Community District Library

INTERNET POLICIES

Below are select library policies. Ask at desk for complete policy manual.

In accordance with public law 106-554, The Community District Library will adopt an Internet safety policy that incorporates use of filters on computers with Internet access.

In accordance with the requirements of the Michigan Library Privacy Act PA 212, (see attached), the Community District Library Board has instructed the staff to monitor Internet computers to prevent access to materials that might be deemed obscene and sexually explicit and therefore deemed harmful to minors.

The library staff is authorized to view the computer screens of patrons to determine if a site is inappropriate. If the staff determines the site to be inappropriate, the staff then has the authority to ask the patron to exit the site and will issue a first oral warning.

The Library is obligated to comply with federal law regarding the use of computer resources to prevent exposure to explicit images and material according to the directives of the Neighborhood Children's Internet Protection Act (NCIPA) of 2000, effective April 20, 2001. The law states that, "all libraries and schools must certify that they have adopted and implemented an internet safety policy. "

The Board has sited the state's definition of obscenity from act 722.671 on sexually explicit matter and 752.361 on obscene material and has adopted these public acts as policy.

Community District Library will use filters that are designed to restrict computers from receiving any materials that is (a) "obscene" as defined by Michigan law, or (b) "sexually explicit material that is harmful to minors" as defined by Michigan law.

The technology protection measure may be disabled. Adults requesting filters to be disabled must sign the "Request to Disable Filtering Technology." (See attached.)

INTERNET SERVICES

The Internet and its available resources contain a wide variety of material and opinions from varied points of view. The library makes no guarantee, either expressed or implied, with respect to the quality or content of the information available on the Internet.

Not all the information available on the Internet is accurate, current or complete. In offering Internet access, library staff cannot completely control access points that change rapidly and unpredictably. Users are responsible for the access points they reach.

Users are cautioned that ideas, points of view and images can be found on the Internet that are controversial, divergent and/or inflammatory. The provision of access does not mean or imply that the library endorses or sanctions the content or point of view of any of the information or commentary that may be found on the Internet

Parents of minor children have the responsibility for their children's use or exposure to the Internet through the library's connection. Parents or guardians are responsible for the Internet information selected and /or accessed by their children.

Children who use the Internet unsupervised may be exposed to inappropriate or disturbing information and images. Parents are encouraged to discuss with their children the use of the Internet in relation to family values and boundaries and to monitor their use of the Internet.

The library does not offer e-mail accounts.

Chat rooms are not permitted.

Users are cautioned that, because security in an electronic environment such as the Internet cannot be guaranteed, all transactions, files and communications are vulnerable to unauthorized access and use and, therefore, should be considered public.

Staff may assist patrons to get started on the Internet. However, the library cannot guarantee that staff will be available to assist users at all times. The staff is not able to offer extensive explanations about the Internet or personal computer use or provide in-depth training. Time permitting, staff will try to answer specific questions about the Internet and offer suggestions for effective searching.

USER RESPONSIBILITIES

All users of the Internet are expected to use this library resource in a responsible and courteous manner, consistent with the purposes for which it is provided, and to follow all library related rules, regulations and procedures established for its use including those of this policy. Computer resources may not be used for, including but not limited to, the following purposes:

2. Harassment of other persons or parties

3. Libel or slander of other persons or parties

4. Any commercial or profit making use of the library's account or equipment.

5. Destruction of or damage to equipment, software or data belonging to the library or other users.

6. Gaining or attempting to gain unauthorized access to any computing information, or communications devices or resources.

7. Disruption or unauthorized monitoring of electronic communications.

8. Unauthorized copying of copyright or other protected materials.

9. Violation of computer system security.

Misrepresentation of oneself including, but not limited to, unauthorized use of computer accounts, access codes, or network identification numbers assigned to others.

Users of computer communications facilities in ways that unnecessarily impede the computing activities of others (such as randomly initiating interactive electronic communications or e-mail exchanges, overuse of interactive network utilities, etc.)

Violation of software license agreements.

