POLICY STATEMENT FOR KIMBALL PUBLIC LIBRARY

RANDOLPH, VERMONT

 

(Originally adopted Feb. 8, 1971; revised 1/5/76; 3/18/81; 12/4/89; 7/94; 6/95; 9/96; 8/02; 5/03; 9/05; 3/06; 9/06)

 

1. MISSION STATEMENT

Kimball Public Library creates a community gathering place, welcoming people of all ages, abilities, and backgrounds to connect with each other and to satisfy their thirst for knowledge, reading, and learning.

 

2. WHO MAY USE THE LIBRARY

All Vermont residents and summer visitors may register for library privileges. Non-residents of the towns of Randolph and Braintree will be charged an annual user fee not to exceed the per capita tax support. Exception: Non-residents who attend Randolph Elementary School, Braintree Elementary School, Randolph Union High School or Randolph Technical Career Center will receive free borrowing privileges.

 

Visitors may purchase a temporary three-month membership for $20 ($15 refundable upon surrender of library card).

 

3. HOURS OPEN

The Library shall be open 36 hours per week, including some evening hours, with the schedule arranged to allow maximum public use.

 

4. GOVERNANCE

The Library is governed by a Board of five trustees, each of whom serves five years. One trustee is elected each year at the annual Town Meeting.

 

The Kimball Library Board of Trustees meets once a month. (Bylaws attached.)

 

(Adopted July 10, 1989, revised May 2, 1991, June 21, 1993, and September 13, 1996.)

 

5. CODE OF CONDUCT

As a center of community interaction, involvement, and information, Kimball Library welcomes everyone. The Library’s overarching philosophy is that no person has the right to interfere with any other person’s right to use the Library. In order to ensure that all library users enjoy the Library, visitors are asked to observe the following guidelines. Service animals are welcome in the Library; no pets are permitted. Shoes and shirt are required. The public is expected to respect all library property, books, and equipment. Anyone damaging library property will be held responsible. Anyone behaving inappropriately (e.g., running, throwing, loud or abusive talking, fighting, or any other activities which disrupt the Library) will leave the Library for the remainder of the day. Repeated infractions may result in being banned from the Library for a longer period, or permanently. In order to be readmitted to the Library, the offender may be required to sign a contract of behavior, meet with Library staff or appear before the Trustees, or make restitution. If a child is banned from the Library, staff may, at their discretion, choose to contact his/her parent or guardian. Library staff reserves the right to inspect all bags and packages.

 

6. USE OF BULLETIN BOARDS/DISPLAY AREAS

The Library provides bulletin boards and temporary display space in order to fulfill its mission to provide patrons with access to information. Use of bulletin boards and display area does not imply endorsement by Kimball Library. The following guidelines will be followed in order to assure equal access to groups wishing to post announcements or install displays.

A.     Library bulletin boards are to be used for informational purposes and to announce upcoming cultural, educational, and civic events. They may not be used to advocate a particular point of view. No for-profit enterprises may be advertised. No materials, leaflets, or posters that advocate a political group, or the election of a candidate, political or otherwise, shall be displayed in the Library. Materials providing information on all candidates for an election may be displayed.

B.     All postings and displays must be approved by library staff. Additional guidelines for approval may include, but are not limited to, size and professional quality of posting. The Library reserves the right to reject any item or display that, in the judgment of the Director, is illegal or that may interfere in the normal operation of the Library. Flyers must be marked with date of posting; library staff will remove outdated flyers and flyers that have been posted for two weeks.

C.     Areas available for posting/display: The bulletin board in the front-door vestibule is available for public use. A small area is available for displays by outside groups. Displays must be limited to items that can fit onto a card table. Library displays take priority over displays by outside groups; the display area is not always available for use. Displays shall be installed for a maximum of two weeks, and must be removed in a timely manner. The Library is not responsible for any loss and/or damage to items displayed.

D.     No organization or individual unaffiliated with the Library shall be permitted to place in the Library any box, receptacle, or canister which solicits donations, nor shall any poster or display be permitted which advocates or solicits consideration of any product or item sold by any commercial or charitable enterprise. (revised July 10, 1989 and 7/94)

E.      No group unaffiliated with the Library may post petitions.

F.      Request for reconsideration: Materials will not be proscribed because of partisan or doctrinal disapproval. The Library will not censor or remove a display, exhibit, or item because some members of the community may disagree with its content. Individuals who object to a particular display, exhibit, or item should complete a "Request for Reconsideration" form, available from library staff.

