Library Policies

About Us

Cell Phone Policy
Unattended Children Policy
A Request for Reconsideration of Library Resources Objection to Inclusion
Collection Development Policy
Internet Policy
Donations Policy
Snow & Inclement Weather Announcements

The Library Board of Trustees is responsible for determining the rules for public behavior in the library necessary to:

Ensure the safety of library patrons, employees and volunteers.
Protect the rights of individuals using library materials and services.
Protect the rights of library employees and volunteers to conduct library business without interference.
Ensure the use of the building, materials and services by the greatest number of individuals.
Preserve materials and facilities from harm.

The Board authorizes the Director (or his designee) to revoke or restrict library privileges of any individual who behaves contrary to these rules. The Board also authorizes the Director to file charges against individuals who continually transgress these rules.

Should a patron fail to comply with the Librarian’s request, that individual will be asked to leave the library building and property. The police may be called for assistance, if the patron fails to comply with request.

Depending on the severity of the misbehavior, individuals who have been asked to leave the property may be barred from returning to the library. Individuals who have been barred may be asked to speak to the Director. Juveniles may be asked to bring a parent or guardian to such a conference.

Misconduct might include but is not limited to:

Loud or boisterous behavior or intruding on others.
Profanity or abusive or threatening language toward other individuals or employees.
Abusing library furniture, equipment or materials.
Harassing others, either verbally or through actions.
Fighting on library property.
Using tobacco in any form.
Possession, sale or use of alcoholic beverages or illegal substances.
Sleeping in the library.
Willfully exposing their private parts.
Having bodily hygiene so offensive as to constitute a nuisance to others.
Buying or selling of any kind, or soliciting for personal gain.
Using personal listening equipment at a level that can be heard by others.
Distributing literature, taking surveys, or asking individuals or employees to sign petitions or similar activities.
Interfering with staff performance of duties.
Bringing animals other than guide/assistance dogs in to the building.
Not wearing a shirt or shoes.
Athletic equipment may not be used within the library.
Any illegal behavior.
Leaving a child or children -age 8 or under- unattended in the library without the supervision of an adult. (See Unattended Children Policy.)

Patrons who disagree may request a hearing with the Library Director.All infringements must be followed with completion of an “Incident Report.” (See attachment.)

Cell Phone Policy

The Tiverton Library Services reserves the right to restrict the use of cell phones while in the library. All cell phones must be turned off or the ringer set to vibrate (silent) and if a call is to be answered, move to the front foyer so others will not be disturbed.

Unattended Children Policy

The staff of Tiverton Library Services seeks to create a welcoming and comfortable atmosphere for all children. However, the safety of young children left alone at the library is a serious concern. No public place, including the library, can guarantee the safety of children. Each year in the United States, thousands of children are abducted and never found. Library staff cannot know if children are leaving with parents or with strangers. Library personnel are not childcare providers and cannot be responsible for what may happen to unaccompanied children in a public building open to all people. Therefore, parents and caregivers, not library staff, are responsible for the actions and safety of children visiting the library.For the protection and well being of children who enjoy the library, the following policy has been established.

No child should be dropped off at the library before the library is open.
During storytime and other programs, adults who do not attend the program with the child must remain in the building and must return to the storytime area by the end of the program.
All children under 11 years of age must be accompanied at all times during the library visit by a parent or other caregiver aged 13 or older.
Children 11- 14 years of age may be left unattended at the library for a period of time not to exceed two hours to research an assignment, complete a homework task, attend a library program, select books and read in the library or to conduct business conducive to the library environment. The child must know how to reach the parent or responsible adult in case of emergency.
Children are expected to adhere to the same rules of conduct expected of adults while on library property. Children engaged in disruptive behavior will receive a warning. If the behavior continues the patron will be expelled from the library for the day. Should the behavior continue, the parents will be notified and the child will be denied library access.

Disruptive behavior includes but is not limited to:

Abusive language
Threats of violence
Unauthorized physically active games (tag, shouting, screaming)
Harassment of another patron or staff

Illegal behavior will result in the calling of police. Charges will be pressed against any individual who commits an illegal act, not limited to, but including the following:

Damaging or defacing library property
Theft of library property
Intoxication or possession of illegal drugs or alcohol on library property
Illegal Internet usage

Children must leave the library at closing time. The parent or caregiver should be aware of the library’s closing time.
For the safety of the child, staff will not leave a child under thirteen years of age outside the library to wait for a ride. Should the child not be picked up within ten minutes of library closing, two staff members will wait with the child. Attempts to telephone the parent or responsible adult will be made. If the staff is unsuccessful in reaching a parent, or the parent does not arrive within thirty minutes of library closing, the POLICE will be summoned to assist the child.
Library personnel is not permitted to offer a child a ride home.

Library privileges of families who do not follow these guidelines may be revoked.

A Request for Reconsideration of Library Resources Objection to Inclusion

Please complete and submit this form

Collection Development Policy

(New text to come)

Internet Policy

As part of fulfilling our mission to provide the means by which people of all ages, interests and circumstances may avail themselves of the recorded wisdom, experiences, and ideas of others for personal, educational, cultural, professional and recreational enrichment, Tiverton Public Library is pleased to offer public access to internet resources.

