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400.00   FEES / FINES / LOAN PERIODS / PRIVILEGES

410.00            Fines and Loan Periods
     
To approve the schedule for loan periods, fees and fines as submitted ....

 410.00           
     
To increase fines on adult books from 10 cents/day to 20 cents and on children’s books from 5 cents/day to 10 cents effective February 1, 2007.
      (January 16, 2007)
   
To approve the appropriate cap on fines of $4.00 per item for adult materials and $2.00 for overdues in Children’s.
     (February 20, 2007)

    That Trustees be exempt from fines and charges on all materials.   
      (November 12, 1986)    

420.10       CD-ROMs

    To circulate a trial collection of CD-ROMs beginning in May.
    (February 17, 1998)

    To change the number of CD-ROMS a patron can borrow from one to two.
    (May 23, 2000)

To limit the number of CDs a patron can borrow at one time to six adult CDs and six CDs for children.
(July 15, 2003)

420.20       DVDs

To approve the following lending policies for DVDs:  DVDs will circulate for one week to Winchester patrons only;  a late charge of $2 per day with a cap of $; 6 DVDs can be checked out at one time and can be returned to the bookdrop;  the same damage fees apply as with videos; and the replacement fee is $25.
      (December 11, 2000)

To allow patrons to borrow a limit of 10 videos or DVDs that are over a year old and 6 videos or DVD’s that are less than a year old.
      (November 24, 2003)

    To restrict DVD films to 3 brand new feature films per checkout.
      (January 17, 2006)

420.30 Videocassettes

To move the 3-day rental period for videos to a 7-day period with a one-day grace period. This new policy will be effective March 15, 1999.
      (March 3, 1999)

To rescind the age restriction on the Library's video borrowing policy effective immediately.
      (February 17, 1998)

To make feature films Local Request only.
      (February 27, 2001)

To approve a two-week loan period for nonfiction videos.
      (October 15, 2002)

To allow patrons to borrow a limit of 10 videos or DVDs that are over a year old and 6 videos or DVD’s that are less than a year old.
        (November 24, 2003)

420.40 Books

  To extend the length of the checkout period for books from two to three weeks.
      (April 15, 2003)

420.50   Long Term Loans

      To abolish long-term loans.
      (July 17, 2001)

420.60   Teacher Loans

      Although the Winchester Public Library does not directly support the curriculum of the schools, one role of the Library is to enhance that curriculum.  Thus we do not purchase text books, nonfiction AV materials, or multiple copies of titles to meet classroom quantity needs.  We do, however, consider school assignments and curriculum when we purchase materials, especially nonfiction.

      Our selection policy and budget constraints limit the number of items available on a given topic.  Our lending policies reflect our effort to provide access to the collection in as fair and equitable a manner as possible.  The Teacher Loan Policy is intended to provide a beneficial service to teachers and their students, while still allowing us to maintain adequate resources to meet daily patron requests.

      1.    The cornerstone of successful and effective school/public library cooperation is communication between the Teachers and the Librarian. Therefore, all Teacher Loans must be approved by a Librarian.  If a
            Librarian is not available within a reasonable time, the circulation staff may permit the Teacher Loan for materials that meet the following guidelines:

            a.    No new titles
            b.    Limit of one copy per title
            c.    Limit of 5 titles per call number
            d.    Limit of 30 titles total

      2.    Materials may be borrowed for 4 weeks.

      3.    Materials that are overdue are subject to the normal fine policy.

      4.    A form will be provided for Teachers to list the titles of the books they check out.  The list may be used to keep track of the books for renewal purposes.  Renewals must be done in person.  As a convenience for Teachers, they may bring the list to the Library for renewal rather than the books themselves.

      5.    The Librarian may renew individual titles for a period of up to, but not exceeding, two weeks.

      The Children's Librarians will work closely with Teachers to identify materials that will enhance and enrich their classroom work.  By encouraging a dialogue between Teachers and Librarians, it is our goal to provide improved services to Teachers, their students, and all of our interested patrons.
      (October 16, 1991)

      To change the teacher loan period from two renewal periods to one renewal  period, subject to Library approval for a second renewal.
      (October 15, 2002)

The Winchester Public Library purchases online databases for the use of Winchester residents.  It is within our mission to provide and promote these enriching resources to Winchester students and their teachers.  So that teachers who are not residents may access these databases, special patron library cards will be issued to the middle school and high school librarians.  They will provide the card numbers to nonresident teachers for their use for instructional purposes.
(September 18, 2007)

430.00            Fees

430.10            FAX Service

            That the recommended telefacsimile service rules as [follows] be adopted and that the fee for fax service should be 25 cents per page, prepaid.

            Available for library-related use only, restricted to procurement
            of magazine articles and other such documents, not over 30 pages,
            that are not available in our collection.

            Requests must be placed in person, are limited to three per patron
            per day, and documents must be picked up. 
            (August 3, 1989) 

430.20  Replacement of Damaged / Lost Library Cards / Materials
     
            That a fee of $2.00 shall be charged for the issuance of a replacement card upon loss, destruction or mutilation of a Minuteman Library Network Card. 
            (June 18, 1985)

           
Library cards which have been lost or damaged so that the bar code is no longer readable may be replaced upon payment of a $2.00 fee.
            (September 24, 1991

430.30            Reader/Printer

            To accept the proposed increase in . . . Reader/Printer fee to $ .15  per page effective July 1, 1990
            (January 9, 1990)

430.40      Patrons will be billed for the replacement of lost or severely damaged materials.  The fee for minor damage is $2.00.
            (September 24, 1991)

