Deerfield Public Library Policies
1. Patrons shall be engaged in activities associated with the use of a library while in the building. Patrons not engaged in reading, studying, or using library materials shall be required to leave the building.
2. Patrons shall not consume food or beverages, smoke, or use tobacco or tobacco products in the Library. Coffee is available in the Fiction Room and patrons must consume it there.
3. Patrons shall not be under the influence of alcohol or drugs.
4. Patrons shall not engage in any illegal activity while in the Library building.
5. Patrons shall respect the rights of other patrons and shall not harass or annoy others through noisy or boisterous activities, by staring at another person with the intent to annoy that person, by following another person around the building with the intent to annoy that person, by playing audio equipment so that others can hear it, by singing or talking loudly to others or in monologues, or by behaving in a manner which reasonably can be expected to disturb other persons.
6. Patrons shall not interfere with the use of the Library by other patrons, or interfere with Library employees’ performance of their duties.
7. Any materials removed from the Library must be checked out on a valid library card or through other standard library procedures such as inter-library loan.
8. Patrons shall not deface or mar books, magazines, newspapers, recordings, or other items of the Library collection nor shall they deface, mar, or in any way destroy or damage library furnishings, walls, machines, or other library property.
9. Patrons shall not be permitted to enter the building without a shirt or other covering on their bodies or without shoes or other footwear. Patrons whose bodily hygiene is offensive so as to constitute a nuisance to other patrons shall be required to leave the building.
10. Each patron shall be responsible for any fines, fees or other charges due in accordance with the library’s standard schedules. Failure to pay these fines will result in the suspension of borrowing privileges.
11. Patrons shall not bring pets or animals into the Library, other than guide dogs for the visually impaired.
12. Cell phones and Beepers may not be used in the main Library. They may only be used in the outer lobby. All Cell Phones and Beepers must be turned off before entering the main Library.
A person not abiding by these or other rules and regulations of the Library shall be required to leave the Library premises. Library employees shall contact the Deerfield Police if deemed advisable. Any patron who violates the Library rules and regulations shall be denied the privilege of access to the Library by the Library’s Board of Directors, on the recommendation of the Administrative Librarian. Any patron whose privileges have been denied may have the decision reviewed by the Board of Directors. The Board of Directors may, at its discretion, designate a hearing officer to make a finding of fact and recommendations in connection with such review.
Adopted as Board Policy November 15, 2000
CAUTIONS: The Internet changes constantly; it acts more as a global than a local resource; the Internet may have unreliable, inaccurate, incomplete, and out-of-date information; it may have controversial content; it may be unavailable at times.
REGISTRATION:
You must register the first time you use the Internet, and you must agree to abide by our library rules at all times.
We use a card-driven system; that means you must have your card with you each and every time you want to use the Internet.
If you are a Deerfield resident, we will register your library card. If you lose your Deerfield resident card, you must get another one, which we will register free of charge. If you have a library card from another library, we will register that card if we can (depending on the placement of the bar code). If you lose your card from another library and we registered that card, you can get a replacement card from your home library and we will register that new card free of charge. If we register a non-Deerfield library card for you, you lose it and you want to replace it with a special Internet card, we will charge you ten dollars ($10.00). If we cannot register your card from another library (because of the placement of the bar code) or if you do not have a card from another library, we will issue you a special Internet card. If you lose the special Internet card and you want to replace it, we will charge you ($10.00).
INAPPROPRIATE CONTENT: If you view content inappropriate to a public library setting, we have the authority to end your Internet session. You may lose your Internet privileges permanently. YOU MAY NEVER USE THE INTERNET FOR ILLEGAL OR CRIMINAL PURPOSES.
UNDER AGE 18: You may not use the Internet alone unless your parent or guardian has signed a permission slip in the presence of one of us at the reference desk.. Your parent or guardian is then responsible for your use of the Internet.
PRINTING: The first 5 pages per day are free; after that each page costs 5 cents; you may use only one printer at a time.
