Information

Who is eligible to obtain a card?

Any person who lives in or pays property taxes in Rhode Island is eligible to receive an Ocean State Libraries (OSL) card from the public library of his/her choice free of charge. One card is allowed per resident. Use of an Ocean State Libraries card is non-transferrable. That is, it can only be used by the person whose name appears on the card.

What information must a patron provide to obtain a library card?

• Full Name (First, Middle initial, and Last)
• Mailing Address
• Phone or email or both
• Birth date
• Guardian’s Full name (if applicant is under 13)

What identification must a patron provide to obtain a library card?

When applying for an Ocean State Libraries card, an applicant must show proof that he/she lives or pays property taxes in the State of Rhode Island.

To apply for a card, any applicant aged 13 and over may provide only one piece of identification if it is 1 of the following valid Rhode Island State IDs:

To apply for a card, any applicant aged 13 and over may provide only one piece of identification if it is 1 of the following valid Rhode Island State IDs:

• Current Rhode Island driver’s license (if address is not current, current address must be written on the back as provided for on the license)
• Current Rhode Island State ID
• Current Photo learner’s permit

Alternatively, if the above mentioned ID cannot be provided, one (1) form of photo identification may be presented along with any one (1) form of proof of residency (documents should be current):

What is a young adult borrower?

Students ages 13 to 17 may provide proof of their enrollment in a public or private school in Rhode Island (class schedule, transcript, report card, etc.) in lieu of a photo ID if they do not otherwise have one.  Proof of home address must still be provided if not stated on school enrollment documents.

Minors ages 13-17 may also have their application signed by their parent or guardian*, who may provide identification/address validation on the minor’s behalf.  Both the parent or guardian and the minor should be present to apply for a library card.

What is a juvenile borrower?

Children aged 0-12 must have their application signed by a parent or guardian*, who may provide the above identification/address validation on their child’s behalf.

Both the parent or guardian and the child should be present to apply for a library card.

*The parent/guardian is responsible for the lost or damaged materials borrowed by their child.

What if an applicant is unable to make an in-person visit to the library?

Examples: Military personnel, homebound

• Library card applicants who are unable to make an in-person visit to an OSL library may apply for their card via fax, postal mail, or OSL’s secure web site and elect to receive it in the mail.
• Copies/images of the required forms of identification must accompany the application.
• Once the application and required documents are received and processed, the library card will be mailed to the address specified by the cardholder.
• Applications may be submitted in the following ways:
  • Through Ocean State Libraries’ secure web site: http://oslri.org/application
  • By fax to: (401) 736-0970
  • By mail to:

Ocean State Libraries
Attn: Cardholders Accounts
300 Centerville Rd
Summit South, Suite 103
Warwick, RI 02886

• Fax and e-mail applications must be accompanied by a completed Application form available on http://oslri.org/application

When registering for an Ocean State Libraries card, the cardholder accepts responsibility for all items on the card, all use made of the card and all charges made against it until the card is reported lost. Therefore it is to the cardholder’s benefit to report the loss or theft of a library card immediately. The cost of replacing a lost or stolen library card is $1.00.

Report lost cards by phone, in person at any Library location, or by email sent to [email protected]

• All library cards issued to residents expire and must be renewed at least every three years.
• Expired cards must be renewed and validated before they can be used to borrow materials, download content from eZone, or at some libraries, access library computers.
• To renew a library card please make an in person visit to any OSL library. Proof of residency must be presented when renewing an expired library card.
• Library cards may be renewed by phone for a one month extension. The cardholder is required to go to a physical library location to complete full renewal of the card and to update contact information.
• Cardholders may choose to renew their cards without visiting a library by attaching images of their library card (barcode side) along with images of the required identification in the following ways;
  • Through Ocean State Libraries’ secure web site: http://oslri.org/application
  • By fax to: (401) 736-0970
  • By mail to:

Ocean State Libraries
Attn: Cardholders Accounts
300 Centerville Rd
Summit South, Suite 103
Warwick, RI 02886

• Fax and e-mail renewals must be accompanied by a completed Application form available on http://oslri.org/application
• Once the required documents are received and processed, the library card will be validated and renewed.

Library cards may be withdrawn/cancelled if the requesting person is:

• the cardholder
• the guardian of the cardholder
• a family member of a deceased cardholder with some form of proof of the cardholder’s passing
  AND
• All library materials are returned.
• All overdue fines, replacement charges or other charges are fully paid
• All holds for materials are cancelled.