Tiverton Library Trustees have adopted the ALA’s statements regarding access to information as noted in the following documents:

Library Bill of Rights
Freedom to View Statement
Freedom to Read Statement
Access to Digital Information, Services and Networks: An Interpretation of the Library Bill of Rights
Minors and Internet Interactivity: An Interpretation of the Library Bills of Rights

Our philosophy is that the benefits of Internet access for the public far exceed any risk of negative aspects. However, Tiverton Public Library urges it’s users to review the policies here and become informed in regards to matters of public security, safety and responsibility.

Discretion in Evaluating Content and Sources
The Internet provides access to highly diverse and valuable range of information content and sources, locally, nationally and internationally. Some information found on the internet may be inaccurate, incomplete, illegal, dated or offensive to some individuals.

In choosing sources to link to from its own Library website pagers, the Library follows the same materials selection guidelines as it would with any other materials in the collection. Beyond this, the Library is not responsible for the content and cannot guarantee the accuracy of information that users might obtain from the internet.

Users are encouraged to be informed and practiced consumers in evaluating the validity and appropriateness of information and content found online.

Online Security in a Public Space
Users should be aware that security cannot be guaranteed in a public electronic environment. All files, transactions, activities and communications may be vulnerable to third party access. Users are encouraged to take precautions while using passwords, id names and numbers and accessing online accounts, and be sure to logout of any such accounts at the end of your public internet session.

Filtering
In accordance with the Children’s Internet Protection Act (CIPA), in order to remain eligible for some federal funding, Tiverton Public Library, as part of Ocean State Libraries, has implemented software filtering on all of its Internet-accessible computer terminals.

Even though the software was selected to comply with CIPA while still providing Library users the best possible access to constitutionally-protected speech and access, all software has a degree of error that sometimes results in “underblocking” (i.e. permitting access to materials that it is intending to block) or “overblocking” (i.e. denying access of materials that do not fall within the categories restricted by the law). The Library cannot guarantee that the filtering software will block all obscenity, pornography or materials that may be harmful to minors. Nor can the Library ensure that the filtering software will not restrict access to sites that may have legitimate value for research and other purposes.

If a patron is using a public computer and conducting legitimate research that requires a website to be unblocked, or comes across a website that they believe was blocked in error, they can request for the circulation staff to use a override password to do so. This will be at the discretion of the library staff.

Access by Minors
As with all other Library resources parents, legal guardians and designated caregivers assume full responsibility in determining what content and resources online are appropriate for minors. While on the premises, they should be prepared to guide children and inform them regarding any activities or content online that they would like to prohibit. Library staff will not monitor, control or restrict anyone’s access to information, images and multimedia materials online.

To assist parents, youth and educators, the Library has created Kids and Teen sections of our website, which provide content and links to other sites that users may find appropriate and helpful.

Rules of Conduct
The Library may prohibit downloading software or files of any medium, and also limit the usage of large files and activities or games that load or operate with a considerable amount of memory or bandwidth.

The Library reserves the right to limit the amount of time a user can devote to a single session.

The public must comply with all applicable federal, state and local laws, including laws governing the transmission and dissemination of information while accessing the Internet.

Users May Not:

Damage equipment or software or make any attempt to modify or disrupt existing programs, files, passwords, data or settings .
Use the network to make unauthorized entry into other networks, systems and communications belonging to other individuals and companies.
Engage in any activity that that is harassing or defamatory.
Use the internet to violate existing copyright laws, software license restrictions and regulations governing fair use or file sharing.

Users are urged to respect the environment and other Library users in their immediate vicinity, and are called to also follow the general Library policies of conduct while using the public Internet stations. This includes using appropriate judgment and discretion when playing or displaying any audio, video or image files.

Violations may result in a loss of access privileges. Unlawful activities will also be subject to involving the proper authorities.

Policy Approved 3/2/2011

Donations Policy

Note: While we appreciate our patrons' generosity, we are currently unable to accept any donations due to lack of storage space facilities.
Please visit the American Library Association's website for more information on where to donate your books: http://www.ala.org/ala/professionalresources/libfactsheets/alalibraryfactsheet12.cfm

Donated materials are evaluated according to the same criteria that iscriteria that are applied to purchased materials. The library reserves the right to refuse dirty, musty, dilapidated or outdated materials which would merely create a disposal problem. Furthermore, materials cannot be accepted as donations with editorial comments either written or typed in them.It is the established policy of this library to decide whether donated books are suitable for inclusion in the library’s collection, or for donation to the Friend’s book sale.The library is unable to provide book value statements to patrons. Establishing accurate prices can be a complex procedure, requiring a time-consuming search in action records and price guides which are not readily available in libraries. Patrons who wish to have books appraised must themselves acquire a professional appraiser. The cost of your appraisal is also deductible if the gift is being given to a qualifying charitable institution such as the library. Contact the library to find where appraisers may be found or IRS regulation information.

We Do take current books, paperbacks, romances, and Children’s Classics.

We Do take magazine subscriptions.

We Don’t take magazines, Condensed Reader’s Digest, outdated textbooks or Encyclopedias.

We Don’t take torn, damaged, musty, moldy books.