Library Policies
COLLECTION DEVELOPMENT POLICY
The purpose of the Collection Development Policy is to guide library staff in their selection and weeding responsibilities and inform the public of the principles used for selecting library materials.
View the Collection Development Policy
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CONFIDENTIALITY OF PATRON RECORDS
The Library shall make all reasonable attempts to keep patron circulation and registration records, and other patron inquiry records, confidential unless court ordered. Upon receipt of a court order, the Director shall contact the Library's attorney for advice. However, records of minors can be disclosed to their parents, stepparents or guardians.
This policy shall not be construed as a guarantee by the Library to its patrons of any absolute right to privacy. The Library is not responsible for information gained from a patron record by anyone other than the patron, if the patron has lost or loaned his/her card or if someone has obtained the patron information by illegal or inappropriate methods.
Adopted November 15, 1999
COMPUTER AND INTERNET ACCEPTABLE USE POLICY
Overview
The library provides access to many electronic resources, including the Internet, which contains a wide variety of material and opinions from varied points of view. Many web sites contain valuable and timely information; however, other web sites may contain material that is inaccurate, defamatory, illegal or offensive to some people.
Access
Access to library computer systems is a privilege and requires a valid library card. (A library card is not required for the online catalog, Inspire periodical database use, or use of a personal laptop on the library’s wireless network.) Library cards used to access computer systems must be registered to the patron accessing the systems. Use of cards registered to other patrons is prohibited. Patrons who have been turned over to the collection agency for nonpayment of library fines and fees will be denied access to library computers until payment is made in full. Additionally, if a patron owes over $10 in fines and fees, s/he must pay whichever amount is greater in order to use the computers: 20% of the debt, or enough to get the balance below $10. Generally, up to two patrons are permitted to use one library computer at a time as long as they do not disturb or interfere with other patrons using computers.
Wireless Access
The Kokomo-Howard County Public Library also provides public wireless access to the Internet. Patrons must provide their own computer and wireless network cards to connect to the public wireless hotspots. Technical support will not be available to users. Users of the wireless hotspots are subject to the terms of this policy; however, a library card is not needed to use the wireless network. The library cannot guarantee the privacy or safety of data and communications while using either wired or wireless services. Patrons need to be aware that wireless networks are inherently insecure and it is strongly recommended that patrons secure their computers with firewall software and data encryption.
Children’s Internet Protection Act (CIPA)
The library enforces an Internet Safety policy that supports CIPA, which addresses issues pertaining to minors (any person younger than 18-years-of-age):
- access to "inappropriate matter";
- safety and security when using e-mail, chat rooms and other forms of direct electronic communication;
- unauthorized access, including hacking and other unlawful online activities;
- unauthorized disclosure of personal identification information;
- measures designed to restrict access to harmful materials; and
- Social networking sites are accessible. The library offers education to minors about appropriate online behavior, including cyber bullying awareness and response, and interacting with other individuals on social networking sites and in chat rooms.
Filtering
While the Kokomo-Howard County Public Library attempts through filtering software to prevent direct access to materials that would not be generally acceptable in a public library, it is technically impossible to prevent access to all objectionable resources. Filtering software also occasionally blocks acceptable sites; therefore a library staff member will disable the filtering software upon request by an adult user. However, library rules and restrictions as listed below apply at all times.
The filtering software will not be disabled for users who are minors. Furthermore, it is the responsibility of parents, stepparents and guardians to monitor and guide their own children in the use of the library computers and the Internet. Those who do not want their children to access library computers and the Internet may fill out a form at the circulation desk.
Filtering software will not be disabled for patrons using personal computers or devices while connected to the library’s public wireless network because library staff are unable to monitor internet usage on patrons’ personal devices.
Printing Services
The Kokomo-Howard County Public Library provides printing services to patrons through the use of library computers. All prints must be paid for in advance through a pre-paid print account, managed through the barcode on the back of patrons’ library cards.
User errors, typos, formatting issues, printing the wrong document, or printing too many pages of the document will not be refunded. Repeated instances of improper printing that is the fault of the user will not be refunded. If output is significantly smudged, faded, streaked, spotty, or creased, a request can be made to a KHCPL staff member to reprint the job for no fee. Print jobs are kept in the system for up to an hour.
Account balances on pre-paid print accounts are not refundable, but will be kept on the account and will be available for any future printing.
