Important Policies and Regulations, For Your Information
The Delaware County District Library’s Board of Trustees has developed policies to maintain a level of comfort and usability for all customers. The policies highlighted below are ones that will likely be most helpful to you. If you are interested is looking at all of these policies, please contact Library Director Mary Jane Santos.
Unattended Children
Because the library staff cannot provide adequate security and safety, parents/guardians should not leave a child unattended at the Delaware County District Library. Library staff may take action they deem appropriate and necessary to provide for the welfare and safety of an unattended child. Back to Top.
Meeting room policies
Purpose
The facilities of the Delaware County District Library are available for public gatherings of a non-profit, civic, cultural or educational character when the room is not being used for its primary purpose: library-related activities. Use of meeting room facilities must take place in a responsible manner, without undue cost to the Board of Trustees and without undue interference with library activity.
Use
- All meetings must be free. No admission fees may be charged or donations collected.
- All meetings must be open to the public. Members of the public must be invited and encouraged to attend by the sponsoring agency.
- Fund raising events or solicitation of any kind are not permitted unless sponsored by the Friends of the Library.
- Meetings planned by a company or individual to promote, advertise or lead to the sale of a product or service are not permitted, nor are employee orientation or training programs.
- Reservations will be accepted from groups with a minimum of eight and maximum of seventy members. Smaller groups wishing to use the room may do so on an as available basis.
- Groups of children are welcome to use the room, but application must be made by an adult and adult supervision of the group must be maintained at all times.
- The library Board of Trustees reserves the right to review any or all applications and may demand sufficient time to make proper investigation before granting approval.
Examples
The following types of events are permitted in the meeting room:
- Public education programs sponsored by a government agency or non-profit organization
- Programs of special interest, such as collectors or hobbyists
The following types of events are NOT permitted in the meeting room:
- Private social events such as family reunions or wedding receptions
- Meetings of any group or organization that is not actively soliciting additional members or participants
- Parties/events that sell consumer goods, such as, but not limited to, baskets, housewares, jewelry & cosmetics
- Informational seminars intended to generate future clients for a company/individual
Fees and Liabilities
- The library charges a $25 refundable deposit, to be paid when the application is approved. The deposit will be refunded if the meeting room is left in the condition in which it was found.
- Payment, above the $25 deposit, shall be made for any damage to or loss of library property in excess of that amount.
- The library is not liable for injuries to people or damage to property of organizations using the room.
Guidelines for Meeting Room Use
- Library programs take precedence over other meeting room activities.
- Only light refreshments and no alcoholic beverages may be served. Meeting room must be left free of crumbs, waste, etc. The library provides no equipment or services for the serving of refreshments.
- Smoking is prohibited in all areas of the library.
- Each group using the room is responsible for setting up the room and returning it to its original condition. Lights are to be turned off at the conclusion of the meeting.
- The room is to be vacated by 10:00 p.m. and is not accessible before 8:00 a.m.
- The library is unable to provide storage space for groups using the room; therefore, any food, beverages or personal items left in the meeting room on the day following a meeting will be discarded.
Reservations and Cancellations
- An application for the use of the meeting room must be made in person, signed by a representative of the group and filed with the library.
- Requests for the use of the room may be made at the circulation desk at least two weeks prior to the meeting but no more than six months prior to the meeting date.
- A maximum of two meetings per month may be scheduled with a total of six per year during evening hours (after 5:00 p.m.). The library director or the Board of Trustees must approve long term or multiple engagements.
- Requests will be considered on first come, first served basis.
- Applicants will receive confirmation by mail verifying date, time and acceptance or denial of request. The postcard received in the mail must be presented at the time of use.
- The library reserves the right to cancel prior meeting room reservations without notice in the event of emergency, such as snow closings or unsafe building conditions.
- Library staff should be notified as soon as possible if a meeting scheduled for the room has been canceled.
Publicity
- The name, address or phone number of the Delaware County District Library may not be used as the official address or headquarters of an organization.
- The use of the meeting room by a non-library group shall not be publicized in such a way as to imply library sponsorship of the group’s activities.
- Copies of all publicity of events to be held in the meeting room should be made available to the library.
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Freedom to Read
- It is in the public interest for publishers and librarians to make available the widest diversity of views and expressions, including those which are unorthodox or unpopular with the majority.
- Publishers, librarians and booksellers do not need to endorse every idea or presentation contained in the books they make available. It would conflict with the public interest for them to establish their own political, moral or aesthetic views as standard for determining what books should be published or circulated.
- It is contrary to the public interest for publishers or librarians to determine the acceptability of a book on the basis of the personal history or political affiliations of the author.
- There is no place in our society for efforts to coerce the taste of others, to confine adults to the reading matter deemed suitable for adolescents or to inhibit the efforts of writers to achieve artistic expression.
- It is not in the public interest to force a reader to accept with any book the prejudgment of a label characterizing the book or author as subversive or dangerous.
- It is the responsibility of publishers and librarians, as guardians of the people’s freedom to read, to contest encroachments upon that freedom by individuals or groups seeking to impose their own standards or tastes upon the community at large.
- It is the responsibility of publishers and librarians to give full meaning to the freedom to read by providing books that enrich the quality and diversity of thought and expression. By the exercise of this affirmative responsibility, bookmen can demonstrate the answer to a bad book is a good one, the answer to a bad idea is a good one.
Note: “Books” as used in this statement include all kinds of materials acquired for library use. Back to Top.
Community Bulletin Board
The library maintains a bulletin board to provide organizations an opportunity to publicize community events of a civic, cultural, educational or recreational nature. In order to avoid the appearance of an endorsement, the library will not post notices of partisan political, religious or commercial events or activities. Back to Top.
