The mission of the public library shall be to by our best ability and within reasonable means, meet the educational, informational, recreational, and cultural needs of people of all ages, and diversities through a wide range of materials and services in varying formats. The library will do this in cooperation with and assistance from the Viking Library Regional System and Northern Lights Library Network Multi-type.
1) Patron Eligibility & Responsibilities:
The Thorson Memorial Library staff and board will subscribe to a full open-access policy. Any person, regardless of place of residence is eligible for a library card and full access to the library’s collection. Library privileges may be revoked for continued violation of rules and regulations.
2) Registration:
All library patrons are required to fill out and sign or have parent or guardian sign the registration form. All patrons will receive their first library card free. Lost card fee will be $1.00.
3) Confidentially of Records:
Thorson Memorial Library staff and board affirm that all library circulation records, individual reference requests, and reading interests of patrons are confidential. This information shall not be available to any person or agency of state, federal, or local government except pursuant to legal process with proper shoeing of good cause in a court of competent jurisdiction. As stated in (13.40 Subdivision 2) of Minnesota State Law, provides that libraries may not reveal to a third party the titles of items another patron has borrowed. See attachment # 1.
4) Interlibrary Loan:
Thorson Memorial Library Staff and board will support participation in and use of regional, state, and nation wide interlibrary loan networks. Patron requests can be made by filling out an interlibrary loan request form available at the circulation desk. Refusing to lend high-demand, new, rare, expensive or fragile materials is at the discretion of librarian on duty. While it is our goal to work with all other libraries and their patrons and try diligently to fill interlibrary loan requests, we reserve the right the refuse to fill any request made.
5) Loan Periods:
Books 3 weeks Reference 1day to 1 week
Magazines 1 week Vertical file 1 week
Audios 3 weeks Videos 7 days
The most current issues of periodicals and newspapers will not rotate, nor will the non-circulation reference materials cataloged as such.
Thorson memorial Library will not fine patrons with overdue materials. Instead, overdue notices will include a bill for the cost of the missing materials, which must be paid if the item is not returned.
Patrons whom are chronically overdue and or refuse to pay for missing material will be denied library privileges for a length of time determined by the director.
Each week the library will print overdue notices and call or send the notice to the delinquent patron. The third notice will include a copy of the state statue 609.541 (Protection of library property). See attachment # 2.
Patrons who have lost or damaged materials will be billed for the replacement cost of the item. When an exact cost is not listed, average replacement will be charged as follows: adult hard cover books $25.00, Children hard cover books $20.00, All paperbacks $7.00, audio book on tape $50.00, magazines $5.00, compact discs $15.00, CD-ROMs $50.00, games or toys $20.00, videos $20.00, DVDs $25.00, Telescope small $100.00 larger $500.00,
7) Patron Access:
The Library’s collection of materials is available to children, young adults, and adults. Anyone, regardless of age, may select from any part of the library collection. To serve varied interests and points of view, materials are selected from a broad range of political, economic, religious, artistic, and philosophic viewpoints. It is the responsibility of parents to monitor their children’s use of the library and access to the Internet.
8) Collection & Development; Evaluation & Withdrawal:
The Acquisition of library materials shall be the responsibility of the library director. The collections on going development shall be determined by the library director based on literary trends, patron requests, relevance, interest, accuracy, local curriculum, and merit. The staff and board will support the First Amendment of Freedom of Speech, The American Library Association's Freedom to Read statement and The American Library Association’s Bill of Rights.
See enclosed. See attachment # 3, 4, & 5.
The collection will be evaluated on an on-going basis. Criteria for withdrawal of materials include: condition of material, relevance and accuracy of information, usefulness in the collection, and circulation statistics.
9) Disruptive Behavior:
At the discretion of the library staff member on duty, any patron who is deemed disruptive, unruly, lewd, or acting in a manor considered inappropriate will be asked to leave the library. Patrons participating in or conducting illegal acts at the library or via the library will be required to leave the premises and or refrain from accessing the library resources remotely. Any patron interfering with other patrons’ ability to use the library comfortably will also be asked to leave the premises at the discretion of the staff member on duty. If the staff member on duty feels in anyway threatened by a patron, they will notify law enforcement. If the disruptive patron is a minor, a parent or guardian will be notified of the disciplinary action.
