Library Membership

California law requires that all public libraries provide basic library services to residents within their jurisdictional boundaries free of charges above and beyond the voter-approved financing arrangement for the library. Eligibility for a library card is considered a basic library service.

The Lassen Library District's juridictional boundary is coterminus with the boundary of the City of Susanville. Residents living within the city limits of the City of Susanville are eligible to obtain a Resident Lassen Library District library card at no additional cost to them. Lassen College students are considered residents for purposes of obtaining a Lassen Library District library card. Proof of enrollment is required. 

The Lassen Library District also serves county residents who live outside the city limits of Susanville. These residents are considered non-residents of the library district but are eligible to obtain a Non-Resident library card upon payment of the non-resident fee of $28. The non-resident fee provides a library card for every person living in the household for which the fee is paid. 

Library cards are issued for one year and are renewable.

Everyone is entitled to and encouraged to use the library facilities, but only those person's who have a library card can borrow books and other materials and access certain online digital resources. Everyone, card holders and non-card holders alike, may be assessed usage fees for the use of certain facilities, programs, services and products which are not considered basic library services.  (See the Schedule of Fees)

Obtaining a Library Card

To obtain a library card, you must:

1. Apply in person;
2. Prove who you are by presenting photo identification, such as CA drivers license, CA I.D. card, military / D.O.D. I.D., or passport
3. Prove where you live by presenting documentation of a physical address (a Post Office box mailing address is not sufficient), such as your property tax statement, rental agreement, utility bill, vehicle registration, CA drivers license, or personal check with printed address. Lassen College students must show proof of registration for the current semester.
4. Be accompanied by a parent or legal guardian, if under the age of 18 years. Parents/guardians of minors will also be required to complete consent forms for their minor children to use the library's public access computers.

Patrons are responsible for informing library staff of any changes in name, address, or phone number.

Library Reciprocity Agreement - Direct Loan

Lassen Library cards are recognized at most other libraries in California, so card holders are permitted to check out items directly from these other libraries. Most libraries will probably issue their own library cards to Lassen Library card holders seeking direct loan privileges after checking with Lassen Library as to the status of their Lassen Library accounts.

All items checked out from the lending library are done so under that library's loan policies. Items checked out from other libraries can be returned to the Lassen Library and we will return them to the lending library. Patrons are responsible to the lending library for all late charges they may incur and must take into consideration the increased time involved in returning loaned items to the lending library so as to avoid incurring late charges.

Lassen Library will issue a Non-resident Lassen Library Card to patrons of other library jurisdictions seeking direct loan privileges at Lassen Library. The patron must present at the time of application a valid library card from their community's library, as well as a valid photo identification. Lassen Library will verify with that library that the patron's account with that library is in good standing before issuing a Lassen Library card.

Loan Periods and Restrictions

There is a 15-item limit on the total number of items a patron can have checked out at any one time. There are limits on the number of some items one may borrow, as listed below. The library asks that patrons borrow no more items at one time than can reasonably be used and cared for within the loan period.

Materials are due back on or before the due date. Patrons are afforded a 3-day grace period after the due date to return items. Items returned after the grace period will have late fees assessed from the original due date.

Loan Period Extensions

Patrons may request one renewal per item to extend the loan period by an additional loan period. Renewals must be made prior to the items' due dates. Renewing after a due date will not cancel any incurred late charges. Renewals may be requested by phone to the Circulation Desk during open hours, by e-mail via this Contact Us link or directly online via the patron's online user account. Items for which additional renewals beyond the first one must be presented to the Circulation Staff in person, checked in and then checked back out to the patron.

Patron Responsibilities

All patrons are responsible for the proper care and use of all materials checked out on their library cards, for all late fees that may be incurred for materials returned after the due date(s), and that are damaged or lost.

Parents/guardians of minor children are responsible for providing proper guidance on the choices of materials their children make, for the proper care and use all materials checked out on their library cards and for all late fees that may be incurred for materials returned after the due date(s), and that are damaged or lost.