430.50 To eliminate the 35-cent charge for reserving books immediately.
            (January 18, 2000)     

440.00        Library Privileges

440.10        Children's Library Cards

    That the Children's Library card registration forms include the birth date.
      (   January 27, 1986)
   
    That residents under 18 years of age must have a parent or legal guardian sign their application.  Patrons must be 4 years old or older in order to apply for a library card.
      (May 19, 1992)

450.00        Defacement / Detention of Library Property

    Any person who willfully,

      1.  Conceals and/or removes any library materials or property from the premises without authority; or

      2.  Fails to return any library materials or property which have been lent to said persons by the library facility, within thirty (30) days after demand has been made for their return; or

      3.  Uses false identification or a fictitious name;  misuses another person's library card, uses a revoked, expired or canceled library card or uses a falsely made library card to borrow materials or property; or

      4.  Alters or destroys library ownership, electronic or catalog records;  or

      5.  Mutilates, destroys or otherwise damages, in whole or in part, any library materials or property;

    May be punished upon conviction by imprisonment and/or a fine of up to $25,000 and required to make full restitution.
    (Chapter 61, Sections 99 and 100, Massachusetts General Laws, Acts      of 1990)

450.10       Disturbance of Libraries

    Whoever willfully disturbs persons assembled in a public library, or a reading room connected therewith, by making a noise or in any other manner during the time when such library or reading room is open to the public shall be punished [by imprisonment for one month, and the sentence imposing such imprisonment shall not be suspended].
    (Chapter 272, Sections 41, Annotated Laws of Massachusetts, 1990)

450.20        Patron Behavior Policy Guide

    The Winchester Public Library strives to maintain an atmosphere
    conducive to meeting the reading, studying, and research needs of
    our patrons.  In order to maintain this atmosphere, the Library's
    policy must
      .   enforce standards of behavior which do not interfere with
          the patron's rights to use the Library and the staff's ability
          to deliver service effectively;
      .   maintain a safe environment for other patrons and staff, free
          from harassment, intimidation, and threats to their safety and
          well-being;
      .   protect the Library and its materials from vandalism and the
          inappropriate use of furnishings and equipment.

    The Winchester Public Library welcomes children of all ages, and
    urges parents and caregivers to take part in their children's
    Library visits.  While the Library staff works to create a safe
    environment, we do not assume responsibility - in loco parentis –
    for the care of any children left unattended by parents and
    caregivers.  As a community center open to all, the Library cannot
    guarantee the safety of its patrons and urges all caregivers to
    remain vigilant, at all times , to the whereabouts and activities of
    their children.                      
      1.  Children age eight and under must be supervised by a person 14
          years of age or older at all times. (Voted December 18, 2007)

      2.  Caregivers should pick up their children at least 5 minutes
          before the Library's closing time.  If the parent or caregiver
          has not returned for their children by closing time, the local
          police will be contacted.

      3.  Parents or caregivers (whether present or not) are responsible
          for insuring the appropriate behavior of their children in the
          Library.  We will ask disruptive children to leave the
          building in an orderly manner.  Disruptive activities may
          include inappropriate use of the elevator, automatic doors,
          Library property and equipment (including computers), and
          disturbing the peace and rights of other patrons to use the
          Library.

      The following are unacceptable in the Library:
          .   Disruptive noise
          .   Use of food, drink, or tobacco products on Library
             property
          .   Unattended children under 8 years of age
          .   Absence of shirts and shoes
          .   Soliciting or distribution of leaflets/panhandling
          .   Personal belongings which hamper the use of public space (Personal belongings are the responsibility of the owner.
          .   Loitering
          .   Use of sports equipment (e.g., roller blades, basketballs, bicycles)
          .   Animals (with the exception of assist animals)
          .   Inappropriate use, theft, or mutilation of Library materials or property
          .   Violent behavior:
          .    Physical or verbal harassment threatening the
                  personal safety of patrons or staff
          .    Weapons, or items resembling or wielded as weapons

      The Library, in its role as steward of a public building, reserves the right to approach those patrons who are interfering with other patrons' rights to use the Library.  They may be asked to leave if the situation cannot be resolved.
  (Basis in Law: Chapter 266, Sections 99, 99A, and 100; Chapter
  272, Section 41, Annotated Laws of Massachusetts)
      (February 18, 1997)

 460.00        Revocation of Privileges

    That borrowing privileges of Needham residents be revoked until
    such time as the Needham Free Public Library receives
    recertification by the Massachusetts Board of Library
    Commissioners.
    (August 14, 1990)

    To restore reciprocal borrowing privileges to residents of the
    Town of Needham.
    (January 21, 1992) 

    That borrowing privileges of Dracut residents be revoked until
    such time as the Moses Greeley Parker Library receives
    recertification by the Massachusetts Board of Library
    Commissioners.
    (August 12, 1992)

That the Winchester Public Library will not offer its privileges to the Lincoln Public Library until it has become recertified.
(February 15, 2000)

The Board voted to not honor cards from patrons of a decertified community and to prohibit them from borrowing materials from the Winchester Public Library.
(June 20, 2006)

POLICY MANUAL COMPLETE TABLE OF CONTENTS

100.00 BUILDING AND GROUNDS

200.00 BY-LAWS/ORGANIZATION

300.00 COOPERATIVE AGREEMENTS

400.00 FEES / FINES / LOAN PERIODS / PRIVILEGES

500.00 HOURS OF OPERATION

600.00 PERSONNEL

700.00 SERVICES

APPENDIX A Freedom to Read Statement (ALA)

APPENDIX B Freedom to View Statement (ALA)

APPENDIX C Library Bill of Rights (ALA)

APPENDIX D Access to Electronic Information (ALA)

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