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The following policies govern how we use our library.
also known as
Buda Public Library
Statement of Policies
The Buda Public Library is established to provide free library service of a general nature to the residents of the Buda community and Hays County.
I. GENERAL OBJECTIVES
A) To assemble, preserve and administer in organized collections, books and related materials at all levels of interest in response to the informational, educational and recreational needs of the community.
B) To support educational, civic and cultural activities of groups and organizations.
C) To provide free public computer facilities and access to the Internet.
D) To seek continually to identify community needs and to provide or to participate in cooperative efforts to provide programs or services to meet community needs.
E) To provide opportunity for recreation and education through the use of literature in various formats, access to electronic resources and related materials.
II. WHO MAY USE THE LIBRARY
A) The library will serve all residents of the Buda community and Hays County. Persons residing outside Hays County but owning property, attending or teaching in an educational institution in the county shall be considered residents. Non-residents of Hays County shall be required to give a permanent address and pay a yearly fee of $15.00. Fee may be waived by Librarian.
B) The use of the library may be denied for due cause. Objectionable conduct, inappropriate dress, destruction of property, or interference with service to others may be considered sufficient grounds to effect denial of service at the discretion of the librarian. Denial of service may be appealed to the Library Commission.
III. SERVICES OF THE LIBRARY
A) The library will select from available materials and organize for easy access, those books and materials which best meet the needs of the community.
B) The library will provide free public computers, access to the Internet, and access to computer related resources.
C) The library staff will provide guidance and assistance for people to obtain the information they seek as recorded in print, audio-visual resources, or electronic formats.
D) Periodic review will be made of library service to determine whether the needs of the community indicate that present services should be discontinued or other services should be added.
IV. LIBRARY MATERIALS
A) The library will provide any materials which help to meet its objectives. Materials may include: books, periodicals, pamphlets, newspapers, pictures, video cassettes, maps, sound recordings, and computers, computer software, and access to electronic resources.
B) Responsibility for material selection rests with the librarian operating within the framework of the policies herein, and adhering to generally accepted professional practices.
C) General Guidelines for Material Selection
1) Materials will be selected with regard to the general library objectives.
2) Variations in age level (adult, young adult, juvenile), interest level, educational level, reading ability, individual needs and interests, as well as community needs, will be considered in selection.
3) Materials will be selected which seek to provide a balance of opinions on contemporary issues.
D) Specific Guidelines for Material Selection
In the selection of books and other materials, the following factors will be considered:
1. Purpose or intent of book or other material; manner of presentation
2. Literary quality, readability
3. Authority and reputation of author
4. Accuracy of information
5. Relationship to existing collection
6. Contemporary significance
7. Potential usefulness and general appeal
8. Reputation and standing of the publisher
9. Scarcity of information in the subject area
10. Availability of material elsewhere in the community
11. Evaluation in reputable review sources
12. Price, format and ease of use
E) Languages other than English:
The Buda Public Library strives to have a collection that reflects the diverse population it serves. To that end, part of the collection development budget will be allocated to purchase materials in the preferred language of residents who are not native speakers of English. Materials considered for purchase will be evaluated as much as possible under the guidelines and policies used for English-language materials. When necessary, staff will seek assistance in the selection of materials from appropriate community members. Citizen recommendations are always welcome and appreciated.
F) Interlibrary Loan
Because of limited budget and space, the library cannot provide all materials that are requested. Therefore, interlibrary loan is used to obtain from other libraries those materials that are beyond the scope of this library’s collection. The library will consider participating in a reciprocal borrowing program or in a union catalog as time and funds permit.
G) Statement of Intellectual Freedom
The Buda Public Library subscribes to the philosophy expressed in the Library Bill of Rights and in the Freedom to Read statement of the American Library Association, and herein, incorporates them as part of the library’s selection policy. The library is opposed to the withdrawal at the request of any individual or group, of books, and other materials, which have been chosen in accordance with the principles outlined in this policy. The library is equally opposed to the inclusion, at the request of any individual or group of books, or other materials, which do not follow the principles outlined in this policy. Objections to material in the collection will be brought to the attention of the Librarian. Appeals may be made in writing to the Library Commission using the “Citizens’ Request for Reconsideration of Library Materials”. The library welcomes the opportunity to discuss with interested citizens the policies set forth in this statement.
