Boaz Public Library Policies

 

Library Card Policy

It is the goal of the Boaz Public Library to provide informational services to all children and adults in our community and outlying areas.

v    Library cards are available to all residents within a 15 mile radius of the Boaz Public Library.

v    Library cards may be obtained by presenting identification verifying current name and current address within the 15 mile serving

        radius.  These forms of ID are required:  Driver’s license or ID card and two (2) personal references with telephone numbers.

v    A parent or legal guardian must be present to sign for children under 16.  Parents will be responsible for their children and all

       materials checked out prior to the age of 16 years.  After the age of 16, children will be responsible for returning all of their own

       library materials.

v   Cardholder’s are responsible for all materials checked out on their cards. Address and phone number changes must be reported

       immediately.   

 

**Only three (3) items are allowed to be checked out for first time patrons. 

***No one is allowed to sign a name other than their own on any material checked out from the Boaz Public Library.

 

 

Loan Periods & Fine Chart

 

Material

Typeat

Circulation

Periodiod

Fine

Per Day

Max Fine

Per Item

Book

14 days*

$.05

$1.00

Audio tapes/CD's

14 days*

$.05

$1.00

VHS/DVD's

2 days

$2.00

$30.00

Magazine

14 days*

$.05

$1.00

*Books may be renewed for another 14 days unless the title is reserved on the waiting list.

 

The borrower is responsible for paying for any items lost or damaged.

 

A bookdrop is available for most items checked out from the library.  Video tapes/DVD's are NOT allowed to be returned in the bookdrop.

 

 

Ordinance No. 97-669

 

BE IT ORDAINED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF BOAZ, ALABAMA, as follows:

 

SECTION 1.  It shall be unlawful for any person to willfully detain or fail to return any book, periodical, of any property of the Boaz Public Library for thirty (30) days after notice is given to return the same, and any violator shall be guilty of a misdemeanor.

 

SECTION 2.  The Library Board of the City of Boaz, Alabama shall be authorized to adopt and revise from time to time, fines for the late return of books to the Boaz Public Library.  The setting of such fines by the Library Board shall be in addition to the fines and penalties set forth in this Ordinance.

 

SECTION 3.  Any person violating any of the provisions of this Ordinance shall upon conviction be fines not less than ONE DOLLAR ($1.00) nor more than FIVE HUNDRED DOLLARS ($500.00) or may be sentenced to serve time in the city jail of the City of Boaz for a term not exceeding six (6) months, either or both, at the discretion of the Municipal Court Judge.

 

SECTION 4.  Each and every provision of this Ordinance is hereby declared to be an independent provision and the holding of any provision hereto to be unconstitutional or invalid, shall not affect any other provisions of the Ordinance which would have been enacted regardless of any provision which might be held invalid so long as such holding does not destroy the essence of the Ordinance as it remains.

 

SECTION 5.  This Ordinance shall take effect immediately upon its publication and approval as required by law.

 

 

Video/DVD Policy

¨   Patron must be a library member for six (6) months or more.

¨   Patron must be 16 years old or older.

¨   No member of your household has overdue materials or fines.

¨   Only four (4) videos/DVD's may be borrowed per household.

¨   A fine of $2.00 per library day will be charged per video cassette/DVD that is overdue up to the maximum of $30.00

¨   All videos/DVD's borrowed for 2 nights only and must be returned by closing.

¨   A video/DVD borrowed on Friday must be returned by 8:00 p.m. on Monday.

¨   A video/DVD borrowed on Saturday must be returned by 8:00 p.m. on Monday.

¨   You, the borrower, are responsible for paying for lost or damaged cassettes.  Parents are responsible for damage or loss when the borrower is a minor.

¨   Videos/DVD's must NOT be placed in the book-drop.  A fine of $2.00 per video will apply to any video put in the book-drop.

¨   Videos/DVD's may not be renewed over the telephone.

¨   Videos/DVD's may be renewed up to 2 times consecutively and must be renewed in person each time.

