| |
HIGHLAND PARK LIBRARY
POLICY STATEMENTS
ADDRESS VERIFICATION
Library staff must verify the address of patrons before actually releasing a library card to a new resident patron.
For those who live in a single family dwelling or duplex or an apartment/condo where the resident pays his/her own water bill, this verification will be done by checking the files of the Highland Park Utility Department.
For those living in an apartment or condo that is not individually listed in the Utility Department because the water bill is not paid individually, or for those who do not pay their own water bill, this verification will be done by asking the patron to show a utility bill (phone, gas, electric or insurance) or similar proof that he/she lives at the address on the application. A driver’s license is not sufficient proof of residence because no proof of address is required by the State of Texas when it issues driver’s licenses. If it is not possible for a patron to provide a utility bill, a signed lease or rental contract, a credit card bill or auto insurance card will also suffice.
It is the library’s privilege and responsibility to provide all residents with a library card, and to maintain its responsibility to the residents and tax-payers of Highland Park to avoid incorrectly issuing a resident card to someone who is not a resident.
CHILDREN IN THE LIBRARY
The Highland Park Library encourages parents and caregivers to bring their children to and use the Library. The Library offers Story Hours several times every week (see the Library’s website at www.hplibrary.info for days and times), and the Children’s Assistants are eager to aid in the selection of appropriate materials for all children.
However, leaving children unattended in the library is not safe, and is therefore not permissible.
Since the Staff cannot know if children are leaving with a parent, responsible party, or a stranger the Staff cannot assume responsibility for children left unattended in the Library or Town Hall.
Under no circumstances will Library Staff take a child out of the building or transport a child to another location, unless the responsible party cannot be located. In this situation, an unattended child will be placed in the care of the Highland Park Department of Public Safety.
CONFIDENTIALITY
Texas law states that any record that would identify a person who requests, obtains or uses library materials or services is confidential and is excepted from required disclosure under the TEXAS OPEN RECORDS ACT.
Therefore, any information that discloses the topic a person is interested in is confidential and may not be released without a court order. Therefore, library employees may not, according to state law, tell any person what kind of information another person was researching, or anything that reveals the subject matter a person is interested in. Library employees may not tell anyone who has a particular item of any type checked out. Library employees may not tell anyone what web sites a person searched or even the nature of those web sites. This cannot be stated too strongly: the identity of the person who has checked out any library material is confidential and cannot be disclosed; the subject matter a person is interested in is confidential.
Occasionally someone may ask for an item that a library employee knows is checked out to a friend or acquaintance of the person looking for it - the employee may not tell who has the item, even if the two people know each other and might find it convenient to know this information.
However, the fact that someone has a library card is not confidential, nor is the fact that a person uses the library or has fines.
DISPLAY MATERIALS
Because the Town of Highland Park and the Highland Park Library are tax-supported institutions, only materials from non-profit and non-political organizations will be accepted for display and/or distribution.
Where and how the material will be displayed in the Library is at the discretion of the Librarian. Every effort will be made to place the material to its advantage. Only materials concerning the Highland Park Library and the Friends of the Highland Park Library will be displayed at the Circulation Desk.
DISPOSING OF WITHDRAWN AND DONATED ITEMS
The Town Attorney, after discussion with the TML Attorney and researching the question, has determined that it is legal to sell or give away for a donation items that have been withdrawn from the Library’s collection, and items donated to the Library that the Library does not need or cannot place in the collection.
The Library will suggest that patrons may make a donation to the Library in exchange for withdrawn or donated items.
EMPLOYEES OF RESIDENTS
When an application for a library card is made by someone who is a resident of the Town of Highland Park because he/she is an employee of a resident (a butler, nanny, live-in babysitter, nurse, etc.) that person may have a resident library card, which must be signed by the resident-employer, who will be responsible for any fines or fees accumulated by the card-holder. Library cards are not transferable, just as a drivers license is not transferable or sharable.
If someone who is not a resident of the town of Highland Park but is an employee of a resident applies for a library card, that person must pay the non-resident fee.
