Mission Statement
The Library's mission is to assemble, preserve, and administer, in organized collections, books and other media to best meet the reading and information needs of the community. Knowing that no library can ever meet every need, the Library will make full use of any inter-library loan, databases, referrals and the Internet to fill patrons' needs. The Library will continually work to identify reading and information needs of the community and will work to meet those needs.
Board Statement
The following policies were prepared by the Orchard Public Library Board to serve as a directive of the board as to the operational policy of the library. The Board endorses the Library Bill of Rights and the Freedom to Read Statements of the American Library Association in regards to book selection and controversial materials. These policies may be revised at any time.
Privacy of Records Policy
All records, formal and informal, in the Orchard Public Library relating to patron registration and the subsequent circulation by patrons of materials provided by the Library are to be confidential in nature. Such records shall not be made available to any agency of state, federal, or local government except pursuant to such process, order, or subpoena as may be authorized under the authority of, and pursuant to, federal, state, or local law relating to civil, criminal, or administrative discovery procedures or legislative investigative power. Upon receipt of such process, order, or subpoena, the Library's officers will consult with legal council to determine if such process, order, or subpoena is in proper form and if there is a showing of good cause for its issuance; if the process, order, or subpoena is not in proper form or if good cause has not been shown, they will insist that such defects be corrected before access to any patron records is provided. (Revised Nebraska Statutes, Chapter84, Article 7, Section 84-172.05)
Physical Facilities
Tables and chairs may NOT be borrowed or rented from the Library.
No individual or organization may store records, materials or equipment in the Library without the approval of the Library Board. Any property left in the Library without permission becomes the property of the Library and will be dealt with at the discretion of the Library Board.
Copy Machine
A copy machine is available for public use during Library hours. The fee for use is $.15 per page for standard size sheets (8 1/2 x 11) and $.25 per page for 8 1/2 x 14.
Fax Machine
A fax machine is available for public use during Library hours. The fees $.50 per page to send or receive.
Computer/s
Computers with Internet access are provided for use by the public at no charge. (See Internet Policy.)
Meetings, Classes, Etc.
Community groups or organizations of an educational or cultural nature may hold meetings or classes in the library multi-purpose room by making prior arrangements with the Library Director on a first come first served basis. Library activities will take precedence over other events.
The library multi-purpose room may not be used for for-profit ventures unconnected with the Library or for purely social events such as showers, birthday parties, card parties, family holiday meals or reunions, etc.
No group or organization may treat the Library multi-purpose room as their "home" and expect to hold all their meetings there.
Groups or organizations using the Library multi-purpose room for a meeting or class will clean up after themselves and leave the room in the condition in which they found it. Should damage occur the group will be billed for cleaning, repairs or replacements as necessary.
Insurance
Insurance policies are determined by the Village Board.
Library Code of Conduct
The Library is here to serve the reading and information needs of everyone in the community and to meet that goal it must be a pleasant, safe place for everyone using it. To that end, the Library Board has identified the following inappropriate or unacceptable behaviors:
* Removing or attempting to remove library materials, equipment or property without proper checkout or other official authorization.
* Failure to renew or return library materials when due.
* Concealing, sequestering or "stashing" library materials or property within the library for the exclusive use of an individual or group or to prevent others from using the material.
* Mutilating, defacing or otherwise damaging library materials or property by marking, underlining, highlighting, removing pages or portions of pages, removing bindings or library identifiers.
* Eating and drinking in the Library, with the exception of staff lunches and refreshment served at events or meetings.
* Smoking in the building or near entrances or exits.
* To steal or knowingly possess stolen library property.
* Being in unauthorized areas of the library, remaining in the library after closing or when requested to leave during emergency situations or evacuation exercises.
* Opening emergency exits except in emergency situations.
* Parking wheeled vehicles in unauthorized areas outside or inside the library.
* Use of skateboards or inline skates inside the library.
* Vandalizing or defacing the library building, furniture or equipment.
* Maliciously accessing, altering, deleting, damaging or destroying any library computer system, network, computer program or data.
* Carrying deadly weapons in the library except by a law enforcement officer.
* Failure to pay library fees.
* Causing a disturbance or engaging in any behavior which interferes with library activities.
* Any harassment of other patrons or staff, sexual or otherwise.
* Any illegal activity.
Possible Sanctions
Depending on the nature of the infringement and the seriousness of the violations, the following sanctions may be imposed for inappropriate or unacceptable behavior.
* Being asked to leave library premises
* Suspension or loss of library privileges. (Possibly permanently for repeat offenders.)
* Criminal prosecution.
