Library Policies

Who May Use the Library

1. The library will serve all residents of the community and the public library system area. Service will not be denied or abridged because of religious, racial, social, economic, or political status; or because of mental, emotional, or physical condition; age; or sexual orientation.
2. The use of the library may be denied for due cause. Such cause may be destruction of library property, disturbance of other patrons, or any other illegal, disruptive, or objectionable conduct on library premises. Members who fail to return library materials or to pay penalties may be restricted from borrowing additional items. However, all fees will be removed when the item is returned in satisfactory condition.
3. The Library is housed within the Wanek Center. Therefore, any person who is restricted from using the Wanek Center is also restricted from using the Arcadia Public Library.

Patron Responsibilities and Conduct:

It is a patron’s responsibility to maintain necessary and proper standards of behavior in order to protect his/her individual rights and the rights and privileges of other patrons. If a patron creates a public nuisance, that patron may be restricted from the Arcadia Public Library and from the use of the library facilities. Those who are unwilling to leave or do not leave within a reasonable amount of time, after being instructed to do so by the staff, will be subject to the law. Examples of conduct that may lead to denial of library privileges include, but are not limited to the following:

• Engaging in conduct that disrupts or interferes with the normal operation of the library or library employee performance.
• Harassing or threatening behavior.
• Using obscene or abusive language or gestures.
• Eating or drinking except in designated areas
• Activities or behavior that may result in the injury or harm of any person in the library, including challenging another person to engage in a fight.
• Smoking, consuming alcohol, or using illegal drugs.
• Having a knife, gun, or any weapon.
• Soliciting, petitioning, or canvassing.
• Using audible devices without headphones, or with headphones set at a volume that disturbs others.
• Damaging, defacing, stealing or misusing library materials or property.
• Disregarding posted opening and closing times.
• Not maintaining an acceptable standard of personal hygiene.

 

Young children:

The Arcadia Public Library encourages visits by young children, and it is our desire to make this important visit both memorable and enjoyable for the child. Library staff are not expected to assume responsibility for the care of unsupervised children in the library.

Therefore, it is library policy that all children under age eight must be accompanied by a parent or designated responsible person while in the library. Also, if the young child is attending a library program, we require the parent/responsible person to remain in the library throughout the program.

Disruptive children:

Children of all ages are encouraged to use the library for homework, recreational reading, and program attendance. The library staff realizes that the library will be noisier at busy times and that children by nature can cause more commotion. However, children (whether with parents or not) who are being continually disruptive will be given a warning that he/she must settle down or will be asked to leave the library. If after a second warning the child continues to be disruptive, he/she will be asked to leave the library. If the child needs to contact a parent, they may do so and then wait with a staff person until the parent arrives.

Materials Selection/Collection Development Policy

1. Objectives

The purpose of the Arcadia Public Library is to provide all individuals in the community with carefully selected books and other materials to aid the individual in the pursuit of education, information, research, pleasure, and the creative use of leisure time. Because of the volume of publishing, as well as the limitations of budget and space, the library must have a selection policy with which to meet community interests and needs.

This materials selection/collection development policy is used by the library staff in the selection of materials and serves to acquaint the general public with the principles of selection.

The  Library Bill of Rights and The Freedom to Read Statement have been endorsed by the Arcadia Public Library Board of Trustees and are integral parts of the policy.

The materials selection/collection development policy, like all other policies, will be reviewed and/or revised as the need arises.

1. Responsibility for Selection

The ultimate responsibility for selection of library materials rests with the library director who operates within the framework of the policies determined by the Arcadia Public Library Board of Trustees. This responsibility may be shared with other members of the library staff; however, because the director must be available to answer to the library board and the public for actual selections made, the director has the authority to reject or select any item contrary to the recommendations of the staff.

1. Criteria for Selection

Librarians use their subject knowledge and expertise in combination with the criteria listed below to select and evaluate items for the collection. An item need not meet all the criteria in order to be added to the collection.

1. The main points considered in the selection of materials are:
   • Individual merit of each item
   • Popular appeal/demand
   • Existing library holdings
   • Budget
   • Contemporary significance or permanent value
   • Currency of information
   • Accuracy
   • Local emphasis
   • Treatment of subject appropriate to a particular age group or intended audience
   • Reputation of author, publisher, producer, artist, or illustrator
   • Creative, literary, or technical quality
   • Scarcity of materials on a subject
   • Format and ease of use
   • Circulation statistics
   • Cost and availability
   • Relationship to existing materials in the collection
   • Relationship to materials in other area libraries.

 

2. Reviews are a major source of information about new materials. The primary source(s) of reviews are Library Journal, New York Times Book Reviews, School Library Journal, BookPage, Publishers Weekly, and Book Resumes.
3. The lack of a review or an unfavorable review shall not be the sole reason for rejecting a title which is in demand. Consideration is, therefore, given to requests from library patrons and books discussed on public media. Materials are judged based on the work as a whole, not on a part taken out of context.
4. Interlibrary Loan

Because of limited budget and space, the library cannot provide all materials that are requested. Therefore, interlibrary loans are used to obtain materials that are beyond the scope of this library’s collection.

In return for utilizing interlibrary loan to satisfy the needs of our patrons, the Arcadia Public Library agrees to lend its materials to other libraries through the same interlibrary loan network, and to have its current holdings listed in a tool that is accessible by other libraries throughout the state.

1. Gifts and Donations

The library accepts gifts of books and other materials with the understanding that they will be added to the collection only if appropriate and needed. If they are not needed because of duplication, condition, or dated information the director can dispose of them as he/she sees fit. The same criteria of selection which are applied to purchased materials are applied to gifts. Memorial gifts of books, or donated money to purchase memorial books, if accepted, will have a suitable bookplate placed in the book. Donated memorial books or memorial books ordered for the library on request of a patron must meet the criteria established by the Board. The gift of books or request for specific titles to be purchased for the library must be done in consultation with the library director. Book selection will be made by the director if no specific book is requested. The Arcadia Public Library encourages and appreciates monetary gifts and donations.

By law, the library is not allowed to appraise the value of donated materials, though it can provide an acknowledgment of receipt of the items if requested by the donor.

1. Weeding

An up-to-date, attractive, and useful collection is maintained through a continual withdrawal and replacement process. Replacement of worn volumes is dependent upon current demand, usefulness, more recent acquisitions, and availability of newer editions. This ongoing process of weeding is the responsibility of the library director and is authorized by the Board of Trustees. Withdrawn materials will be handled in a similar manner and under the same authority as donated materials.

 

1. Potential Problems or Challenges

The Arcadia Public Library recognizes that some materials are controversial and that any given item may offend some patrons. Selection of materials will not be made based on anticipated approval or disapproval, but solely on the basis of the principles stated in this policy.

Responsibility for choosing library materials of children rests with their parents or legal guardians. Selection of library materials will not be inhibited by the possibility that materials may come into the possession of children.

Library materials will not be marked or identified to show approval or disapproval of their contents, and no library material will be sequestered except to protect it from damage or theft.

1. Challenged Materials

Although materials are carefully selected, there can arise differences of opinion regarding suitable materials. Patrons requesting that material be withdrawn from or restricted within the collection must complete a “Request for Reconsideration of Library Materials” form which is available in the library. Arcadia Public Library will only accept requests for reconsideration from requestors residing within the School District of Arcadia. 

The requester must read the book in its entirety prior to making the request. The inquiry will be placed on the agenda of the next regular meeting of the Arcadia Public Library Board of Trustees. The challenged item will not be pulled from the collection until a final decision has been made by the Arcadia Public Library Board of Trustees. All members of the Arcadia Public Library Board of Trustees must read the book in its entirety prior to deciding. If the item is deemed acceptable by the Arcadia Public Library Board of Trustees, it may not be challenged again in the future.

Internet Use Policy

The Arcadia Public Library is providing access to the Internet to enhance the information and learning opportunities for the citizens of the library’s service area. The Board of Trustees has established the Internet use policy to ensure appropriate and effective use of this resource.

Access to the Internet is available to all patrons; however, this service may be restricted at any time for use not consistent with the guidelines. Parents of minor children must assume responsibility for their children’s use of the library’s Internet service.

Expectations:

Users should be aware that the inappropriate use of electronic information resources can be a violation of local, state, and federal laws and can lead to prosecution. The user will be held responsible for his/her actions using the Internet. Users are expected to abide by the policies below which include generally accepted rules of network etiquette. Unacceptable uses of the service will result in the suspension or revocation of Internet use privileges.

 

Warnings:

The Internet is a decentralized, unmoderated global network; the Arcadia Public Library has no control over the content found there. The library will not censor access to material nor protect users from offensive information, and it is not responsible for the availability and accuracy of information found on the Internet.

The library cannot ensure that data or files downloaded by users are virus-free. The library is not responsible for damage to equipment or data on a user’s personal computer from the use of data downloaded from the library’s Internet service.

The use of the Internet and e-mail is not guaranteed to be private. Messages relating to or in support of illegal activities will be reported to the proper authorities.

Guidelines:

• Users may use the Internet for research and the acquisition of information to address their educational, vocational, cultural, and recreational needs.
• Users may use the Internet for the receipt and transmission of electronic mail (e-mail) if they use a free e-mail service which will establish and maintain an account for them; the library is unable to manage e-mail accounts for any organizations or individuals.
• Internet use is offered in sixty (60) minute sessions on a first-come, first-served basis; each user is allowed one session–if there is no patron waiting for the service at the end of a session, the user can have another session, but once having had the service for 60 minutes the user must abandon use of the Internet if another patron requests use of the service
• Users will respect and uphold copyright laws and all other applicable laws and regulations; they will not use it for illegal purposes.
• Users will respect the rights and privacy of others by not accessing private files.
• Users agree not to incur any costs for the library through their use of the Internet service.
• Users shall not create and/or distribute computer viruses over the Internet.
• Users shall not deliberately or willfully cause damage to computer equipment, programs, or parameters.

 

Public Notice Bulletin Board Policy

• Bulletin board materials may be submitted for posting by nonprofit organizations for civic, educational, or cultural purposes. Such organizations may submit literature publicizing a specific event. Limited space generally allows only short-term notices. The director must approve all postings and may prohibit postings which do not meet library standards. Library staff will place and remove postings promptly.
• Each item posted must include the date posted, the date it is expired and signed by the person posting it. The Arcadia Public Library staff will not return posted items. Items will be disposed of after the expiration date. If items are not dated, the staff will use their discretion for removing posted items.