Schulenburg Public Library
Patron Behavior Policy
To enable the library to fulfill its mission, library patrons are asked to respect and follow the policies listed below. Patrons who violate the Behavior Policy will receive notice they are in violation and may be asked to leave the library.
Disruptive behavior is generally defined as any patron behavior that interferes with normal operation of the library or which unreasonably interferes with another patron’s ability to use the library. Disruptive behavior will NOT be tolerated.
The following list of disruptive behaviors is used for illustrative purposes and is not comprehensive:
• Illegal acts
• Sexual harassment or misconduct
• Stealing or vandalizing library property
• Abuse of other library patrons and staff, including physical, verbal, and sexual abuse
(Texas Penal Code, Section 22.01)
• Running, shouting, loud talking, pushing, threatening or harassing behavior
• Indecent exposure (Texas Penal Code, Section 21.08)
• Playing audio equipment loud enough to disturb others
• Loud cellular telephones ringing and/or conversations
• Possession or use of illegal drugs or alcohol
• Intoxication resulting from alcohol or drugs
• Use of tobacco products inside the library
• Use of skateboards, roller blades/skates/scooters on library property
• Soliciting of any kind and/or asking for signatures on petitions
• Blocking of aisles or entrances
• Possession of weapons
• Monopolizing library resources or staff time
• Eating or drinking within the library unless at authorized library events
• Discourtesy to other library Patrons or the Library Staff
• Refusing to leave at closing
While visiting the library, Patrons are required to:
• Respect other library users and their privacy at all times
• Wear appropriate attire, including shoes and shirts(NO wet clothes or bathing suits)
• Not present an odor nuisance
• Not bring animals into the library, other than service animals- nor leave animals outside unattended
• Ask permission to use library telephone, calls are limited to emergencies and requests for transportation
• Use library furniture, materials, equipment and facilities for their intended purposes
• Take care of their own possessions, the library will not be responsible for patron’s items
Parents, Guardians, and Caregivers* responsibilities:
• NO child abuse (Texas Penal code, Section 22.04)
• Persons 17 years old or younger are defined as ‘children’ for the purposes of this Policy.
• Parents or legal guardians, whether present in the library or not, are responsible for their children’s behavior at all time.
• Parents or legal guardians are responsible for any damages to library property caused, in whole or in part, by their children, regardless of the children’s age.
• Children under the age of 8 years MUST be accompanied by a parent, guardian, or Caregiver*, at ALL times
• NO Abandoning and leaving unsupervised children under the age of 8 (Texas Penal Code, Section 22.041)
• Parents, Guardians or Caregivers* are responsible for maintaining control over their children’s behavior in the library, at ALL times
• Parents, guardians or Caregivers* accompanying children eight years or younger must stay within a reasonable distance (within eyesight) of their children, at ALL times
• *(If a parent designates a ‘Caregiver’ to accompany a child eight years or younger to the library in the parent’s absence, the Caregiver must be at least 14 years of age and must demonstrate maturity and competence to care for and control the children left in their care, while at the library.)
*** The library retains the right to search all personal bags or backpacks.
*** Patron library privileges may be limited at the discretion of the Library Director.
Anyone violating these Rules of Behavior may be asked to leave the library premises.
Anyone failing to leave the library premises when requested to do so may be charged with criminal trespass under Texas Penal Code, Section 30.05
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Circulation Policy
CHECK OUT POLICY:
• Five (5) paperback or/ hardback books per person
• Three (3) videos per household
• Five (5) magazines per person
• Two (2) audio cassettes per family
• Two (2) Large print books per person
• NO reference books to be checked out
Services offered:
• Interlibrary Loan
• Videos
• Large Print Books
• Newspapers
• Magazines – National Geographic
• Encyclopedia
• Reference Assistance
• Internet / Computer Access
• Photocopying
• Genealogy
• Book sales
• Volunteer program
• Summer reading program
• Summer Story Hour
Equipment:
• Computer
• Photocopier
• Printer
• Typewriter
• Slide Projector
Fines and Fees:
• Late book fines are 5cents per book, per day
• Late video fines are $1.00 per video, per day
NO VIDEO RENEWALS
Overdue notifications are as follows:
• 2nd week overdue—patron is sent notice by mail.
