Policies

SUPERIOR PUBLIC LIBRARY
POLICIES

Date Approved: 7/1/2005
Approved by Library Board
Date Amended: 10/14/2013

The following policies were approved by the Board of Trustees of the Superior Public Library to serve as the operational policies of the library.

The Board unanimously adopts the American Library Association’s Bill of Rights and the Freedom to Read Statement on book selection and controversial materials (Appendix l & ll). These objectives and policies will be examined annually and may be revised at any time by action of the Library Board of Trustees.

MISSION STATEMENT:
The Superior Public Library’s mission is to foster lifelong learning and enjoyment through an array of information resources and to help strengthen our community.

GENERAL LIBRARY OBJECTIVES

The general objectives of this public library will be:

a. To assemble, preserve and administer in organized collections books and non-book materials to meet the informational and recreational needs of the community.

b. To give guidance and stimulation and to encourage the use of the library by all age groups.

c. To supplement, but not to perform the functions of school and other libraries.

d. To strive continuously to identify community needs and to provide
programs of service to meet such needs.

e. To provide opportunity for recreation through the use of literature,
music, audios, visuals and other art forms.

The Superior Library follows the Library Bill of Rights and the definition of Intellectual freedom in our selecting of materials and running of the library.
Intellectual freedom is the right of all individuals to read, views, or listens to whatever materials they choose and to speak and write the beliefs and opinions they hold. Intellectual freedom is the basis of democracy and is the core concept upon which libraries are built.
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.
1. 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.
2. 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.
3. Libraries should challenge censorship in the fulfillment of their responsibility to provide information and enlightenment.
4. Libraries should cooperate with all persons and groups concerned with resisting abridgment of free expression and free access to ideas.
5. A person’s right to use a library should not be denied or abridged because of origin, age, background, or views.
6. Libraries that 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 19, 1939, by the ALA Council; amended October 14, 1944; June 18, 1948; February 2, 1961; June 27, 1967; January 23, 1980; inclusion of “age” reaffirmed January 23, 1996.

COLLECTION AND PROCUREMENT OF LIBRARY MATERIALS

a. The library director will select and order all books and other library materials. The principles stated in the Library Bill of Rights and the statement on Freedom to Read issued by the American Library Association are to be followed. The criteria of the Nebraska Intellectual Freedom Handbook will be followed.

b. The collection should reflect a wide range of interests, tastes and attitudes to be expected in a community composed of individuals with varying educational, economic, ethnic and religious backgrounds. It shall present various points of view on controversial subjects. No one person or group will be permitted to impose its own standards or opinions on the community at large.

c. Funds for library materials will come from the library budget, and donations through the Foundation for special
purchases.

WEEDING
In order to maintain a current collection which meets the needs of our community resources are regularly withdrawn
from the collection when they no longer meet our needs. Items are considered for discard when it is:
a . Obsolete or outdated or are no longer accurate.
b. An item is physically worn or damaged beyond reasonable repair.
c. The item no longer circulates, or doesn’t circulate enough to justify its space on the shelf.
d. There is more than one copy.

Items in special collections, such as genealogy, may not be weeded whether they are considered in bad shape or
not. It will be at the discretion of the director.

Discards surplus materials will be turned over to The Superior Library Foundation for disposal.

The collection will be weeded at least 3% of the number of books that were in the collection at the start of the fiscal year.

SEQUESTERING OF LIBRARY ITEMS

a. Library materials will not be marked or otherwise identified to show approval or disapproval of its contents and no catalogued book or other item will be sequestered, except for the express purpose of protecting it from injury or theft.

b. The use of rare and valued items may be controlled to the extent required to preserve them from injury or theft.

c. The responsibility for reading selections by children rests with their parents and/or legal guardians. Selection and housing of the library’s collection will not be inhibited by the possibility that books or other library items may come into the possession of children.

OBJECTIONS TO LIBRARY MATERIALS

The staff member who receives a complaint about any library materials will try to explain why it is appropriate for the library to have the questioned item. Anyone not fully satisfied by such an explanation will be asked to fill out a Request for Reconsideration of Library Materials form which will be referred to the Board of Trustees. A committee will review the request and the material and the committee will make a decision. The objector will be notified of the action of the Board of Trustees.

