Purpose
The purpose of this policy is to establish eligibility requirements and guidelines for receiving and using a Teton County Library card.
Policy Statement
Library cards are issued to identify users of library materials and to provide a means of recovering materials that have not been returned.
Library cards are used to check out and place holds on library materials, to use public library computers and other equipment or technology, and to access electronic resources provided by the library.
A library card provides the cardholder with the ability to review their library account, search the online catalog and reserve materials.
Any person who lives, attends school, pays property taxes in Teton County, or is an employee of Teton County or Town of Jackson is eligible to receive a Teton County Library card free of charge.
Teton County Library also issues cards to seasonal/temporary residents, persons without a legal/permanent address, patrons of non-Wyoming reciprocal borrower libraries, and, for an annual fee, non-residents.
Library Card Categories
Temporary Library Cards
Applicants for any type of Teton County Library card listed below may register online for a temporary card. Applicants will receive a temporary barcode that only allows access to some digital/electronic resources. To complete the library card application process and to obtain full access to all library materials and services, applicants must visit either the Main Library in Jackson or the Alta Branch location and present an acceptable form of photo ID and proof of address. Temporary library cards expire 7 days from date of issue.
Resident - Adult Library Cards
Eligible applicants 18 years of age and over receive adult library cards. This card may be used at any public library in the State of Wyoming subject to the WYLD Card Policy.
Resident - Youth Library Cards
Eligible applicants under 18 years of age receive youth library cards. A parent or legal guardian must present proof of parental/guardian identity. The parent or legal guardian accepts financial responsibility for use of the library card by their child. This card may be used at any public library in the State of Wyoming subject to the WYLD Card Policy.
Resident - Youth - Young Adult Library Cards
In recognition of the general maturity of young adults who are between the ages of 14 and 17 inclusive, Teton County Library may waive the right to require parent/guardian approval provided that the young adult is able to show positive verification of their identity. If the young adult does not have identification, a parent/guardian must be present to verify their identity and approval of the library card application. Waiver of the parent/guardian signature does not remove the parent’s or legal guardian’s responsibilities or rights regarding the minor. This card may be used at any public library in the State of Wyoming subject to the WYLD Card Policy.
Seasonal Library Cards
Seasonal library cards are issued free of charge to Teton County, Wyoming seasonal workers, temporary residents (up to 6 months), and adults 18 years of age or older who are unable to show proof of address due to not having a physical address or have a General Delivery or In Care Of address.
Seasonal library card applicants must provide photo ID, proof of local address or employment, and proof of permanent/legal address.
Applicants without a physical address or have a General Delivery or In Care Of address must provide a phone number or email address and present a valid or expired photo ID.
Seasonal library cards are restricted to a 10-item checkout limit and do not have interlibrary loan privileges.
Seasonal library cards expire 6 months from date of issue.
Individuals planning to live or work in Teton County for longer than 6 months shall apply for a regular resident card. Individuals who return to Teton County on a regular/cyclical basis may renew their cards for additional 6-month periods with proof of new/continued employment or temporary address.
Individuals without a physical address or have a General Delivery or In Care Of address may continue to renew their card in 6-month increments. An individual may convert their seasonal card to an adult resident card with presentation of a valid photo ID and proof of local address.
This card is valid only at Teton County Library.
Educator Library Cards
An educator library card entitles educators who teach in Teton County, Wyoming a free Teton County Library card regardless of the educator’s personal residence. Educators include preschool teachers, daycare providers, private school teachers, public school teachers, after-school, and summer program instructors, and homeschool educators.
Educator library cards are valid only at Teton County Library.
Educators must show proof of their educator status in the form of one of the following: school district identification, preschool or daycare operating license, private school identification, after-school or summer program identification, documentation of home school program certification, letter from current principal or after-school or summer program director, or a recent pay stub.
Educator library cards are valid for one school year beginning August 1 and may be renewed annually with proof that the cardholder remains an educator in Teton County, Wyoming. Educator library cards expire on July 31.
Non-Resident Library Cards
Non-resident library cards are issued to individuals who are otherwise not eligible for a Teton County Library card or to non-resident individuals who want full access to all library materials and services. Non-residents may purchase a library card for an annual fee set by the Library Board of Directors (see Schedule 1). This non-resident fee shall be reviewed and, if necessary, adjusted/changed annually at the start of each new fiscal year.
Non-resident applicants must provide photo ID and proof of legal/permanent address.
Non-resident library cards expire one year from date of issue and may be renewed at the prevailing non-resident library card fee.
Other Library Cards
Teton County Library honors valid library cards from all State of Wyoming public libraries in accordance with the WYLD Card Policy.
