Policies

Jump to a Policy

---

Library Cards

As a Westland resident, applying for a library card is fast and easy. At the Circulation Desk, simply present a valid driver’s license or state ID showing your name and Westland address. Those under 18 years old must have their applications co-signed, in person, by a parent or legal guardian who must present proper ID. Teens 13-17 are now able to sign up for a Teen Library Card without a parent/guardian. Visit the Circulation Desk with a student ID and get access to all of our digital resources and check out up to 10 items! Not able to visit the library but still want access to our digital resources? We now have Student Library Cards and Digital Access Cards. 

Your library card allows you to check out material from the Westland Public Library, use our computers, and participate in interlibrary loan. Your library card also enables you to enjoy the services of more than 88 other libraries in Wayne, Oakland, Washtenaw, St. Clair, and Livingston counties. Your card also entitles you to MILibraryCard privileges at many Michigan libraries, public and academic.

Residents of cities with TLN or MILibraryCard Libraries that engage in reciprocal borrowing with Westland may have their Library Cards registered with the Westland Public Library, and enjoy full borrowing privileges here.

---

Temporary Library Cards

If you do not have a library card for your home library and it is part of The Library Network, you can get a 30-day Temporary Card from the Circulation Desk. This gives you the ability to check out up to two items and have access to our computers for only 30 days. In this time, you are encouraged to obtain a card from your home library. Once the temporary card expires in 30 days, you are not eligible for another Temporary Card.

---

Borrowing Periods

---

Borrowing Limits

• Patrons may borrow up to 99 total items at any one time.
• Patrons may borrow no more than 3 Video Games, Test Books, or Kits at one time.
• The following items are limited to adults with a Westland library card: Hotspots (limit 1 per patron), Library of Things items (limit 2 per patron).

---

Fines and Fees

Overdue Fines

The library no longer charges fines for overdue materials that have been returned. Patrons who have an overdue fine for an item owned by the library on their account will not owe any fines when they return those materials to the library. All past overdue fines are being eliminated, except those for damaged or lost items. Patrons will still be responsible for returning library materials in a timely manner and for paying the replacement cost of any lost/damaged items and for other services such as faxing and printing.

The Library will continue to send out reminders to patrons to return materials in a timely manner.

Fees

• Photocopies and Prints: $0.10 for black and white pages, $0.50 for color pages.
• Faxing: $1 per page
• Lost or Damaged Item: Retail Purchase Price – Please note: The Library cannot accept purchased items as replacements for lost or damaged items.

If you owe over $5 in fees or replacement costs, your borrowing privileges will be suspended until you reconcile your account.

Please report a lost library card immediately. You are held responsible for all items checked out on your card.

---

Renewals

Eligible items are now renewed automatically three days prior to the due date. MeLCat items (interloan), wireless hotspots, STEM and Storytime kits, book club books, and YA Boxes will not renew automatically. The renewal date is based on the previous due date, not the date of renewal. If an item has a hold on it, it will not be renewed. You can check your library account here to view current checkouts and due dates.

Most items can be renewed twice, except interlibrary loan items, audiobooks, and items that have been requested by someone else.

You can renew items or check item due dates through our online catalog (except interlibrary loan items), or by telephone. Be sure to have your library card ready and know which items you want to renew when you call.

If you need to renew, remember to renew your items on or before the due date.

---

Returning Collection Items

For your convenience, returns for books and audiovisual materials are located just to the right as you enter the building.

The first two drive-through return boxes on the circular driveway in front of the main entrance are always open with the exception of holidays, when all outside drop boxes are closed. You must use the building drop boxes, located at the right of the main entrance doors, on these occasions. These building drop boxes, and the second drive-through return boxes, are open whenever the library is closed.

When the Library is closed, materials returned in any of the return boxes are considered to be returned the previous open day.

WiFi Hotspots, Kits, YA Boxes, and Library of Things items must be returned directly to the Circulation desk.

Please do not return Westland items to other area libraries, or vice versa.

---

Delinquent Retrieval Process

An overdue notice is mailed two weeks after the item due date.

A bill for the replacement cost is mailed 30 days after the due date in the event an item has not been returned.

A collection agency assists the Library in retrieving seriously overdue materials. This process begins 45 days after the item is due. The costs for these processes are added to the patron record.

• Collection Agency Fee: $10.00

Please return your items on time.

---

Requests

You can place requests on all circulating items owned by the Westland Public Library. This can be done through our online catalog or by speaking to a librarian. Interlibrary loan is available for items not owned by the Westland Public Library. Go to the Information Desk to place an interlibrary loan request or make it yourself with the Michigan eLibrary’s catalog (MeLCat) at elibrary.mel.org/search. Interlibrary loan is only available for Westland residents.

---

Patron Behavior and Usage Policy

---

Internet Use Policy

---

Printing Policy

Printing is available from all public computers. The cost is $0.10 per page for black and white printing and $0.50 per page for color. Payments for prints, copies, and faxes can be made directly at the print station.

Wireless printing is also available if you are using your own laptop, tablet, or smartphone.

---

Meeting Room Guidelines

The purpose of the Library’s meeting rooms is to provide space for study and/or collaborative work. The following guidelines apply to all meeting rooms and are designed to ensure that the Library’s meeting rooms remain safe, clean, and accessible to patrons for years to come.

