The Following are Excerpts from
The Acton Public Library Policies Manual
Pertaining to Use and Procedures of the Library.
For further information please call 860 395-3184.
PATRON REGISTRATION POLICY
Library Board Policy as of March 1994.
Reviewed and approved November 9, 1999
Reviewed, revised and approved February 2004
The purpose of the Library is to serve all the residents of Old Saybrook, without charge. Persons residing outside the town but owning property in Old Saybrook are considered residents.
1. TO BE VERIFIED AS RESIDENTS: A rent receipt, tax bill, driver’s license, or other acceptable form of identification is to be presented to an authorized staff member.
2. IF A PATRON LIVES IN OLD SAYBROOK: This patron fills out the registration card with complete information and approved by staff member. The card is then issued immediately. NO FEE. May have video privileges.
3. MINORS: All patrons under the age of eighteen (18) are eligible for a Library card with parental or legal guardian signature.
4. OUT OF TOWN PATRON WITH CARD: If the patron lives outside of Old Saybrook, but holds a valid Connecticut library card, the patron may use Acton Public Library upon presenting their home town library card and completing the registration card. NO CHARGE.
5. OTHERS: If patron does not meet previous requirements Acton Public Library can issue a DEPOSIT CARD. There will be a refundable fee of five (5) dollars required. This will be refunded when the patron returns his card at the end of his stay or by December 31st and has satisfied outstanding fines and/or damage to any and all library property.
REGISTRATION PROCEDURE:
1. Patron fills out registration card with both addresses (street and post office box number) and telephone numbers, pays the $5.00 fee.
2. Make up card immediately, putting the letter “D” by the expiration date, which is December 31st of this year.
3. VIDEO PRIVILEGES – For an additional $5.00 deposit, these patrons may have video privileges.
4. Place deposit in an envelope and transfer information from the registration card to the front of the envelope. Registration card is then placed in the “Add to the Computer” file. Date and initial envelope and place in the cash tray for the Administrative Assistant to file.
5. REFUNDS – When the patron turns in the card be sure that there are no outstanding items or charges. Go to the back cash drawer and withdraw envelope. Refund the money and have the patron initial and date that they have received their deposit. Place library card and registration card in envelope and put in “Any Changes” file.
6. NO REFUNDS AFTER JANUARY 31st.
VIDEO CIRCULATION POLICY
Library Board Policy as of March 1994
Reviewed and approved November 9, 1999
Revised and approved January 14, 2003
Reviewed, revised and approved February 2004
1. BORROWERS: All borrowers must a Connecticut library cardholder or a deposit card patron.
2. REGISTRATION:With registration for a Acton Public Library card registration, borrowers agree to be liable for and to assume charges for replacement of any videotape lost or damaged while charged out to them. This charge will not be greater than the replacement cost of the tape.
3. LOANS: The initial loan period begins on the day borrowed and extends until the Library closing time three business days later (Sunday is not considered a business day). Additionally, tapes due on a non-scheduled Library closing will be due before Library closing time on the first day the Library is open. Videos may be renewed twice.
4. FINES: There is an overdue charge of ten cents ($.10) per day, per tape. Videotapes/DVDs are overdue if not returned by closing time on the due date. The overdue fine is payable when the videotape/DVD is returned. There is a maximum of three videotapes/DVDs per loan period. That means for adults one “VIDEO 5” and two Acton owned. For children under the age of 18, three videos/DVDs from the young adult collection or the children’s collection. The maximum fine is five dollars ($5.00) per video/DVD and the charge for a lost video/DVD is the list price of the video/DVD.
5. CONDITION OF VIDEOTAPES:
· If upon visual examination there is evidence of tampering (removal of seals or opening of case) with the videotape/DVD, the patron will be charged replacement (list) cost for same. Additionally the patron may have his video/DVD borrowing privileges withdrawn.
· If upon mechanical examination of the tape, damage is found other than a break that can be spliced, the patron will be charged replacement (list) cost for same and have video borrowing privileges withdrawn.
· Videotapes should be shown on videotape/DVD decks (VCRs) in good mechanical condition. Heads should be cleaned as recommended by owner’s manual.
· Tapes are to be rewound before being returned.
· Videotapes/DVDs may be put in book drop if adequately protected with rubber band.
6. BORROWERS SHOULD UNDERSTAND:
· That use of the videotapes is restricted to HOME USE ONLY.
· Duplication in part or whole is prohited
PATRON BEHAVIOR POLICY
Library Board Policy as of March 1994.
Reviewed and approved November 9, 1999
Reviewed, revised and approved February 2004
All patrons will behave in an orderly and respectful manner. If a problem should arise that cannot be resolved by the patron and the staff member the Old Saybrook Police Department should be called. In the case of a child, the staff member in charge should call the parents to pick up the child as soon as possible; if the parents cannot be reached call the Old Saybrook Police Department. The Library Director should be notified as soon as possible of any situation requiring police action.
An incident report must be completed and given to the Library Director.
There will be no eating, drinking or smoking in the Library. Eating and drinking of non-alcoholic beverage may be allowed in designated program and meeting rooms with prior approval of the Library Director.
