The Home Delivery Library Service at the New Lenox Public Library provides library services to individuals who are residents within district boundaries and are unable to physically come to the New Lenox Public Library. Homebound is defined as being generally confined to one’s residence either temporarily due to illness or accident, or permanently due to disability, age, or other mobility issues.
Home Delivery Services are provided at no cost to the patron. Patrons must be a New Lenox Public Library District resident and have a current New Lenox Public Library card. If a patron does not have a card, the Adult & Teen Services Outreach Coordinator can issue them a card at their residence. Patrons are eligible if they reside in their own home, assisted living, or nursing facility.
Patrons can apply on the Library’s website or call the Library. Once the patron has applied, the Adult and Teen Services Outreach Coordinator will contact the applicant to explain how to request books and other materials, as well as help with suggestions based off of the application. A schedule of delivery will be set up, depending upon the individual’s needs, and on the availability of volunteer drivers. Home visits are usually scheduled for once a month.
The Library may limit the number of items that may be borrowed per delivery though this program. Materials will be delivered to and picked up from each participant’s residence by library staff or volunteers. Due to the longer process to acquire out of system items, ILL requests are not available for Home Delivery. Participants will be charged the replacement costs for materials that are lost and/or damaged while in their care.
Patrons requesting home delivery services must provide a safe and appropriate environment for staff members or volunteers who make deliveries to their residences. Patrons must protect all library materials while in their custody. Staff or volunteers will not assist with activities of daily living or advice on financial or personal matters.
Staff or volunteers may choose not to enter a home, to leave a home immediately, or recommend suspension of homebound service if any of the following conditions exist:
- Any person in the home presents threatening, obscene, or abusive language, gestures, or images
- Any person in the home harasses the Library representative
- Any person in the home is engaging in illegal activity at the time of service
- Any person in the home exhibits signs of illness that may endanger the health of the Library representative
- The conditions of the home or property are unsafe or unsanitary
The New Lenox Public Library has the right to terminate this service to any individual who does not meet the terms and requirements as defined above.
Adopted by the Board of Trustees November 14, 2016; Updated January 8, 2024