LIBRARY POLICIES

GENERAL POLICIES

• Ten items total are allowed for each patron.
• Food, drink, or candy not allowed in library.
• All fines must be paid and all books returned before patron may be issued more items.
• Patron must have library issued card to check out books with electronic circulation system.
• Books may be reissued twice. Telephone renewals allowed.
• Patron has a one-day grace period after due date when no fine will be charged.
• Fines are .10 per day for adult materials. Fines are .05 per day for juvenile materials.
• Books circulate for a three-week time period.
• One-way postage must be paid on items borrowed on interlibrary load service.
• Children under 18 must have written parental permission for internet use.
• Any person causing a disturbance may be asked to exit the library.

Public Computers & Internet Use

To fulfill its mission to provide information to the public, the Polk County Library is providing free public access to the Internet.
Library staff can assist with basic computer use but may not be able to assist with the software or Internet resources.
Users may not send, display, or receive obscene, harassing, or libelous messages, files, or images. In such instances your computer privileges will be revoked. No pornography.

Library Public Access Computer Use Policy

• Users must sign in at circulation desk.
• Limit ½ hour one time per day.
• Requires parental permission for children under 18.

CHILDREN ALONE IN THE LIBRARY: Guidelines for Parents & Staff

Adopted on Sept. 13, 2011

Parents and caregivers are responsible for the safety, comfort, and behavior of their children while in the library. Children under the age of 10 are to be under the direct supervision of an adult (18 or older) at all times.

Library staff members will take action in the following situations:
A child is wandering around the library.
A child is not following library rules.
A child is damaging library property or doing something dangerous. Parents and caregivers will be asked to pay for any damages.
Another person in the library seems to be a danger to the child.
No caregiver comes to pick up a child at closing time.

In the above situations, library staff members will evaluate the situation and try to contact the child’s parent or guardian. If staff cannot reach the child’s parent or guardian or if the adult responsible for the child is in the library and refuses to assume responsibility for the child, the library staff will place the child in the care of the appropriate local law enforcement agency and/or library privileges will be revoked.

At the Polk County Library Board of Trustees meeting on December 14, 2010, the following resolution was proposed, discussed, and approved by roll call vote:

WHEREAS: the Polk County Library mission is to provide the highest quality library services possible for as many people in Polk County as possible; and

WHEREAS: high quality library services have a positive impact on the quality of life for the people who live in Polk County; and

WHEREAS: the quality and the availability of library services are evaluation factors used by business, industry, and philanthropic organizations in determining investment in an area; and

WHEREAS: the library for several years has been in fiscal distress related to millage revenues and expenditures;

BE IT RESOLVED, that the Polk County Library Board of Trustees on behalf of the taxpayers of Polk County practice good stewardship of the library funds as follows:

1. by the use of millage to provide for salaries, benefits, and operational expenses such as utilities, postage, fire and extended coverage insurance, petty cash expenditures, and other line items included on the Polk County Budget Form which is required annually to be filed with the Polk County Clerk’s Office and approved by the Quorum Court;
2. by the use of funds other than the millage to provide the highest quality library services possible such as books, software and hardware, web-based services, unexpected and planned building and grounds maintenance, expansion and improvement of services and facilities, equipment, travel, continuing education, and professional services, etc.; and,
3. by working toward one-year’s operating budget to be identified as Emergency Reserves in the Library Funds with the Polk County Treasurer’s Office.