Procedure for a challenge of a Library Item

1. A person making a complaint about a library item that they feel should be taken off the shelf will need to fill out a “Request For Reconsideration of Library Materials” form in triplicate.

2. A committee of 5 people will be formed to review the library item.

3. The item will not be withdrawn off the shelf until after the Board’s decision, and then only if it is the decision of the Board is to remove the item.

4. The committee will not be told anything about the book or the complainant until after they have all read the book.
They will then be given the “Request for Reconsideration of Library Materials” form to see what the complaint
was. The committee will also be given the Library Bill of Rights and the statement on Freedom to Read issued
by the American Library Association, and a copy of the collection policy that are to be followed.

5. The committee will discuss the item and present their decision to the Library Board on whether to remove the item or not. The Complainant will not be allowed to attend any of the meetings of the committee. Their complaint is what they write on the “Request For Reconsideration of Library Materials” form.

6. The Complainant will be told when the Library Board meets so they can come and hear the decision of the Library Board. They will not be able to voice their views at the meeting. If they do not come to the meeting they will receive a letter informing them of the Board’s decision.

GIFTS, BEQUEST, MEMORIALS

a. The Library accepts gifts of books, audio books, pamphlets, periodicals, films and other items with the understanding that they will be added to the library collection only when needed. The same principles of selection, which are applied to purchases, are applied to suitable gifts. It is to be understood that once given to the library it becomes the property of the library, to be used or discarded as we see fit. Some gifts may not be able to be used to full advantage because of reasons listed below:

1. Books may be duplicates of an item of which the library already has a sufficient number.

2. Books may be interesting, but not of sufficient present reference or circulation value to the library (which must scrutinize every item with shelf space in mind).

3. Books may be in poor physical condition, (which would not justify the expense of processing, cataloguing and preparing it for circulation).

b. Unrestricted gifts of money, lands or property will be gratefully accepted by the Board of Trustees through The Superior Library Foundation which exists for the purpose of handling all gifts and bequest to the library.

c. Notwithstanding the above, the Board of Trustees recognizes the Superior Library Foundation exists for the purpose of handling all gifts and bequests to the library.

MESSAGE BOARD, BULLETIN BOARD, DISPLAYS

a. No posters, displays or brochures will be exhibited or placed in the library without proper permission from the librarian on duty.

b. Items may be put on the bulletin board (by the front door) by the general public. Notices will be taken
down after the event or after a period of 1 month. All notices must be for an event, job, service or buy/sell, and
the director may prohibit any posting if it does not meet the library standards.

c. Special displays may be brought in with the approval of the Director. The library assumes no responsibility for
damage or theft of any item on exhibition in the library.

d. Brochures from non-profit organizations may be left, but they must fit in the brochure carousel. We will not hold large quantities of extras to be used to replenish
the brochures.

e. The Bulletin board is for library use.

SERVICES

a. Privileges:

1. Within the library the use of all reference materials and any of the collection is free to all.

2. Service will not be denied or abridged because of religious, racial, social, economic, political status or physical/mental disabilities.
3. A resident of the City of Superior may secure a library card if he/she is five years or older, by filling out an application form. An application by a minor (5 through high school age) must be signed by a parent or guardian. That parent or guardian will be responsible for borrowed materials of the minor and must to in good standing with the library.

4. A non-resident (anyone living outside the city boundaries) may secure a library card by paying the current fee.
As of 01/01/2014 non-resident cards are currently $20.00 for singles or families per year.

5. Preschool children may borrow from the library when accompanied by a registered borrower.

6. A prospective borrower may check out three items when making application for a card. When the item is returned
he/she will receive a library card.

7. The use of the library or its services may be denied temporarily or on a permanent bases for due cause. Such
cause may be failure to return library materials, pay penalties, destruction of library property, and disturbance of
other patrons or any other objectionable conduct on library premises.`

8. Materials may be borrowed by a temporary resident for a short time by payment of a deposit of the estimated
value of the item. Payment will be refunded upon the return of the item.

b. Staff will provide:

1. The library staff will provide guidance and assistance in locating information in print or other type resources.

2. Limited reference service, including information from telephone directories, may be given by telephone.
Answering telephone requests should not be allowed to interfere with service to patrons in the library.