 

7. USE OF LIBRARY MEETING SPACE

A.     Meeting space is available for use by community non-profit organizations - civic, cultural, or educational - at no cost to the organization. However, donations to help defray the expense of having the room heated, lit, etc., may be left with a librarian. Out-of-town users will pay $25 per hour.

B.     All meetings are to be free and open to the public. Meeting space may not be used for the purpose of selling or promoting a service or product.

C.     Scheduling will be done through a library staff member. The Director will have the authority to decide appropriate use and times for scheduling meetings.

D.     It is incumbent upon the Board of Trustees to protect the Library and its contents from damage due to misuse. Organizations and groups using the meeting space must designate an individual to sign the "Guidelines for Use of the Meeting Room," under which the organization or group is responsible for any damage to library property or personal injury while using the meeting space. The signed document will be kept in the Library and a copy given to the representative of the organization. The guidelines state who is responsible for (1) the key, if used, (2) following the guidelines, and (3) making recompense for any damages. Misuse of library property or failure to follow the Guidelines will result in curtailment of privileges and restitution for damages incurred.

 

(Adopted May 1, 1989 and revised July 15, 1993, 7/94)

 

8. CONFIDENTIALITY OF RECORDS

In accordance with the American Library Association’s Policy on Confidentiality of Library Records, Kimball Library does not identify the names of library users with any specific material. Our relationship with our users is strictly confidential in nature. The Library shall not make any information available to any agency of the government, whether state, federal or local, unless compelled to do so under due process of law. We will resist such encroachment on the Library's powers until a ruling has been made in a court of competent jurisdiction. This policy of confidentiality applies to materials owned or borrowed by the Library for patrons' use as well as to Internet usage.

 

(originally adopted July 10, 1989)

 

9. COLLECTION MAINTENANCE

The goal of the Library is to build and maintain a balanced collection that serves the needs of the community.

A.     Materials selection shall be guided by the principles set forth in

·          The Library Bill of Rights, prepared by the Council of the American Library Association (attachment A);

·          The Freedom to Read Statement by the ALA Council (attachment B);

·          The Freedom to View, a statement by the Educational Film Library Association, endorsed by ALA (attachment C).

B.     Responsibility for selection: Book and/or library material selection and deselection are and shall be vested in the Library Director and, under his/her direction, those members of the professional staff who are qualified by reason of education or training. Ultimate responsibility for book selection and deselection rests with the Library Board of Trustees.

C.     Criteria: In selecting or deselecting materials the Director utilizes his/her professional judgment and expertise, enhanced by an understanding of the community’s needs, from pre-school through adult. Authoritative professional reviews, standard lists of basic works, and recommendations from professional journals will be used for the selection process. The public may make recommendations that will receive careful consideration. Systematic deselection will be guided by accepted professional practices. Race, nationality, or the political or social views of the author shall not be a determining factor in book selection or deselection.

D.     Interlibrary loan: Materials exist in and are available from other library collections which library staff will borrow, if beyond the scope of our collection, through the interlibrary loan system of Vermont.

E.      Restrictions: The Board believes that reading is a purely individual matter and declares that while anyone is free to reject for him/herself books of which he/she does not approve, no one may censor or restrict the freedom of choice of others.

 

Kimball Public Library will not restrict access to library materials and services for minors, and holds that only parents may restrict their own children from access to library materials and services. Parents who prefer that their children do not have access to certain materials shall so advise their children. The Library and its staff are responsible for providing equal access to library materials and services to all library users.

 

According to Article 5 of the Library Bill of Rights, young people are entitled to the same access to libraries and to the materials in libraries as are adults. Accordingly, materials selection for youth will not be diluted.

 

F.      Gifts

i.         Books, memorial gifts, and other materials may be accepted on the condition that the Library Director has the authority to make whatever disposition he/she deems advisable, based on the selection and deselection criteria above.

ii.      Gifts of money, real property, and/or stock may be accepted if the conditions thereto are acceptable to the Board.

iii.    The Library will not accept for deposit materials that are not outright gifts. Materials loaned for display are excluded from this policy.

G.     Procedure for review of selection(s): If a complaint is made, the procedure is as follows:

i.         The complaint is recorded by the Library Director or a staff member on the "Request for Reconsideration of Material" form and filed.

ii.      If the material satisfies library selection criteria, the complainant is invited to file the objection in writing. A "Book Selection Inquiry" will be sent to the complainant, or he/she may come to the Library to discuss the complaint in an interview. In the latter case, the Book Selection Inquiry form will be used to record the nature of the objection.

iii.    The material is temporarily removed from circulation, pending the return of the Book Selection Inquiry form within one week. If the form is not returned within one week, the book is returned to circulation.

iv.    If the Book Selection Inquiry form is filed, the Chairperson of the Library Board is notified. The Chairperson will appoint a media committee consisting of the Library Director, a member of the Board of Trustees, and a member of the Randolph/Braintree community.

v.       The media committee will, within three weeks of the original complaint

a.       Read and examine the challenged material.

b.       Check general acceptance of the material by reading reviews.

c.       Weigh values and faults against each other and form opinions based on the material as a whole, and not on passages pulled out of context.

d.       Meet to discuss the material and to prepare a report and recommendation.

e.       Present the report to the Board at the next meeting. The Board makes a final decision and informs the complainant of the decision and the reasoning behind it.

vi.    The material is returned to circulation, withdrawn from the collection, or labeled for special handling as determined by the Board. The final report is filed with the Library Director.

 

(revised 11-6-1989, revised 6-4-1990, 7-2-1990, 8-9-1990, 9-6-1990, 12-6-1990, 1-3-1991 and 7-15-1993 and 6-22-1995)

 

10.  INTERNET POLICY

In order to fulfill its mission, Kimball Library provides access to the Internet. The Internet greatly expands the information resources available in a small public library, and offers global connections to people, places, and facts. In order to provide fair and equitable access to the Internet, the Library institutes the following guidelines:

A.     There is no single organization that governs, controls, or selects information available on the Internet. Because of this freedom of information, and the unregulated and unstructured nature of the Internet, library staff has no control over the information accessed on the Internet. Library patrons access the Internet at their own risk. The Library accepts no liability for damages incurred by use of Internet resources.

B.     Internet filtering software has been shown to be seriously flawed, blocking Constitutionally-protected materials in some cases, while permitting access to illegal materials and materials that some individuals may find personally offensive. Kimball Library is dedicated to upholding all individuals' First Amendment rights, and for this reason does not employ filtering software. It is the responsibility of the individual user to select appropriate sites for his/her own use. Likewise, parents/guardians and not library staff are responsible for monitoring Internet use by their own children. Kimball Library does not act in loco parentis (in place of the parent), and, in upholding the Library Bill of Rights, does not restrict Internet access based on the age of the user. Library staff will only monitor behavior in order to enforce the Library’s Acceptable Use Policy (below).

 

Parents/guardians are encouraged to consider the following suggestions:

·          Use the Internet with your children.

·          Tell your children which sites are and are not appropriate for their use.

·          Provide your children with guidelines on the amount of time they may spend online.

·          Instruct your children NEVER to give out personal information (e.g., name, age, address, telephone number, credit card information, passwords, etc.).

·          Teach your children to be critical Internet users. As with print information, consider the source, date, and accuracy of Internet information.

C.     In accordance with the American Library Association’s Policy on Confidentiality of Library Records, and our own policy on the Confidentiality of Library Records, Kimball Library does not reveal any information about individuals’ Internet use, unless compelled to do so under due process of law. However, Internet users should be aware that the Library’s control over confidentiality has certain limitations; for instance, the Library’s Internet service provider is not bound by our policy or our philosophy. For this reason, Internet users are reminded that any and all information transmitted over the Library’s wired or wireless Internet networks may be subject to inspection by local, state, or federal law enforcement agencies. Such inspection is beyond the Library’s control.

D.     Internet users agree to follow the Library's Acceptable Use Policy:

1)      Patrons wishing to use the Internet will sign up for a session.

2)      Internet use is limited to one half-hour each day, unless no other patron is waiting to access the Internet. Users who have exceeded their half-hour time limit will be asked to surrender the computer immediately to any individual who has not had the opportunity to use it.

3)      Internet computers may, by mutual agreement, be shared by two or more patrons.

4)      No food or drink is permitted near or while using the computers.

5)      Because the Internet computers are in a public space, users will respect others' privacy, and will refrain from attempting to view, read, or censor material being used by others. Likewise, users are responsible for demonstrating judgment, respect for others, and appropriate conduct while using Library resources. For instance, the viewing of some materials, while legal, infringes on the function of the Library as an institution. Users are reminded that the Library is a public, not a private, place.

