All registered patrons initially have
the same rights to materials in the collection. The Library
reserves the authority to suspend the availability of library
materials to patrons who on a continuing basis abuse these
privileges.
The Library staff, although
responsible for helping patrons select materials at an
appropriate reading and interest level, shall not be responsible
for censoring the materials chosen by patrons. Those concerned
with the content, especially of their children’s reading, are
encouraged to direct their children in their choices.
NONRESIDENT PATRONS: A nonresident, as
defined in this policy is one who works and resides outside of
Gratiot County. To gain borrowing privileges from the Thompson
Home Public Library a nonresident must pay an annual
registration fee of $50 per person.
Nonresident patrons who want to use the internet may elect to
pay a $1 daily internet fee or purchase a nonresident card.
The nonresident fee entitles the
cardholder to the same borrowing privilege of 15 items.
Nonresidents are liable and subject to the same fines and
penalties, rules and privileges as other library patrons.
REQUIREMENTS TO OBTAIN A FREE LIBRARY
CARD
- Patron must be a resident of or work within Gratiot
County.
- Patron must present positive proof of residence address.
To obtain a free library card,
individual must present one of these items showing current
street address:
*Driver’s license *Voter’s
registration card
*Current utility bill *Michigan ID
card from the
*Lease Agreement Secretary of
State
*Property deed *Current bill from
major charge
*Current tax receipt account
- Parent or guardian must sign the application form of a
child under 18 years of age.
- All borrowers must be registered and must have a library
card to borrow library materials
LOST LIBRARY CARDS: Persons are
responsible for all materials borrowed on their card and agree
to abide by library lending rules and all policies and
regulations. If a person loses his/her library card, there is a
$1.00 charge for a replacement.
CALL AHEAD/PICKUP: Patrons may call
the library to request specific material. This material will be
held if available.
MATERIAL SELECTION: The Library Bill
of Rights as adopted by the American Association is basic to the
selection policy. It reads, in part:
"As a responsibility of library
service, books and other reading matter selected should be
chosen for values of interest, information and enlightenment of
all the people of the community. In no case should any book be
excluded of the race or nationality or the political or
religious views of the writer. There should be the fullest
practicable provision of materials presenting all points of view
concerning the problems and issues of our times—international,
national and local; and books or other reading material of sound
factual authority should not be proscribed or removed from the
library shelves because of partisan or doctrinal disapproval."
WEEDING: Purpose – Discarding or
weeding of materials is the best and most economical utilization
of space in the Library. Weeding is selection in reverse. Just
as all materials which are added to the Library’s collection are
expected to be useful for the people in the community which is
served by the Library, so they should be withdrawn if they cease
to serve that purpose. It enhances the reputation for
reliability of the collection and assures the orderly growth of
a QUALITY COLLECTION. Weeded materials are sold or donated to
service organizations.
LIBRARY GIFTS & BEQUESTS: The Thompson
Home Public Library in an effort to express both uniformly and
efficiently its gratitude through the acknowledgment of gifts
and contribution will adopt the following guidelines.
Material utilized directly by the
public and available for check out (books, magazines, and other
basic collection acquisitions) will be processed with
notification of donor and person (or family members) for whom
the materials are being acquired. Memorial and honor gift forms
are available at the library for this category of gift.
Acknowledgement plates are placed in the front of both honor and
memorial materials, with memorials also being listed in the
library’s memorial register.
Non-circulating collection gifts
and/or furnishings (furniture, tapestries, art works, equipment,
etc.) will be handled on an individual basis between the donor
and the Library Board. Memorial items will be acknowledged by
written correspondence between the library and contributing
parties and will also have a permanent plate or plaque affixed
to memorial items and/or library facility for public awareness
of the bequest.
Money and investment gifts (stocks,
bonds, real estate, time certificates) will be handled on a case
by case basis, so that any particular concerns of the donor,
Library Board, or municipal administration may be immediately
known and addressed in a timely manner.
The Thompson Home Public Library
reserves the right to review and evaluate all items provided as
memorials and insure that the donor is provided due recognition
for their generosity and consideration.
LOAN PERIODS:
-
Books
- 2 weeks for most books.
- Best sellers and very new books may not be renewed.
