…

If you forget your card,

• you may still sign out items!
• For security reasons, you will be asked to provide some identifying information.
  

If you lose your card or your card is stolen,

• You can replace it for $2.00.

Your responsibilities as a library member

• Library members are required to report promptly any change in address or telephone number.
• Library members are responsible for all materials borrowed on their card, including the obligation to pay any overdue fines and replacement costs if items are lost or damaged.
• You also agree to abide by the policies of the Library, established by the Library Committee, regarding loan periods, renewals, etc. and to respect the rights of other library users by refraining from noisy or disruptive behaviour on the premises.

The Library reserves the right to suspend a member's privileges if that member does not comply with the rules or interferes with normal activities in the library. Your cooperation makes it possible for the staff to offer optimal service to all library users.

Parents' responsibilities

It is important for parents to realize that the library is accessible to all members of the public. Children left alone in the library face the same hazards as those left alone in other public places. For this reason, it is impossible for library staff to provide a risk-free environment, even in the Children's section.

Furthermore, in certain cases (e.g. power failure, child behaving inappropriately, etc. ) library staff sometimes find it necessary to send children home. Please do not leave your child at the library unless he/she is allowed to go home alone.

Borrowing privileges

All members, including children, are entitled to equal and open access to all of the Library's collections. Children's access to rare or fragile materials is restricted, and DVDs and videocassettes may not be borrowed on a child's membership.

Loan periods

* some titles only

Special restrictions

• There is a limit of 20 library materials which may be borrowed at one time.
• Please limit yourself to a maximum of 3 non-fiction books on a given subject.
• Reference materials are available for in-house use only
• Except for the current issue it is possible to borrow certain magazine titles. Consult the list of magazines to see which titles are available for circulation.
• No renewals for AV material and FastReads
• Maximum of 2 renewals for books
• No more than one Books in a Bag kit may be checked out to an individual at one time.The kits may be checked out for six weeks. You can reserve the Bags ahead of time (Reference Desk, 514-989-5355 or refdesk @ westmount.org). No renewals are possible.
  
  

Uh, oh my books are overdue!

To avoid fines, you must return your library materials on time. All borrowed materials should be returned by the due date at the latest. Overdue fines will be charged for every item returned past the due date.

Current fines are as follows:

There is a $10 maximum per item for:

• Adult books
• Adult magazines
• Videocassettes
• CDs, cassettes, and DVDs
  

There is a $5 maximum per item for:

• Children's books and magazines

Remember....

• No fines are charged for items returned on the day after the due date
• For items more than one day late, fines are calculated from the due date until their return.
• No fines are applied for days when the library is closed (e.g. public holidays).
  
  

Where's my library book?

Any item more than three months overdue is considered lost.

If a patron loses an item, his/her membership privileges will be suspended until either the item is returned or the replacement cost is paid.

Replacement costs include:

• the actual price of the item (or, if this is not available, a default price)
• a $10.00 processing fee
• any outstanding overdue fines
• The replacement cost of the entire Books in a Bag kit is $200.00. The replacement cost of individual parts of the kit will depend on the cost of each particular item.