3. Reference materials will be used only in the library, but may occasionally, at the discretion of the library director,
be checked out for the period of time the library is closed.

COPYING

a. Single copies of library materials, especially reference materials, will be made at a rate, which will pay for the supplies and contribute, to the maintenance of the machine.

b. Care will be taken to avoid infringement of copyrights.
c. Persons who want other copying done will be encouraged to use commercial services. Copies must be made when a staff member is not busy or they can make the copies themselves.

CUSTOMER COMPLAINT OF LIBRARY OPERATIONS

The Superior Public Library strives to provide good customer service and to respond to customer concerns, and complaints. A complaint is a feedback response from an external patron or organization dissatisfied with some aspect of library service, programming, equipment or facilities. Complaints can be received in person, letter, telephone, fax, e-mail, or by Complaint of Library Operations form. Complaints about library materials are under Objections to Library Materials.
Procedures
It is the responsibility of the Library staff members to respond to customer complaints courteously and to resolve it immediately or to explain the reason why it cannot be resolved at that time.
If a staff member is unable to properly address the problem without assistance, the complaint will be referred to the Director. In this case the customer will be asked to fill out the Complaint of Library Operations form.
The director will have the final say about a complaint involving the day-to-day operations or procedures. Complaints about actual library policies may be reviewed by the Library Board.
Standards
Responses from the Library to the patron should be immediately resolved by a staff member if possible if the complaint comes in person or by telephone. If not they patron will be contacted within three working days to answer the complaint.
E-mail complaints will be answered within three working days. The complaint will be answered or they will be given what steps are being taken to correct or resolve the complaint.
Letters or the Complaint of Library Operations form will be responded to as soon as possible. A response or resolution will be made within 10 working days, unless an e-mail address or phone number is given that we can respond to sooner.
Check for Forms page under Policy page

SAFETY POLICY

No person shall engage in inappropriate conduct on the premises of the Public Library or when participating in Public Library programs.

Inappropriate conduct shall include any individual or group activity which is disruptive to other persons lawfully using Library premises or otherwise inconsistent with activities such as reading, studying, proper use of the library materials, and other similar conduct normally associated with a public library. Library users are required to observe the Rules governing the use of the Superior Public Library. (See Rules of Conduct)
Section 51-212 of the Nebraska Statutes specifically give public libraries the power to regulate the use of the library and to exclude from the library persons who violate or refuse to comply with the library’s rules and regulations.

Patron Rules of Conduct

Rules for the use of the Superior Public Library

The following actions are prohibited on library property:

• Physical, sexual or verbal abuse of other library users or of library staff, Carrying weapons of any type unless authorized by law
• Stealing, defacing, or destroying of library property
• Interfering with free passage of others
• Behaving in a disorderly, loud, or disruptive way or annoying, harassing, or threatening another person
• Soliciting/ selling/ campaigning unless it is prearranged and in the meeting room
• Interfering with others use of the library through poor personal hygiene
• Leaving young children or vulnerable adults unsupervised or unattended
• Bringing animals or vehicles into the library except as required for young children or persons with disabilities
• Skateboarding or Roller-blading
• Cell phone and audio-visual equipment used in a way disturbs other patrons.  Cell phones need to be used outside.
• No use of tobacco, or electronic smoking devices, no eating. Lidded drinks are allowed in the library. Food and drinks are allowed in the meeting room.  An exception for food or drink is made for the library staff using the workroom.
• Profane or drunken conversation and/or behavior in the library, or being under the influence of illegal drugs

Library staff shall:

• Detain or call the police on any individual who intentionally takes and carries away, transfers, conceals, or retains possession of any library material beyond the front desk
• Call the police anytime the staff member feels threatened from a patron, or a patron refuses to leave when asked
• Request identification and proof of residence when applying for a library card
• Restrict the length of time an individual may use library equipment
• Restrict the number of individuals using library equipment at one time
• Ask anyone not following the computer rules to leave the computers
• A patron may be asked to leave his or her book bag, coat or handbag in the entry way or in their vehicle.  This will be at the discretion of the library employee on duty.

Support of Staff Members Actions
Library staffs who have acted on their best judgment in confronting a person will be supported by their supervisor, and the Library Board.

It is the judgment of the staff member how a situation will be handled. They can handle the problem directly with the patron or if assistance is needed, telephone the police. The police should be phoned immediately if the situation is of a severe/violent or emergency medical situation.

Superior Public Library No Smoking Policy
It is the goal of this policy to provide a comfortable, healthful environment for the public and library employees.
Pursuant to NE 71-5701 – 71-5713, (Nebraska Clean Indoor Air Act) smoking cigarettes, the use of electronic smoking devices, and the use of other tobacco products are not permitted in the Superior Public Library building.

Concealed Handguns

No person shall be on the grounds or enter in the building with a concealed handgun. If anyone is found to be carrying, they will be asked to leave immediately or the police will
be called. That person will also lose their library privileges.

The staff will respond to safety threats in the following ways:

Theft and Vandalism/Illegal Activities
The police will be called when a patron attempts to steal or destroy library and/or personal property (belonging to staff and/or patrons). The offender will be prosecuted.

Emergency Situations
An emergency situation can be defined as any situation in which a person’s actions present an imminent danger to the life or safety of him/herself, others or to library property. Such incidents may include assault and other crimes of violence, or the threat or attempt to commit such crimes. Call the police immediately if such behavior should occur.

Emergency Medical Situations
If the person is conscious offer help and try to get identification. Keep other people away. Call 911 and meet the rescue squad. An obviously unwell person who wishes to leave the library cannot be stopped by a staff member.

Inclement Weather
In case of inclement weather, such as tornadoes, staff will direct the public to the bathroom hallway. The Circulation desk will be closed. A person who wishes to stay in the main library proper cannot be forced to take shelter elsewhere. The director can close the library if the weather is such that it would be unsafe for the staff to be on streets to get home.

Fire
In case of fire the staff will call 911 and make sure that everyone is out of the building. The Director and Board President will be notified after everyone is out of the building. For false alarm follow the directions to deactivate the alarm. (Located in fire panel)

Bomb Threat
In case of bomb threat the staff member receiving the phone call will call 911 immediately. Then get any of the patrons and staff that are in the library out and move them across the street. Watch so that no one tries to go into the library until the police (and fire dept.) get there.
Call the Director and Library Board President and let them know what is going on.
If the threat is written do not touch the letter (to protect fingerprints) and follow the procedures for a called in threat.

The following will be considered –

Inappropriate Conduct- Minor Offenses by Patrons
Excessive and disruptive conversations, eating or drinking in the public area of the library, unauthorized canvassing, selling, soliciting, or engaging in any other commercial activity, violating Internet and computer polices, preventing staff from normal, reasonable, clean-up, reshelving activities (especially 10 minutes before closing), being in a state of intoxication, bringing any animal into the library (except working animals which assist the disabled).

Unattended Minors:
Children under the age 7 years must be accompanied at all times by an older responsible person. Children may be left unattended at scheduled library programs. The responsible person should plan to be at the library when the program concludes. The Superior Public Library assumes no responsibility for children left unattended on library premises.

Inappropriate Personal Hygiene
Patrons who bodily hygiene is so offensive as to constitute a nuisance to other persons shall be required to leave the building. When the problem is corrected, patrons may re-enter the library.

Treatment of Minor Offenses
• Verbal warning will be given.
• Continuous or repeat infractions may result in banning from the library premises for a period of 1 day to 6 months at the discretion of the Director.( a copy of the form can be found in the back of the policies of the Superior Public Library)

Inappropriate Behavior- Major Offenses by Patrons

Any persons violating the following rules will be immediately removed from the building by staff or police. The patron may be banned permanently at the discretion of the Library Director, depending on the nature and the seriousness of the offense that required removal, the extent of damage or disruption caused, or any history of prior infractions of library policies and other relevant circumstances. If the police are called the person will be permanently banned.

Stealing, defacing or damaging library property; abusive, indecent behavior, committing any crime, will be grounds for permanent banning profane or drunken conversation and/or behavior; smoking, violation of a municipal ordinance, offenses not covered under Minor Offenses, on the premises of the library (will be grounds for banning of the patron.