Violation of network usage policies and regulations.

Violation of another persons or party's privacy.

Use of any software other than what is provided by the library is not permissible.

Violation of policies and regulations that govern the use of the library's Internet resources may result in the suspension or loss of the privileges to use these resources. Illegal activity involving the library's Internet resource will be subject to prosecution by the appropriate authorities. Loss of privileges include:

Second offense - written warning with loss of Internet privileges for one month

Third offense - permanent loss of Internet privileges

Reinstatement of privileges will be at the discretion of the director. However, an appeal may be made to the library board at their next regularly scheduled board meeting.

Patrons may download to their own disks or disks that they have purchased from the library at a cost of $1.00.

Use of the Internet workstations is free of charge, but the library reserves the right to charge for printing as with other computer resources. The demand for use of the library's Internet workstations may exceed the available supply. Therefore, each staff member will be authorized to employ whatever reasonable methods are deemed appropriate in order to ensure that access to Internet workstations is available to all patrons who wish to use them. Examples of methods that might be used include, but are not necessarily limited to:

2. Computers are available on a first come, first serve basis. Patrons must be at the library to place their name on a waiting list. Phone reservations will not be taken for computer time.

3. Patrons will be asked to relinquish a workstation if the patron has used a computer resource for any of the above-stated unacceptable purposes or has otherwise violated any portion of library policy.

Adopted: April 27, 2005

PATRON CONDUCT

The rights of an individual to use the Community District Library should not be abridged or denied. To guarantee these rights to all persons, no library patron shall engage in behaviors prohibited by the following rules of the Library Board.

No person shall:

Eat or drink in the library except in staff areas and as authorized at public meetings

Smoke in the library

Willfully annoy another person

Damage or deface public property

Improperly remove library materials or equipment

Loiter in library

Engage in loud or boisterous behavior

Use radios or CD/ tape players in the library unless headphones are used quietly

Be in a state of intoxication in a manner that causes a public disturbance

Utter profane, obscene or injurious language

Remain in the building after hours

Enter or remain in the building without wearing shoes or shirt

Interfere with other library patrons use of facilities through extremely poor personal hygiene

Sleep in the library for an extended period of time - more than 10 minutes

Violate any municipal ordinance in the library or on library grounds

Use cell phone in the library except in designated areas**

It is the charge of the Community District Library staff to see that the rights of the individuals to use the library are upheld. The library staff is obligated to enforce these rules so that the facilities can be used to the utmost by all persons.

The staff will follow this procedure regarding patron misconduct at the library:*

Second Offense - written warning with loss of library privileges for one month (30 days)

Third Offense - permanent loss of library privileges

The staff may expel the offender(s) without warning, at the discretion of the staff, in situations of serious, threatening or willfully malicious behavior.

The police will be called to deal with those who are unwilling to leave within a reasonable amount of time, being instructed to do by the library staff

Persons who violate the above laws and or ordinances are subject to the withholding of library privileges if subsequent offenses occur.

Adopted 9-22-2004

*Amended 8-23-2006

**Added 10-25-2006

Material Selection Policy

Section 1. Purpose of Selection Policy

This material selection policy helps Library staff acquire a useful, well-rounded collection of books and other materials to meet the needs of the community.

A policy statement helps the Library Board to determine whether the staff is doing an acceptable job of building a collection that is relevant to the community and meets accepted standards of quality. It is also useful in instructed new Library Board members about existing policy.

A policy statement also helps answer questions by the public regarding the presence or absence of certain materials in the collection and helps explain the basis on which materials have been selected.

Section 2. National Statements Concerning Intellectual Freedom

The Library Board and staff believe that the right to read is an important part of the intellectual freedom that is basic to democracy and hereby adopts the Library Bill of Rights, the Freedom to Read statement, and the Freedom to View Statement.

A. Objectives. The Library places major emphasis on its educational and informational functions. Including, as it does, books that broaden horizons, stimulate imagination and enlarge experience, this definition encompasses fields that a narrower one might classify as recreation or aesthetic appreciation.