FEE FOR LOST LIBRARY CARD
The Highland Park Library issues library cards, at some expense, to protect the library patrons’ right to privacy, and to ensure accuracy in checking out materials. This protects the patron from inaccurately being accused of checking out materials that another user actually checked out. Therefore, patrons are required to present their valid current library card to check out materials from the Highland Park Library. An alternative is to have the Library enter the barcode on the back of the Texas Driver's License into the patron's record so the Texas Driver's License can then be used in lieu of a library card.
Replacing lost or stolen library cards also involves time and expense to the Library. The charges for replacing lost or stolen library cards is as follows:
$ .50 for the first replacement
$ 1.00 for the second replacement
$ 2.00 for the third replacement
$ 5.00 for the fourth replacement
$ 7.00 for the fifth replacement
FINES
Fines charged by the Highland Park Library are set by the Highland Park Town Council, and are as follows:
All materials except those that check out for seven days (e.g., movies) are $.10 per day per item; maximum fine $5.00.
Periodicals are $.10 per day per item; maximum fine $1.00.
Items that check out for seven days are $1.00 per day per item; maximum fine $200.
The minimum fine collected per item is $1.00; so items with daily fines of under $1.00 are not collected until they reach $1.00.
INTERLIBRARY LOANS
The Highland Park Library will request that materials from other libraries be sent to the Highland Park Library through the state ILL system when a patron makes such a request, fills out the necessary forms and agrees to pay a fee of $5 to help defray the costs of return postage, insurance, etc. This fee is collected when the patron checks out the item from the Highland Park Library.
The lending library holds the receiving library responsible for damage to or loss of the item from the time it leaves the lending library until it is received back at the lending library. As the Highland Park Library cannot accept responsibility for damage to or loss of books or other items, the patron who wishes to borrow the item must accept that responsibility. Therefore, patrons are required to sign a statement that they accept responsibility for the item from the time it leaves the lending library until it is received back at the lending library.
The Highland Park Library cannot begin to process the ILL request until the patron signs this statement, which is on the back of the ILL request form that the patron is also responsible for filling out in full.
According to the Texas State Library and Archives Commission, ILL materials cannot be renewed. Materials returned late will be assessed a fine of $5.00 per day. Patrons who fail to return materials will be charged the cost of the item as determined by the lending library, plus a $25.00 processing fee. Patrons who request an item through ILL and fail to pick it up will be assessed a fee of $5.00 for each unclaimed title.
A patron may have up to five open requests at one time.
Patrons may read ILL policies of the Texas State Library and Archives Commission at http://www.tsl.state.tx.us/ill/illtexnetmanual/index.html.
LIBRARY CARD APPLICATIONS
A library card application must be filled out in full for a library card to be issued, whether the applicant is a resident or a non-resident, a child or an adult. The Town Council has passed a Resolution stating what information is required for the library to issue a card.
In the case of a child applying for a library card, the drivers license number is that of a parent, with that parent’s birth date beside it.
When a child comes to the library for a card and a parent is not with the child to give his/her drivers license number and to sign for the child: the child will be asked and helped to fill out the application as best he/she can, and be allowed to checkout one book. The library will hold the card and instruct the child to have a parent come to the library so that the application can be completed. Alternatively, a blank application will be given to the child to take home to be completed. When the library has a fully completed application form the child will be given his library card and full borrowing privileges.
NEW CARD MAXIMUM CHECK-OUTS
A maximum of 3 (three) adult titles may be checked out to a new library card holder the first time he/she uses his/her library card. The maximum for children’s materials shall be 6 (six) items. In this instance, the terms “items” and “materials” shall refer to all library materials except videocassettes and DVDs.
Library materials (other than movies, new adult books, and new adult audiobooks) may be renewed by phone or on the Library’s web site at www.hplibrary.info if there are no reserves on them and if the patron does not owe fines of $5.00 or more. Library materials are overdue at the end of the day they are due.
