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Statement of Policy of the Reading Public Library
~OBJECTIVES OF THE LIBRARY~ 1. To provide the community with a source of information and pleasurable reading, listening, and viewing materials. 2. To assemble, maintain, preserve, and administer, in organized collections, educational and recreational materials in order to promote communication of ideas, personal enrichment, and continuous education. 3. To provide a place where inquiring minds may encounter the original, sometimes unorthodox, and critical ideas so necessary in a society that depends for its survival on free expression. 4. To work with community groups and organizations to promote programs of mutual interest designed to bring in and acquaint new people with the library and its resources. 5. To comply with minimum standards as set forth by the State of Vermont.
~GENERAL OPERATION OF THE LIBRARY~ WHO MAY USE THE LIBRARY - The library will serve residents of the community and non-residents equally. There will be no non-resident fees charged. Service will not be denied or abridged because of religious, social, economic, political, or personal reasons. CHECK OUTS & RENEWALS - A patron may check out an unlimited number of selections for a period of two weeks. Each selection may be renewed twice unless another patron has requested that selection. REMINDERS & FINES - A phone call is made or a reminder is mailed to a patron when library material is two weeks overdue. If the material is returned, there is no fine charged but a contribution is welcome. If the material is not retuned within two weeks, a second reminder is mailed. Two weeks later a bill is mailed to the patron. The charge levied for the material will be determined by the librarian after considering the replacement price of said material. If two weeks pass and the material has not been returned or paid for, the matter of collection is turned over to the Board of Trustees. SUSPENSION OF PRIVILEGES - If there is no response within two weeks after the billing notice has been sent, the patron's library privileges will be suspended until such time as the patron has paid for or returned the missing material. At the discretion of the librarian, the use of the library or its services may be denied for other due causes, including destruction of library property, disturbance of other patrons, or any other objectionable conduct on library premises. Trustees will be notified of names of patrons denied privileges. HOURS - The library will be open to the public at least 16 hours per week, including weekend and evening hours. The trustees and the librarian will choose times that are convenient for the public. The board will do its best to ensure the library is open at all publicized hours. SUBSTITUTE LIBRARIANS - If the librarian cannot be present at the library on a given day, he or she will find a substitute from a list of volunteers. HOLIDAYS - The following holidays will be observed when they fall on a day the library is usually open: New Year's Day, Town Meeting Day, Memorial Day, Independence Day, Easter Sunday, Labor Day, Veterans' Day, Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Day.
~CONFIDENTIALITY~ REGISTRATION - A personal library card and number system of registering borrowers will be used to insure patrons' anonymity. CIRCULATION - The circulation, patron, and all other records of the library, with the exception of the annual reports to the Town and State, are confidential and, as such, shall not be made available to any agency of the government--whether Federal, State, or Local--unless the librarian is compelled to do so by order of a judge. REMINDERS - Phone calls or mailed reminders to the patron are acceptable. Post cards shall not be used unless mailed in sealed envelopes.
~USE OF BUILDING BY OUTSIDE GROUPS~ Any non-profit, non-religious, non-political group may meet in the library as long as the following conditions are met:
1. The meeting does not interfere with regular operation of the library.
~SELECTION & REMOVAL OF MATERIALS~ RESPONSIBILITY OF SELECTION - The responsibility for selection rests with the librarian and shall be carried out without bias or prejudice for political content, language, economic theory, social philosophies, religious beliefs, or sexual forms of expression. It is the librarian's responsibility to ensure the collection includes a diversity of materials presenting many points of view and that none shall be unjustly excluded because of partisan or doctrinal disapproval. SELECTION TOOLS & CRITERIA - The librarian uses professional judgment, based on the understanding of community needs and the knowledge of authors and publishers, in the selection of materials; and is aided by authoritative professional reviews, standard lists of basic works, recommendations of professional journals, and bibliographical essays prepared by specialists. Recommendations from the public are welcome and are given careful consideration in terms of overall objectives, needs of the community, and the existing collection. The library does not attempt to develop a comprehensive research collection in any one field, the exception being Reading history. Selection of materials in law, medicine, and technical subjects are restricted to those of interest to the lay person. Interlibrary loans will be used to supplement our own collection and to fill patrons' specialized needs. WEEDING - Weeding shall be conducted periodically. The same criteria used in selection of materials apply to the systematic removal or replacement of outdated, seldom used, or worn items. Each removal or replacement should be judged with reference to standard library tools and the collection as a whole. The "seldom used" factor is not as strong a consideration with regard to special collections such as biographies and Vermont, especially local history and authors. Some rare or important books should not be circulated, as they contain historical information for present and future generations, and are not easily replaced. Disposal of withdrawn materials may be handled in various ways. Book sales, sales to book dealers, presentation to local schools, churches, or hospitals are all acceptable. Taking materials to the land fill is a last resort. OLD PERIODICALS & BOOKS IN ATTIC - Old periodicals and books shall be discarded only after a review by the Board of Trustees. GIFTS - Gifts will be accepted with the understanding that if they do not enhance the collection they will be disposed of in a judicious manner. The same criteria applied to purchased materials will apply to gifts. Gifts of money, real property, stock, personal property, art objects, antiques, and other museum or historical objects or properties will be accepted provided any attached conditions are acceptable to the Board of Trustees.
~INTELLECTUAL FREEDOM~ The library endorses the "Library Bill of Rights" and the "Freedom to Read" and the "Freedom to View" statements of the American Library Association. Each reader is privileged to select for himself or herself among the books in the library, and no one is obligated to read what he does not like. The library does not promote particular beliefs or views, nor is the selection of any book equivalent to endorsement of the viewpoint expressed therein by the author or any character in the book. Within the framework of the "Library Bill of Rights" and the "Freedom to Read" and the "Freedom to View" statements, adopted by the ALA, it does provide material representing as many approaches as possible to public issues of a controversial nature. The library is aware that one or more persons may take issue with the selection of a specific item and welcomes any expression of opinion by patrons. It does not undertake the task of pleasing all patrons by the elimination of items purchased after due deliberation under guidance of the policies. The library provides a resource where the free individual can examine many points of view and make his or her own decisions. This is one of the essential roles of libraries. Responsibility for a child's choice of reading material rests with his or her own parents or legal guardians.
~PROCEDURE FOR REVIEW OF SELECTIONS~ Whenever any patron objects to the presence or absence of any material, the complaint will be dealt with fairly. All complaints shall be directed first to the librarian, and the trustees will be notified. If the patron wishes, he or she will be supplied with the "Patron Statement of Concern About Library Resources" form. When a complaint has been filed, objections will be considered in terms of the library's materials selection policy, the principles of the "Library Bill of Rights," and the opinions of various reviewing sources. The librarian will inform the patron of the decision, the reasons for the decision, and how to pursue the matter further should the need arise. If the complainant feels the problem has been dealt with inadequately, a final appeal to the Board of Trustees can be made. The board will consider the complaint and the librarian's recommendation and will make the final decision. The board will report the decision to the complainant. Materials subject to complaint shall not be removed from use pending final action.
~PERSONNEL ~ LIBRARIAN - The librarian will be paid according to the number of hours worked per week, not to exceed the number of hours agreed to by the trustees and the librarian. The hourly rate will be agreed upon at the time of hiring and reviewed annually at the time of budget. The librarian shall be reimbursed for attendance (when said attendance is approved by the board) at library conferences, Department of Library review book sessions and workshops, and for travel expenses. The librarian's responsibilities are spelled out in the librarian's job description, which is kept on file and updated as needed. The librarian's performance shall be evaluated by the Board of Trustees after the first three months of employment and thereafter at each April meeting. Termination of employment will be effective 30 days after notice by the Board of Trustees.
Adopted April 4, 2002 |
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