 

Internet Use Policy

 

In order to use the Internet Access computers available to the public at the Boaz Public Library you must agree to the following guidelines:

 

Responsibility of Users 

Use of the internet is a privilege, not a right, and inappropriate use will result in a cancellation of this privilege.  All users of electronic information resources such as the internet are expected to use these items in a responsible manner, consistent with the educational and informational purposes for which they are provided and to follow these policies and regulations.

 

The library and various legal statues expressly forbid use of the Internet for unauthorized, illegal or unethical purposes.  Internet computers will not be used by anyone, including minors, for illegal activity, to access illegal materials, or to access any materials that by local community standards would be obscene (See Alabama State Code Article 5 13A-8-102).  Users should not at any time enter sites that advertise, solicit or encourage the viewing of pornographic material, obscene messages and/or material that would be considered an adult subject which should be viewed in a private setting.

 

Sources on the internet may not always provide complete, accurate, or current information.  As with any other material provided at the library, the user is responsible for judging the validity of the information.

 

Library employees can assist patrons with internet use as time permits.  The level of personal computer use and internet experience will vary from person to person.  Because of library scheduling, there may not be an internet/computer trained librarian on duty at all times.  Staff may assist a patron, but cannot provide in-depth training.

 

Procedure for Internet Use 

First Visit:  Persons wishing to use the internet access computers must first provide proper ID and sign an Internet Use Registration Form.  The signature on this form is legally binding and indicates that the party has read the terms and conditions of the Boaz Public Library Internet Use Policy and understands their significance.

 

Recurring Visits:  All users must sign in at the front desk to be issued a username and password.  This will log you onto the computer for the time you specify.

 

Time 

Use of the Internet Workstations is limited to sessions of ½ hour, 1 hour, and 2 hours with a total limit of two (2) hours per day.

 

Users 

Any patron, regardless of age, may use the computer to access the library’s word processing software. 

 

  • Patrons fifteen (15) and under must have the signature of the parent/legal guardian on file for authorization to use the internet.  The legal guardian must come to the library in person with proper ID to read the Internet Policy and sign for their child.  After the first visit by the parent/legal guardian, the child may use the internet any time they come into the library without supervision.
  • Patrons twelve (12) and under must be accompanied by an adult when wishing to use the internet.  The adult must sit with their child at the computer terminal while they are using the computer.  The adult may not use an adjacent terminal while their child is accessing the internet.

 

In compliance with the Children’s Internet Protection Act (CIPA), the library subscribes to a filtering service, which is found on all workstations throughout the library.  The use of filtering technology is an important component of the library’s efforts to limit minors’ access and exposure to inappropriate, harmful, and illegal matter on the internet.  This filtering service prevents access to pornographic or obscene materials available on the internet, but you should be aware that no filtering service is completely effective.

 

The Library upholds and affirms the right and responsibility of parents to determine and monitor their children’s use of all library materials and resources.  Library users, whether children or adults, are the final selectors in using the internet and are responsible for their individual choices and decisions.

 

Guidelines for Accessing the Internet

  • Users will respect the privacy of others using the Internet access terminal by not interfering with their use.
  • By mutual agreement, two persons may share one computer terminal as long as their behavior or conversation does not disturb other users or library staff.
  • Users must end their session and leave the terminal when asked to do so by authorized library staff, even if they have not completed their session.
  • Users may save or download information to a disk, CD or zip drive.  Diskettes may be purchased at the front desk for .50 cents each.  CD’s may be purchased for $1.00 each.  Please be aware that library staff may not be available to help with downloading or saving information.
  • Users are prohibited from accessing chat rooms or discussion groups.
  • Users will not make any attempt to gain unauthorized access to restricted files or networks, or to damage or modify computer equipment or software.
  • Users will respect copyright laws and licensing agreements.
  • The Boaz Public Library is not responsible for any damage which may occur as a result from the use of our systems.  This includes but is not limited to loss of data from delays or service interruptions due to mechanical failures.

 

Printing Costs

The library charges a fee of .10 cents per page for printing.  Please be aware of the number of times you hit the print button as you will need to pay for all pages printed during your session.

 

Computer Use Termination 

Misuse of the computer, of established guidelines and/or internet use policies will result in the loss of a patron’s computer privileges.

 

When a library employee observes that a user has failed to comply with the Library Internet Use Policy, they are authorized to terminate that users access session or to prohibit that user from future sessions.

 

Illegal acts involving Library computing resources may also be subject to prosecution by local, state or federal authorities.

 

 

Interlibrary Loan Policy

Scope

This policy is for the responsibilities and liabilities incurred by library patrons wishing to use the interlibrary loan process.

 

Policy

The library will provide access for its patrons and staff to library materials known to be available at remote sites.

 

Patrons wishing to request an interlibrary loan or article reprint must have a valid Boaz Public Library Patron Card.  The card must be on file for a two week period prior to an interlibrary loan and be in good standing.

 

An interlibrary loan or article request is initiated at the patron’s request.  Interlibrary loan or article reprint requests resulting in payment of fees to outside sources are initiated by the patron’s willingness to complete the appropriate request forms and service agreements.

 

Library patrons will reimburse the library for all fees and costs the library incurs in obtaining each interlibrary loan item or article reprint, including but not limited to, lending fees, photo or electronic copying fees, and copyright license fees.

 

If the interlibrary loan item or article reprint is received by the library and meets the patron’s criteria for timeliness (deadline) and accuracy, as stated on the request form, the requester is required to pick up the material.  If the material is not picked up within the time indicated by the library, the patron will be responsible for a no-show fee of $1.00 in addition of all other expenses (as above) incurred by the library on their behalf.

 

If the library is unable to meet the patron’s agreed-upon deadline for the material, or if the interlibrary loan or article reprint request is cancelled by the library, there will be no charge to the patron.

 

Patrons may not renew an interlibrary loan.

 

Patrons will be liable for lost or damaged interlibrary loan materials.  The amount owed will be assessed by the lending library, and may include charges above item replacement costs.

 

 

Patron Behavior Policy

1.  Food and /or beverages are not allowed in the library, except at designated times or in designated rooms. 

2.  The following activities are not allowed in the library:

  •   Smoking (City Ordinance #95-645)

  •   Creating a disturbance by making noise, talking loudly, or engaging in other disruptive conduct

  •   Interfering with another person’s rights to use the library or with the staff’s performance of their duties

  •   Threatening behavior, including, but not limited to, violence, threats of violence, and possession of weapons

  •  Bringing animals into the library except those needed to assist in a disabled person or used in library programs

  •   Playing audio equipment so that others can hear it

  •   Misusing the rest rooms (i.e. using them as a laundry or washing facility)

  •   Soliciting or canvassing of any kind

  •   Entering areas posted “Staff Only” without permission

  •   Leaving a child under the age of 9 unattended in the library

  •   Running

  •   Sleeping 

3.  Those who damage or deface library materials or property may be prosecuted.  Parents can be liable for damage

     done by a child under 18.

4.  Theft of library materials or use of false identification to obtain a library card are against state law and may be

     prosecuted.

5.  Parents are responsible for the behavior and supervision of their young children under the age 9.

 

 

Unattended Children Policy

The safety and well-being of young children left unattended at the library is of serious concern.  Young pre-school children left on their own often become frightened or anxious.  Older school-age children may be able to occupy their time for a short while, but being children, soon become bored and disruptive.  Other patrons are disturbed and the children require excessive supervision by the library staff.

 

The following policy and procedures seek to address these concerns for the children.  It is not the library’s intention to seek out unattended children but rather to have a reasoned response prepared as problems arise.  The policy states:

 

“Parents, not the library staff, are responsible for the behavior of the children using the library.  Parents will be notified if their children are left unattended and require supervision.  If parents are unavailable, proper authorities will be contacted.”