V. COOPERATION WITH OTHER LIBRARIES
The Board of Trustees recognizes that no single library can meet all demands in its community. The Library Commission and the librarian will be alert to opportunities of cooperation with other libraries, the Central Texas Library System and the Texas State Library to strengthen the services and resources of the library. The services include, but are not limited to Interlibrary Loan, shared electronic resources, continuing education, and consultation services. The library will make every effort to maintain membership in the Central Texas Library System.
VI. PHYSICAL FACILITIES
A) To achieve the goal of good library service, the City of Buda accepts the responsibility to see that public library building facilities are provided which will adequately meet the physical requirements of modern, aggressive library service. The building will fit an expanding program of library service.
B) Meeting room(s) in the library may be reserved for use by educational, civic, cultural and governmental groups when no admission charge is made. Exceptions may be made for meetings sponsored by the library or non-profit educational groups or institutions for short-term classes, institutes, discussion group and forums involving small fees. The rooms may not be reserved by commercial groups. Church groups when no religious services are involved will be allowed meeting room space. Labor organization meetings will be interpreted to be commercial meetings. Employee groups of commercial firms will be interpreted as a sales or promotion-type meeting. Profit-making organizations sponsoring educational programs of a non-profit nature will be permitted to use the meeting room(s) provided the meetings are open freely to the general public. The library normally will not provide the personnel to assist in handling of exhibits and other materials needed by groups using the meeting room(s). See attached public meeting room agreement.
VII. GIFTS POLICY
Gift books and materials are evaluated using the same criteria used for selection of all other materials.
1. Books and other materials will be accepted on the condition that the librarian has the authority to make whatever disposition seems advisable.
2. Gifts of money, real property and/or stock will be accepted if conditions attached to them are acceptable to the Library Commission and to the City Council.
3. The library will not accept for deposit materials which are not out-right gifts.
VIII. DESELECTION OF MATERIALS
Materials that no longer fit the service roles of the library will be withdrawn from the collection. This may include materials that are damaged, contain obsolete information, or are no longer being used. Decisions will be based on accepted professional practice, such as those described in The CREW Method, and the professional judgment of the library director or designated staff. When necessary, local specialists will be consulted to determine the continued relevance and reliability of materials.
Items withdrawn from the collection will be disposed of in accordance with local law, which permits discarding into the trash, recycling of paper, or transfer to the Friends of the Library for sale.
IX. CHILDREN'S SERVICES AND POLICIES
A) The library’s primary service goals to children are
- to provide guidance and assistance to children seeking information and reading materials;
- to provide instruction in the use of the library and basic library resources, computers and the Internet;
- to stimulate interest in reading through programs, activities, storytimes, puppet shows, etc.;
- to create a positive relationship between the child and the library.
B) As a subscriber to the Library Bill of Rights and the Freedom to Read Statement, the library makes no attempt to supervise or restrict a child’s materials selection. Individual parents who wish to guide their child’s materials selection are encouraged to do so. The library makes available books and pamphlets discussing children’s literature and the role parents can take in developing reading skills.
C) The Library is not responsible for unattended children. In order to further our service goals to all library patrons and to insure the safety of all, children under age 12 must be supervised by an adult or other parental representative. Children of all ages must adhere to the same standards of courteous behavior required of all patrons (see Section II B). The County Sheriff will be called in suspected cases of neglected, abused or abandoned children.
X. AUDIO-VISUAL MATERIALS USE POLICY
1. The library collection will include recorded materials, both audio and video. Selections will be made according to the guidelines in the Materials Policy; see Section IV. The Video Borrowers Guidelines are posted in the audio-video display area. All video materials used in public performance must have the appropriate documentation; this includes those using the meeting room.
2. The borrower, whether a library or a patron, is responsible whenever a producer or distributor brings about legal action for copyright infringement.
3. The borrower, whether a library or patron, takes responsibility for the care of any video materials borrowed and for determining the appropriate audiences for the content.
4. Neither the Library, nor the Central Texas Library System, nor any other loaning library is responsible for damage caused to a borrower’s equipment by playing the video recordings.
