Applications for membership

1.0 Every person or organisation who pays rates, rent, or who resides in the district, and who completes the Library membership requirements, shall be entitled to membership and to take out items without the payment of a fee. Membership is also available to non-Whanganui residents and visitors. Membership is free but the Library may impose borrowing charges for some items.

Children's borrowing

2.0 Any person under the age of eighteen shall have a membership form completed on their behalf by a parent or guardian. Such parent or guardian shall thereafter be responsible for all items borrowed by that person and all monies owed.

Issue of membership card

3.0 A librarian shall issue to each applicant a membership card. There is a charge for a replacement library card.

Use of membership card

4.0 Only the library member or a person duly authorised by the member shall make use of a membership card. The membership card should be presented for the receipt of services.

Fees and charges

5.0 All library members agree to be bound by the library fees and charges.  The library reserves the right to alter these charges as required. 

Change of address

6.0 It is the responsibility of every member to promptly notify the library of any change of address or contact information.

Borrowing of reference items

7.0 No person shall be entitled as of right to borrow any item specified as a reference item. A librarian may however permit a reference item to be borrowed by any member, subject to any conditions laid down.

8.0 The borrower of any item before leaving the library shall have the item formally issued to them.

Unauthorised taking of items

9.0 No person (other than as a borrower) shall take or attempt to take any item or other article from a library.

9.1 No person shall knowingly pawn, sell or purchase or secure the advance of money on any item that is the property of the council or attempt to do so.

Damage to items

10.0 If any item is lost, or returned in a damaged or defaced condition, the borrower shall pay to the council a sum of money as will replace that item or pay full compensation for any damage or loss incurred by the council. An item may be deemed lost by a librarian one month after the date on which it was due to be returned to the library.

10.1 If a lost item is subsequently found and returned within two years of the date of borrowing, a refund of all or part of the charge made for the loss may be paid to the borrower at the discretion of a librarian.

Money owing

12.0 All library members agree to pay any fees and charges incurred relating to library membership, including those people for whom guarantor status is accepted. Whanganui Library may suspend library services to all such persons until such charges are paid in full.

Whanganui Library may, at its discretion, use the services of a debt collection agency to recover outstanding library debts and related costs, which may include charges added by the collection agency as a fee for service.

All library members accept responsibility for any items issued and charges incurred against their registration up to the time that a lost or stolen card is reported to the library.  Any charges incurred after that date will be waived.

Use of the library

Any person entering a library must not:

• Behave in a manner that creates a nuisance or is offensive to any other person
• Bring into the library or exhibit any article that is a nuisance or is offensive to any other person
• Bring any animal into the library except where authorised by the Council
• Damage any library property.

The use by any person of any library service or facility must be for legal purposes, and must not result in breach of copyright, breach of privacy rights, unauthorised alteration or deletion of data or website contents, unauthorised access to information or the access or transmission of illegal images or text.