It will be apparent that education, by this definition, has two aspects which are also reflected in book selection. The Library recognizes the importance of both basic books of permanent value and timely materials on current issues and problems.

Within the framework of these broad objectives, selection is based more specifically on the particular needs and interests of the community. The Library endeavors to make accessible to groups, materials which will contribute to the betterment of the community living and general cultural development.

Section 3. Responsibility for Selection

Ultimate responsibility for book selection, as for all Library activities, rests with the Library director. Suggestions from readers are welcome and are given serious consideration. Staff members are also free to make their own suggestions.

A. General Selection Policy ~ The Library attempts to provide a general collection of reliable materials to include broad fields of knowledge, with due regard for educational level, reading ability and reading interest. Materials to satisfy highly-specialized interests are purchased if real or potential demand exists.

The Library, however, is not obligated to have materials to answer every question. In some cases, the material needed is obscure or specialized. Patrons may then be best served by referral to another institution or individual, or through inter-library loan.

Gifts of books and other materials are accepted by the Library with the explicit understanding that they may not necessarily be added to the collection. They may be added as duplicates, replacements, or as new titles. In some cases, materials received as gifts are added to the collection, even though they would not ordinarily be purchased. Before such gifts are added to the collection, processing costs and shelf space are taken into consideration

B. Reviews ~ Reviews in professionally recognized periodicals are a primary source for material selection. Standard bibliographies, booklists by recognized authorities and the advice of experts in specific subject areas are used. Best seller lists may be used.

C. Requests ~ Patron requests for specific titles or subjects will be considered. If there is enough demand or interest in a title or subject, an item with unfavorable reviews may never the less be considered for purchase. Specialized materials of limited community interest will not ordinarily be purchased. Referral to other Library collections and inter-library loans may be used to supply patrons with these materials, as available. Supplementary materials for students and information for specialists are provided in a limited number of fields, but the Library takes cognizance of and avoids unnecessary duplication in subject areas that are the special prerogative of other community resources.

Section 4. Replacement

It is not the Library's policy to automatically replace all books because of loss, damage or wear. Several factors are used to decide replacement: existence of adequate coverage of a field, other similar and more current materials in the collection; and demand for the particular title or subject. Every effort is made to replace important titles. If satisfactory reprints or paperback editions of titles to be replaced exist, these may be preferred to the more expensive trade editions.

Section 5. Access

Processing and shelving of materials will not reflect a value judgment of the materials. There will be no labeling of any item or of its catalog cards to indicate its point of view or bias. All materials will be public except those which are protected by privacy laws, those that must be restricted to preserve the item or those subject to such other restrictions as may be approved by the director.

The Library assures free access to its holdings. All patrons are free to select or reject any item in the collection. Prejudice by individuals or groups about a particular item or type of materials in the collection will not preclude use of such items or materials by others.

Although juvenile materials are kept together to facilitate use, children are not limited to the juvenile collection. Responsibility for a child's reading must rest with the parent or guardian, not the Library.

Section 6. Statement of Specific Policies in Selected Areas

A. Criteria for Selection - Adult Materials. In the case of scholarly materials, the following criteria apply: reputation and significance of the author; importance of subject matter to the collection, scarcity of materials on the subject; availability of materials elsewhere in the area, timeliness of permanence of the materials, appearance of the title in special bibliographies or indexes, authoritativeness, reputation and standards of the publisher; price.

B. Criteria for Selection - Children's Materials. In selecting books for children, the Library's objective is to make available a collection that satisfies the informational, recreational and cultural reading needs of children of all abilities and reading levels. Criteria for book selection include literary and artistic worth, accuracy, suitability of content and vocabulary to the age of the readers, the contribution of the book to the balance of the total collection and price.

Duplication of titles within the collection is contingent on budget as well as on demand, to the extent that the collection remains balanced in all its goals. Curricular demands are considered insofar as they do not obscure the public Library's general contribution to the community or attempt to substitute for the development and use of school Library resources.

