To approve the revised Circulation Policy which was unanimously approved by the Library Board of Trustees on Monday, February 24, 2025.

The Circulation Policy that is currently in place has not been substantially revised since prior to 2021. It is being updated to reflect current practice and to better align with other library policies in the Galveston County Library System. 

The format of the policy has been updated to make it easier to read: more headings and subheadings have been added, and some sections have been organized differently.

The most significant changes are:

1. Changing the requirements for minor children. Under the current policy, anyone 14 years old and up could obtain their own card if they had the required ID and proof of address. This is problematic since minors under the age of 18 cannot legally be held to a contract or be held responsible for any fees on the account. The new requirement is that anyone under 18 needs to have a parent or guardian sign the application and provide proof of their ID and address. The parent will then assume responsibility for all items and fees on the account. This is in line with what the other libraries in Galveston County require.
2. Photo ID and address verification – more documents will be accepted for both. Federal IDs such as military IDs or Tribal IDs will now be accepted. Bank or financial statements and a current lease have been added to the list of documents that are accepted as proof of residency. Previously, leases were not accepted, but Texas City residents can already use them to obtain a Dike sticker.
3. In an effort to remove barriers to access, most patrons will now be able to renew their library cards over the phone or by email if they can verify their library card number, their address, and their birthdate. Currently, renewals must be made in person. This is also in line with what other libraries in the county require.
4. Sections have been added for renewing library cards, reasons a card may be blocked, the TexShare card, and Interlibrary Loans.
5. One sentence has been added to the end of the subsection titled “Library Card Application” that covers other situations that might arise:
   "Unusual circumstances will be addressed on a case-by-case basis."
   Examples of this are:
   Emancipated minors - legal proof would be required
   Women living in a shelter for abused women –in the past we have accepted a letter from the center saying someone is a resident
    

For ease of comparison, copies of both the revised policy and the current policy are attached.

I recommend that the Circulation Policy for Moore Memorial Public Library that was revised and approved by the Board of Library Trustees on February 24, 2025 be approved.