All library items, except certain items listed in the chart below, shall be loaned for home use to any PrairieCat patron regardless of age under library regulations and procedures. Items on hold for another New Lenox patron and new high-demand items may not be renewed. Vacation loans may be available by request.
Patrons with item replacement costs, damaged item fees, or maximum overdue periods on their card will not be permitted to check out materials.
Although the Library does not charge overdue fines for most items, a patron’s card will be blocked after an item is 7 days overdue and a replacement cost will be charged to the patron’s account for each item that is 21 days overdue. These parameters may be subject to change due to extenuating circumstances such as emergency closures.
Schools located within the Library district’s boundaries are entitled to library services which must be renewed each school year by the Superintendent or Principal. The loan period shall be 28 days, with the exception of DVDs, which shall be 7 days. School staff members must present a current school-issued ID to borrow materials. Rules and procedures for these accounts shall be established by the Administration and Patron Services departments.
| Materials | Item Limits | Loan Period | Holds Allowed | Renewable |
| Audiobooks | None | 21 Days | Yes | Yes (2 times) |
| Books | None | 21 Days | Yes | Yes (2 times) |
| Browse Books | None | 21 Days | No | No |
| Browse DVDs | None | 21 Days | No | No |
| DVDs | 10 Item Limit | 21 Days | Yes | Yes (1 time) |
| Launchpads | 1 per household | 21 Days | Yes | Yes (1 time) |
| Marathon Movie Boxes | 10 Item Limit | 21 Days | Yes | No |
| Mobile Hotspots | 1 per household; NL resident only; Once a month checkout | 7 Days | No | No |
| Music CDs | None | 21 Days | Yes | Yes (2 times) |
| New Books | None | 21 Days | Yes | Yes (1 time) |
| New DVDs | 3 Item Limit | 21 Days | Yes | No |
| New Large Print | None | 21 Days | Yes | Yes (1 time) |
| New Video Games | 1 Item Limit | 21 Days | No | No |
| Periodicals | None | 21 Days | Yes | Yes (2 times) |
| Playaways | None | 21 Days | Yes | Yes (2 times) |
| STEAM Kits & Little Sprouts Backpacks | 1 per household NL resident only | 21 Days | No | No |
| Tech2Go Items | None | 14 Days | No | No |
| TV Series DVDs | 10 Item Limit | 21 Days | Yes | Yes (1 time) |
| Video Games | 3 Item Limit | 21 Days | Yes | Yes (1 time) |
Adopted by the Board of Trustees January 11, 1999; Revised August 8, 2005; Updated June 14, 2010; Updated September 12, 2011; Updated March 18, 2013; Updated April 21, 2014; Updated April 12, 2016; Updated December 11, 2017; Updated July 8, 2019; Updated September 14, 2020; Updated December 14, 2020; Updated June 14, 202; Updated March 13, 2023; November 12, 2024; Updated February 18, 2025