TIME LIMIT: ONE HOUR PER DAY PER PERSON. YOU MUST USE ONLY YOUR CARD AND NO ONE ELSE'S CARD. YOU MAY NOT ASSIGN OR LEND YOUR CARD TO ANOTHER USER. The computer screen will show the time left, and the computer will close the session after one hour. Logging out before the hour is up will allow you to use your remaining minutes later the same day. You may use the 15-minute Internet computer in addition to a one-hour one. It is possible that your card will not work on the 15-minute computer. If that is the case, ask one of us at the reference desk for help.
LOGIN: You must scan in a card to access the Internet. A computer program keeps track of the one-hour time limit and provides us with the ability to monitor web sites you visited if there is a problem. You must bring the card we registered for you to start each session. NO CARD, NO USE.
LOGOUT: You must click logout after Internet use to end a session, to prevent others' misuse of your session, and to save unused minutes for later the same day. You must logout five (5) minutes before the library closes.
RESERVATIONS: One reservation per person per week, no more than 24 hours in advance; appointment held for only 15 minutes. If you sign onto a workstation reserved for another, you must yield when the person with the reservation arrives.
BASIC COMPUTER / INTERNET ABILITY REQUIRED: individual Internet training by appointment only.
WE WELCOME YOUR GIFTS!
Thank you for thinking of the Deerfield Public Library. We at the Deerfield Public Library welcome monetary gifts to purchase library materials and also accept donated used books and non-book materials in good condition. Our professional staff evaluates gifts using the same criteria they use for purchased materials.
CASH DONATIONS
If you or your company wishes to donate money, the Library suggests unrestricted gifts and we will use the donation at the discretion of the Director.
In the case of restricted gifts, an agreement of understanding will be filed between the donor and the Library for what purposes the gift can be used. After such an agreement, is made, the donor is generally not contacted and will have no further input into the disposition of the gift.
A key element in receiving any gift is that the Librarians are responsible for the selection and withdrawal of library materials in their areas of specialization subject to the Administrative Librarian's approval. (See Deerfield Public Library Materials Selection Policy.) The Library reserves the right of final selection in order to meet the needs of space, building design and utilization, plus the criteria of the Materials Selection Policy.
The Library cannot commit itself to a perpetual fund. When all currently held funds are expended, that fund will be dissolved. If donors wish a fund to continue in perpetuity, the donors should set up a fund of their own as a separate foundation.
Please make your check payable to the Deerfield Public Library and direct it to the Administrative Librarian. The Administrative Librarian will send a letter of thanks to both you the giver and the person or family for whom you donated the gift.
If you wish to have us purchase a book in honor or in memory of a person or a special occasion, bring your check to the library and ask a librarian to prepare a gift form. We will also handle this by telephone if you mail your check. You may request the subject area in which you want us to purchase and a professional librarian will select material suitable for our collection. The Administrative Librarian will send a letter of thanks to both you the giver and the person or family for whom you donated the gift. When we add the book to the collection, we will affix a special bookplate to the inside cover.
DONATIONS OF MATERIALS
We will accept donated materials at the Circulation Desk. Once materials are accepted they become the property of the Deerfield Public Library and subject to applicable Library Policies. We prefer to receive current materials in very good condition. We cannot use textbooks or encyclopedias. New bestsellers are especially useful. We reserve the right to 1) add the donated materials to the collection, 2) put them on the book sale shelf or sell at a Library sponsored book sale, or 3) refer them to other book donation programs. Professional librarians add or withdraw materials based on the Materials Selection Policy. The Library does not shelve, house, or catalog donated materials separately; the materials accepted will be shelved in the appropriate general collections.
VALUATION OF NON-MONETARY DONATIONS
Upon request, the Library will be happy to provide written acknowledgement of your gift, but the staff does not appraise or provide valuations of gifts for tax deduction or other purposes. The establishment of the gift's value is the responsibility of the donor.
WE APPRECIATE YOUR THINKING OF US!