Public Library - Policies - City of Clive, Iowa

Policies

Library Cards and Registration

a. All residents of Clive, unincorporated areas of Polk and Dallas County, and communities contracting with the library are considered to be patrons, and our customers. All patrons are eligible to receive a library card unless their borrowing privileges or use of the Clive Public Library have been suspended or revoked by the library.

b. Patrons of other Iowa libraries may borrow materials from the Clive Public Library (through our participation in the State Library’s Open Access program). These people may register for and receive a library card with the same borrowing privileges and responsibilities as local patrons.

c. Other people may apply for and receive cards at staff discretion.

d. A customer’s first library card is free. There is a $1.00 fee for a replacement card.

e. If a card is lost or stolen, the customer must notify the library promptly. Only upon notification, staff will block loans against that card, and the customer will not be responsible for any further checkouts.

f. Most library cards do not expire. (See VII. Special Arrangements).
All customer information will be updated once per year. Registered borrowers who have not used their cards at least once, or had their customer information updated within any three year period, must
re-register for a library card. A customer’s outstanding fines and fees must be under $5.00 before the Library will renew her/his registration.

g. Adults desiring registration should be present and provide two forms of current identification (driver’s license, student ID, social security card, check with current address, gas/electric or water bill) to become a registered borrower. At least one i.d. must be a picture i.d. (Identification may be waived if staff will vouch for the customer’s identity.) The customer’s signature, street address and telephone number (if he/she has one) is required; her/his age and social security number are optional. See also Item m.

h. A parent or guardian’s signature is required for minor children to receive a library card. Children’s registrations require a street address, birth date and telephone number (if they have one) of the parent or guardian signing the registration.

i. Library staff may send a registration form and issue a library card to any customer with a disability, which prevents them from coming to the library.

j. Customers (or, in the case of minor children, their parents/guardians) are responsible for all items checked out on their cards. Customers will be held responsible for the payment of any fines or fees incurred due to lost, overdue or damaged items checked out on their cards, as well as any costs incurred by the library to see that these responsibilities are fulfilled (including, but not limited to, standardized charges for postage, collection and processing. See VI. Schedule of Fees).

k. The Library Director may revoke a customer’s borrowing privileges if it is determined that their card was improperly issued. If the cardholder has become ineligible since the card was issued, due to change of address, change in custody of a minor child, or any other reason, their borrowing privileges may be revoked.

l. Customer information is confidential. It may, however, be used by the library or its representatives while attempting to collect money, material or equipment as set forth in these policies and approved by law.

m. Family cards may be issued to an adult who requests one. Family cards can include parent(s) and children or just spouses. Up to six people may be listed on one family card including adult(s). Only people all living at the same address will be put on the same family card. Family cards are treated like all other accounts if fines accrue or materials are lost or stolen. All above requirements for items a-m must be met. Family cards are optional for patrons and patrons who choose to do so may instead have individual cards issued to the members of their families. Patrons cannot have an individual card if they are included on a family card or obtain a family card while retaining their individual borrower account. One adult can open a family card account and must sign the application to do so if he/she has the required proof of i.d. The adult applying for the account may list other family members in the account if they live in the same household. No one can have more than one card account. No one can have an individual account and be in a family account, too.

II. Circulation and Renewals

a. All materials are checked out for a period of three weeks.

b. Materials may be renewed for up to two three-week periods. Additional

renewals may be made with permission of the director.

c. Items may be renewed by customers over the telephone, by

e-mail and on-line.

d. No item may be renewed if another customer has placed it on reserve.

e. No item may be renewed on an account on which the fine is $5.00 or higher.

Special Arrangements

Special arrangements for the use of library materials (for institutions, corporations, deposit collections, special groups, etc.) may be made with the approval of the Library Director.

Visitor's Internet Access

The library has eleven public access Internet computers. Short-term visitors to the community may register for a Temporary Computer User's Account. These accounts will be established by staff for one month and may not be renewed for one year. A parent or guardian's signature is required for minors who are short-term visitors to the community and who want to establish a Temporary Computer User's Account.

