Who can get a card
The Gaines County Library is a tax-supported public library. This means that people residing within, or who own property within, the jurisdictional boundaries of the Gaines County Library pay taxes to support the library. Those people who live within, or who own property within, the jurisdictional boundaries of the Gaines County Library need pay no additional fee to be eligible to receive their first library card. Library cards are renewed every year without additional fees, provided the library card holder continues to reside or own property within the jurisdictional boundaries of Gaines County Library and is a patron in good standing. There is a fee of $1.00 to replace damaged, destroyed, lost, or stolen library cards. This fee is increased to $5.00 when a library card must be replaced a second time or more.

As a resident card holder, the borrower identified on the valid library card may physically take his or her library card to the library to borrow materials. Those materials are the responsibility of the individual who borrows them, and are subject to all of the fines, rules, and regulations of the lending library. Often libraries limit the borrowing privileges of reciprocal borrowers, and it is best to establish local rules and procedures before making your selections. 

Individuals who are Texas residents, residing beyond the jurisdictional boundaries of the Gaines County Library and owning no property within the jurisdictional boundaries of the Gaines County Library, do not need to purchase a library card. Gaines County Library is a member of the Texas State Library and Archives Commission, an incentive for local communities to extend public library services without charge to those residing outside each library's local legal service area in order to improve library services statewide and improve access to public library resources and services for all Texans. 

There is a one-time fee of $10.00 for issuing library cards to individual out-of-state patrons. Fees for damaged, destroyed, lost, or stolen library cards also apply. 

Adults wishing to register for a library card, renew an expired library card, or replace a lost, stolen, damaged, or destroyed library card at the Gaines County Library must bring with them a valid photo ID and one form of identification which bears their name and address. Acceptable forms of identification are a Department of Public Safety driver's license, Department of Public Safety ID, International drivers license, U.S. Passport, Resident Alien Registration Card or military, school or employee photo ID. Acceptable proof of address includes any of the above listed items, if address is included. A personalized check or bank statement, recent billing statements, voter's registration, vehicle registration or liability insurance, official rent receipt, rental agreement or other housing contract may also be used for proof of address. If the mailing and physical addresses are different, proof of both is required. 

Those people applying for a library card from Gaines County Library who own property within the jurisdictional boundaries of Gaines County must bring the deed to that property as proof of ownership. A valid photo ID is still necessary in obtaining a library card.

Children under the age of 18 must have a parent or legal guardian’s signature on any initial application for a library card. Proof of legal guardianship must be presented before the library card application can be completed. The application must be completed with both the child and parent or legal guardian present in the library. Children must be at least 9 years of age to become a library cardholder.

Students registered in the Seminole Independent School District’s Adult Learning Center (SISD-ALC), who do not have any of the above identification, are eligible to apply for a temporary (five months) library card from Gaines County Library when they present a letter each semester from their SISD-ALC teacher.

New library cards are not issued 30 minutes before the library closes, or the staff person working the circulation desk can make the decision to issue a new card(s) if workflow allows the process to be completed in a timely manner.

Eligibility to borrow – or have computer access
Individuals presenting valid library cards issued by the Gaines County Library are eligible to borrow materials from the Gaines County Library when the following conditions are met:
1.  No materials which are more than one circulation period are overdue on their card.
2.  No outstanding fines in aggregate excess of $5.00 have accrued to their card.
3.   No materials borrowed for them from another library are overdue in any amount. 

The library staff may not waive these regulations without the specific permission of the library director.  However, the patron may request and receive a 24-hour hold on the item(s) he or she wishes to check out to allow the patron to correct the situation which has resulted in loss of eligibility to borrow. 

Fees and Fines
The Gaines County Library has established, in addition to the schedule for lost or damaged items, the following schedule of fines for overdue materials as well as fees for other services provided by the Gaines County Library. Payment is by cash or money order only. There is a one-day grace period on all overdue items, weekends and holidays are excluded. 

Overdue materials fines
Books:                                              $0.10 per day, not to exceed $5.00.                     
Books on Cassette and CD: $0.10 per day, not to exceed $10.00.
Videocassettes:                          $1.00 per day, not to exceed $10.00.
DVDs:                                              $1.00 per day, not to exceed $10.00.
CD-ROM:                                      $0.10 per day, not to exceed $5.00. 

Patrons with responsibility for material in any format which is more than 38 days overdue are also responsible for any and all collection and/or court costs incurred by the library in its efforts to secure the return of the material.