Section 3050.75  Cards for Kids

a)         Upon the annual determination by the public library board of trustees to issue non-resident cards for the ensuing 12 months, the non-resident fee shall not be charged to students whose principal residence is not within a public library service area and whose household income makes them eligible to receive free or reduced price meals under the National School Lunch Program and the National School Breakfast Program, as determined by Income Eligibility Guidelines established by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA).

b)         When applying for a non-resident card, a qualifying student must present to the public library documentation from the school or school district that indicates the student's eligibility for free or reduced price meals.

c)         The public library shall determine the applicability of the non-resident fee waiver to all students whose principal residences are not within the public library service area and whose school or school district operates under the Community Eligible Provision (CEP) of the National School Lunch and School Breakfast Programs. When the public library determines the non-resident fee waiver does not apply to all students attending a school or school district that operates under CEP, the public library shall create a certification document that at a minimum includes current household size, current annualized income of that household, and is signed by an adult representative of the student applicant's household. The public library shall review the certification document and waive the non-resident fee for applicants whose documents indicate that they are eligible for free or reduced-price meals.

d)         For homeschool students, the public library shall create a certification document that at a minimum includes current household size and current annualized household income and is signed by an adult representative of the student applicant's household. The public library shall review the certification document and shall waive the non-resident fee for applicants whose documents indicate that they are eligible for free or reduced-price meals.

e)         The student shall apply for a non-resident card at a participating public library as stipulated in Section 3050.25.

f)         The library card shall accord the student cardholder all the services the issuing library provides its residents, including reciprocal borrowing.  The library card shall be issued in compliance with any policy or guideline that the public library board has implemented for issuance of cards to minors.

(Source:  Added at 45 Ill. Reg. 9538, effective July 19, 2021)