Animals are not allowed in the Library with the exception of aide-animals unless approved by the Library Director.
Excessive noise is not permitted in the Library at any time.
UNATTENDED CHILDREN POLICY
Library Board Policy as of March 1994
Reviewed and approved November 9, 1999
Reviewed, revised and approved February 2004
Reviewed, revised and approved September 13, 2005
I - INTRODUCTION
The Acton Public Library welcomes children of all ages to use the Library. Our goal is to inspire the love of reading in every child in a safe environment.
II - POLICY
The Acton Public Library staff assumes no responsibility for the safety, care, supervision or entertainment of children.
· Under no circumstances shall a staff member take a child out of the
building or give a ride home.
· Staff is responsible for maintaining order and safety within the building.
III - DESCRIPTIONS AND CONCERNS FOR THE UNATTENDED CHILDREN
The Acton Public Library strongly discourages children over six years of age being left alone and unattended at the Library for the following reasons
· Children under the age of 6 who are left alone and unattended in the Library may be considered legally abandoned.
· Children over the age of 6, left in the Library alone for hours on a regular basis, are at great risk when unattended in the Library. The staff cannot know if a child is leaving with a custodial parent, family member or stranger.
· Children left on their own may be able to occupy themselves for a short while, but being children will soon become bored, restless and disturb the enjoyment of others.
· School children who frequent the Library for lack of alternative adequate daycare present the Library staff with a variety of difficult situations. While many children need no more than the minimal amount of attention, behavior problems are common. These displays of misconduct may derive from unspent energy, peer pressure, or hostility at being in a place they do not want to be. ”Latchkey children” by their presence, place additional burdens on the Library in terms of staffing, resources and programming. It is recognized that “latchkey children” are a community issue and not just a Library issue.
· Young adolescents, ages 10-15, as a matter of normal development enjoy testing, questioning and challenging authority. Although many adolescents may be allowed to be at home alone, they may choose to frequent the Library in order to be with friends.
· Disruptive behavior is any noisy, boisterous, or acting-out behavior that is inappropriate to the Library i.e., running, throwing items, eating, loud or abusive talking, or any other activities that disrupt the Library’s other patrons. Children are encouraged to do homework, write, research, and browse for books, think, daydream and read.
IV - PROCEDURES FOR DIFFERENT SITUATIONS
UNATTENDED CHILDREN
Preschooler:
· Staff will comfort the child.
· Staff will attempt to locate the parents within the Library.
· Staff will contact the local authority (police/social services) to take
responsibility for the child.
· An Acton Public Library incident report will be filled out.
School-aged:
· Staff will attempt to locate the parent within the Library.
· Staff will ask the child’s name and address.
· Staff (if Director not available) will contact parent.
· An Acton Public Library incident report will be filled out.
Closing Time
· Staff will ask if a child needs to use the telephone for a ride home.
· Staff will contact the Old Saybrook Police. to pick up the child.
· An Acton Public Library incident report will be filled out.
DISRUPTIVE BEHAVIOR
Preschooler:
· Staff will stop a child from physically harming him/herself or others.
· Staff will ask parent to stop the child’s misbehavior.
· Staff will ask parent and child to leave the building for the rest of the day.
· An Acton Public Library incident report will be filled out.
School-aged:
· Staff will inform (warn) patron that the misbehavior must cease. If
misbehavior continues, the parent will be contacted.
· Child will be told to leave building. Police will be called as needed.
CIRCULATION POLICY
Library Board Policy as of March 1994.
Reviewed and approved November 9, 1999
Reviewed, revised and approved February 2004
Reviewed, revised and approved February 2004
Materials are circulated for a two (2) week period. Materials may be renewed two times or for a total of six (6) weeks if there are no reserves for the item.
· EXCEPTIONS:
o Magazines circulate for one (1) week with NO RENEWALS.
o Videotapes are circulated as outlined in the Video Policy.
· RESERVES:
o A reserve may be placed on any item except videotapes. The reserves are honored in the order taken. We then call the patron to inform them that the reserve is ready and that we hold for three (3) full business days.
· INTERLIBRARY LOAN:
o A patron can request any book, which the Acton Public Library does not own from theInterlibrary Loan services. Any photocopy fee will be paid for by the patron.
FINES, LOST MATERIALS, DAMAGED MATERIALS:
Library Board Policy as of March 1994
Reviewed and approved November 9, 1998
Revised and approved February 11, 2003
Fines for overdue materials will be as follows:
o Books and all materials ten cents ($.10) per item per day. The maximum fine will be five dollars ($5.00) per item.
o A patron who has lost an item will be asked to pay the replacement cost of the book or fifteen non- refundable dollars ($15.00) (at the discretion of the Library Director) if it is out-of-print..
o A patron who has damaged an item beyond any further Library use will be asked to pay the replacement cost or fifteen non-refundable dollars ($15.00) (at the discretion of the Library Director) if the item is out-of-print.
o There will be no overdue charges for teachers, convalescent hospital residents, Senior Satellite Centers and students on a class visit.