- Loaning – 15 books per card as long as patron is in
good standing
- Overdue – 10 cents per day per book with a maximum
of $10
or the amount of the book per
checkout.
- Interloans are due the date indicated by the lending
library.
- Books may be renewed twice, if there is no one on
the waiting list.
-
Periodicals
- The most recently received periodicals may not be
checked out.
- All other periodicals may be checked out for a two
week period.
DVD/VIDEOCASSETTE: The following rules
are requirements which will be observed by the Thompson Home
Public Library regarding the loan of its DVD/ videocassette
collection.
- The borrower must be a registered library patron in good
standing.
- DVDs will have a $2.00 fee per week, with 35 cents a day
overdue fines.
Patrons returning previously
damaged library DVD’s will be issued, at staff
discretion, a credit for another Thompson Home Public
Library collection DVD selection.
OVERDUE PROCEDURES: Two weeks after
material is overdue a staff member will check the shelf. If
material is not found, the borrowers will be notified. If the
materials are not returned within two weeks, another notice will
occur. If the account accrues more than $5 in
fines or materials, the account will be flagged. The patron or
patron group, will
not be able to check out any books until account is paid in full
for all fines plus any books that were not returned.
LOST OR DAMAGED BOOKS: When books are
lost or damaged beyond repair the patron will be fined at the
retail cost of the book. If the replacement cost cannot be
determined, the replacement costs are:
Hardbound books $20.00
Paperbound $8.00
Magazines Cost
If the librarian decides the book
should be discarded, the patron may have the book after
withdrawal procedures have been performed.
SPECIAL COLLECTIONS: Some materials in
the library do not circulate. These include special reference
tools such as some encyclopedias, directories, dictionaries, et
cetera.
HOLDS/RESERVES: Library materials
which are checked out may be placed on hold by any library card
holder.
Patrons placing materials on reserve
will be notified when the materials are available. The materials
must be claimed within a week. If not, the materials will be
offered to the next person on the waiting list, or, if no one is
waiting, they will be returned to the circulating collection.
New books on order but not yet received may be reserved.
REFERENCE TELEPHONE SERVICE: Our
policy is to answer quick reference inquiries to the best of our
abilities. Using our professional judgment we often will call
patrons back with the desired information.
BUILDING USES: The Library does not
have separate meeting rooms and therefore is inappropriate for
group meetings and activities which would interfere with regular
use of the Library by its patrons.
FAX MACHINE:
Cover sheet free
1st page $1.00
each page after $1.00
receiving, 1st page $1.00
receiving, after 1st .50
PHOTOCOPY MACHINE: Copies are
available to any member of the community who wishes to copy
materials at the rate of 25 cents per sheet. (The machine will
be operated by staff only.)
Copy machine users are advised that
there are restrictions on copyrighted materials which permit, in
general, no more than one copy of a page for personal use and
not more than 20 pages from published materials. Violations of
copyright are the responsibility of the copy machine user.
The purpose of providing a copy
machine in the library is to allow students and other library
patrons to copy library materials electronically rather than by
hand in order to provide a convenient way to use materials that
would otherwise have to remain in the library. The copy machine
provided for use in the library is not to be considered a means
for securing perfect, crisp copies for use in resumes, legal
papers, or business correspondence.
TELEPHONE POLICY: The Thompson Home
Public Library’s circulation desk telephone is for conducting
library business by library staff and for emergencies. Personal
convenience calls by patrons are forbidden.
The staff member in charge will make
the determination of what constitutes an emergency. The broad
definition of "life threatening" will be the basis for deciding
what public use will be permitted.
COMPUTER POLICY: Patrons must abide by
the technology use policy. There is a 25 cents printing fee per
copy. Nonresident patrons must pay a $1 per day internet use
fee.
NOTICES: Notices concerning
forthcoming nonprofit community events may be posted in the
Library as space is available.
UNATTENDED CHILDREN: Children under
the age of ten must not be left unattended. For the child’s
safety, if a child is left unattended for more than fifteen
minutes, the police will be contacted. At closing, staff will
wait 15 minutes with minors, attempting to contact the parents.
After that time, the police will be contacted.
PETS: No pets, other than service
animals, are allowed unless involved in a special event.
