Having a group or family card means that your cards are linked up to each other. You can use the library card of other people in your group or family and pay bills for each other, too. You can get group or family status on your card by filling out a consent form at either branch of the Public Library. Read on to see exactly how it works.

1. This is an additional service provided by the Prince George Public Library.

2. Signing the “Family/Group User Consent” form means you give informed consent to the disclosure of your personal information to all other current and future members of the Group.

3. Members of a Group may:

• Use each other's library cards
• Borrow materials on each other's behalf
• Manage holds on each other's behalf
• Pay bills on each other's behalf

* Due to privacy legislation, those who are not a member of a Group are not able to use each other's library card, borrow materials on each other's behalf, or manage each other's holds. A Parent/Legal Guardian can still access the account information for a child under the age of 12 years if he/she provides proof that he/she lives at the same residence as the child and the other Parent/Legal Guardian.

4. One member of the Group may be designated to receive hold and bill notices for all members of the Group.

5. Holds must be checked out on the same card that was used to place the hold. Any member of the Group may check out the hold as long as they present the card that was used to place the hold.

6. The “Parent/Legal Guardian” designation is used for Adults with one or more Child Cardholders in the Group.

• Those members with the designation “Parent/Legal Guardian” are linked to the bills of other Group members. The “Parent/Legal Guardian” inherits the account status from the “worst-case” user who is included in the Group. This means, for example, if a Child card is Blocked, the Parent/Legal Guardian card will also be Blocked. “Blocked” status suspends borrowing and Internet privileges at the Library until the situation is resolved.

7. The “Spouse/Partner” designation is used for two Adults with no linked Child Cardholders.

•  Those members with the designation “Spouse/Partner” are not linked to the bills of the other “Spouse/Partner”. This means that a “Spouse/Partner” is not affected by the account status of the other.

8. The “Child” designation is used for all persons under the age of 19 linked to a “Parent/Legal Guardian” within a Group.

9. All members of the same “Group” must sign the “Family/Group User Consent” form except for children under 12 years of age.

• Once a person turns 12 years of age, he/she may contact the Library either to provide signed consent to continue being a part of the Group or request that he/she be withdrawn from the Group. Until instructed otherwise, the Library assumes the individual turning 12 wishes to remain in the Group.

10. All members of the same Group aged 19 years or older are responsible for their own charges and materials. Once a person turns 19 years of age, he/she may contact the Library to indicate whether he/she wishes to remain a part of the same Group. If so, his/her designation will change to “Spouse/Partner” to ensure he/she is responsible for his/her own charges and materials. Until instructed otherwise, the Library assumes the individual turning 19 wishes to remain in the Group with his/her existing designation.

11. The addition of any new member to the Group must include signed consent from the Group Contact and the new member (see Family/Group User Consent form).

12. A Group member’s account must be clear of all bills before it can be removed from a Group. Deceased persons will be removed from the Group on notification. The withdrawal of any member from a Group needs the signed consent of the member leaving the group or of the member’s Parent/Legal Guardian as applicable. Persons younger than 12 years of age must have signed permission of the Parent/Legal Guardian to withdraw from the Group.