Meeting rooms are available free of charge and are open during library hours. Rooms must be vacated 15 minutes prior to the scheduled time of closing. (Monday-Thursday @ 8:45 pm; Friday-Sunday @ 4:45 pm). Individuals or groups that do not vacate a meeting room in a timely fashion may have their meeting room privileges suspended.

Meeting rooms are available by reservation on a first come, first served basis. Meeting rooms may be booked by groups or individuals up to 2 weeks in advance. Space may be reserved for up to 3 hours at a time.

• Meeting Rooms 115, 116, 142, 143, 144, 145, and 146 seat up to 6 people
• Meeting Room 147/148 seats 5-12 people

Rooms may be reserved by adults 18 or older. Teens (ages 12-18 or 7th-12th grade) may use a room unsupervised, as long as the room has been reserved by an adult.

Reserving a Room

You can reserve a room online or by phone at 734-326-6123.

Checking in for your reservation

Please see staff at the Information Desk to check in and access your reserved room. Meeting rooms will remain locked when not in use.

Patrons who reserve a room and do not arrive within 10 minutes of their reservation time may forfeit their booking if there is another patron waiting.

Meeting rooms must be occupied for the duration of the reservation, excluding short breaks. Items left in an unoccupied room will be considered abandoned after 15 minutes and may be removed by staff. The library is not responsible for unattended personal items.

Equipment

All meeting rooms are equipped with dry erase boards. You may reserve the following equipment along with your Room Reservation based on availability.

• Dry erase marker and eraser kits
• Portable TV cart with 48-inch screen and HDMI cable
• Windows 11 laptop for in-library use

Accommodations

If you have a specific need for accommodation, please contact the Information desk when you make your Room Reservation.

---

Meeting Room Policy

• All groups and individuals will abide by Library policies.
• Use of meeting rooms for sales or solicitations is prohibited.
• The user shall not interfere with or interrupt the regular operation of the Library.
• The use of the meeting rooms shall be following all city ordinances and state laws.
• Patrons using the space cannot charge an admission fee or collect money.
• Patrons cannot distribute printed materials on Library property without the permission of the Library Director or Supervisor-In-Charge.
• All publicity (e.g., posters, brochures, radio, or TV announcements) must carry the organization’s name sponsoring the meeting. The Westland Public Library may not be identified as a sponsor by a group using the meeting room.
• Groups using the meeting rooms cannot use the name or the address of the Westland Public Library as the official address or headquarters of the organization.
• No program in the Library may be broadcast or televised without permission of the Library Director.
• If a person with hearing loss requests at least one week before a meeting, the group or organization using the Meeting Room must provide a sign-language interpreter.
• Smoking and vaping are prohibited.
• No alcoholic beverages are allowed in the Library.
• Nothing may be adhered or affixed to any surface in the Meeting Rooms. Windows and doorways should be kept clear.
• Authorization for special library activities after hours is at the discretion of the Library Director.
• No group or organization using the meeting room will discriminate based on race, color, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender expression or identity, religion, age, citizenship, or disability in the provision of services.

Patrons will be asked to leave if they disturb others or engage in destructive or inappropriate behavior. Users of the Meeting Rooms are responsible for leaving the rooms in a neat and orderly condition. Failure to do so may result in the denial of future requests to use a room.

Use of meeting rooms does not indicate the Library endorses any cause or activity.

---

Unattended Children Policy

Children need to feel comfortable in the use of the library and the services and collections designed specifically for them. However, as in any public facility, the usual cautions and dangers exist. The purpose of this policy is to provide for the safety and well-being of children on the William P. Faust Public Library of Westland’s premises.

• All children under the age of 8 must be accompanied and directly supervised by an adult or caregiver (age 13 or older) at all times while in the library.
• All children age 8 – 12 must have an adult or caregiver in the library, though direct supervision is not necessary unless determined so by Library staff.
• The Library reserves the right to request adult supervision for all children under the age of 18 at the Library’s discretion (if the child needs supervision, assistance or has demonstrated that he/she cannot comply with the Library’s Patron Behavior Policy).
• If it has been ascertained that a child under the age of eight (8) years is not accompanied by a parent or caregiver, every effort will be made to contact the child’s parent(s) or guardian(s) to notify them of the Library’s policy.
• If an adult or caregiver for the child cannot be located, the library reserves the right to call the police to locate the child’s parent(s) or guardian(s).
• Children under the age of 5 must be accompanied to the restroom by a parent or caregiver.
• It is the responsibility of parents to provide means of transportation home 10 minutes before the library’s closing. At closing all patrons will be asked to leave the building and wait for a ride outside.

---

Smoking and Petitioning Policy

NO SMOKING will be allowed in the Library building at any time.

There will be NO SMOKING or PETITIONING allowed within fifty (50) feet of the perimeter of the Library building. This limit would include any outside library activities.

Any staff member has the authority to ask an individual to move beyond the fifty (50) foot line. However, the staff member will have to speak to the Supervisor in Charge before doing this. An incident report will be placed on file and the person filing the report should have the offender’s name or a detailed description of the offender. After three incidents, the individual will be told to remove themselves from the Library property for a minimum of ninety (90) days.

---

Wireless Hotspot Policy