DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC LIBRARIES

Fort Worth City Code ch. 19, art. II

in effect

Fort Worth City Code § 19-15 DEFINITIONS AND POLICIES.

§ 19-15 DEFINITIONS AND POLICIES. For purposes of this section, the following definitions and policies shall apply: LIBRARY MATERIALS. All physical and digital items provided by the library for check out or in-library use. LIBRARY SERVICES. Shall include, but not be limited to, access to available information and recreational materials, technology, spaces and programs sponsored by the library. NONRESIDENT CITY EMPLOYEE. A current employee of the City of Fort Worth living outside the corporate limits of the city. NONRESIDENT DONOR. A nonresident individual, as defined herein, who donates $100 or more to the Fort Worth Public Library, the Fort Worth Public Library Foundation or the Friends of the Fort Worth Public Library. A NONRESIDENT DONOR shall receive a maximum of one library card entitling the donor to borrow library materials or use library services free of charge during the time that the card is valid. Such card shall be valid for one year following receipt of the donation for every $100donated; provided, however, that such card shall not be valid for more than five consecutive years regardless of the amount donated. NONRESIDENT INDIVIDUAL. An individual who does not reside or own property located within the corporate limits of the City of Fort Worth. NONRESIDENT INSTITUTION. A corporation, partnership, organization or other form of business entity that does not have its offices or own property located within the corporate limits of the City of Fort Worth. NONRESIDENT STUDENT. A nonresident individual, who is currently enrolled in an accredited educational organization or homeschooled. NONRESIDENT USER FEE. The fee charged to nonresident individuals and nonresident institutions for the privilege of borrowing library materials and accessing library services from the department of public libraries. NONRESIDENT VOLUNTEER. A nonresident individual, who has completed 100 hours of volunteer service to the Fort Worth Public Library as a participant in the volunteer program. A NONRESIDENT VOLUNTEER shall receive a maximum of one library card entitling the volunteer to borrow library materials or use library services free of charge during the time that the card is valid. Such card shall be valid for one year following completion of the above 100 hours of volunteer service and may be renewed upon completion of an additional 100 hours of such volunteer service. (Ord. 20993-10-2013, § 1, passed 10-15-2013; Ord. 28269-01-2026, § 1, passed 1-27-2026)

Fort Worth City Code § 19-16 through 19-18 RESERVED.

§ 19-16—19-18 RESERVED. Editor’s note: Section 20 of Ord. 24030-02-2020, adopted February 4, 2020, repealed §§ 19-16 through 19-18, which pertained to Established, Supervision, Duties of Librarian, and Appointment of Employees. See also the Code Comparative Table.

Fort Worth City Code § 19-19 LIMITATION OF EXPENDITURES.

§ 19-19 LIMITATION OF EXPENDITURES. The department of public libraries shall not make any expenditure of money or incur any liability during any fiscal year beyond the amount appropriated or set apart in the annual budget of the department of public libraries as approved by the city council for such purpose. (1964 Code, § 40-4) (Ord. 7207, § 1, passed 8-11-1975)

Fort Worth City Code § 19-20 BUDGETING, ACCOUNTING PROCEDURES.

§ 19-20 BUDGETING, ACCOUNTING PROCEDURES. The department of public libraries shall conform to such rules and regulations regarding financial affairs as are promulgated by the financial management services director, including rules and procedures governing preparation and review of the annual budget and control of budgeted expenditures. (1964 Code, § 40-5) (Ord. 7207, § 1, passed 8-11-1975; Ord. 18318-09-2008, § 5, passed 9-30-2008)

Fort Worth City Code § 19-21 GIFTS, BEQUESTS.

§ 19-21 GIFTS, BEQUESTS. If gifts, bequests or endowments are made for the benefit of the department of public libraries, such gifts, bequests or endowments shall be administered by the librarian for the benefit of the department of public libraries of the city. (1964 Code, § 40-6) (Ord. 7207, § 1, passed 8-11-1975)

Fort Worth City Code § 19-22 ADVISORY BOARD.

§ 19-22 ADVISORY BOARD. (a) Appointment; members. The library advisory board shall have such members and be appointed as outlined in Chapter 2, Article III, Division 3 of the city code. (b) Responsibilities. The advisory board will be responsible for providing policy recommendations and information to the city manager and the city council about citizen needs and requests that will improve the services of the department. (c) Duties. The advisory board shall advocate for the development of facilities, services and programs in accordance with adopted library plans. The advisory board will help publicize the work, programs and impact of the library. The board may review and comment on the annual operating budget and capital improvement requests. (1964 Code, § 40-7) (Ord. 7207, § 1, passed 8-11-1975; Ord. 8908, § 1, passed 8-30-1983; Ord. 26353-08-2023, § 11, passed 8-8-2023; Ord. 28530-06-2026, § 1, passed 6-9-2026)

Fort Worth City Code § 19-23 ILLEGAL REMOVAL OF MATERIALS; FINE.