Policy On Access To Electronic Information

The Board of Trustees of the Clive Public Library recognizes that within the community are groups and individuals with diverse interests, backgrounds and needs. The Board further recognizes and emphasizes that the library was established to serve all of the people in its service area.

Electronic information and networking is a very rapidly developing area of public and private activity. These developments pose new opportunities and challenges for the Library Board, the library staff and library users and their families. The Board believes that these challenges and opportunities are best addressed by adherence to fundamental principles of traditional library use and the principles of a free society. The new methods of receiving information do not change the commitment of the Clive Public Library, which was established to provide open and equal access to ideas and information.

RESOURCES

The Clive Public Library utilizes electronic media such as periodical articles on-line, specific databases and the World Wide Web. In providing these resources the Clive Public Library will consider such factors as the availability of electronic material, established selection criteria, user responsiveness, costs, and the effectiveness of the media to meet the information needs of the people and communities of the Clive Public Library service area.

The World Wide Web (Internet) is a global network that already links many millions of computers and databases in universities, colleges, schools, corporations, government agencies, commercial enterprises and homes. The Internet provides communication and information services to patrons in public libraries as well as in their own homes.

ACCESS

Congress and the courts have recognized that there is no single organization to govern, control, or select

information for the Internet. Because of this freedom of information, the breadth of information on the Internet, the unstructured and unregulated nature of the Internet, and the unreliable state of filtering, Clive Public Library cannot control the content of resources available on the Internet.

The Clive Public Library will not impose blocking or filtering software to limit access to Internet sites. However, the Library will provide users with the option of using filtered access to the Internet. This option is intended to assist all users in meeting their special interests and/or their own family values.

The public library, unlike schools, does not have the authority to serve in place of a parent. It always has been and remains the right and the responsibility of parents and guardians of children to determine what if any restrictions to place on their own children using library resources. This must continue to be the case for minors who are using on-line information. As it does with other library resources, the library will provide information on electronic resource usage for users. It will also make available information to help parents and guardians in efforts to exercise their rights and responsibilities.

Users may choose to have filtered, unfiltered or no Internet access to suit their own needs and those of their minor children. However, no filtering product is capable of blocking access to everything that might give offense to individual users. The best course for parents who wish to teach their minor children how to safely and wisely use the Internet is parental supervision of their use.

Anyone using the Internet computers at the Clive Public Library must register as an Internet user and register for a library card.(See exception for Temporary Computer User) A parent or guardian’s signature is required for minors to use the Internet.

Short-term visitors to the community may register for a Temporary Computer User’s Account. These accounts will be established by staff for one month and may not be renewed for one year. A parent or guardian’s signature is required for minors who are short-term visitors to the community to establish a Temporary Computer User’s Account.

Users may checkout a computer terminal for Internet or other electronic use in two hour increments. If no one else has registered for the computer at the end of the two hours, then the user may renew checkout for an additional two hours.

Users may not install or save anything on the library’s public computers hard drive.

Users who bring their own laptops may use the Library’s wireless service. Laptop users are not required to have accounts with the Library.

CONFIDENTIALITY AND PRIVACY

The Clive Public Library upholds the right of confidentiality and privacy for all library users. Thus, in order to protect the privacy of the user and the interests of other library users, the library will attempt to minimize unintentional viewing of the Internet. This will be done by use of recessed screens, and by judicious placement of the terminals and other appropriate means. Users are urged to respect the sensibilities of others when accessing information that may be considered offensive to others. However, absolute privacy for users using electronic resources in the library cannot be guaranteed. This is because there does exist a possibility of inadvertent viewing by others, either by watching the user’s screen or because a user may leave the screen unattended. The Conduct in the Library Policy applies to the behavior of patrons using electronic equipment and resources. Failure to follow the Conduct in the Library Policy may result in revocation of library privileges.

CONSTITUTIONAL PROTECTIONS

The use of all library resources, including electronic resources, is voluntary. The library does not select the material on the Internet and has no way to assure that only constitutionally protected material is available on the Internet. Access to, use of, or dissemination of constitutionally unprotected (legally obscene) speech is unacceptable in the library. Access, use, or dissemination of constitutionally unprotected speech in the library, in violation of this policy, is the responsibility of the user, or in the case of minors it is a joint responsibility of the user and the parent or guardian.

The Library attempts to protect the privacy of computer users through the use of firewalls, regular deletion of users’ site histories and other means intended to keep users’ information as secure and private as possible. However, there can be no absolute guarantees of privacy to users of public computers and users are strongly encouraged to be prudent about entering information that is personal and private on the Library’s computers. The Library and City are not responsible for the theft of personal information that occurs via the public access computers in the tech room.

Library Conduct Policy

All library users and employees should be free of any threat of harm, invasion of property, or gross indignity. In an effort to protect these rights for all persons, the Library Board has approved the following rules.

No person shall engage in any conduct that disturbs or interferes with the legitimate use of the Library, including, but not restricted to the following:

Willfully annoy, harass, or threaten another person.

Behave in a disorderly, loud, or boisterous manner.

Interfere with another person’s passage within the Library or on library grounds.

Consume or possess alcoholic beverages, or use or possess controlled substances on library grounds or be under the influence of alcohol or controlled substances in a manner that causes public disturbance.

Possess any firearm, knife, any device which could be used as a weapon or other weapon prohibited by City Ordinance or State Statutes.

Deface or destroy library property.

Smoking in the Library.

Remain in the Library without authorization after regular closing hours.

Solicit funds or panhandle.

Interfere with others’ use of the Library through poor bodily hygiene that is so offensive as to constitute a nuisance.

Bringing unauthorized animals into the Library except as required by persons with disabilities.

Use skates or a skateboard in the Library or entrance.

Play audio equipment at volume that is disturbing to other users.

Campaign, petition, interview or survey patrons or staff in a manner that is disruptive to Library activities.

Willfully expose patrons and staff to offensive images or language.

Safe Child Policy

Policy Statement: The Library Board and Staff are concerned for the safety and welfare of children who use the library unattended by a parent or guardian. Parents and/or guardians are responsible for their children’s behavior while in the library.

Children under the age of nine attending a library program must be brought into the building by a parent or responsible child care provider who must remain in the building until the conclusion of the program when they again resume supervision of their charge. Children under the age of four must be attended at all times unless attending a library program.

It is not the library’s intent to seek out unattended children but rather to have a reasoned response prepared as situations occur.

Children Under Age Nine Left Unattended:

Children left unattended are often frightened and crying and should be comforted by the staff.

If it is determined that a child is lost or left unattended, a staff member should bring the child to the person on duty at the public services desk/or to the Youth Services Librarian.

The public service desk staff person or the Youth Services Librarian should try to identify and locate the parents or responsible adults:

Walk around the library with the child looking for the parent.

When the parent is located explain the library policy on unattended children. If the parent or childcare provider will not comply, they and their child will be asked to leave the building.

If the parent is not found in the building, a staff member should stay with the child until the parent can be located, through searching the library’s records, phone book, city directory, etc. They will be informed of the library’s policy and asked to either join the child at the library or to pick up the child immediately. If they are unable to come immediately, they will be told the child may stay until they arrive this time but that the police will be called upon to take responsibility for the child at the next occurrence.

If the parents have not been located within an hour, or if the library is closing, the public service desk staff or the Youth Services Librarian shall call the police who will take charge of the child.
Under no circumstances shall a staff member take the child out of the building.

Children Any Age Left Unattended At Closing:

If the parent is not found in the building, a staff member should stay with the child attempting to locate the parent through searching the library’s records, phone book, city directory, etc. If the parent arrives within 15 minutes of closing, they will be informed of the library’s policy and asked that the child be picked up in a more timely manner in the future.

If the parent cannot be located within 15 minutes after the library closes the police will be contacted to take charge of the child until the parents are found. Under no circumstances shall a library staff member take the child out of the building.

Parents Will Want To Know

Iowa's Confidentiality of Library Records Law protects the confidentiality of borrower records. Library staff are prohibited from divulging what items have been borrowed to anyone except the borrower. For parents convenience a Family Card is available.

Parents may want to have young children give them custody of their library borrower receipts when they are printed.

Parental permission is required for minor children to use the Technology Room. The library will not impose blocking or filtering software to limit access to Internet sites. However, the library will provide users with the option of using filtered access to the Internet.

Users may choose filtered, unfiltered or no Internet access to suit their own needs and those of their minor children. A parent or guardian must come to the library and sign the computer registration form in order for minor children to check out a computer terminal for use in the Technology Room.

Gifts and Donations

Gifts and donations may be made to the Library in several ways. Memorial and Celebratory books, donations to the Library’s Gift Fund, or the Library also accepts donations of used books and magazines.

The Friends of the Clive Public Library supports the Library by seeking additional sources of funding to support and enhance the programs and services at the Library, which are not included in the budget. For more information, please click here.

The Gifts Policy includes details on what types of donations the Library can accept.

Memorial and Celebratory Books - Consider honoring someone special. Congratulate a graduate, honor an anniversary or birthday, thank a co-worker, or present a memorial.

The Library accepts monetary donations for the purchase of Library materials to honor the memory of individuals or celebrate a special occasion. Bookplates are placed in the materials acknowledging the honoree and the donor. Notification is sent to the memorial family or the honoree, with the opportunity to reserve the material for first viewing when the item has been received and processed. Please click here to access the form. The completed form can be returned to the Library by mail, FAX or email. For questions, call the Library office at 515-453-2221 ext. 233.

Gift Fund - Donations to the Library’s Gift Fund may be made at any time and in any amount. The Gift Fund is used for library materials and programming. Expenditures are approved by the Library Board of Trustees. Donations may be made in person at the Library or mailed to the Office Assistant, Clive Public Library, 1900 NW 114th St., Clive, IA 50325.

Used Books And Magazines - The Library accepts donations of used books and non-print materials. Items that meet the Library’s selection policy and are in good condition are added to the collection. Other items are sold at the Friends of the Clive Public Library annual book sale or donated to another non-profit.

You may bring your donations to the Library any time the Library is open. Bring your items to the public service desk. If you would like a receipt, please ask staff. The Library staff is not qualified to determine the value of your donation, but they can confirm the number and type of items you donated. It will be up to you to assign a value for tax purposes.

Collection Development Policy

Selection of Materials - The Clive Public Library provides materials and services to support the informational, educational and recreational needs of the citizens of Clive. The functional roles of the library will be considered in the development of the collection and will receive priority in the allocation of resources and funds.

Selection and purchase of library materials rests with the library director who may delegate some responsibilities to other staff members. Staff will adhere to accepted professional practices when making selection decisions. First, the recreational, educational, and informational needs of the community will be considered in selecting materials.

Before the beginning of each budget year, the Director will determine how limited funds will be allocated among the major collection subdivisions (e.g., adult non-fiction, fiction, youth collection, reference, periodicals, media and electronic). Circulation statistics and counts of in-house use of materials will be maintained to assist in decision-making. Average cost per item, as determined by the previous year’s purchases and reports in library and publishing journals, will also be considered in allocating funds.

Materials will be selected based on positive reviews in professional journals or actual examination and evaluation of materials. Instead of reviews, popular demand (bestsellers, school bibliographies, local interest) may be used as the criterion for selection of materials. Items that must be updated every year may be placed on a standing order list to ensure timely delivery. Suggestions from the community for items to be considered for purchase are strongly encouraged, but materials must meet selection criteria.

The Clive Public Library does not attempt to acquire textbooks that support local curricula, but may acquire textbooks for general use by the public. Multiple copies of popular books (e.g., bestsellers, resume guides, tax preparation) may be purchased to meet demand. Paperback books will be purchased when available to meet short-term demand. The library will attempt to have information available in a variety of formats (book, non-book/media, pamphlet, magazines, electronic) when available and practical. Generally, only one copy of materials in other formats (video, compact disk) will be purchased unless long-term high demand is anticipated. Video and audio recordings will be selected for potential long-term use to meet general interests. Regardless of an item’s popularity, the library may choose not to select it, because its format is not durable enough to withstand reasonable library use, or it would require excessive staff time to maintain.

Gifts - The Clive Public Library welcomes gifts of new and used books, audio recordings, videos, and similar materials. Items will be added to the collection in accordance with the selection policy of the library. Once donated, items become the property of the Clive Public Library and may be given to other libraries and non-profit agencies, sold, traded, or discarded if they are not added to the collection. Donated items will not be returned to the donor and the library will not accept any item that is not an outright gift. The library will acknowledge receipt of donated items, but is unable to set fair market or appraisal values. It is recommended that the donor make a list of items donated. If items are being donated to obtain a tax benefit, it is the donor’s responsibility to establish fair market value or obtain expert assistance in establishing any value. The library also reserves the right to decide when a gift added to the collection must be withdrawn.

Monetary gifts, bequests, and memorial or honorary contributions are particularly welcome. Funds donated will be used to purchase items in accordance with the selection policy of the library. Books, videos, and other materials purchased with bequests and memorial or honorary contributions will be identified with special donor plates whenever possible. If requested, notification of memorial or honorary contributions will be sent to the family of the person being recognized or to the person being honored. Suggestions for subject areas or other areas of interest are welcome and will be followed to the extent possible.

Acceptance of donations of equipment, real estate, stock, artifacts, works of art, collections, etc., will be determined by the library based on the suitability to the purposes and needs of the library, laws and regulations that govern the ownership of the gift, and the library’s ability to cover insurance and maintenance costs associated with the donation.

Requests for Reconsideration of Materials - The Clive Public Library welcomes comments and suggestions regarding the continued appropriateness of materials in the collection, especially concerning outdated materials. Suggestions will be considered and utilized by the library in the ongoing process of collection development.

Individuals may take issue with library materials that do not support their tastes and views. Staff is available to discuss concerns and identify alternate materials that may be available. If a patron’s concern is not satisfied through discussion with staff, a formal written request for reconsideration of materials may be submitted to the library director. Copies of this form are available from the director’s office.

The Clive Public Library is not a judicial body. Laws governing obscenity, subversive materials and other questionable matters are subject to interpretation by the courts. Therefore, no challenged material will be removed solely for the complaint of obscenity or any other category covered by law until after a local court of competent jurisdiction has ruled against the material. No materials will knowingly be added to the library collection that has been previously determined to be in non-compliance with local laws.

For a request for reconsideration to be considered, the form must be completed in full. The patron submitting the request must be a resident of the City of Clive or rural Polk or Dallas County and hold a valid borrower’s card. The Director will respond, in writing within thirty days of receipt, to the patron’s request for reconsideration. The response will indicate the action to be taken and reasons for or against the request. An item will only be evaluated for reconsideration once in a twelve-month period.

After receiving the Director’s response, the complainant may request that the Director refer the matter to the library board for further consideration. Challenged materials will not be removed from the public shelves while awaiting resolution of a request for reconsideration. The library board will review the issue at a regularly scheduled board meeting. The decision of the library board will be final in the matter. A complainant who wishes to appeal the decision of the library board concerning reconsideration of materials will need to pursue a judiciary proceeding in a court.

Deselection of Materials - Materials that no longer fit the stated service roles of the library will be withdrawn from the collection. This may also include materials that are damaged, include obsolete information, or are no longer used. Decisions will be based on accepted professional practice, such as those described in The CREW Method, and the professional judgement of the Library Director or designated staff. When necessary, local specialists may be consulted to determine the continued relevance and reliability of materials.

Items withdrawn from the collection will be disposed of in accordance with local law, which permits discarding into the trash or recycling of paper. Materials may also be sold or donated to other groups such as the Friends of the Clive Public Library.

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