REFERENCE SERVICE POLICY
Library Board Policy as of March 1994.
Reviewed and approved November 9, 1999
Reviewed, revised and approved February 2004
It is the policy of the Library to offer reference service. This will continue to be offered as staff availability permits. If the material is not available at the Acton Public Library, the staff will use such services as reQuest, Interlibrary Loan or referral to other sources of information for further help.
MATERIAL, MONETARY AND MEMORIAL DONATIONS POLICY
Library Board Policy as of March 1994.
Reviewed and approved November 9, 1999
Reviewed, revised and approved February 2004
The Library accepts donations. Money given to “Acton Public Library Gift Fund” can be donated in a person’s name or memory. The Library then notifies the family/persons and sends an acknowledgment to the donor. The money is then put in the Library Gift Fund for Library purposes.
Money given for a specific book(s): An acknowledgment is sent to the donor and they are notified when the book(s) is ready for viewing.
Restricted gift accounts: These accounts are set up so that the interest may be used for specific subject areas each year. The Town Treasurer gives the Library the amount of interest earned. The families are notified of the titles after they are processed.
Donations of materials are accepted with the stipulation that the director can decide which to add to the collection and the remainder to be turned over to the Friends of the Acton Public Library for their book sale.
The Library does not give evaluations for Internal Revenue Service purposes, as the Service does not accept the Library’s appraisal. An acknowledgment is sent specifying the number of hardcover and soft cover books donated.
EMERGENCY CLOSING POLICY
Library Board Policy as of March 1994.
Reviewed and approved November 9, 1999
Reviewed, revised and approved February 2004
The Library Director will decide when an emergency closing is necessary on the basis of the safety of the staff and patrons. The Library Director will then inform the Chairperson of the Board, Town Hall officials, radio station WLIS, all incoming staff and post notices on the doors to advise the public.
COMPUTER/COMPUTERS/INTERNET POLICY
Library Board Policy as of October, 1999
Reviewed and approved date November 9, 1999
Reviewed, revised and approved February 2004
Revised and approved September 13, 2005
The Library offers public wired and wireless access to the worldwide network of information resources known as the Internet
The Internet enables the Library to provide information beyond the confines of its own collection, in keeping with its mission to develop services and collections that reflect the community’s diverse needs for knowledge, ideas, recreational reading, education and practical information.
The Computers/Internet provides a wealth of information that is personally, professionally, and culturally enriching to individuals of all ages. That computer/Internet provides access to material of a controversial or mature nature, as well as to material that is inaccurate, complete or dated is unavoidable.
The Library does not censor or filter information from the Internet on computers located in the adult reference area. The Library has installed a filter on computers with Internet access in the Children’s Library BUT does not monitor children’s use of these computers. These filters are not foolproof and the Library accepts no responsibility for information provided by computers. Parents are responsible for monitoring and supervising their children in the use of the Library computers. As is true of other Library materials (resources), all the Library’s computers/Internet service is primarily for research purposes.
Inappropriate use of the Internet computers is prohibited. This includes but is not limited to, access to web sites that promote: obscenity, child pornography, harm to minors, entertainment, crime, nudity/pornography, crime, sexuality, violence, drug use, tastelessness, profanity, discrimination/intolerance, interactive mail, inappropriate banner acts, gambling, games, [all websites which includes the use of ] chat, chat rooms, instant messaging, music, and movies defined in the attached glossary. In addition, use of the computers/Internet service for illegal, inappropriate, obscene purposes, or in support of such activities is prohibited.
Materials obtained or copied from the Computers/Internet may be subject to copyright laws, which govern the making of reproductions of copyrighted works. Patrons that wish to use computers for on-line classes require the permission of the Director.
Conditions for Computers/Internet Access and Use:
· All patrons over the age of 18 must show a library card or other forms of picture identification to reserve computer time. Computer time is granted when a user receives a numbered ticket that qualifies him or her for one hour of computer use from the Library staff. If there is no other patron waiting for a computer another hour of use may be granted.
· Users under the age of 14 are prohibited from using the adult reference computers without a signed parental consent form and a parent/legal guardian is present within the visible range of the child at all times.
· Users between the ages of 14 and 18 years need a signed parental consent form to use the computers/Internet and have their library card with them in order to obtain a ticket for computer use.
· Reserve a computer Request a computer for one- hour of computer access at a time.
· Maximum time is two (2) hours per day on all public access computers including the Internet.
· The privacy of other users must be respected at all times.
· Users may not download files to a floppy disc, the hard drive, or use their own software programs on the computers/Internet. This will help prevent viruses that are common on public computers.
· Acton Public Library provides printing free of charge, but users are asked to minimize your printing to control cost and conserve paper. Multiple printed copies of downloaded material are prohibited. The Library will charge ten cents ($.10) per page for such copies.
· Violation of any of these guidelines, as determined by a Library staff person, may result in loss of computer privileges and a generate a request to leave the premises. The computers and Internet access are for informational use and not for entertainment.
The Library reserves the right to modify and change this policy, the guidelines and conditions of use and procedures at any time.
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