Please be aware that As of July1, 2023 new policies will be in effect regarding new patrons obtaining a library card and overdue items. The Library will be tightening up the application of their current policies regarding fines of overdue materials and lost items.

As of July 1, 2023 New Patrons must submit physical verification of physical address. New Patrons must submit a copy of a driver’s license or government ID with photo. Patrons under 15 must have application signed by a parent or legal guardian and include documentation of parent/parents’ or legal guardian’s physical verification of physical address and a copy of a driver’s license or government ID with photo. New patrons must submit a personal working phone number and a working phone number of place/places of employment. They have to provide an out of household reference with working phone and up-to-date addresses, preferably someone in the community.

Obtaining a library card from Wedsworth Memorial Library means that the patron can be charged fines for overdue materials; can have their information sent to a collection bureau for nonreturned library materials; and can be charged with felony theft Per MT Code Annotated: 22-1-506. Liability for injury to books or failure to return. A person who defaces, tears, or otherwise injures any book or other work or who fails to return any book taken by the person is liable to the state in three times the value of the book if the book is not replaced by a new one or another book of identical title, in good order and condition. A statute of limitations may not ever be effective against the claim of the state under this section.

Per federal statutes, any person who shall steal, wrongfully deface, injure, mutilate, tear, or destroy Library materials, or any portion thereof, hall be punished by affine of not more than $2,000 or imprisoned not more than 3 years, or both (18USC 1361; 18USC 2071; and 22D.C. Code 3306).

We will be filing theft charges with local law enforcement against several patrons in the very near future. Please be aware, the Library aggressively protects the privacy of our patrons. Once theft has occurred that privacy flies out the window to recover stolen items. If necessary, we will enforce our policy on fines.

Please if you have ANY items checked out from Wedsworth Library and they are overdue, return them. Return them now. You are not only hurting the Library, but you are hurting yourself and other patrons. Remember there is no statute of limitations for these theft charges.

We really hate to become so aggressive in our policies but due to patrons’ irresponsible and indifference attitudes towards library policies lately, library policies have changed and will be enforced. Our budget cannot continue to take the hit by constantly replacing items.