§ 19-23 ILLEGAL REMOVAL OF MATERIALS; FINE. Every person who shall take or borrow from a branch of the Fort Worth public library any library materials except through the customary check-out procedure of such library, shall be deemed guilty of a misdemeanor and, upon conviction thereof, shall be subject to punishment as provided in § 1-6 of this code. Any fines under such section shall not preclude the library assessing and collecting all fines normally assessed by it for each day’s violation of its rules, including the replacement cost of the unreturned property and associated fees as set forth in the library’s circulation policy. (1964 Code, § 40-8) (Ord. 9035, § 1, passed 2-21-1984; Ord. 20993-10-2013, § 4, passed 10-15-2013)

Fort Worth City Code § 19-24 OVERDUE BORROWED MATERIALS; FINES.

§ 19-24 OVERDUE BORROWED MATERIALS; FINES. Every person taking or borrowing from a branch of the Fort Worth public library any library materials according to the customary check-out procedure of such library, who has not returned the same by the due date thereof, and who shall neglect, refuse or fail to return the same within two weeks after the date of the mailing of a notice by certified mail, return receipt requested, to the address noted on the current library card of the person taking or borrowing the same, shall be deemed guilty of a misdemeanor and, on conviction thereof, shall be punished by a fine as provided in § 1-6 of this code for each offense. Such fine shall not preclude the library assessing and collecting all fines normally assessed by it for each day’s violation of its rules, including the replacement cost of the unreturned property and associated fees as set forth in the library’s circulation policy. For purposes of such notification, it shall be the responsibility of each person so taking or borrowing property to immediately notify the library of any change of address, and in case of the library notifying such person pursuant to this section, he or she shall be presumed to have received such notice if the library has not been advised of a change of address. (1964 Code, § 40-9) (Ord. 9035, § 2, passed 2-21-1984; Ord. 20993-10-2013, § 5, passed 10-15-2013)

Fort Worth City Code § 19-25 DEFACING LIBRARY MATERIALS; FINE.

§ 19-25 DEFACING LIBRARY MATERIALS; FINE. Every person who shall intentionally or knowingly cut, mutilate, mark, tear, write upon, deface or otherwise injure, in whole or in part, any library materials belonging to the city department of public libraries, or shall intentionally or knowingly permit any such injury to be inflicted while such property is in his or her custody, or shall intentionally or knowingly injure any of the furniture or property in any building or branch of the Fort Worth Public Library, or shall intentionally or knowingly mark or deface or in any way injure the Fort Worth Public Library or any branch thereof, or any fixtures therein or appertaining thereto, shall be deemed guilty of a misdemeanor and, upon conviction thereof, be subject to punishment as provided in § 1-6 of this code. A fine under such section shall not preclude the library assessing and collecting all fines normally assessed by it for each day’s violation of its rules, including the replacement cost of the injured or destroyed property and associated fees as set forth in the library’s circulation policy. (1964 Code, § 40-10) (Ord. 9035, § 3, passed 2-21-1984; Ord. 20993-10-2013, § 6, passed 10-15-2013)

Fort Worth City Code § 19-26 USE OF LIBRARY BY NONRESIDENTS.

§ 19-26 USE OF LIBRARY BY NONRESIDENTS. (a) Nonresidents individuals and nonresident institutions shall pay a nonresident user fee in order to borrow library materials or use library services of the Fort Worth Public Library. This fee shall not apply to nonresident city employees, nonresident donors, nonresident students and nonresident volunteers. (b) Payment of nonresident individual and nonresident institution user fees shall not preclude payment of any regularly assessed fees which may be required for the use of library materials or library services. (c) The library director shall establish a schedule of user fees for nonresident individuals and nonresident institutions. (d) Nonresident status, and other policies relating to this section, shall be determined according to procedures established by the Fort Worth public library. (Ord. 9317, § 1, passed 2-12-1985; Ord. 9529, § 1, passed 12-12-1985; Ord. 12059, § 1, passed 8-3-1995; Ord. 20993-10-2013, § 7, passed 10-15-2013)

Source: City of Fort Worth, Code of Ordinances, City Charter and Zoning Ordinance (American Legal Publishing, codelibrary.amlegal.com)URL: https://codelibrary.amlegal.com/codes/ftworth/latest/ftworth_tx/0-0-0-21249Fetched: 10/26/2026