Because of the wide range of children?s subject interests and reading abilities, some titles in the adult collections are duplicated. Fiction -- career or sports stories for older children; non-fiction books on such subjects as coin collecting, physics and flags -- represent samples of duplication.

In general, textbooks are not added to satisfy school demands but to provide information on subjects when there is little or no material available in any other form, or when the textbook makes a significant contribution to the collection. Emphasis will be to provide picture books and books for beginning readers that meet Library standards of literary and artistic quality.

Books will be purchased to encourage an understanding and awareness of diverse cultural, ethnic, religious and national attitudes. Special efforts are made to purchase books by local authors and illustrators.

Bible stories, biographies of saints and other religious personages and books on the customs and traditions of religious faiths are added if they meet the basic standards children's books in general.

Books on human physical development and sex education are selected for scientific accuracy and simplicity of presentation.

Books recognized as children's classics of literary merit are retained even though they may contain a word or phrase that is today unacceptable. Current books that are well written and authentically portray a period, an incident or way of life are accepted despite the occasional use of an unaccepted term, provided the total impact of the book meets the standards maintained in the collection.

C. Criteria for Selection - Non-book Materials. Non-book materials represent an alternative format and may be selected when the non-book form meets the needs of the community. In general, the same selection policies will apply.

1. Periodicals. The Library endeavors to provide the most representative periodicals in a wide range of subjects of reference value and recreational interest. Particular emphasis is given to titles included in periodical indexes. Specialized titles are considered in relation to subject needs and their availability in area and regional libraries

2. Movies. Movies are purchased for the primary purpose of home entertainment, information and instruction. The staff takes no responsibility for the content of the videocassette collection.

Section 7. Gifts

The Library will encourage and accept gifts with the understanding that material gifts may be added to the collection if they meet the same standards required of purchased materials. Gift materials that do not meet these standards, those that are out of date, unneeded duplicates, or those in a format not suitable to Library use, may be given to other organizations, sold, exchanged or recycled.

Gift items will be integrated into the regular Library collection in normal sequence, available to all Library patrons and otherwise handled as any other material belonging to the Library, including the book withdrawal policy.

Gift items may be marked with an appropriate bookplate. A letter for tax purposes may be sent to the donor if requested at the time the donation is made, acknowledging receipt of the gift. However, a dollar value will not be placed on the gift by Library staff.

Section 8. Book Withdrawal Policy

Book withdrawal is an important aspect of collection development. When Library books lose the value by which they are selected, they should be withdrawn so that the collection remains vital and useful. The withdrawal of books is based on the following guidelines:

A. To remove physically worn out or damaged volumes from the Library.

B. To eliminate books containing obsolete information.

C. To remove duplicate copies of titles that have lost popularity, eliminating those most physically damaged or worn.

D. To consider for withdrawal, books that have not been checked out for several years.

Section 9. Disposition of Withdrawn Books

The staff will make the final decisions regarding the disposition of books withdrawn from the collection. Withdrawn books will be stamped discarded over the ownership mark and put in the Library used book sale.

Objections to Materials

The following procedure is to be followed when a patron objects to materials in the Library's collection:

A. The librarian involved will listen to the patron in a concerned manner but will not attempt to defend the material.

B. The patron is to be offered the ?Request for further consideration of Library materials? form. The form is to be filled out in full by the patron and returned to the Library. No objections will be considered until this procedure is followed.

C. The Library Board will consider the materials in question and reply with a formal, written reply to the patron.

REQUEST FOR RECONSIDERATION OF LIBRARY MATERIALS

Title__________________________________________________________

Author________________________________________________________

Publisher______________________________________________________

Request Initiated by ___________________________________

Address______________________________________________

City___________________________State______

Zip___________Phone_____________

The following questions are to be answered after the complainant has read, viewed, or listened to the Library material. If sufficient space is not provided, attach additional sheets. Please sign your name to each additional attachment.

