December 2021

Quick Facts

• You can find the expiration date of a PAID_A and/or PAID_Y card by looking at the glossary in the Check Out wizard or the summary tab in the Display User wizard.   You can also find it under the Permission tab in the Modify user wizard or Modify user helper.
• PAID_A or PAID_Y cards cost $180 per year. This fee covers all members of a household.

Procedure

A patron who is present and wants to purchase a fee library card: 

1. The standard Requirements apply. Check for an existing account.  Residency is not required. If a previous fee card exists, see Renew a fee card.
2. Ask the patron for the names of other authorized individuals in their household.
3. Create a new patron record by going to the Patron registration staff form and entering in the patron information. 
4. Go to Symphony to add the bill:
   1. Click the Billing a User Wizard listed under Special.
   2. Find the patron and select PAID_CARD as the reason for bill.
   3. Enter the amount 180.00
   4. Select payment type CRED_DEBIT, CASH or CHECK.
   5. Take payment from patron and then select Pay Now.
5. Click Modify User and go to the Extended Info tab to enter names of all the family members in the household in a HISTORY field.
6. Click Save.

If a patron says a member of their household has already paid for a fee library card:

1. Ask for the name of the primary cardholder, the person who paid the fee and opened the account.  
2. Use the Display User wizard, then the User Search helper to look up the primary cardholder.
3. Ask the patron for identification. ID must match a name listed in the HISTORY field in the Extended Info tab of the primary cardholder's account.
4. If the name appears in the primary cardholder's account, create or update an account for the individual.
   1. Inside of the Check out wizard, note the User ID (library card number) of the primary cardholder and enter it into a HISTORY field of the household member's new card.
   2. Click the Permission tab in the Modify user helper and set the same expiration date as the primary cardholder.
   3. Set the Profile name to PAID_A or PAID_Y and click Save.
   4. Inside of the pop-up saying "Renew Permission", click on Close or Cancel. 
   5. Make sure that the patron isn't charged the $180 fee.  If this charge has been added to their account, select CLR_LIB as the Payment Type from the Pay Bills window and remove it.
5. If the name does not appear, the individual must either pay the $180.00 fee, or the primary cardholder must come into the library to add this person to the list of household members.

Policy

• Patrons who live outside of Multnomah County or who are not covered under our reciprocal agreement are offered a one-year (365 days) library card for a fee of $180.00 per household. A household is defined as the individuals who reside at one address.
• There is no discount for senior citizens.
• As part of the application, the patron is asked about what other individuals (if any) are in their household and if they are authorized to receive a library card. These individuals are then listed in the HISTORY field as being eligible to receive a library card without additional payment, but expiring at the same time as the primary card.
• Fee patrons have access to all standard library services, including all electronic resources, all media services (OverDrive/Libby, Hoopla, Kanopy, etc.) and Interlibrary Loan services. 

Rationale

Much of the library's financial support comes from property taxes paid by residents of Multnomah County. Reciprocal libraries are also supported by local taxes. Therefore, residents outside the Free service area do not provide any financial support other than the library card fee. If a patron owns property in Multnomah County, they may be eligible for a taxpayer card.

Application

Use this procedure for an individual purchasing a library card, or for an authorized individual receiving a card based upon a prior payment.