From time to time, Teton County Library may enter into reciprocal borrowing agreements with other libraries. Library cards issued to patrons of those libraries are subject to the terms of the reciprocal borrowing agreement approved by the governing bodies of Teton County Library and the reciprocal library.
Library Card Privileges
A Teton County Library card entitles the holder to:
- borrow materials eligible for loan from the Teton County Library collection in compliance with the rules set forth in Schedule 1 – Loan Periods, Renewals & Limits, and Fees.
- utilize the services, programs, and equipment of the library for which a library card is required, including certain online resources.
Library Card Responsibilities
A Teton County Library cardholder:
- must present their library card to library staff at the time of check-out (if the card is not present, then some other form of positive proof of identification, otherwise borrowing privileges at that time will be denied).
- assumes responsibility for the care and safety of library materials borrowed on their library card.
- assumes responsibility for paying fines and other charges levied against their library card.
- agrees to report changes in name, address, telephone number, or email address as soon as possible.
- agrees to report a lost, stolen, or damaged card to the library as soon as possible.
A cardholder continues to be responsible for the use of their library card until the library has been notified of theft or loss.
Proof of Identity and Residency
Proof of identity and residency shall be required before a library card is issued.
The following are acceptable forms of proof, although more than one item may be required to establish both identity and residency. Seasonal and Educator library cards require different and/or additional types of proof of identity or residency; see above for details.
- a valid driver’s license or state-issued photo identification card (A Wyoming driver’s license with a Teton County, Idaho mailing address may be used as proof of Teton County, Wyoming residency)
- a Mexican Matricula Consular w/ Teton County address
- a valid student identification card
- a valid passport
- a property tax receipt
- a vehicle or voter registration certificate
- a current utility bill
- a rent receipt for at least one month (or letter stating residence on an official letterhead signed by the landlord
- a lease/mortgage agreement
- a personal check w/ Teton County, Wyoming address
- Teton County GIS property owner lookup
- Current proof of Teton County or Town of Jackson employment
For youth aged 17 and younger, proof of the parent or legal guardian’s identity and residency may be required.
For a Teton County property owner with principal residence in another state, a tax bill or tax receipt from the Teton County, Wyoming Assessor’s Office or Treasurer’s Office, or Teton County GIS property owner lookup, coupled with an acceptable form of photo ID will be considered acceptable proof of identity and residency.
Library Card Expiration & Renewal
Resident library cards – Adult and Youth - are valid for two years from the date of issue and, upon expiration, may be renewed for subsequent two-year periods with verification of continued residency, property ownership, school attendance in Teton County, Wyoming, or employment with Teton County or Town of Jackson.
Other types of library cards, including Temporary, Seasonal, Educator, Non-Resident, and Reciprocal are valid for the length of time as described above for each type of card. Most types of cards may be renewed with appropriate verification.
A Teton County Library Resident Library Card ceases to be valid when the cardholder no longer lives, owns property, attends school in Teton County, or is employed by Teton County or Town of Jackson.
The Library may assess a charge to replace a library card that is lost or damaged beyond use before its expiration date.
Suspension of Library Card
A Teton County Library card may be suspended whenever the cardholder is guilty of breaking library rules, including but not limited to owing fees in excess of the established maximum limit, owing money for a lost or damaged collection item, damaging library property, behaving in a disorderly manner, or committing other infractions prohibited by library policy.
Use of Library Cards by Youth
The Library Board of Directors and staff are charged with the responsibility of providing free and equal access to library materials and services to everyone. Moreover, it is impossible for them to know the opinions of parents and guardians regarding the items borrowed by minor children.
Therefore, it is the policy of the Teton County Library that parents and guardians, not the library staff or board members, are responsible for monitoring and approving the selection of materials made by minor children. It is the parents or guardians – and only these – who may restrict their children – and only their children – from borrowing specific library materials. Parents or guardians who wish their children not to borrow certain materials must inform or accompany their children at the library.
Use of Library Cards by Persons Other than the Registered Cardholder
Cardholders are discouraged from lending their library cards for use by others. Cardholders who allow their library cards to be used by others continue to be responsible for the care and safety of all library materials charged to their cards, as well as for paying fines, replacement charges, and other financial assessments that result from the use of their cards.
Confidentiality of Library Cardholder Account Information
Library cardholder account records are protected by Wyoming Statute 16-4-203. Library staff hold cardholder records in the strictest confidence. See Teton County Library Policy on the Confidentiality of Library Records for further information.
Statewide Borrowing Privileges
Any individual who has a current registration in any Wyoming library participating in the Wyoming Library Database (WYLD) may borrow materials from Teton County Library if the card is not delinquent.