Eligibility for Borrowing
All residents of Ohio are eligible to become registered borrowers of DCDL by complying with the following:
- New borrowers must complete an application form and provide verification of identity and current address. Patrons unable to provide address verification will have library cards mailed to them.
- Residents of any age may become registered borrowers. A parent or legal guardian of an applicant under age 18 must sign the child’s application card. Library staff has the right to request age verification before a card is issued. If application is not made by the parent in person, the library card will be mailed to the child in care of the parent. A parent’s signature is still required on the form.
- Borrowers’ cards will be issued to organizations at the request of the CEO or other authorized individual. Organizations to which a card is issued must agree to accept financial responsibility for all library material borrowed on that card.
Any material circulated by DCDL may be borrowed by patrons without regard to age.
Library cards are issued for three years. A patron with an expired library card will be asked to complete a reregistration form.
There are not charges incurred in the issuance of a library card except for the replacement of lost library cards, the cost of which will be $1.00. Back to Top.
Library Bill of Rights
The American Library Association affirms that all libraries are forums for information and ideas, and that the following basic policies should guide their services.
- Books and other library resources should be provided for the interest, information and enlightenment of all people of the community the library serves. Materials should not be excluded because of the origin, background or views of those contributing to their creation.
- Libraries should provide materials and information presenting all points of view on current and historical issues. Materials should not be proscribed or removed because of partisan or doctrinal disapproval.
- Libraries should challenge censorship in the fulfillment of their responsibility to provide information and enlightenment.
- Libraries should cooperate with all persons and groups concerned with resisting abridgment of free expression and free access to ideas.
- A person’s right to use a library should not be denied or abridged because of origin, age, background or views.
- Libraries which make exhibit spaces and meeting rooms available to the public they serve should make such facilities available on an equitable basis, regardless of the beliefs or affiliations of individuals or groups requesting their use.
Adopted June 18, 1948. Amended February 2, 1961, June 27, 1967 and January 23, 1980 by the ALA Council. Back to Top.
Patron Regulations
The following are prohibited by either the policies of the Board of Trustees, or fire, police, or health regulations:
- Use of any tobacco products in any part of the building.
- Eating in public service areas, except for official library functions.
- Pets, with the exception of Seeing Eye dogs and handicapped aid animals.
- Loud or abusive language.
- Action which is disruptive to others.
- Selling or solicitation of any kind.
- Distribution of leaflets or similar literature.
- Vandalism/damage to library property.
Library staff may ask a patron to leave the premise if he/she is observed to be in violation of any of these regulations. Law enforcement officials may be called if necessary. Back to Top.
Acceptable Use Policy
Statement of Purpose
Internet access at the Delaware County District Library (DCDL) is an extension of the library’s commitment to meeting the community’s information needs.
Disclaimer
The Delaware County District Library has installed filtering software in an attempt to eliminate information and web sites not in accordance with this policy: however, no filtering software is failsafe. The library cannot be held responsible for the content of the Internet. It is the individual’s responsibility to use the Internet wisely. Parents or guardians, not the library staff, are responsible for the Internet information selected and/or accessed by their children.
The library has not selected any of the information on the Internet: therefore, the library does not guarantee that information for this source is factual, accurate, authoritative or complete. The library is not responsible for the quality or accuracy of information found on the Internet.
Downloaded software or files may contain viruses. The library is not responsible for damage to a user’s disk or computer for any loss of information, damage or liability that may occur from using the library’s computers.
User Regulations
In order to use this resource, library customers must agree to the following:
- The library is committed to providing an environment free from sexual harassment. Do not display, send , receive or print text or graphics that may be reasonably construed as obscene on screens or printers.
- Computers may be used for a maximum of sixty (60) minutes if others are waiting to use them.
- The Internet workstations must be used in a responsible manner, respecting the rights of others, and taking care with use of the equipment. COMPUTER AND INTERNET SETTINGS MAY NOT BE CHANGED. Users may be charged for damage they cause to equipment.
- The workstations cannot be used for any fraudulent or unlawful purpose, including activities prohibited under any applicable federal, state or local laws.
- Downloaded files must be saved to disks—not to the computer’s hard drive.
- Material on the Internet may be copyrighted. It is the responsibility of the user to be aware of the display of any notices concerning the copyright of the information on the Web and to respect the copyright laws of the United States.
- Internet computers may be turned off fifteen (5) minutes prior to the library’s scheduled closing time.
Policy Violations
Any library user observed violating these regulations will be told to stop. If the violation continues, the customer will forfeit the right to use the computer and may be asked to leave the library. Back to Top.
Loan Periods
All print items, and audio books circulate for four weeks with the exception of designated new books and periodicals, which circulate for two weeks.
Reference books, current periodicals, and newspapers may be checked out only with approval of the director or assistant director.
All audiovisual material circulates for four weeks with the exception of videocassettes and DVDs, which circulate for one week.
All items may be renewed once.
The number of items checked out to an individual is limited as follows:
- Periodicals – 10
- Audio Cassettes Kits – 15
- Video Cassettes – 20
- DVDs - 10
- Books – 50
- Audio Books – 20
- Juvenile and Young Adult Audio Books - 20
If demand is unusually heavy for specific material, the staff may limit the number charged out to an individual, as in the case of holiday books, book cassette kits or material needed by large numbers of students for class assignments. Back to Top.
Library Displays
The Delaware County District Library hosts displays in a variety of venues within the library to provide an opportunity for organizations or individuals to publicize events or services of a civic, cultural, educational or recreational nature. Displays that are partisan, political, religious or commercial, or that advertise or lead to the sale of a product or service are prohibited.
All displays in the library must be approved by the Director or the Assistant Director and scheduled in advance. Back to Top.
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