Incident Reports
Incident reports must be filed in all cases when it was necessary to call for outside help or in a situation in which the employee’s actions may be questioned. The Director will be made aware of any incident reports filled out.

All incident reports, patrons banned, and problem patrons’ reports will be kept for review in case of repeat offences a copy of these reports will be kept in the director’s office with a note, at the front desk, to other librarians about the incident and time periods that the patron is banned (a copy of the form can be found in the back of the policies of the Superior Public Library).

Banning Procedure
After repeat or major behavior problems,
• The Director will be notified by the staff member and the incident reports will be reviewed with the staff.
• The patron and all staff will be notified of the reason and length of the banning.
• The Director may review or reconsider the decision of the patron and may shorten or terminate the banning period if information submitted by the patron warrants such modification. The Director will respond to the individual and staff the outcome of the appeals process.

SCHOOL GROUPS

Visitations

Schools should make arrangements in advance with the library director. This allows the director to have an assistant available to take care of the circulation desk
while the school is there.

INTERLIBRARY LOAN SERVICES

a. When a request cannot be met with the resources of the library materials may be borrowed from other libraries. The library will comply with the interlibrary code approved by the Nebraska Library Commission. A fee will be collected to cover mailing costs and fees assessed by the lending libraries.

b. Book – postage and handling of $3.75 plus any charges assessed by the lending library. $3.75 will be collected at the time of request.

c. Copies – Any charges assessed by the supplying library, plus postage.

d. Late materials – $.25 per day or fee charged by lending library.

e. Lost or damaged materials – Current price of material plus a $5.00 processing fee or charges assessed by lending library.

CIRCULATION:

A. CHECK OUT AND RENEWALS

1. Every borrower must have a library card.

2. Ten (10) items may be checked out at one time.

3. A book may be borrowed for two (2) weeks and renewed twice if it has no reserves on it and is not from the NEW BOOKSHELF.

4. If there is a current demand for a particular subject the library director may use discretion as to how many books may be borrowed on that subject and the length of the loan period.

5. Periodicals may be checked out for a two (2) week period. Audio books and other cassette tapes are lent the same as books.

6. Video tapes and cake pans can be borrowed for three (3) days. Counting the day you get them and the day they are due.

b. FINES

1. A fine will be assessed for overdue library materials. No materials may be borrowed by any person or any member of the household who
has an unpaid fine or late library materials charged to him/her.

2. The library staff will contact the borrower about overdue materials after one week.

3. The borrower then has the option of returning the materials and paying the fine or being charged for lost materials.

4. Any person failing to return materials, because of loss or destruction, has the option of either replacing the materials or paying  the current price of the materials plus a processing fee before he can use the library again.

5. If a book or other materials are lost or damaged in a disaster the library director will determine liability.

6. The library director will use discretion in assessing charges for materials that are no longer available for replacement. Library  privileges may be suspended at the discretion of the library director.

FINES

Books per day $.10
Magazines per day $.10
Audio materials per day $.10
Video tapes or DVD per day $.50
Video tapes (not rewound) $.50
Cake pans per day $.50

LOST, DAMAGED OR DESTROYED MATERIALS
The patron will be charged at the current price to replace the item plus a $5.00 reprocessing fee. Reprocessing fees for paperbacks is $2.50.

CONFIDENTIALITY OF LIBRARY RECORDS
a The Board of Trustees of the Superior Public Library recognizes its circulation records and other records identifying the names of library users with specific material to be
confidential in nature.

b. All librarians and library employees are advised that such records will not be made available to any agency of the state, federal or local government except pursuant of such
process, order or subpoena as may be authorized under the authority of, and pursuant to, federal, state or local laws relating to civil, criminal or administrative discovery
procedures or legislative power.

c. The Board of Trustees will resist the issuance or enforcement of any such process, order or subpoena until such time as proper showing of good cause has been made in a
court of competent jurisdiction. (The point of this paragraph is that upon receipt of such process, order or subpoena the library Board of Trustees will consult with their legal
counsel or city attorney to determine if such process, order or subpoena is in proper form and if there is a showing of good cause of its issuance. If the process, order or
subpoena is not in proper form or if good cause has not been shown, they will insist that such defects be corrected.)

