Policies

Lending, Replacement Charges, Community Room & Grounds Usage, Materials Selection, Internet Usage, Acceptable Use

I. Loan Policy:

S. White Dickinson Memorial Library is the public library for the Town of Whately, Massachusetts.   Under the Massachusetts Regulations for Minimum Public Library Service (Chapter 78, Section 19B), all residents of Massachusetts are eligible for a free borrower’s card from the library.   Persons not residing in Massachusetts may, for a fee, be eligible for library privileges. Photo identification and proof of current mailing address are required at the time of registration.  Children age 12 or under may use their parent’s identification and must have a parent or guardian signature to obtain a card.

Books, audio books and compact discs circulate for three weeks and may be renewed one time for an additional three-week period unless there is a request for the item by another patron. Videos, DVDs and magazines circulate for one week and may be renewed for an additional one week period unless there is a request for the item by another patron. Museum passes are available on a first come first serve basis.   Passes for museums in neighboring towns must be returned by noon the next day.  Passes for museums in distant towns must be returned by noon 2 days after check-out. All library items mentioned above may be returned in the library drop box, located outside the library entrance, when the library is closed.

FINES:
DVD and Video items accrue a daily fine no greater than $1.00 with a maximum fine no greater than $5.00 per item.
Circulating print and audio material accrue a daily fine no greater than.10 with a maximum fine no greater than $3.00 per item.
Museum passes accrue a fine of $5.00 a day.

Internet computers are available for thirty (30) minute periods and use may continue if no one is waiting.  Users must sign in for each period and may be asked to leave a valid library card in good standing.  Persons with outstanding library debt may be denied internet use at the discretion of library staff.

If material is supplied to you by another CWMARS library, their loan policy may differ and overdue fines may accrue.  If material is overdue, the overdue notices will come from the library that owns the material.  Fines and replacement costs can be avoided by renewing items before they are overdue.

Renewals can be done at the library by telephone, or online at www.cwmars.org

Items from other libraries may be requested at the circulation desk or online for delivery to S. White Dickinson Memorial Library   Patrons will be contacted when the items arrive.

Please bring your library card with you when you come to borrow items or use the internet. The first replacement of a lost or damaged card is free, after that replacement will cost $1.

*NONRESIDENT FEE:  Borrowers not residing in Massachusetts must pay a $25 non-resident fee per year unless documentation is provided which demonstrates ownership of a vacation home or property in Massachusetts; rental lodging in Massachusetts for at least thirty days or residence in Massachusetts while attending school, a training program or summer camp lasting at least thirty days.


II. Replacement Charges For Lost Or Damaged Material:

In the case of lost or damaged materials, borrowers are responsible for the following replacement charges: (checks for replacement should be made out to the Whately Library)

Hardcover

Adult and YA material: $25

Juvenile material: $18

Large Print (hard & soft cover): $35


Paperback

Adult & YA Trade: $15

Adult & YA Mass Market: $8

Juvenile Mass Market: $8
 

Audio Books on Tape: maximum $40 each

Audio Books on CD: varies by title purchase price individual CD, if applicable, (see director) $10

Videos (VHS & DVD): $25

Compact Discs (music): $20

Audio, Video & CD packaging: $4

Magazines: $2

 

III. Community Room & Grounds Use Policy:

1) Businesses and for-profit organizations are not permitted to use library facilities or grounds. This includes individuals and groups that make presentations, teach classes, offer services, etc for a fee or that charge admission. However, such parties may be invited by the Library Director to make presentations or otherwise participate as a library program. Individuals or groups that accept voluntary donations or that charge admission solely to cover expenses related to their presentation may be considered under section 3.

2) The library meeting room is available to any and all political candidates, regardless of party affiliation or opinion.  The library provides equal access to the meeting room for informational events for local candidates. The library does not advocate for any candidates. Candidates cannot solicit contributions at events held in public buildings, and any materials distributed at the event must be informational in nature, with no language directing them to their website to make a contribution or to support the campaign. Candidates, their staff and volunteers, as well as library staff and trustees, are prohibited from using public resources like library copiers to reproduce flyers for a candidate. Therefore, candidates must provide their own flyers for any event.
 

