La Crosse Public Library Policies
Holidays
Purpose: To identify the legal holidays that apply to library employees and set procedures for observance.
Statement of Policy: The Library Board of Trustees for the La Crosse Public Library recognize the following holidays affecting library services and hours.
New Year’s Day
Spring Holiday
Memorial Day
Independence Day
Labor Day
Thanksgiving Day
Day After Thanksgiving
Christmas Eve
Christmas Day
New Year’s Eve
Additionally, the LCPL will close at 12 Noon on Good Friday and at 3:00 p.m. on the day before Thanksgiving.
If a Holiday falls on a Saturday, the library will be closed on Saturday. If a Holiday falls on a Sunday, the library will be closed on the following Monday.
At the end of each year a specific list of days and times of observance shall be prepared by the Director and submitted to the Library Board of Trustees for the following year.
Board reviewed and approved 13 December 2021
Circulation Policy of La Crosse Public Library
How to Acquire a La Crosse Public Library Card
Residents of Indiana presenting proper identification that establishes that the individual resides in or pays property taxes on property owned in the LCPL service area are eligible to receive a LCPL card. Those residents not in the library’s service area may be able to purchase a library card as a non-resident or PLAC card, or obtain a LCPL card as a reciprocal borrower. Proper identification must be presented at the time of application for a LCPL card.
A parent or legal guardian showing proper identification may register a minor child for a LCPL card. Registering a child for a LCPL card, the parent or guardian is accepting the responsibility for all fees, fines and payment for lost or damaged materials charged on the child’s card.
The charge for a LCPL replacement card is $1.00. Identification must be presented again to obtain a replacement card.
Patrons can apply for an account for Overdrive, an eBook depository that the LCPL pays a subscription fee. Through Overdrive patrons can access eBooks and audiobooks via a mobile device. Materials are automatically returned at the end of the borrowing period. No fines are accessed.
Reciprocal Borrower Card
LCPL is a member of the Statewide Reciprocal Borrowing Covenant. “Any person who has a current resident library card from their local library can use Reciprocal Borrowing privileges to borrow from other libraries that participate in the statewide agreement.” The library reserves the right to verify any reciprocal borrower’s standing with his home library.
Non-Resident Cards/Fees
According to Indiana Code IC 36-12-2-25, a resident of Indiana in an unserved area many purchase library services from one of the 237 library districts. A non-resident card can be purchased for $161.00 per calendar year. If purchased with less than 12 months remaining the fee will be pro-rated.
Public Library Access Card (PLAC)
The Public Library Access Card (PLAC) is the name for the statewide library card. The PLAC program allows an individual to borrow materials directly from any public library in Indiana. An individual who holds a valid public library card may obtain a PLAC. PLACs are available for fee as determined by Indiana Code IC 4-23-7.1-5.10 and will expire one year from date of issue.
Borrowing Rights
A patron must present a card in good standing to borrow materials. If a patron forgets their LCPL card, they should 1) return to the library after retrieving their card or 2) purchase a replacement card. Materials may be held for a limited time pending the patron’s return.
A patron’s access to materials may be limited due to overdue materials or fines and fees. A patron’s card can be blocked if items are overdue, lost or damaged and fees/fines are unpaid.
Loan Periods and Renewals
Circulation periods for most library materials, including general books, audio books, and periodicals or magazines is 14 days, with 3 renewals. For “new” DVDs, circulation is 2 days with no renewals. All other DVDs are 3 days with one renewal. “New” materials will be limited to 3 months. Books may be placed on hold by a patron, if is unavailable for checkout. If a patron requests a title not in the collection, every effort can be made to obtain it through the ILL program. Loan periods and renewals are up to the discretion of the loaning library.
Returning Materials
Items can be returned on or before the due date. Items should be returned to the circulation desk during normal library hours. Materials left in the drop box after normal library hours on the due date are considered overdue. The library’s drop boxes are emptied at the start of each business day. Fines will be charged for all overdue materials.
Fines/Fees and Payment of Fines/Fees
Overdue fines established for general books, audio books and magazines are $0.05 per day. Overdue fines for DVDs are $1.00 per day.