5. Neither the Library, nor the Central Texas Library System, nor any other loaning library is responsible for any changes made in the content of the video recordings.
XI. COMPUTER AND RELATED MATERIALS USE POLICY
A) The library will provide public-use computers along with the related hardware and software.
1. The Librarian shall be responsible for the setting of time use limits, reservation policies, and other day-to-day rules for use of the computers and related materials.
2. Materials for use with the computer facilities will be chosen with the same criteria as outlined in our materials’ selection guidelines in Section IV of this policy statement.
3. Consistent with the philosophy expressed in the Library Bill of Rights and the Freedom to Read statements of the American Library Association, the library will not withdraw or include materials except by the policies outlined in Section IV of this policy statement. The library will not block or deny access to telecommunication services in keeping with these principles and policies.
4. See Internet Use Agreement.
B) Software and certain other computer related materials are to be used in the library only.
C) The user or borrower assumes responsibility for determining the suitability or appropriateness of materials sent to or acquired through the Internet or email.
1. Consistent with our Children’s Services and Policies in Section IX, the library makes no attempt to supervise or restrict a child’s access to any services or network offered by the library. Individual parents who wish to guide their children’s access to any service or network are encouraged to do so.
2. The library is not responsible or liable for any communications exchange, ‘e-mail’ or other electronic message to or from a computer to another computer, network, or service. The library will not act as an agent for any borrower or user in the receipt of any personal correspondence. Any communications or exchange received by or stored upon the public-use computers will be considered to be not private in nature and may be deleted by the Librarian at any time.
3. Users seeking email services are encouraged to subscribe to one of the free email services available on the World Wide Web.
XII. PUBLIC RELATIONS
A) Some of the primary public relations goals of the library are:
1) To aid governing officials, civic leaders, and the general public in understanding the library’s objectives and services.
2) To encourage people of all ages to become active participants in the varied services offered by the library.
B) In order to facilitate a consistent public perception of the library, materials to be used by the press, radio or television will be facilitated by or approved by the Library Director.
XIII. STAFF DEVELOPMENT
The Buda Public Library is committed to having a well-trained and educated workforce. Every new employee will receive a general orientation to the library and a training timeline based on job requirements, experience and educational needs for the particular position. Every staff member is encouraged to have a staff development plan prepared in consultation with his or her supervisor.
All staff members are encouraged to attend job-related workshops and seminars to fulfill their staff development plan. Upon completion of a course, Staff member(s) involved in continuing education will be required to share their training with other members of the staff.
Membership in the Texas Library Association is encouraged. Basic dues for the state professional association will be reimbursed, funds permitting, for all permanent, full-time staff members. If funds are not available to cover the entire cost of basic dues, each employee will receive a prorated share of available funds.
XIV. SAFETY
Every library user is expected to follow the guidelines of the library, which are designed to provide a safe, secure, comfortable environment for all users. The following restrictions apply:
1. Carrying of firearms or other weapons into the library or on the grounds is prohibited.
2. Bringing of food and drink into the library is not permitted, with the exception of meeting room use.
3. Smoking is not permitted in the library.
XV. VOLUNTEERISM
The Buda Public Library welcomes and encourages members of the community to volunteer their time and talents to enrich and expand library services. Volunteers are expected to conform to all policies of the Buda Public Library and the rules outlined in the Volunteer Agreement. The are selected and retained for as long as the library needs their services. Volunteers may be used for special events, projects and activities, or on a regular basis to assist staff. Services provided by volunteers will supplement, but not replace, regular services, and volunteers will not be used in place of hiring full or part time staff. Volunteers may apply for paid positions under the same conditions as other outside applicants. The library will accept volunteers completing school assigned restitution for non-violent offenses and court assigned restitution for a Class C misdemeanor after being approved by either the Director or the Assistant Director. Volunteers (and parents, if the volunteer is under 18 years of age) must agree to and sign the Volunteer Agreement. In accordance with labor laws and the policies of the City of Buda, paid staff may not volunteer their services to the library or any other city department.
Approved by the Library Commission on November 8th, 2011.
Volunteer Application and Agreement
The following policies represent other library policies from around the country.
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