3) Non-profit organizations, community groups, and school groups are permitted to use the library meeting room and/or grounds for official meetings or public presentations, subject to availability as determined by the Director. Such groups or individuals can apply for use of library meeting room or grounds by completing an application form provided by library staff. Such groups or individuals can apply for use of library grounds by completing an application form provided by library staff.
 

4) Government entities, including municipal boards, committees, programs and agencies are permitted to use the library meeting room and/or grounds for official meetings or public presentations, subject to availability as determined by the Director.
 

5) Private parties may be granted limited use of library grounds for private ceremonies such as weddings, outside of normal library hours, subject to availability as determined by the Director. Such groups or individuals can apply for use of library grounds by completing an application form provided by library staff.
 

6) Library personnel must be present while library facilities are being used by any parties (not including private parties on the grounds, after hours), except when official Whately town government boards or committees are conducting routine meetings (such as the Library Trustees). This means that the library meeting room and grounds may not be used when the library is closed.
 

7) The Board of Trustees, through the Library Director, reserves the right to deny requests for use of facilities or grounds for any reason, including: unsuitability of the event; possible strain on fragile library sewage system; the need for lighting or electrical service beyond our ability to provide; inadequate parking; and questions of safety, facilities preparation, or cleanup issues.
 

8) None of the above shall be construed to deny the public general access to library grounds for informal purposes such as enjoying the view, resting during a bike ride, having a small picnic, or using the library wifi.
 

9) Persons using library grounds to walk their pets must immediately pick up all of their pet’s waste and remove it from the grounds.

 

IV. Materials Selection Policy:

LIBRARY OBJECTIVES
S. White Dickinson Memorial Library endeavors through its collections, programs and services to help meet the informational, cultural, and recreational needs of Whately residents.  A top priority of the library is to provide popular materials to library patrons who are composed primarily of working and retired adults, students, and preschoolers. A secondary role is to provide support for the educational endeavors of children from preschool through high school by offering a carefully selected collection of books and skilled personal guidance.  The library provides services to all, within the context of the above objectives, regardless of race, creed, color, occupation or financial position.

RESPONSIBILITY FOR MATERIALS SELECTION
Ultimate responsibility for the materials selection policy lies with the Board of Trustees. The Board of Trustees delegates to the Director the selection of library materials and the development of the collection.

SELECTION CRITERIA
The objective of selection is to collect those books and other Library materials that will inform, entertain and contribute to the enrichment of the mind and spirit.  Selection decisions are made on the basis of staff judgment and expertise, patron requests, and by evaluating reviews in library reviewing journals and other library selection tools. Materials are evaluated on the significance of the entire work rather than individual parts.  The following principles will guide selection:

 current usefulness or permanent value

 authority and accuracy

 importance as a record of the times

 relation to the existing collection

 relative importance in comparison to other works on the subject

 high standards of quality in content, format and binding

 price, availability and demand

 availability of materials in other libraries within the consortium

MATERIALS SELECTION FOR CHILDREN
The principles stated above in the adult materials selection criteria are applicable to the selection of materials for children.  The library aims to complement the collection of the district school libraries.  The major function of the school library is to provide curriculum related materials.  S. White Dickinson Memorial Library seeks to provide a more comprehensive collection.  The children’s collection is carefully selected for children of all ages, with emphasis on materials which stimulate imagination, entertain, develop reading ability, and that provide sound information and understanding of the world they live in.

USE OF LIBRARY MATERIALS
The collection of S. White Dickinson Memorial Library is available to all community residents and registered borrowers during regular library hours.  The use of rare or scholarly items of value is controlled to the extent required to protect them from harm. Responsibility for the use of materials by children and young adults rests with their parents or legal guardians.  The selection of materials for the adult collection and access to it is not restricted by the fact that children may obtain materials their parents consider objectionable.

SCOPE OF THE COLLECTION
The library recognizes that it is impossible for a small library to provide a balanced and comprehensive collection that is strong enough to meet all community needs. As a member of C/WMARS, an automated resource sharing network, and MLS, a state supported library system, S. White Dickinson Memorial Library supplements its resources with materials borrowed from other libraries through these larger entities. The library acknowledges a particular interest in works of local authors and for this reason will endeavor to collect materials by authors from Whately and neighboring towns.

GIFTS
The library welcomes gifts of books and other materials with the understanding that it will evaluate them in accordance with the criteria applied to purchase materials.  The library cannot appraise gift materials for tax purposes.  The library will, upon request, provide receipts which indicate the number and condition of items received.  When the library receives a cash gift for the purchase of memorial books or collections, the selection will be made by the library.  The name of the donor or person memorialized will be designated on a special bookplate.

COLLECTION MAINTENANCE
In order to maintain a collection which is current, reliable, in good condition, well used, and which relates to the needs and interests of the residents of Whately, materials are withdrawn on a systematic and continuing basis.  Materials are discarded when they are judged to be dated, inaccurate, seldom used, in poor condition or otherwise no longer appropriate.  The criteria used in selection also apply to the process of withdrawing material from the collection.  Replacement materials will be considered using the same criteria for the selection of new materials. Materials withdrawn from S. White Dickinson Memorial Library will be disposed of in a manner consistent with their quality and condition.  Materials no longer useful to the library may be given to other libraries or sold for the benefit of the library.  Materials removed because of dated content or poor condition will be discarded.

INTELLECTUAL FREEDOM
S. White Dickinson Memorial Library endorses the principles of the Library Bill of Rights and the Freedom to Read Statement adopted by the American Library Association which are appended.

REVISION STATEMENT
This statement of policy will be revised as times and circumstances require.

ADDENDA
Library Bill of Rights adopted June 18, 1948, amended February 2, 1967, and June 23, 1980 by the American Library Association (ALA) Council Freedom to Read Statement adopted June 25, 1953; revised January 28, 1972, January 16, 1991, by the ALA Council and the AAP Freedom to Read Committee Request for Reconsideration Form

 

V. Internet Use:

S. White Dickinson Memorial Library endeavors through its collections, programs, and services to help meet the informational, cultural, and recreational needs of Whately residents.  It is within this context that the library provides internet access to its patrons. The internet and its resources contain a wide variety of material and opinions from varied points of view.  It is one tool of many which the library provides for finding information and should not be considered a substitute for other library materials. Patrons who access the internet are advised to use discretion in evaluating the validity and accuracy of any website information.  Users should seek assistance from library staff when doing research to help find the best sources of information.

USAGE
The library does not attempt to restrict access to internet sites. The library subscribes to the principles of intellectual freedom expressed in the American Library Association’s Bill of Rights (appended).  While constitutionally protected speech and information is available for access to all library patrons, users are reminded that the library’s internet terminals are located in public areas which are shared with library users of all ages, backgrounds, and sensibilities.  Individuals are expected to consider this diversity and respect the sensibilities of others when accessing potentially offensive information or images.

As a member of the C/W MARS network, the library follows the policies of the network and of its internet provider.  The following activities are expressly prohibited:

• Using the internet for illegal purposes

• Using the internet in violation of the Massachusetts General Law 272, Section    31, the Harmful to Minors statute

• Violating copyright law or software licenses

• Transmission of chain mail, broadcast letters, or junk mail of any type

• Transmission of threatening, harassing, defamatory or obscene materials

• Unauthorized access to remote computer systems


USE OF THE INTERNET BY MINORS
As with other library materials, parents or legal guardians must assume responsibility for guiding their children in the use of the Internet.  Parents and guardians, not library staff, are responsible for information accessed by their children and for deciding whether material accessed by their children is appropriate.  Computer users 12 and under must have a library card in order to use the internet.

