LIBRARY LAW AND ORDER!

Policies and

Procedures

Mission Statement

BELOW YOU'LL FIND A BASIC OUTLINE OF LIBRARY POLICIES FOR THINGS LIKE CONDUCT, BORROWING, FINES, AND MORE.

THE MISSION OF THE WEST WARWICK PUBLIC LIBRARY IS TO PROMOTE THE READING INTERESTS AND LIFE-LONG LEARNING OF THE CITIZENS OF WEST WARWICK AND ALL OTHER USERS BY PROVIDING FREE AND OPEN ACCESS TO A VARIETY OF CULTURAL, INTELLECTUAL, AND INFORMATIONAL RESOURCES, MATERIALS, AND SERVICES.

Service Policy

• NO RESTRICTIONS BETWEEN SERVICES OFFERED TO WEST WARWICK RESIDENTS AND ALL OTHERS.

• BASIC LIBRARY SERVICES ARE FREE FOR ALL REGARDLESS OF AGE, GENDER, RACE, RELIGION, OR POLITICAL VIEWS.

• SERVICES INCLUDE PHYSICAL ACCESS, OWNING A LIBRARY CARD, ACCESS TO DATABASES, CHECKOUT OF MATERIALS, INFORMATIONAL ASSISTANCE, AND ACCESS TO TECHNOLOGY.

• PROMISED ASSURANCE OF CONFIDENTIALITY.

• THE LIBRARY REMAINS SAFE, CLEAN, AND ADA-ACCESSIBLE.

• PROMPT, COURTEOUS SERVICE FROM TRAINED STAFF.

• RELEVANT, CURRENT MATERIALS THAT REPRESENT A WIDE VARIETY OF VIEWS.

• ACCESS TO EDUCATIONAL, RECREATIONAL PROGRAMS FOR ALL INTERESTS AND DEMOGRAPHICS.

• EMBRACING NEW TECHNOLOGIES AND MEANS TO DELIVER INFORMATION, PROGRAMS, AND SERVICES.

Rules of Conduct

• PATRON BEHAVIOR THAT IS DISRUPTIVE WITH INTENT TO ANNOY, HARASS, VIOLATE PRIVACY, OR INTERFERE WITH OTHERS EXPERIENCE OR A STAFF MEMBER'S ABILITY TO PERFORM JOB DUTIES WILL RESULT IN THE FOLLOWING:

  • A VERBAL WARNING.​

  • IF BEHAVIOR PERSISTS, THE PERSON(S) WILL BE ASKED TO LEAVE THE BUILDING. IF THEY REFUSE, STAFF WILL CONTACT THE POLICE.

  • IF BEHAVIOR PERSISTS, THE PERSON(S) WILL RECEIVE A 5-DAY SUSPENSION.

  • FURTHER POOR BEHAVIOR WILL RESULT IN UP TO A YEAR OR PERMANENT SUSPENSION, AS DECIDED BY THE DIRECTOR.

• ALL WARNINGS AND ACTIONS ARE DOCUMENTED.

• IF A PATRON'S ACTIONS ARE THREATENING, POLICE ARE CALLED IMMEDIATELY.

• A MINOR EVICTED FROM THE BUILDING MORE THAN TWICE OR RESULTED IN POLICE INTERVENTION MUST BE ACCOMPANIED BY A PARENT OR GUARDIAN IN ORDER TO RETURN.

Library Card Registration

• YOU MAY REGISTER FOR, RENEW, OR REPLACE A LIBRARY CARD AT CIRCULATION DESKS IN RHODE ISLAND PUBLIC LIBRARIES.

• THE MOST UP-TO-DATE PHOTO ID AND PROOF OF ADDRESS IS NECESSARY.

• FOR PATRONS 18 YEARS AND OLDER:

  • A VALID RI DRIVER'S LICENSE, RI STATE ID, OR DRIVER'S PERMIT.

  • A PHOTO ID AND PROOF OF ADDRESS MAY BE PRESENTED IN ABSENCE OF OTHER ID.​ EXAMPLES INCLUDE UTILITY BILLS, COLLEGE ID, A PASSPORT OR VISA.

• FOR PATRONS UNDER THE AGE OF 13:

  • PARENT OR LEGAL GUARDIAN MUST ACCOMPANY AND PROVIDE THE ABOVE IDENTIFICATION ON THEIR BEHALF.​

• FOR PATRONS BETWEEN THE AGES OF 13 - 17:

  • MAY APPLY WITHOUT PARENT OR LEGAL GUARDIAN WITH PROPER ID (ABOVE). STUDENTS MAY USE SCHEDULE OR REPORT CARD IN ADDITION TO PHOTO ID.​

  • MAY INSTEAD HAVE A PARENT OR LEGAL GUARDIAN ACCOMPANY AND PROVIDE THE ABOVE IDENTIFICATION ON THEIR BEHALF.

Inter-Library Loans

• IF NO STATE LIBRARY OWNS THE MATERIAL A PATRON WANTS, STAFF MAY REQUEST IT FROM AN OUT OF STATE LIBRARY.

• A $5.00 PROCESSING AND MAILING FEE WILL BE CHARGED FOR EACH MATERIAL REQUESTED.

• THE FEE PAID WILL BE RETURNED TO THE PATRON IF THE ORDER IS NOT COMPLETED SUCCESSFULLY.

Cell Phone Use

• RINGERS SHOULD BE SET TO VIBRATE OR SILENT.

• MAKE ALL CALLS OUTSIDE SO AS TO NOT DISTURB OTHERS. TAKE YOUR BELONGINGS WITH YOU.

• A BRIEF CALL MAY BE MADE AT ANY DEPARTMENT DESK.

