System Policies

System Member Agreement

The system member agreement outlines the responsiblities of the system and member-libraries. The agreement is renewed annually. Click here to view the 2025 Member Agreement

System Policies

System policies are followed at all member libraries to ensure consistent experience for library users. Click here for the 2025 System Policies document.

Circulation

Fines & Fees

Overdue Fines

All libraries in Cambria County must administer and collect fines at the time this policy document was published. For books and most other items, fines accrue at a rate of $0.25/day. DVD fines accrue at a rate of $1 per day. Patrons do not have to pay the fine at their home library or at the library that owns an overdue item, but can pay a fine at any library in the system. The library that collects the fine shall keep it as their own revenue. Libraries may only forgive fines on items owned by their library, and cannot forgive fines accrued for items owned by any other library.

2025 Overdue Fine Policy Change: This topic has been discussed and is under review with the member-library directors as well as the system board of directors. Although a final decision has not been made, it is expected that a system-wide fine-free policy will be implemented. The Board of Directors recognizes this is not a unanimous decision by the member libraries but represents the majority of the CCLSYS consortium.  The final decision is expected in the first quarter of 2025. Any opinions (including disagreements and strongly opposing views) may be sent to the CCLSYS Board of Directors, addressed Attn: Alan Metzler. It is recommended for budgetary purposes to plan to move forward without this income in the future.

Rental Charges

Member libraries may charge different fees for rental items such Chromebooks, Board Games, etc.

Replacement Fees

Items that are lost or damaged are subject to a replacement fee equal to the cost of the item’s replacement plus a $5 processing fee. The fees may be paid at any CCLSYS member library but must be sent to the library that owns the item so that the library can purchase the replacement.

Renewal Periods

Standard Renewal

Books may be taken out for an initial 2-week period and are eligible for renewal twice for additional 2-week periods, for a total of one 6-week borrowing period. Borrowing periods for DVDs and CDs, board games, computer equipment, Hot Spots, and other “Library of Things” items may be set at an individual library level. If an item is placed on hold by another patron, it is not eligible to be renewed.

Autorenewal

All standard items (books) in the system are set for Automatic Renewal. Items will be renewed twice for 2-week periods. DVDs and technology items do not automatically renew. Items with holds or that have met the renewal limit will not automatically renew.

Cataloging

Cataloging Permissions

Copy Cataloging: Library Staff who do cataloging are required to complete SPARK’s Level 1 and Level 2 training modules prior to being granted copy cataloging privileges.

Original Cataloging: Original Cataloging is done by CCL’s Tech Services Department. If an original record needs to be built, libraries should forward the item to the CCL Tech Services Department. Once an original record is created, the owning library will be able to add their holding in SPARK.

Cataloging Help

Cambria County Library System provides cataloging support through our Technical Services department. 

Additional information can be found on our SPARK page.

Patrons

Library Card Use

Library Card usage policies are under revision. The proposed new policy will require either a library card OR valid form of ID (outlined below) be presented. If a new policy is enacted, all system member libraries must comply with the new procedure or will considered in violation of the System Member agreement and subject to any and all outcomes as outlines in the agreement. The new polices is a “meeting in the middle” situation. The new policy will be written to best serve the patrons and staff of all libraries, and consistent enforcement will be required.

Library Card User Permissions

Adults

Adults can access all materials and resources at CCLSYS libraries once a library card has been issued. A blue registration card must be completed and signed by patrons. Patrons must verify their address before they are able to check out materials. Addresses can be verified with a Photo ID with their current address. If a patron has a current ID but the address is incorrect, an official piece of mail or lease can be used to verify the address. Libraries should search the SPARK database to confirm if the patron does not have a card already in the system.

Juv/YA

Patrons under 18 must have their official guardians’ authorization and parents must sign for the child’s library card. No standard library card can be issued to anyone under the age of 18 without parental permission. Patrons under the age of 18 must have a library card or a parent must request a guest pass for the minor to access a computer. Patrons under the age of 18 cannot receive a guest pass without parental supervision.

Digital Library Cards

Schools in Cambria County can work with local libraries to provide digital cards to students. These cards do not allow patrons to check out physical materials. Schools serve in loco parentis for the students and authorize them to access digital materials only. Students with digital ID cards that want to check out physical items must have their own standard library card, which must comply with regular Juv/YA card policies.


Library Staff

Library staff are given employee accounts that are not to be used for the circulation of items to themselves. Library staff should have their own standard library card to check out materials or use library resources and follow standard card policies.

Qualifying for a Card

Cambria County Residents

All residents of Cambria County are eligible to receive a library card from any CCLSYS library. The patron’s home library is selected by the patron and is not tied to the municipality where they reside. For example, a Richland Township resident can request that the Northern Cambria Library be their home library.

Non-County Residents

Under specific circumstances, people who live outside of Cambria County Library may be eligible for a Cambria County Library card. A new account should be built for them following the standard library policies and a new CCLSYS card should be issued to the patron.

Access PA Libraries

Residents of PA who have a card from a Access PA Library are eligible for a CCLSYS Library Card, regardless of county residency.

Somerset County

As part of the Access PA system, Somerset County residents who have a Somerset County Library Card are eligible for a CCLSYS card under the Access PA Agreement. Patrons who do not have a Somerset County card are eligible to receive a card for Cambria County Library only.

Indiana County

All residents of Indiana county are eligible for a Cambria County Library-only card, unless they are a member of an Indiana County library and as such are eligible for a CCLSYS card under the Access PA rule.

Charges for Non-Resident cards

For CCLSYS member libraries, if a resident does not qualify for a card as a Cambria County resident or as an ACCESS-PA library card holder, the member-library may charge a membership rate at their board’s discretion.

Acceptable ID

Approved Forms of ID must include a photo and address. Acceptable forms of ID include but are not limited to:

  • Driver’s Licenses, PA State ID, or RealID.
  • Passport
  • Military ID

All forms of ID:

  • Must be current
  • Must include current address or state-issued Change of Address notification card or be accompanied by a lease, or an official form of mail to the current address dated within 30 days of application.

Unacceptable Forms of ID:

  • Prison or other government-issued IDs that do not show a photograph and address
  • Photocopies of IDs
  • School Issued IDs
  • Expired IDs

Card Replacement and Online Card Registration

Library Card Replacement
Patrons who have been active within the last 5 years may purchase a replacement library card at the cost of $3 per card. Patrons whose accounts expired more than 5 years prior to the date of account renewal can receive a replacement card at no charge.

Online Registration:
Patrons at any CCLSYS library can request a library card online. Patrons who register online must present an approved form of ID to their home library and sign their blue registration card before any physical materials can be checked out by any library in CCLSYS. Registrations are managed by CCL unless a member library opts-in to manage this process for their users.

Patrons can register online at http://cclsys.org/card

Library Cards for Children and Teens

Children aged 0 – 17 are eligible for a Juv/YA Permission Group card. Legal guardians must apply for the Juv/YA patron and follow all requirements for adult cards, including showing accepted ID, address verification, and signing a registration form. Once the Juv/YA patron has turned 18, the library can convert their card to an Adult permission group but must update the patron registration form by having the patron show their ID, verify their address, and sign the patron registration form.

Patron Records

Deleting Patrons

SPARK has implemented a policy for 2025 where the system will automatically purge patron records if they 5+ years expired and do not have any fines or lost item charges on the account.

Patrons with charges on their accounts will remain in the system. Libraries will have discretion on how these accounts are treated and if/when they are deleted.