6)      Internet computers will not be used to access materials that are illegal under Federal or State law.

7)      Users will not make any attempt to gain unauthorized access to restricted files or networks.

8)      Users will respect copyright laws and licensing agreements.

9)      Users may not install, download, or modify software.

10)  Users who misuse or damage Library hard- or software will be held liable.

11)  Upon completing an Internet session, the patron will exit out of the Internet browser.

 

Library staff is authorized to take prompt and appropriate action to enforce the Acceptable Use Policy. Such action may include but is not limited to terminating a patron's session, or prohibiting the use of Internet computers for a longer period. Any patron who has been restricted by the staff from Internet computers may protest the action by filing a Request for Reinstatement of Internet Privileges.

 

(revised 3/00, 5/02, 9/05)

 

11.  PERSONNEL

Selection of staff members is based solely upon the ability to fulfill the requirements of the job description, with due consideration of personal, educational, and physical qualifications and aptitudes for the position involved.

 

Kimball Public Library does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national or ethnic origin, religion, age, marital status, or handicap in the employment of personnel.

 

(revised November 6, 1989 and July 15, 1993)

 

12.  UNATTENDED CHILDREN

Kimball Library aims to provide a pleasant and safe environment for every child who visits the Library. While library staff will do what they can to ensure this, it must be understood that the Library does not act in loco parentis (in place of the parent). Library staff cannot guarantee the safety of young children left unattended in the Library.

 

For the protection and well-being of children who enjoy our Library, for the general welfare of all persons using the Library, and for the prevention of undue disruption of normal library activities, the following rules and regulations apply:

1. Children under the age of six shall, at all times, be attended and adequately supervised by a parent or caregiver, and not by library personnel.
2. School-aged children may use the Library unattended during non-school hours, subject to rules and regulations concerning behavior, conduct, and demeanor.

i.         Appropriate activities include: doing homework, writing reports, researching, browsing for books, quiet talking, thinking, daydreaming, and reading.

ii.      Inappropriate activities include: running, throwing, loud or abusive talking, fighting, or any other activities which disrupt the Library. Vandalism will not be tolerated.

3. Kimball Library assumes no responsibility for children of any age left unattended at the Library. Parents or guardians assume all liability for personal injury and damage done by their children to the Library facility.
4. If a child is injured, library staff will make their best effort to contact a parent or caregiver. If the staff is unable to reach a parent or caregiver, they will seek emergency medical assistance, at the parent's/guardian's expense. Staff will complete an Accident/Incident report and notify the parent/guardian or caregiver as soon as possible.
5. As closing time approaches, library staff will encourage unattended children to arrange for transportation. If a child is left unattended at closing time a member of the library staff will attempt to contact the child's parent(s) or guardian(s) to arrange safe transportation home. If these contact efforts are unsuccessful, the library staff member will seek assistance from the Randolph Police or Vermont State Police. The parent/guardian may, at the Director's discretion, be charged for staff time.

 

(adopted May 2, 1991 and revised December 5, 1991)

 

12.  WIRELESS INTERNET ACCESS

Kimball Library offers free wireless Internet access. You don’t need a network plug or a phone jack – just turn on your laptop computer or other wireless device and start surfing!

 

The Library’s wireless network is unfiltered. By choosing to use this free service, you agree to abide by the Library’s Internet Policy. This policy states your responsibilities when you access the Internet at the Library. Usage that complies with the Library’s Internet Policy is limited only by available bandwidth.

 

The Library’s wireless network is open and unsecured. It is strongly recommended that you do not use the Library’s wireless network to transmit personal, financial, or legal data. Information sent to and from your wireless device may be captured by anyone with a wireless device, the appropriate software, and malicious intent. The Library is not responsible for any compromised information. Nor will the Library assume responsibility for the safety of equipment or for harm done to a wireless device’s configurations, security, or data files resulting from connection to the Library’s wireless service. Virus and security protection are the responsibility of the wireless user.

 

Library staff is not able to provide technical assistance in setting up your equipment or connecting to the wireless network, and will not under any circumstances make changes to the configuration of a privately owned wireless device.

 

Wireless users may receive, read, and write and save e-mail messages with any e-mail software. However, in order to protect the integrity of the Library’s wireless network, the sending of e-mail is limited to web browser-based e-mail.

 

Printing is not available via the wireless network.

 

(adopted 3/15/06)