Free by default
Ordinary circulating books are offered as free local loans. There are no routine rental fees or daily late charges.
Field Cabinet library · Lending policy
Books in motion,
care kept mutual.
The library is built around access: most books circulate free, while uncommon or vulnerable items receive only the safeguards they actually need.
The model
Free community lending, with a narrow special-collection exception.
Submitting a request does not guarantee a loan. Availability, eligibility, the exact edition, due date, and handoff plan are confirmed directly before a book changes hands.
Two books · 21 days
A borrower may usually have up to two books for 21 days. One 14-day renewal is available when nobody else has requested the title.
Local handoff
Pickup and return happen at a mutually agreed public location. Shipping is not offered at this time.
Three-day grace
A three-day grace period follows the due date. If plans change, contact Carson early so the return can be rearranged.
Condition and care
Normal wear is expected. Keep food and liquids away, use removable notes only, and return each item in substantially the condition received.
Loss or serious damage
A lost, unreturned, or seriously damaged item may require reimbursement of its reasonable replacement cost.
Special collection
Some books should be shared differently.
Rare, fragile, sentimental, heavily annotated, or high-value titles may be marked Reference Only. Some may qualify for a deposit-based local loan instead.
Any refundable deposit and its return conditions are agreed in writing before handoff, based on reasonable replacement value. The website does not collect card details or payments. A deposit is returned after the item comes back on time and in substantially the same condition, subject to any loss or serious damage agreed with the borrower.
Good-faith borrowing
Communication matters more than punishment.
Borrowers need a reliable contact method. Repeated non-returns, ignored return arrangements, or serious mistreatment of books may lead to future requests being declined.
Questions or unusual circumstances can be included with the request. Terms can be adjusted directly when that keeps the book accessible and protected.
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