Unattended Children Policy
The Orchard Public Library is a community information resource center. People come to the library to get information, to read, to use the library's resource materials, and to study. It belongs to the whole community and not to any specific person or group of persons. The library is not a playground, recreation center, or day care facility. Noisy or physically active behavior appropriate in such facilities is not appropriate in the library. Section 51-212 of the Nebraska Statutes specifically gives Library Boards the power to regulate the use of the library and to exclude from the library persons who violate or refuse to comply with the library's rules and regulations. In order to prevent undue disruption of normal library activities, to provide for the general welfare of all persons using the library and to provide for the general safety of children using the Orchard Public Library the following policies are adopted:
* All children seven years and younger shall, at all times, be attended and adequately supervised by a responsible adult or caregiver over the age of sixteen other than library staff members.
* Children may be left unattended at scheduled library programs. The responsible person should plan to be at the library when the program concludes. Children with special needs related to physical or mental ability shall be attended at all times.
* Children eight years and older may use the library unattended, subject to the rules and regulations of the Orchard Public Library.
* When a child seven years or younger appears to be lost or left unattended, the staff of the library will immediately try to locate the responsible adult, and will stay with the child until the adult is found. If the adult cannot be found in one hour's time or if the library is closing, the staff will contact the Antelope Co. Sheriff's Department for assistance. The staff will under no circumstances take the child out of the building.
Collections and Service
The use of all collections and reference materials within the library is free of charge. Service will not be denied or abridged because of racial, religious, social or political status. Service may be curtailed or denied for just cause. Examples of just cause are: Failure to return library materials; failure to pay penalties; destruction of library property; disturbance of other patrons or other objectionable or illegal actions on library property. (see Code of Conduct)
Hours of service
The library shall be open a minimum of fifteen hours per week plus as many more hours as funding will allow. Morning, afternoon and evening hours will be provided. The hours the Library is open are: Monday, Thursday, and Saturday - 10 AM to 3 PM; Monday, Wednesday and Thursday - 7 PM to 9 PM. The Library will be closed on the following holidays: New Year's Day/Eve, the day before or after Easter,Memorial Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, Thanksgiving, Christmas Day/Eve.
The library will close for inclement weather when school is closed for same. An announcement will be made on KBRX.
Circulation of Materials
Library materials shall be checked out to residents of Orchard and the surrounding area, with loans being made to other libraries as Inter-Library Loans. If a non-resident requests to check out material, it may be checked out in a resident's name with that resident responsible for the item(s). That resident must contact the library, giving permission.
A person may become a registered patron by supplying the library with his/her name, physical & mailing address and telephone number. The library will assign a patron number for each registered patron and keep it on file. No cards are issued for the patron to keep in their possession.
Library materials shall be issued for a two-week period and may be renewed (at the discretion of the librarian) for another two weeks. The number of certain items checked out at one time may be limited.
When the library is closed books and magazines may be returned in the outdoor book drop. We prefer that video tapes, DVDs and audio tapes/CDs not be put into the book drop because of the potential for damage due to extremes of temperature or of books dropping on top of them. If a patron does choose to return videos, DVDs or audiotapes/CDs in the book drop and they are damaged, the patron will be charged the full replacement cost of the item.
Fines
Five cents per day, except Sundays and designated holidays, on any overdue book, magazine or audiotape/CD.
Fifty cents per day, except Sundays and designated holidays, on any overdue video tape/DVD.
Overdue items may be renewed in person, by telephone or by email using the email address listed on the library homepage (www.orchardpubliclibrary.org) or on the check-out receipt.
Should the library be closed without prior notice for bad weather, workshops, meetings, illness, etc., items due on that day will be due on the next day the library is open. An annoucement will be made on KBRX if at all possible.
Any person failing to return books or other library material due to their loss or destruction will be assessed a fine as stated above until notification of such to the library. This person will also be assessed a damage fine or replacement cost of the item. Any damaged but still useable book will be assessed a damage fine according to the following formula: 50% of the publisher's retail price during the first two years the library owns the book, 25% thereafter. Full publisher's retail price will be assessed for any item damaged beyond use. Damaged videos/DVDs or audiotapes/CDs will be assessed at the full replacement cost. The item might be able to be replaced through second hand sources and the patron will be charged accordingly.
Fines owed on overdue materials must be paid in full at the time the materials are returned to the Library. Persons/families owing fines may not check out any more materials until all charges are paid in full. (March 1, 1994)
Computer use will be prohibited until fines or fees for lost/damaged items are paid in full.
