Bloomfield Township Public Library believes in the importance of sharing resources, and for many years the Library offered nonresidents unlimited borrowing privileges. Historically, nonresidents have represented about 30% of total circulation. This is twice the percentage other area libraries experience.
This economic reality called for a review of the nonresident borrowing policy as one way to conserve library resources for township taxpayers. The Bloomfield Township Public Library Board of Trustees concluded that the current nonresident borrowing policy could no longer be sustained. The Board reluctantly adopted a policy at its April 26, 2011 meeting that restricts the borrowing privileges of some nonresidents. As of July 1, 2011, nonresidents with a library card for a library that (i) is located in his or her community (ii) is a current member of The Library Network and (iii) offers reciprocal borrowing privileges to Bloomfield Township Public Library cardholders may use his or her home library card to register at BTPL to borrow books and other materials, subject to BTPL policies and procedures. Nonresidents who are not covered by a reciprocal borrowing agreement or a resident of a TLN member library are welcome to visit and browse BTPL’s collections, and may attend certain public events or programs and use BTPL guest computers for a limited amount of time subject to BTPL policies and procedures, but may not borrow books or other materials or be entitled to other limited or restricted library services.