• 5th week overdue bill is sent for full replacement cost of materials plus fine accrued plus $2.00 for postage and handling.
Replacement fees:
• Damage to any books or videos are determined by the cost of the book or video.
Copying Fees:
• NO EXCEPTIONS: Printer and photocopies are 15c per copy fewer than 20 copies.
• 20 copies or more – 10c per copy
• If patrons bring their own paper – 7c per copy.
Gifts and memorials Policy:
• Monetary gifts/ Memorials or donations may be given in memory of a loved one.
• Gifts given in memory will be acknowledged by the library to the family.
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Internet and Computer Use Policy – Computer access at our library is free and open to all library users.
In order to preserve this open access; we ask all computer users at our library to abide by the following rules:
1. You may check and send e-mail on the library computers only if you have a web-based e-mail (such as yahoo or hotmail). The library has no plug-in access for laptop computers with modems.
2. It is the mission of the Schulenburg Public Library to provide unrestricted access to informational, educational, cultural and recreational library materials and services; however, we are also committed to being sensitive to the rights of all of our patrons. Therefore, accessing sites containing pornography or other graphics or text that is unsuitable for children or that may offend other library users or staff not acceptable. Patrons who violate this computer use policy will be asked to exit the site immediately. Patrons who continue to violate this policy will lose their computer privileges for a period of time to be determined by the library director. Patrons are encouraged to report policy violations.
3. I release the City of Schulenburg and the library from all liabilities associated with my viewing of, use of, or exposure to any information, machine – readable file, picture, graphical representation, or illustration I may encounter while using any public – use workstation, whether or not such information appears or is delivered through the station I operate.
4. I will not harm or harass my City employee or member of the public.
5. I will not violate any state or federal statute including those regarding obscenity, pornography, or delivery to minors, material deemed harmful to them.
6. I understand that I create, store, and use personal files at my own risk and that the Library is not responsible for the loss of personal electronic documents, diskettes, and or files.
7. I understand that I can be held responsible for any damage I may cause to the Library’s computers including repair/replacement costs resulting from the use of damaged or virus-infected diskettes.
8. I understand that the City of Schulenburg reserves the right to change its public use workstation access policies and procedures.
9. I understand that individual Library staff members are not authorized to modify these policies.
10. Until further charges and or cards are issued, you are required to sign in and out at the desk.
11. To get a card, you must be 14 or older. If you are under the age of 14 a parent or legal guardian must sign the rules and allow you to use the computers.
12. Parents must accept responsibility for their children’s use of the Internet while at the library. This library is tied in with the public school, therefore they do the filtering and not all sites may be appropriate. Parents are encouraged to accompany their children while using the computers.
13. Do not alter settings for the computer hardware or software, the desktop, or web browsers. Violators may lose their computer privileges for a length of time determined by the Library Director. We do have a software called Freeze on the computers which at the end of the day will clean up the computer and put it back the way it was that morning.
14. Patrons are responsible for being aware of copyright restrictions while using the Internet. Most information available on the Internet is copyrighted, so it is safe to assume so unless otherwise stated.
15. Black and white copies may be printed from eh materials found on the library computers. Color copies are not available. The charge for each copy is 15 cents. After copying 20 or more copies the charge will then be 10 cents a page. The copies will come out at the circulation desk. Please ask the person at the desk for the copies. Do not reach for them yourself. All copies must be paid for before leaving the library.
16. Diskettes brought into the library must be scanned for viruses at the front desk before using it in the library computers. New diskettes may be purchased at the circulation desk for $1.00 each. Downloading any files or programs to the hard drive is prohibited.
17. Do not use library computers to commit a crime. All violators will be subject to criminal prosecution by the appropriate police agency.
18. Staff will ask anyone violating the above policy to discontinue what they are doing immediately. Those who continue to violate this policy after notification of an infraction will be denied further use of the computers at the library.
Approved by the Library Board President, Debi Holz: