Library Policies

FONDA PUBLIC LIBRARY POLICIES

A. POLICY FOR PATRON USAGE (reviewed and revised 9-26-18)

A. All library patrons will register and receive a library identification number.

B. Library patrons are assured of privacy by library identification numbers.

C. Books, magazines and audio books are due in two weeks with renewal possible, if needed. Movies are due in one week with renewal possible, if needed.

D. Items can be reserved and the patron will be notified when available.

E. We will repair patron's DVD's, with the use of our Disc-Go-Pod Plus, if requested, but it is not a service we will promote actively. A $5.00/disc fee will be charged for this service and a waiver must be signed.

F.  Late fees of 10 cents a day maybe applied for each day the library is open for overdue books.  A 25 cents per day late fee for each day the library is open may be applied for overdue movies.

G. Patrons will receive written or email notice for over dues. When an item has been kept for more than two months, library privileges may be suspended and or turned into the Fonda Police Department for collection, with the discretion of the Director. Patron will be put on the State of Iowa Income Offset List if restitution is not made.

H. Patrons are liable for replacement of any defaced, damaged, lost, destroyed or mutilated items. No material may be removed from the library without being checked out appropriately,

I. General Services

  1. Smoking is prohibited. Possession of, selling, or being under the influence of drugs is not permitted. Alcohol is permitted for library sponsored events only, and prior approval by the Director is required for alcohol to be served during programs and functions.

  2. Library hours as previously set by the board: Mondays 1 pm-5 pm, Wednesdays 10 am-8 pm, Thursdays 1 pm - 5 pm, Fridays 1 pm - 5 pm, Saturdays 9am-Noon. Holiday closings are the same as those observed by the City of Fonda. Weather closings are at the discretion of the Library Director and will be posted on KAYL radio; if school closes due to bad weather, the library will also close.

  3. Books, audio books and movies not held by the Fonda Public Library will be borrowed through SILO or WORKCAT.  Magazines and journals can be accessed through the GALE database.

  4. The library will sponsor programs throughout the year.

  5. Any activity to take place in the library is to be cleared by the Director  prior to the time it is to take place. A fee may be assessed at the discretion of the library director and the board.

  6. Maintenance of the library, such as dusting, vacuuming, and cleaning windows and shelves is the responsibility of the City of Fonda.

   7. The Library is not responsible for loss of any items left on library property, including those unattended items moved by Staff.

  8. Solicitation (other than library-related), vending and distribution of surveys or petitions are not permitted in the library without prior consent of the Director.

II LIBRARY SELECTION POLICIES (reviewed and approved 10-24-18)

A. Library materials shall be selected for values of interest, information, and enlightenment of all people in the community, from preschool through maturity.

B. The Board of Trustees has adopted the American Library Association's Bill of Rights and the Freedom to Read Statement. We wish the book selection policy to be liberal, but there is the possibility that an item in the library may be regarded by some as unpleasant or offensive, or in political opposition to local beliefs. However, if the Fonda Public Library is to fulfill its obligations of providing books, then it must have in its collection, material of varied points of view, even those points which may be regarded by some as controversial, whether because of political expression or affiliation, or moral implication.

C. Guidelines for Collection Development

1. Adult Collection

     a. To make available good books of permanent value and other current materials that will     meet educational, informational, cultural, and recreational interests of the community.

2. Children's collection

     a. To provide pleasurable reading in all fields and supplemental information to books available in school, the emphasis is on books which stimulate the imagination, mental growth, and the development of taste for good literature and appreciation for good books.

3. Special Collection

     a. To provide materials for those with special needs.

D. Gifts and Memorials

1. The library shall accept as gifts those articles that will enhance the collection of the Fonda Public Library. Non-usable gifts will be disposed of at the discretion of the director.

E. Grievance procedure and complaints

1. If a patron or a staff member has a grievance it shall be put into writing and the librarian will submit it to the board at the next regular monthly meeting.

     a. A form, available at the library, for reconsideration of a book can be obtained from the   librarian.

     b. By signing our library card application, parents have contractually agreed to be     responsible for their children's reading and viewing material. Staff is not responsible for         monitoring this.

     c. The Board of Trustees will consider all complaints and act accordingly.

2. A written complaint must be received at least 14 days prior to the regular meeting of the board.

     a. committee to read book

     b. board evaluates

3. Complainant will receive notification of the board's decision regarding the matter

F. Weeding Policy

1 . The library director shall be responsible to maintain an up-to-date collection in the library. This shall be done through a continual weeding process following the guidelines recommended by the Iowa Library Service.

III. PERSONNEL POLICIES (reviewed and approved ( 09/26/2018)

A. Filling Vacancies

     1. Applications for director are made to the Board of Trustees

     2. Appointment is made by the Board on the basis of qualifications for the director, with the requirements of a high school diploma or GED and completion of Public Library Management Course I and II within two years of employment.

     3. Notice of job openings for the director shall be published two weeks in the paper. Director candidates will be interviewed by the board with selection to follow. Notice of job openings for an assistant shall be published two weeks on the library bulletin board, website, and Facebook page. Selection is at the discretion of the library director with the board approval. Notice for library aides be posted in the library, selection by library director with the board approval.

     4. Notice of resignation shall be received in writing two weeks prior to the resignation.

     5. Mandatory retirement is at age 70.

Job Descriptions

1.    Duties of Director

a. prepare statistics, annual reports and other reports as needed

b. direct responsibility for administration of the total library program within the framework of the budget and library policies with Board input.

c. select and order books and other library materials

d. prepare the annual budget for the library in consultation with the board and give current report of expenditures at each board meeting

               e. hire and direct staff according to the Board of directors policy

          f . attend all board meetings

               g. promote programs and activities

               h. catalog materials

               i. weed materials   

     2. Duties of Aides

               a. assist with patrons

               b. check materials in and out

               C. reshelve materials

               d. help with general library maintenance

               e. check SILO

               f. call patrons with reserved items

               g.  send out notices

          h.  maintain daily reports

          i.  process books and magazines

          J. assist director as needed

C. Benefits and Hours
     

          1. The wages of the director shall be paid monthly with the amount per hour decided by the board.
    2. The aides shall receive at least minimum wage with future increases approved by  the board.
  

          3.  The director shall work up to 38 hours with an average of 35 hours per week, per         month.  Director is encouraged to be present, Monday through Friday, when the library is open. The aides shall work Saturdays with more hours as needed.
    

          4.  The director will have 35 hours of vacation the first year, 70 hours of vacation the       second year, 105 hours of vacation after five years, and 140 hours of vacation after sixteen years of employment - the year from January 1 to December 31.  Director may carry           over 35 hours of vacation to the next year.   Director will have legal holidays off with pay, established by the city.  
    

          5. The director shall have three days paid funeral leave for immediate family members, to include spouse, children, parents, siblings, in-laws and grandchildren.
    

          6.  The director shall attend classes to receive certification in public library management within two years of employment and attend continuing education classes for recertification.  The cost of the class registration and mileage to and from the class will be paid by the library. The director will also be paid their hourly wage for hours spent in           class, and in travel to and from that class.
     

          7. The director and aides shall attend some classes and meetings with the cost paid by the

          library. Aides attendance for training will be with director's approval.  This will be provided for in the annual budget .

          9. New directors will be evaluated by the board at 30, 60, and 90 days after the start of       their employment as director.                 

D.  Complaints against Personnel
    

          1.  If complaints can be substantiated against a staff person, disciplinary action will be taken. The director will issue a warning within a month of probation.  If there is no    improvement the Board of Trustees will be called in and they will review the case with another probationary period.  If the problem is not taken care of the staff person will be dismissed.  If a complaint is received against the director to the Board, a meeting of the Board will be held and the President will meet with the director thereafter.

E.  Trustees should attend as many meetings as possible throughout the year to enable them to   

      better pereone else. The Fonda Public Library reserves the right to terminate an internet session that involves user behavior that violates its policies. It is the policy of the Fonda Public Library to comply fully with the United States copyright law, and other federal and state laws relating to use of the Internet. Failure to comply with this policy may result in the loss of access. Illegal acts may be subject to prosecution by local, state, or federal authority form their duties. 
    

          1.  Develop written library policies and review them.
    

          2.  Develop a mission statement and a set of long range goals for the library.
    

          3.  Develop annual budget in consultation with the director and present to city council.
    

          4.  Develop good public relations.
    

          5. Trustees shall attend development training with advancement of the library, when possible, 3-5 hours/year, per standard #8, with the cost paid by the library if a fee is charged.  This will be provided for in the annual budget.

IV. INTERNET USE/SAFETY POLICY (approved 6-28-18)

A. The Fonda Public Library provides access to the internet to help meet recreational, cultural, educational and informational needs of the library service area. Patron use of the Internet carries with it a responsibility to evaluate the quality of the information accessed. The availability of information does not constitute endorsement of the content by the Fonda Public Library.

B. Parents/Guardians are responsible for the internet information selected and/or accessed by their children. To address issues of safety and security of minors when using electronic mail, chat rooms, and other forms of electronic communication, parents and legal guardians should urge minors to follow basic safety guidelines: never give out personal information (name, address, phone number, etc.); never arrange via a computer to meet someone and never respond to messages that are threatening or suggestive, remembering that people online may not be who they say they are. The Fonda Public Library cannot guarantee confidentiality over the Internet.

C. The Fonda Public Library may limit the amount of time of individual user sessions on the Internet. Use of the computers is on a first come, first served basis. Staff on duty will determine when the next computer will be available. There is a one hour limit per day. If others are waiting, we will limit the patron to a half hour, and they may continue their session later in the day. Allowances may be made for testing, and educational pursuits take priority over recreation and gaming. These allowances must be approved by staff prior to starting your session.

D. The Fonda Public Library will charge for copies made off the internet.

E. library staff may be able to provide suggestions in using the internet as time allows.  Use of the Fonda Public Library’s computers is expected to be primarily independent of library staff  assistance.

F. Food and drink can damage valuable resources.  There is no food or drink allowed by computers.  Food and beverages are allowed in the library but patrons must clean up after themselves, and are responsible for any damage done by their food or drink.

G. There exists the possibility of inadvertent viewing by minors of content on any computer screen, including a patron-owned laptop. Users should be aware that viewing certain materials in the public library may be considered inappropriate, and each person is urged to respect the sensibilities of others when accessing information and/or images that may reasonably be offensive to some.The Fonda Public Library reserves the right to terminate an internet session that involves user behavior that violates its policies.  It is the policy of the Fonda Public Library to comply fully with the United States copyright law and other federal and state laws relating to use of the internet.  Failure to comply with policy may result in the loss of access.  Illegal acts may be subject to prosecution by local,state, or Federal authorities.

V.PATRON RESPONSIBILITIES AND CONDUCT (reviewed and approved 6/28/18)

A. The principal purpose of the Fonda Public Library is to provide open and convenient public access to all of the library's resources and services. The Library and it's staff are committed to providing a safe and welcoming environment in which to carry out this purpose. We ask that patrons be respectful of others and behave in a manner that does not disrupt others or interfere with the functioning of the library.

B. It is the patron’s responsibility to maintain necessary and proper standards of behavior in order to protect his/her individual rights and the rights of other patrons. If a patron creates a public nuisance, that patron may be restricted from the library and from the use of the library facilities. Those who are unwilling to leave or do not leave within a reasonable amount of time, after being instructed to do so by the staff , will be subject to the law. The level of action shall be determined on a case-by-case basis and shall be within the sole discretion of the director or the staff on duty. Any person removed or excluded from library privileges on the basis of these activities may request a meeting with the Director to discuss reinstatement. Incidents involving permanent removal will be reported to and reviewed by the Library Board of Trustees.

C. Disruptive behavior such as loud talking, or the playing of music & video without the use of headphones is not permitted. Cell phones should be limited, discreet, and at a level that is not disruptive to others.

D. Since the library is not designed to serve as a public shelter or lounge, sleeping, lingering without a purpose, and misuse of restrooms is not allowed.

E. Animals are not allowed inside the library. Service animals, required to aid patrons with disabilities are exempted from this rule. Animals left outside must be on a leash, not blocking the entrance, and not disruptive to patrons inside or outside the library. Exceptions for library programs must be approved by the Director.

F. Shirt & shoes must be worn in the library. Swimsuits are allowed, with a cover-up, however, there will be no wet swimsuits on the furniture.

G. Skateboards, longboards, scooters, bicycles, roller blades, skates, Heelies and other such devices are not allowed in the library.

H. Only Staff and authorized individuals are allowed in the staff areas unless approved by staff .

I. The Fonda Public Library encourages visits by young children and it is our desire to make this important visit both memorable and enjoyable for the child. Library staff is not expected to assume responsibility for the care of unsupervised children in the library. Therefore, it is library policy that all children under age six must be accompanied by a parent or designated responsible person while in the library. If a child under age four is attending a library program, we require the parent/responsible person to remain in the library throughout the program.

J. Children of all ages are encouraged to use the library for homework, recreational reading, and program attendance. The library staff realizes that the library will be noisier at busy times and that children by nature can cause more commotion. However, children (whether with parents or not) who are being continually disruptive will be given a warning that he/she must settle down or will be asked to leave the library. If after a second warning the child continues to be disruptive, he/she will be asked to leave the library. If the child needs to contact a parent, they may do so and then wait with a staff person until the parent arrives. Parents are responsible for picking up after their child in the library. If parents do not arrive in a timely manner, the police will be called to take responsibility for the child. Staff cannot be expected to assume responsibility for the care of unsupervised children, under the age of 18. Parents or legal guardians are responsible for the behavior of their children.

K. To ensure that children feel safe in the library, unsolicited attention to children by people other than their parents and staff , will not be allowed.

L. For the safety of our children, we do not allow registered sex offenders access to the library, as mandated by State law. Their families may use library services.

M. Interference with, harassment, or intimidation of staff, volunteers or patrons represents unacceptable behavior. This includes all unwanted or abusive attention by word, act, look or gesture. Making comments about other patrons, negative or otherwise, will not be tolerated.

VI. CREDIT CARD POLICY (reviewed and approved 6-28-18)

A. The Library Director shall have available upon approval of the Library Board, a credit card, to be used only for library materials, library support, or for continuing education purposes (such as the iowa Library Association annual meeting).

B. The credit card shall be cancelled when the Library Director leaves the job as Director of the Fonda Public Library in any capacity. The newly hired director will need to get a new card, under her own name, or the library,

C. If the card is used inappropriately by the Director, the Director not only will be responsible for any charges incurred from inappropriate use, but also will be reviewed by the Library Board and subject to termination.

D. Presently the Chase Amazon VISA card is issued to Library Director, Linda Mercer, and she is the only person allowed to charge on the card.