10) Homework:
Homework assignments are often made for the purpose of teaching students the process of finding information, the library staff’s primary role will be in the instruction of the use of library tools rather than in gathering materials or providing answers.
11) Unattended Children:
Parents should be aware that the library staff does not provide a baby-sitting service. They are not responsible for young children who wander away form the library and cannot take responsibility for an unattended child in case of a medical emergency. Therefore, young children must be accompanied and supervised by a responsible adult.
12) Story Time:
Story hour will be held once a week, except during the summer when summer story hour is in effect. All age Children are welcome to attend.
13) Public Bulletin Board:
Anyone wishing to post a notice on the public bulletin board must receive permission from a staff member. Notices and distribution of materials do not imply endorsement by the library. The library staff reserves the right to refuse any announcements. The library staff will remove and dispose of material at their own discretion, unless other arrangements have been made.
14) Library as a Meeting Place:
Thorson Memorial Library will allow the public to use its facilities for meetings. They meetings must be scheduled with the director or staff in advance; a week’s notice is preferred. It he meeting involves more than six people, or involves much discussion it will be recommended that the meeting be held in one of the meeting rooms in the community building (arrangements can be made with the city office). If the meeting involves only minors, it will be requested that tan adult be present to supervise. It is the responsibility of the library’s staff to approve the availability of the library as a meeting space.
15) Computer Access:
All patrons will be allowed to use the computer free of charge. Patrons wishing to save files will need to bring their own disk. Patrons found looking in files not belonging to them will forfeit their computer use for a of period of time. Persons treating the computer with malice or changing of its existing set-up will forfeit computer use.
16) Internet:
Part of the mission of Thorson memorial Library is to ensure that the people in and around Elbow Lake have the right and means to free and open access to ideas and information which are fundamental to a democracy. The library will protect intellectual freedom, promote literacy, encourage lifelong learning, and provide library materials and information services, including Internet access free of charge. These services will be available to all library patrons.
The Internet enables the library to provide information beyond the confines of its own collection. It allows access to ideas, and information from around the globe. Currently the Internet is an unregulated medium. As such, while it offers access to a wealth of material that is personally, professionally, and culturally enriching to individuals of all ages, it also enables access to some material that may be offensive, disturbing and or illegal. Parents must assume responsibility for monitoring their children’s Internet use.
All library patron’s will adhere to state stature 617.241 Obscene materials and performances; distribution and exhibition prohibited. See Attachment # 6
Disruptive Behavior policy also encompasses Internet users.
17) Conditions and Terms of Internet Use in the Library:
Patrons may sign up to use the Internet for 30-minute time slots. If no other persons are waiting for compute access, they may sign up for an additional 30-minute time slot.
Patrons may print materials from the Internet for the same price of making copies, .15 cents each. Color copies will be .50 cents to $1.00 depending on the size of the graphics.
Patrons are not allowed to install their own software into the library’s computer.
If you wish to download files from the Internet, you must use a disk purchased from the library.
The library is not responsible for damage resulting from viruses that may be downloaded onto a floppy and opened onto another computer.
Internet and computer access is available only for legal purposes. Use of the library’s property for illegal purposes will result in user privileges being terminated.
Examples of Unacceptable use include, but are not limited to:
Harassment of other user ~
Libeling or slandering other users ~
Destruction of or damage to equipment, software or data belonging to the library or other users~
Disruption or unauthorized monitoring of electronic communications ~
Unauthorized copying of copyright-protected material ~
Violation of computer system security ~
Unauthorized use of computer accounts, access codes or network identification numbers assigned to other ~
Use of computer communications facilities in ways that unnecessarily impede the computing activates of others ~
Violation of network usage policies and regulation ~
Violation of software license agreements ~
Violation of another user’s privacy ~