NO CHECK-OUTS WITH FINES OVER $5
Library patrons in good standing shall always be allowed to check out circulating (non-reference) materials. A patron shall be considered to be in good standing when he/she or any member of his/her family does NOT have:
· outstanding fines of $5.00 or more;
· library materials (other than videocassettes) overdue 3 (three) months or more; or
· one or more videocassettes overdue 1 (one) week or more.
Therefore, if a library patron or anyone in his/her family has outstanding fines of $5.00 or more, that person is not in good standing and may only check out materials after the fines are paid. And if a library patron or any member of his/her family has library materials (other than videocassettes) overdue 3 months or more that person is not in good standing and may only check out materials after the overdue items are returned and fines paid, or the overdue items are paid for. If a patron or anyone in his/her family has a videocassettes overdue one week or more that person is not in good standing and may only check out after the video has been returned and the fine paid, or after the video has been paid for.
NO LIMIT ON CHECK-OUTS
A patron in good standing may check out a maximum of 30 books or other library materials after the first time he/she uses his/her library card, with the exceptions of videocassettes, DVDs, some new titles, some special collections, and seasonal titles.
However, because the library is small and the size of the collection cannot always meet demand, there are exceptions to the basic rule.
To ensure the most equitable distribution of the library’s resources, it is requested that patrons limit themselves to two or three non-fiction titles on a subject, especially when there is a large demand for that topic, as when there is a class assignment on the subject, or for titles concerning an approaching holiday.
Limits are:
First use of a library card: 3 adult titles, or 6 juvenile titles.
After first use: 30 items per card, including:
7 videos and or DVDs including only 1 new title,
3 new audiocassettes
1 Bluebonnet nominee
The Library cannot renew:
movies on videocassette or DVD
new adult fiction books, audiocassettes or CDs
The Library does not reserve:
movies on videocassette or DVD
OVERDUE NOTICES
First courtesy notice is a phone call by ENS (Electronic Notification System), which attempts to reach the patron’s phone number 7 times in one day, when an item is five days overdue. ENS leaves a message on answering systems and repeats the message once.
Second courtesy notice is a phone call by ENS when the item is 12-18 days overdue.
Third courtesy notice is a phone call by ENS when the item is 28 days overdue.
Fourth courtesy notice is a phone call by ENS when the item is 42 days overdue and a mailed reminder.
“Final notice” is mailed when an item is approximately 60 days overdue, and a phone call by ENS.
A certified letter is mailed when an item is 75-90 days overdue. This letter states that a misdemeanor has been committed if the items are not returned within 14 days of the mailing of the letter.
If the item is not returned by 14 days after the mailing of this letter Highland Park Ordinance 981 requires that the matter be turned over to the Department of Public Safety.
REFERENCE DOES NOT CIRCULATE
Reference items have been designated Reference because they are frequently referred to for research and information, and so are needed in the Library at all times and do not check out.
If an exception is made by the Library Director and a Reference item is allowed to be checked out the following will apply:
1. Checkout will be from no earlier than 5:00 p.m. until the following morning no later than 10:00 a.m. If the item is checked out Saturday afternoon it will be due Tuesday morning by 10:00 a.m.
2. Some Reference items may be too fragile to be returned in the book drop and must be returned to the Library’s Circulation Desk.
3. The fine for overdue items will be $1.00 for each hour it is late. Each volume or item will be considered separately for the purpose of determining the fine.
4. If the Reference item is particularly valuable or difficult to replace a deposit may be required, to be refunded when the item is returned.
5. The Library Director will determine if an exception can be made for the Reference item to be checked out.
REQUEST TO WITHDRAW
If a library patron complains about a title in the library, listen carefully to the patron and his/her complaint. Be courteous. If the patron wishes the title withdrawn from the collection, he/she is to be given a copy of the “Request for Reconsideration of Library Material” form to fill out.
Write a report of the incident immediately, and give the report to the Librarian, who should be called any time during the process when her presence seems necessary or appropriate.
Assure the patron that the library has a procedure to handle complaints, and that the request will be given prompt consideration.
RESERVES, CALLING FOR
When calling library patrons to tell them that an item they have placed on reserve is in, and getting a recording, the library will leave a message on the recorder without stating the title of the item because of a state law protecting the patron’s confidentiality. The library will state that the item will be held through tomorrow’s date, giving the date. For instance, if the library calls on Tuesday, October 14, the library will state in the message that the item will be held through closing time on Wednesday, October 15. However, if the library is not able to reach the patron or the answering machine until after 3:30 p.m. the book will beheld for the next two days. A note will be written on the reserve form that a message was left on the recorder (“msg on rec” for example).
When an item is not picked up, the item will be pulled, “Canceled - DNPU” (for Did Not Pick Up) will be written on the form, and the form will be filed for future reference. This item is then available for the next patron on the reserve list. If there are no more reserves on the item, it will be re-shelved.
RESIDENT CARD ELIGIBILITY
To clarify who is eligible for a resident library card: the Resolution passed by the Council of the Town of Highland Park clearly states that non-residents must pay a fee to check out materials from the Library.
A resident is one who resides in the Town of Highland Park. Owning property in Highland Park does not of itself make one a resident - one must reside in or on that property (in the dwelling or on the lot) in order to be a legal resident. Many people rent a home in Highland Park and are therefore residents, without being owners. Many people own a house in Highland Park and reside elsewhere and are therefore non-residents, and not eligible for a resident library card.
A resident who cannot get to the Library himself/herself may allow another person (for instance, a maid, nanny, nurse, friend, etc.) to take his/her card to the Library in order to check out materials for the use of the resident whose name is on the card, so that the resident is not deprived of the use of the Library. But a resident may NOT give his/her card to another person (even temporarily) for the other person’s use – just as you may not give your driver’s license to another person to use, even temporarily or if you are not using it.
By the same token, a resident may not check out materials on his/her card for the use of someone else in order to avoid or bypass the Town Council’s Resolution or the Library’s rules – cards are issued to an individual for the exclusive use of that individual.
SCHOOL ASSIGNMENTS
Because school assignments are made to teach students how and where to find information, as well as to teach them the answers, it is the policy of the Highland Park Library to show students how to use the Library’s resources, rather than to find the answers to school assignments.
Because this library, as almost all public libraries, is not staffed to do research for patrons, it is our policy to help all patrons learn how to use the Library’s resources, rather than to merely find the answers to questions. This also furthers the Library’s goal of educating everyone so that next time they will not have to wait for help but can do the research themselves.
VIDEO AND DVD RESERVES
The Highland Park Library does not take reserves for videocassettes or DVDs. The experiences of other libraries has shown that unreasosnably long lists on popular titles often result from taking reserves on videocassettes and DVDs, and that holding a title to give a patron a reasonable amount of time to come to the Library to check it out means that the title is unavailable to others to view it for long periods of time.
Because the Highland Park Library checks out videocassettes and DVDs for seven days, it does not renew videocassettes and DVDs. Most libraries check out videocassettes and DVDs for 1-3 (one to three) days, as did the Highland Park Library once, so now the Highland Park Library patrons have videocassettes and DVDs for the equivalent of more than two check out periods without renewing them.
WEB SITE LINK POLICY
The website of the Highland Park Library is not intended to be a platform for a full or partial public forum. Links requested to be placed on the Library’s website are not automatically added upon request; they must be submitted in writing with the full URL and an explanation of the site’s purpose and relevance to the Highland Park Library community. This request will be reviewed and approved/disapproved by the Librarian. Appeals will be reviewed and approved/disapproved by the Town Administrator and the Administrative Committee of the Town Council.
Only links to other appropriate, relevant, governmental or Highland Park community websites that provide legal, non-commercial, neutral viewpoint, and/or public service information may be considered for linking to the Highland Park Library website.
The Library makes every effort to find the most useful and up-to-date sources; does not guarantee that all possible relevant Web sites on the topic are included; is not responsible for information beyond the site and cannot guarantee the accuracy of all information on linked sites; and does not endorse any product described or advertised by the linked site.
|
 |