ACCESS
Users must sign in and may be asked to leave identification, preferably a valid library card in good standing.  Persons with outstanding library debt may be denied internet use at the discretion of library director.

COMPUTER AVAILABILITY
Computer time is on a first come, first serve basis.

EMAIL
The library does not establish, maintain or actively facilitate use of email accounts, news groups, list serves or chatrooms for its users

PRINTING
Items printed from the library computers are 10 cents per page.

TIME ALLOWED
Internet computers are available for thirty (30) minutes at a time.  If no one is waiting use may continue.

SHUT DOWN
To facilitate lock-up procedures, computers will be shut down thirty (30) minutes before the library closes.

USER LIMITS
Users may be accompanied by only one other person at the computer.  Small groups may use a computer with the permission of the staff person in charge.

MISUSE PENALTIES
Violators of the library’s policies, including the Internet Use and Safety Policy, may lose library privileges.  Anyone discovered attempting to damage the library’s equipment or software, attempting to change files or reset configurations, or otherwise violating this Internet Use and Safety Policy, will immediately lose the right to use these resources.  Illegal acts involving the library’s computers may also be subject to prosecution by local, state or federal authorities.  Users are responsible for any damage to hardware or software.

WAIVER OF RESPONSIBILITY
S. White Dickinson Memorial Library does not actively monitor and has no control over the information accessed through the internet and cannot be held responsible for its content, authority, reliability, currency, or use.  Neither the Board of Trustees of S. White Dickinson Memorial Library, the Library staff, nor the Town of Whately is liable for any negative consequences that may occur as a result of using the library’s internet connection.

WIRELESS INTERNET POLICY
The library provides free internet access points for users with portable computers or devices capable of receiving wireless signals.  These access points allow users to access the internet from their laptop computers or other devices when sitting within range of the access points.  Signal strength may vary in the building, and no guarantee can be provided that users will be able to make a wireless connection.

Library staff is not able to provide technical assistance with patron equipment, and the library assumes no responsibility for the safety of equipment, laptop configurations, security, or data files resulting from connection to the library’s wireless network.  All wireless access users should have up-to-date virus protection on their laptop computer or wireless device.

Patron laptop computers must be already equipped with a wireless network card (NIC) as well as a charged battery to use the library’s access points.

Patrons listening to audio files without headsets will be asked to mute the volume on their devices.

The library’s wireless connection is not secure. Any information being sent or received could potentially be intercepted by another wireless user.  For your own protection, you should not transmit credit card information, passwords, or any other sensitive, personal information while using the library’s wireless connection.

Use of the library’s wireless network is governed by the library’s internet policy.  By using the wireless network, patrons are agreeing to abide by the policy as stated above.


VI. Acceptable Use Policy:

We welcome everyone to use the S. White Dickinson Memorial Library. This policy is designed to promote appropriate use of the library. It will allow the Library to provide services, programs and materials that enrich people’s lives, foster a love of reading and provide access to information.

Use of the Library requires respect for others who are also enjoying the Library facilities and services. Certain activities are not respectful to the Library and its users and will not be tolerated. Among these are the following:

• Disruptive behavior, such as but not limited to, talking loudly, running, playing audio equipment so others can hear, cell phone use outside of designated areas, threatening or harassing behavior, or public intoxication

• Stealing or vandalizing any property of the Library, Library Staff, and/or Library Patrons.

• The use of skateboards, roller blades, roller skates, or roller scooters on Library property.

• Soliciting of any kind including seeking or collecting signatures for a petition.

• Smoking or the use of other tobacco products and electronic smoking devices in the Library or on the premises.

• Possession or the use of alcohol or illegal drugs.

• Possession of weapons including but not limited to: knives, clubs, guns, and blades.

• Misuse of restrooms (e.g. using them as a laundry or washing facility).

• Bringing animals into the Library, except service animals.

• The consumption of food in the Library except as part of library sponsored programs or in designated areas.

• Sleeping.

Those patrons who do not comply will be asked to leave the Library and its premises and in some cases may be subject to prosecution.