Legal Considerations
The Kokomo-Howard County Public Library makes no warranties of any kind, neither expressed nor implied, for the Internet access it is providing. The library is not responsible for the accuracy, nature, or quality of information gathered through library-provided Internet access.
In consideration of the Kokomo-Howard County Public Library providing patrons with access to the Internet, patrons agree to hold the library harmless and agree to indemnify the library from any and all liability. The library will retain computer usage information for a period of three months, at which time these records will be destroyed.
Rules and Restrictions
The use of library computing resources is a privilege and is subject to the following rules and restrictions. The following intentional actions are considered unacceptable and may result in loss of computer resource privileges, library privileges and/or prosecution by local, state or federal authorities in the case of illegal acts.
- Accessing, transmitting, uploading, downloading, or distributing material or language that is pornographic, abusive, defamatory, sexually explicit, obscene, child pornography, harmful to minors, or any material that is intended to annoy, harass or alarm another person;
- Engaging in any illegal activities using library computers or networks;
- Vandalizing, damaging, modifying or disabling library computers, networks, software, electronic resources or any library property, including installing and/or modifying any software on library computers;
- Attempting to gain unauthorized access to any computing, information, or communication devices;
- Unauthorized copying of copyright or other protected material;
- Violation of another person's privacy;
- Disrupting others' use of computer resources in any way.
In addition, minors (any person younger than 18-years-of-age) shall:
- Not disclose personal identification information on the Internet.
- Be monitored by library staff.
Last revised May 2010.
Adopted February 1996.
DONATIONS
BOOKS AND OTHER MATERIALS
The Kokomo-Howard County Public Library generally accepts donations of books, magazines, records, cassettes, videos, CDs, CD-ROMs, and DVDs.*
- All materials donated to the Library are subject to the Collection Development policy. Generally, items will be selected for the Library's collections if they are in good condition and likely to be in demand or fill in gaps in the collection.
- The Library retains the right to determine where donated materials will be allocated.
- Donated materials that are not added to the collection are disposed of at the discretion of the Library. The majority of these materials are given to the Friends of the Library for their book sales. Money earned by the Friends is returned to the Library in the form of grants for special purchases or programs. A small number of donated materials are placed for sale near the circulation desk at the Main Library. Proceeds from the sale of these items goes into the Library's gift fund, which is used for the purchase of Hoosier art. Still other materials may be placed in an annual silent auction managed by the Genealogy and Local History Services Department. The proceeds from the silent auction go into the Library's Old Richardville Publications Fund, which is used to publish books of local interest.
- Upon request, the library staff can provide a form letter stating the number of items donated to the Library. However, an estimate or certification of value will not be provided by the Library.
- A bin is located in the lobby of the Main Library for the convenience of persons who wish to donate a small number of items to the Library. The library staff assumes that materials placed in the bin may be used or disposed of as the Library sees fit and that the donor does not expect an acknowledgment.
* The Library has a separate "Artwork Donations Policy."
MEMORIAL GIFTS
Individuals may wish to make donations to the Kokomo-Howard County Public Library in memory of a friend or relative. The Library appreciates such thoughtfulness.
Memorial gifts are acknowledged in three ways as deemed appropriate:
- Notification is mailed to the designated friends or family of the deceased informing them that a donation has been made and who made it.
- An acknowledgment is mailed to the donor.
- Donor plates are attached to the gift when appropriate.
Cash donations are deposited in the Gift Fund and will be used to purchase art, unless otherwise specified. Individuals who are considering making memorial gifts in some other form should contact the Library Administrative Office prior to making the donation.
Materials donated to the Library or purchased as memorial gifts are subject to the Library's Collection Development policy or the Hoosier Art policy. These policies permit the disposal of such items when they are worn out or cease to be useful to library patrons.
LIBRARY BEHAVIOR GUIDELINES
To protect the public's access to information, the Kokomo-Howard County Public Library Board establishes guidelines for library user behavior.
The library board enforces policies and procedures to:
- Assure the safety of users and staff
- Protect the library resources and facilities from damage
- Restrict any behavior by a patron which interferes with another patron's right to the unimpeded use of the library, or which impedes normal staff functions or conflicts with the mission of the library.
The library board imposes reasonable restrictions on the time place and manner of library access.
To achieve this end, library staff members have the responsibility to enforce these guidelines.
MISSION STATEMENT
The mission of the Kokomo-Howard County Public Library is to provide dynamic services that encourage the pursuit of education, information, research, and recreation in an inviting and safe environment.