A. Agency/Organizational Borrowers 

• Cards of this type are available only to organizations located in Rhode Island.
• In order to receive an organizational borrower’s card, a brief letter of request on organizational letterhead must be submitted along with the completed application form. The authorized person who signs the application form must show identification and his/her name will be added to the record alongside the name of the organization.
• The letter should include a list of authorized borrowers.
• Only one account will be issued to any organization. The organization will be responsible for all materials borrowed. The library issuing the Agency card will retain the card at the circulation desk.
• If the organization has a change of address or phone number, or the card is lost, the library must be notified immediately.
• All regulations of Ocean State Libraries apply to the organizational borrower’s card.
• Organizational cards are valid for one year, at which time a new request on letterhead is required with an updated list of authorized borrowers.
• A person using the Organizational Library card must present proof of identification that matches one of the authorized borrowers’ names that was submitted with the application or renewal letter.

What qualifies as an organization: for-profit businesses, not-for-profit businesses, child daycare centers, adult daycare centers, nursing homes.

What does not qualify as an organization: public and private schools, municipalities.

B. Non-Resident Borrowers 

Visitors from out-of-state or abroad are welcome to use the Ocean State Libraries public libraries’ resources on-site. Many of the resources accessed from the public libraries do not require the issuance of a library card.

i. Non-Resident Full Access Cards

• Non-Resident Full Access cards are issued for 1 year and carry an annual fee equal to the cost of Rhode Island library service per cardholders, rounded up to the nearest $5. In 2019, that fee is $150 and can be paid at any OSL library.
• Only visitors who reside in a community that provides public library service to its residents may apply for a Non-Resident Full Access card.
• Visitors may apply for a Non-Resident Full Access card using a current photo ID and if that does not include the applicant’s address, then he/she must provide a proof of address (not a P.O. Box.) Visitors must apply in person. All other registration procedures are applicable.

ii. Non-Resident Local Use Only Cards

• At their sole discretion and policy, some libraries may issue Local Use Only cards to visitors. The Willett Free Library does issue local use only cards. A visitor may have only one Local Use Only card at a time in the Ocean State Libraries database.
• The Willett Free Library issues local use only cards for 1 year, at an annual cost of $10 per card.
• Local Use Only cards may be used to borrow materials from the issuing library only and may not be used to place holds from other OSL libraries.
• If a Local Use Only card is issued from a library that has branch locations, a library staff person may place holds on the card for the borrower from other branch locations for that library and the issuing library may allow the borrower to use any of that library’s branch locations.
• Local Use Only cards do not allow the borrower access to the Ocean State Libraries’ digital eZone site.

Cardholders should present their library card when checking materials out from the library. Scanned library cards that are presented via a mobile device will be accepted at checkout.

• Cardholders are responsible for all materials borrowed on their account, all use of the card and all charges made against it, until the card is reported lost to the Library.
• All materials borrowed must be returned on or before the due date. OSL offers universal returns – most circulating material can be returned to any OSL public library location.

A. Renewals 

Items that allow a renewal may be renewed if:

• They have not yet been renewed more than one time previously
• They are not on hold for other cardholders
• They have a 7-day loan period and are less than 1 week overdue
  OR
• They have a 21-day loan period and are less than 2 weeks overdue.

Ocean State Libraries now offers automatic renewal for its cardholders. All eligible items will automatically renew two (2) days before their due date. The new due date will be extended from the original due date, adding another loan period. There is no need to sign up for this service. Checkouts from eZone are excluded–these cannot be renewed automatically.

Some items may not renew if: 1. the item does not allow renewals; 2. the item is on hold (another patron is waiting for it); 3. the item has reached its renewal limit (2 renewals); 4. the patron’s card has expired or borrowing privileges have been suspended due to an excess of more than $5.00 in fines, or if an overdue notice has been sent for one or more items currently checked out.

B. Fines and Replacement Charges 

• Fines are charged for items returned or renewed after their due date in accordance with the lending policy of the library that owns the material.
• No loans will be made to cardholders who owe more than $5 in fines or with any lost or billed items checked out to them.
• OSL libraries will accept payments for lost, unreturned, and overdue materials from any OSL member library.
• Refunds on lost materials are subject to the policies of the owning library.