COPIES

Copies from the computers, or copy machine are $.15 and $.25 for legal size copies. Color printing is $.75 per sheet or $1.25 for legal size. Two sided copies from the copy machine are $.25 or $.35 for legal size.

COMPUTER AND WIRELESS ACCESS GUIDELINES

The library has a number of computers that may be used by the public, patrons may also bring in their computer and use our wireless access point. The library has no control over the information accessed through the Internet and cannot be held responsible for its content. Not all sources on the web provide accurate, complete or current information. You need to be an informed consumer questioning the validity of the information you find. We use a DNS filter that we will not disable.

FEES

There is no charge for the use of the computers, or wireless access unless you are making copies.

Rules for Wireless Use

1. Patrons agree to abide by the library policies.
2. Any site that is considered to be pornography by the library staff is not permitted.
3. The Library is not responsible for damage to any user’s disk or computer, loss of data, or liability that may occur from patron’s use
of the Library’s wireless.
4 . The Library is not liable for costs incurred through patron use of fee-based services.
5. Users must comply with United States copyright law and all other applicable laws.
6. Any illegal use of our wireless will result in being banned from use in the future.
7. Use of computer stations will end 10 minutes before closing.

Regulations Governing Patron Use of Computer Workstations at the
Superior Library

1. Patrons agree to abide by the library policies on public use workstations and accessing the Internet.
2. Parents/guardians are responsible for their children’s Internet use.
3. Children under the age of 10 must have a parent present while their child is on the Internet, if the child is not sure how to use the computer.
4. Users must have some basic computer skills. Library staff will help computer users with what they can. The amount of help is dependent on time of the librarian.
5. Patrons must sign in at the front desk to use the computers for basic use or Internet.
6. Computers are on a first come basis. Patrons who’s cards are not in good standing can be denied computer use. Computer use is at the discretion of the librarian.
7. Each block of time will be 1 hour. If on one comes in for a computer you may stay on for additional hour. Computers may be used only once a day.
8. Maximum of 2 persons per workstation is allowed. You should keep your chairs out of other patron’s space.
9. All black and white copies are $.15 per page, color is $.75. All pages printed must be paid for.
10. Any site that is considered to be pornography by the library staff is not permitted.
11. Users are not allowed to delete, add, or modify installed hardware or software or to install personal software onto library computers.
12. The Library is not responsible for damage to any user’s disk or computer, loss of data, or liability that may occur from patron’s use of the Library’s computers.
13. You may not download to our computers. All disks and storage devices must be checked for viruses before using with our computers.
14. The Library is not liable for costs incurred through patron use of fee-based services.
15. Users must comply with United States copyright law and all other applicable laws.
16. Use of computer stations will end 10 minutes before closing.

In compliance with the Children’s Internet Protection Act, note the following.
The computers owned and operated by the Superior Public Library will be used for educational, informational and recreational purposes only. They may not be used for unauthorized, illegal or unethical purposes. Patrons may not send, receive or display text or graphics that may reasonably be construed as obscene or child pornography.

USING THE MEETING ROOM

The use of the room by the library will take precedence over any other group.

Individuals or groups may use the Boersma Room for promoting projects of nonprofit, education, cultural or artistic nature without charge.

The Boersma Room may be used by individuals or groups for a fee of $15.00 at the discretion of the library director. The fee for the use of the room is due before the use of the room. The room will be held after the $15.00 is paid. Any cancelation of the room must be made 2 days before the date the room is reserved for. The fee will not be returned if not canceled ahead of time.

A key will be needed for non-library hours use. It must be picked up during regular hours and may be returned in the book drop or left in the room. There will be an extra $5.00 charge if a staff member has to come let you in or come to get you the key during non-library hours.

No activity may spill over into the library

The user will be responsible for getting extra chairs or tables, if needed.

The user must furnish their utensils and so forth.

The room must be left in the same good condition in which it was found. If it is not, you will be charged for having it cleaned. Minimum will be $5.00. The user will be responsible for having carpet cleaned if it is stained.

You must get permission to use the TV or VCR before using.

No open flames or perfumed waxes or other items may be used in the room.

BE SURE DOORS ARE CLOSED TIGHT AND LOCKED UPON LEAVING.

These rules are posted in the meeting room.