Overdue items receive a two-day grace period during with they may be returned with no fine due. After the two day period the full fine will be assessed.
Reminders to patrons of overdue items may be made by telephone or written notice as time allows
Selection of Material and Maintenance of the Collection
The Orchard Public Library endorses the freedom of access to information and literary materials as stated in the Library Bill of Rights and the Freedom to Read Statement of the American Library Association, with limits set only be budgetary restraints and the criteria of selection as follows:
* Contemporary significance or current usefulness or interest.
* Authority and competence of presentation.
* Importance as an historical record or of permanent value.
* Relevance to existing collection.
* Requests from users of the library (however, textbooks will not be purchased per se, and will only be included in the collection if this
is the only source of information on a topic of general interest
* Physical quality of format and binding.
* Presentation of all views on controversial issues.
* Balance of special group interest with general demand.
* Cost in relation to the individual title and to the overall collection.
* Selection of materials for the adult collection on the basis of adult needs (selection will not be restricted by the possibility that children may obtain materials their parents consider inappropriate.)
* Selection of materials on the basis of reviews and recommendations of selected reading lists.
* Weeding and discarding of collection on a systematic basis ( This function is necessitated by limitations of space, obsolescence of materials, lack of use over an extended period of time, physical condition of the item, and acquisition of new materials. The same criteria applied to the purchase of new items will be applied to the discarding and weeding of items.)
* Requests from patrons for reconsideration of materials are to be made in writing and will be evaluated within the context of the Freedom to Read Statement and the Library Bill of rights.
* Final responsibility for materials selection lies with the Library Director. The Library Director, however, may delegate his/her selection responsibilities to other staff members or Board members
* The Library Board recognizes that no single library can meet all demands in its community. Because of this, full advantage will be taken of any inter-library loan service available.Patrons will be required to pay return postage and any fee imposed by the lending library, Library System or Nebr. Library Commission.Children's and Young Adult Collections
Responsibility for the reading of children rests with their parents, therefore, parents are advised to particularly note the suitability of books for each child. Specific requests for books and other materials by children and adults will be honored when the requested item will add to the strength of the collection, and when the budget permits. The same criteria for selection stated in the general selection policy applies to children and young adults.
Gifts, Bequests, Memorials
The Library appreciates gifts and accepts them with the following provisos:
* that the same criteria applies to the incorporation of gifts into the collection as the selection of books and other library materials
* the Library reserves the right to administer gifts with a view to the best interests of the Library
* the Library will not become a depository or custodian for materials of great monetary or historical value
* Unrestricted gifts of money, lands or property will be gratefully accepted by the Library Board to be used at its discretion and should be directed to the Orchard Library Foundation. Gifts or bequests with specific restrictions attached will be reviewed by the Board before acceptance.Exhibits
The Library encourages displays and exhibits of an educational or cultural nature.
Items will need to be displayed in such a way that does not cause damage to the library.
The Library assumes no responsibility for restitution for damages or theft of any item on display. Anyone wishing to display very valuable items in the Library will have to furnish proof that the items are insured while on display in the Library.
Items displayed in the Library will not be on sale at the time of display. If someone wants to buy something they saw on display, they will have to contact the owner directly.
Reconsideration of Materials
Libraries are sometimes the target of pressure from groups and individuals who wish to use the library's name and services as instruments of their own tastes and views. These groups or individuals wish to have the library disregard its professional responsibilities to the whole community and, instead, promote the ideas and interests of a portion of the whole community.
To combat these pressures to censor – or proselytize – the Orchard Public Library has adopted the following procedures for any request to reconsider materials:* Make certain that the complaint has been filed in writing. (Forms are available and must be fully filled out and signed by the person making the complaint.)
* The completely filled out form must be returned to the Library Director who will notify each Board member of the complaint. He/she will have the specified book/item available for the Board members to review and will obtain any review material that may be available. The Library Director will also submit his/her recommendation and evaluation of the book and its place in the collection.
* At the next regularly scheduled Board meeting, the complaint will be reviewed and a decision made regarding the complaint.
* The Library Director will notify the patron of the Board's decision soon after the meeting.Publicity and Public Relations
Publicity concerning the Library shall be under the direction of the Library Director, and at a minimum, should include notices in the newspaper and/or radio about library events/programs and articles in the newspaper about library services, new acquisitions, continuing education, etc.
Responsibility
These policies for library service and selection of materials have been adopted by the Board of Trustees of the Orchard Public Library. The Board delegates the Library Director to act as its agent in the administration and implementation of said policies.
Copyright 2001-2010 Orchard Public Library
Last updated 8-2010