C. Library Notices 

Ocean State Libraries provides a notification service for held items, overdue materials and other service-specific reasons.  Notices are available via telephone or email.  Cardholders will have to select a notice preference and provide a valid telephone number or email address on their account. Borrowers may also elect to receive SMS Text Alerts on their mobile phone (this is in addition to the method by which notices are sent which is chosen at the time of application). Bills for overdue material will be sent to the mailing address on record at the Library. Cardholders will have to select a notice preference and to provide a valid telephone number or email address on their account. Additionally, it is the responsibility of the borrower to notify the Library if any of their contact information changes.

Note: In the case of borrowers who receive their notices by email, it is their responsibility to make sure that emails sent from addresses with @rilibrary.org in the sender information be allowed through any filters they may have in place on their Inbox.

Cardholders who have provided an email address will receive a Courtesy Notice reminding them of material due two (2) days before the due date. Failure to receive a reminder of items due notice does not absolve the borrower from any fines or fees associated with material being returned late.

Approved by the members of Ocean State Libraries May 4, 2016; revision approved by the Steering Committee on January 19, 2017; non-resident access fee calculated on January 9, 2018, using Annual Survey data.

Loan Periods, Overdue Fees, Replacement Cards, and Local Use Only Cards at the Willett Free Library
Print materials and audiobooks are loaned for a period of 3 weeks, with one 3-week renewal if there are no holds on the item. DVDs and magazines circulate for one week. There are no renewals on DVDs or magazines.

Overdue fees: $.10 per day for print materials and audiobooks; $1.00 per day late fees apply ONLY TO DVDs.

Local Use Only cards ($10 for 1 year) may be used to borrow materials from the Willett Free Library only and may not be used to place holds from other OSL libraries. For ID requirements, see above.

Text Message Notifications Alerts for Ocean State Libraries’ Cardholders, powered by Shoutbomb

You can use your mobile phone to:

• Receive text notices about holds that are available, items that are due soon, and overdue items
• Send a text to renew an item (if item is eligible for renewal)
• Add family members’ cards to your Shoutbomb account with keyword ADDCARD.

Your mobile plan’s regular text messaging rates apply.

Signing Up

To get started, text the keyword SIGNUP from your cellphone texting app to 401-298-2013. Reply to the prompts from Shoutbomb, asking for your library card number, then PIN. Once your Shoutbomb registration has been completed, you will automatically get text notices about holds, items due soon, and overdue items. A text will be sent only when activity on your account triggers a message, or information requested.

Why is my library PIN required? 

To protect your privacy and library account, your PIN is required when signing up for Shoutbomb text alerts. This is the same PIN used for logging into your online library account and prevents others from accessing your library information.

Alert Types

Hold Pickup

A text alert is sent when an item you requested is ready for pickup. Hold Pickup alerts are sent at the top of the hour.

Renewal/Courtesy Alerts

An alert will be sent two (2) days before an item is due. Items eligible for renewal may be renewed by following the directions in the alert. Renewal/Courtesy alerts are sent at 9:00 a.m.

Overdue Alerts

Overdue alerts are sent seven (7) days after an item’s due date. Items eligible for renewal may be renewed by following  the directions in the alert. Overdue alerts are sent at 9:00 a.m.

Library Card Expiration

Library card expiration alerts are sent six (6) weeks prior to your library registration expiring. Your record must be renewed to avoid interruption in service and keep your information current.

Commands

MYBOOKS: request the current status of all your library items including holds, fine, and currently checked out items.

ADDCARD: text ADDCARD and follow the prompts to add another library account to your notifications. This is useful for family members to get notifications on multiple cards with one mobile number.

IOWEU: request the current fines linked to your card(s).

MYCARDS: display all cards and their expiration dates, linked to  your phone number.

SWITCHPHONE: to update your phone number or carrier.

DROPCARD: cancel text notices for a card.

HELP: get information about all Shoutbomb commands.

RESENT: get the last message from Shoutbomb.

QUIT: ends all text notifications and cancels your registration to Shoutbomb. Reply to the instructions.

Message Settings: to view and change your Shoutbomb message settings, text:

NOTICES: see your current on/off settings

HOLDS: toggles your hold alerts on/off

RENEW: toggles your courtesy alerts on/off

OVERDUE: toggles your overdue alerts on/off

Replying to Notices

Your account notices will prompt you to respond with commands, including:

HL: get a list of holds that are ready for pickup

RL: get a list of items that are eligible to renew

RA: renew all your eligible items

OL: get a list of overdue items