1. Please state the reason for your objection, specifying why you believe the material is not appropriate for the Library collection

2. Please identify the specific aspects of the material that you believe are not suitable. Please be specific, cite pages, film sequences, etc.

3. If applicable, please indicate whether you believe certain persons, such as minors, religious, ethnic or cultural groups, will particularly be damaged or injured by inclusion of this material in the Library collection

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.

I. 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.

II. 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.

III. Libraries should challenge censorship in the fulfillment of their responsibility to provide information and enlightenment.

IV. Libraries should cooperate with all persons and groups concerned with resisting abridgment of free expression and free access to ideas.

V. A person's right to use a library should not be denied or abridged because of origin, age, background, or views.

VI. 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, by the ALA Council; amended February 2, 1961; January 23, 1980; inclusion of ?age? reaffirmed January 23, 1996

The Freedom to Read Statement

1. It is in the public interest for publishers and librarians to make available the widest diversity of views and expressions, including those that are unorthodox, unpopular, or considered dangerous by the majority.

2. Publishers, librarians, and booksellers do not need to endorse every idea or presentation they make available. It would conflict with the public interest for them to establish their own political, moral, or aesthetic views as a standard for determining what should be published or circulated.

3. It is contrary to the public interest for publishers or librarians to bar access to writings on the basis of the personal history or political affiliations of the author.

4. 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.

5. It is not in the public interest to force a reader to accept the prejudgment of a label characterizing any expression or its author as subversive or dangerous.

6. 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; and by the government whenever it seeks to reduce or deny public access to public information.

7. 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, they can demonstrate that the answer to a "bad" book is a good one, the answer to a "bad" idea is a good one.

Adopted June 25, 1953, by the ALA Council and the AAP Freedom to Read Committee; amended January 28, 1972; January 16, 1991; July 12, 2000; June 30, 2004.

Freedom to View Statement

The FREEDOM TO VIEW, along with the freedom to speak, to hear, and to read, is protected by the First Amendment to the Constitution of the United States. In a free society, there is no place for censorship of any medium of expression. Therefore these principles are affirmed:

To provide the broadest access to film, video, and other audiovisual materials because they are a means for the communication of ideas. Liberty of circulation is essential to insure the constitutional guarantee of freedom of expression.
To protect the confidentiality of all individuals and institutions using film, video, and other audiovisual materials.
To provide film, video, and other audiovisual materials which represent a diversity of views and expression. Selection of a work does not constitute or imply agreement with or approval of the content.
To provide a diversity of viewpoints without the constraint of labeling or prejudging film, video, or other audiovisual materials on the basis of the moral, religious, or political beliefs of the producer or filmmaker or on the basis of controversial content.
To contest vigorously, by all lawful means, every encroachment upon the public's freedom to view.
This statement was originally drafted by the Freedom to View Committee of the American Film and Video Association (formerly the Educational Film Library Association) and was adopted by the AFVA Board of Directors in February 1979. This statement was updated and approved by the AFVA Board of Directors in 1989.

Adopted: January 25, 2006

Unattended Children

Parents may NOT leave children under the age of eight (8) unattended in the library. Unattended means that the parent (or responsible adult) is not in the building with the child.

If it is determined that a child is lost or left unattended, the librarian on duty shall try to identify and locate the parents or responsible adult(s). The librarian shall walk around the library with the child looking for the parents. If the parent is not found in the building, the librarian shall stay with the child and try to locate the parent via telephone. When the parent is located, the librarian shall explain the library policy on unattended children. The responsible adult will immediately need to pick up the child.

If the parent(s) or responsible adult(s) has not been located within a half hour of the initial determination that the child is unattended, or if the library is closing, the librarian shall call the police.

At no time, shall staff watch children at the library while a parent runs an errand or is at work. Neither shall staff drive an unattended child to their home or the child?s home for safety. Staff will wait at the library until police arrive to take responsibility for child.

An exception would be programs where youngsters only would be participating without adult in attendance, such as story hour or craft time.

Adopted: 2004

Amended 5-23-2007