• VIDEO CHAT IS TREATED THE SAME AS A CELL PHONE CALL.

• REFUSAL TO COMPLY WILL RESULT IN DISCIPLINARY ACTION.

Lost or Damaged Items

• A PATRON IS FINED ANY OVERDUE CHARGES PLUS THE REPLACEMENT FEE LISTED IN THE BIBLIOGRAPHIC SOURCE.

• AN OUT OF PRINT BOOK REPLACEMENT FEE IS $15.00.

• A TRANSACTION RECEIPT IS PRINTED.

• IF A PATRON FINDS THE ITEM WITHIN 90 DAYS AFTER PAYING, THE LIBRARY WILL REFUND THE AMOUNT PAID IF PROPER RECEIPT IS SHOWN.

• ITEMS TWO OR MORE YEARS PAST DUE INCUR A REPLACEMENT FEE. EVEN IF THE ITEM IS RETURNED, THIS FEE MUST BE PAID.

• THE SEVERITY OF DAMAGE TO AN ITEM IS LEFT TO THE DISCRETION OF THE HEAD OF CIRCULATION.

• IN THE CASE OF A DAMAGED ITEM BEYOND REPAIR, A REPLACEMENT FEE WILL BE CHARGED.

• IF THE ITEM IS JUDGED AS ABLE TO BE REPAIRED, A $5.00 FEE WILL BE CHARGED TO COVER MATERIALS FOR REPAIR.

• PURCHASING REPLACEMENT COPIES IS NO LONGER ACCEPTED.

Volunteer Policy

• THE LIBRARY AIMS TO GIVE VOLUNTEERS MEANINGFUL RESPONSIBILITIES, TRAINING, AND RECOGNITION.

• ACCEPTED VOLUNTEERS INCLUDE:

  • STUDENTS PARTICIPATING FOR EDUCATIONAL REQUIREMENTS.​

  • PATRONS AGE 18+ WITH BACKGROUND CHECK.

  • TEENS IN GRADES 7 - 12 WITH PARENTAL CONSENT.

  • PATRONS PARTICIPATING IN SOCIAL SERVICE AGENCY PROGRAMS.

• THE LIBRARY CANNOT GUARANTEE A POSITION FOR EACH PROSPECTIVE VOLUNTEER AND RESERVES THE RIGHT TO REJECT ANY APPLICATION.

• SCHEDULES WILL BE ARRANGED BY THE VOLUNTEER AND STAFF RESPONSIBLE FOR THEIR WORK.

• THE LIBRARY WILL NOT PROVIDE ANY MEDICAL, ACCIDENT, OR WORKER'S COMPENSATION BENEFITS TO VOLUNTEERS.

• UPON REQUEST, A LETTER OF RECOMMENDATION CAN BE PROVIDED FOR VOLUNTEERS THAT COMPLETE SERVICES.

Meeting Room Policy

• THE LIBRARY HAS TWO MEETING ROOMS FREE OF CHARGE FOR ORGANIZATIONS AND COMMUNITY GROUPS.

  • MEETINGS ARE OPEN TO THE PUBLIC.​

  • MUST BE EDUCATIONAL, CULTURAL, OR CIVIC IN NATURE.

  • CANNOT BE SOCIAL, RELIGIOUS, PRIVATE, OR COMMERCIAL.

  • LIBRARY PROGRAMMING IS PRIORITIZED.

  • USE DOES NOT IMPLY LIBRARY ENDORSEMENT.

  • BOOKINGS ARE SUBJECT TO CANCELLATION WITH 2 WEEK NOTICE.

  • ADVERTISING OR SELLING PRODUCTS IS PROHIBITED.

  • NO FEES CAN BE COLLECTED WITHOUT LIBRARY CO-SPONSORSHIP.

  • RESERVATIONS MUST BE MADE ONE WEEK PRIOR.

  • NO GROUP CAN HAVE MORE THAN TWO MEETINGS PER MONTH.

  • AVAILABILITY IS FIRST COME, FIRST SERVED.

  • ROOM FURNITURE CAN BE ADJUSTED TO MEET YOUR NEEDS.

  • USERS MUST ABIDE BY ALL LIBRARY RULES AND POLICIES.

  • PERMISSION IS GIVEN BY THE DIRECTOR OR BOARD OF TRUSTEES.

Unattended Children

• THE LIBRARY IS NOT EQUIPPED, NOR IS IT THE LIBRARY'S ROLE, TO PROVIDE LONG OR SHORT-TERM DAYCARE.

• CHILDREN UNDER THE AGE OF EIGHT MUST ALWAYS BE ACCOMPANIED BY A RESPONSIBLE ADULT.

• IF A CHILD UNDER THE AGE OF EIGHT IS ATTENDING AN EVENT, A RESPONSIBLE ADULT MUST STAY WITHIN THE LIBRARY.

• PARENTS ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR THEIR CHILD'S BEHAVIOR.

• IF LEFT UNATTENDED, TRAINED STAFF WILL AID THE CHILD IN LOCATING THEIR PARENT OR LEGAL GUARDIAN.

• POLICE ARE NOTIFIED OF ANY CHILD LEFT ALONE AT THE TIME THE LIBRARY CLOSES.

• POLICY MUST BE DISCUSSED WITH THE PARENT OR LEGAL GUARDIAN OF A CHILD LEFT UNATTENDED. REPEAT OFFENSES WILL RESULT IN DISCIPLINARY ACTION.

• IN THE EVENT OF A LOST OR MISSING CHILD, THE LIBRARY HAS A COMPREHENSIVE PROCEDURE TO ENSURE SAFETY.