As of October 1, 2017, fines of $2.00 or more for an individual/family must be paid to continue the use of library materials.
Damaged Items and Lost Items
Library materials are expected to be returned in reasonably the same condition as when they were borrowed. Patrons are asked to exercised reasonable care in using library materials. Patrons are completely responsible for any damage or loss of materials checked out to them.
Once a damaged item is paid for, the patron may elect to keep the item.
An overdue item will be considered “lost” if not returned within 45 days of the due date. The price of the item will be assessed to the patron’s card.
No refund will be given to a patron for a “Lost” item for which a patron has paid, if the item is recovered.
Overdue or Lost Material Notification
Overdue notification is expensive and not offset by fine collections so we encourage patrons to keep track of their due dates and return library materials on time to avoid overdue charges. Overdue notices could be sent as a courtesy. Failure to receive notices does not exempt patrons from the responsibility for payment for library materials or overdue fines and fees. If patrons wish to have a notice sent via email, an email address must be provided to the library staff. Board Approved Revision August 21, 2017
Emergency/Inclement Weather
Purpose: To ensure the safety of our patrons and employees.
Statement of Policy
The Library Board of Trustees for the LaCrosse Public Library recognize the following emergency or inclement weather situations that could affect library services and hours.
Building Safety
The library parking lot, front walk, entrances and emergency exit doors must be kept free of snow and ice to maintain safe access to the library building. Under inclement weather conditions, the library staff should monitor the condition of the lot, sidewalks and entrances hourly to determine safe access. Staff will contact *contracted personnel if sidewalks, doors or parking lot needs attention.
Inclement Weather/Emergency Closing
The library will make every effort to maintain regular hours for the public. The decision to close the library will be made by the Library Director or in the case where the director is not available, the library employee in charge.
In the event that weather conditions have deteriorated to the point where traveling is hazardous and “no travel” is advised by the county highway or sheriff’s departments, and the library closes early, notices should be sent to the town hall or other authorized personnel. A sign will be posted on the front door notifying the patrons of the library’s closing. A contact number for groups scheduled to use the library facility will also be notified.
In the event of a power failure, if after 30 minutes the power has not been restored, a posted sign will state the reason for the closure.
In the event that severe weather, including but not limited to tornadoes or thunderstorms, is too close and it is not safe for patrons to leave, they will be advised to take shelter within the library facility. In this situation staff should encourage patrons to stay but cannot force them to do so.
In the event of a hazardous materials spill in the area, all windows and doors will remain closed. Heating and air conditioning will be shut off to limit exposure to the outside air and patrons will be asked to stay in the library until conditions are safe or are asked to evacuate to another location, ie. school, town hall, fire station, etc.
In the event that local schools are closed, scheduled children and teen programs will be cancelled. All scheduled programs will be cancelled, if the library is closed because of weather or power failure or other stated emergency.
In the event of the library closing for any of the above situations, materials due on that day and can not be returned due to the closure, any fees assigned due to the late return will be waived.
Staff should notify the library director of any emergency occurring at the library, as soon as it is feasible. Board of Trustees approved 20 Oct 2018
OTHER POLICIES
Petitions, Surveys and Solicitations:
In keeping with the principle that the library is a public institution of a non-partisan nature, petitions may not be left on library property nor shall any signatures be solicited from patrons or staff while on the library property unless it is on behalf of the library system or directly related to library operations.
The library reserves the privilege of conducting surveys in person, electronically, over the telephone, or through the mail in the interest of evaluating the quality of library service being offered to its residents. When information gathered in a survey is to be accessible to the public in a directory, community profile, or any other manner, the surveyed patron must be informed of the intended use of the information when it is requested.
There shall be no sale of tickets or solicitations for cash donations or services made in the libraries unless it is on behalf of the library system or directly related to library operations.
Confidentiality of Library Records:
The circulation records and other records identifying the names of library users with specific materials are for the sole purposes of protecting public property and compiling statistical information. The Board of Trustees recognizes these records to be confidential in nature. Such records shall not be used either directly or indirectly to otherwise identify the types of materials used by patrons or to determine the purpose for which a patron requests information or library material.
Such records shall not be made available to any agency, group or individual of state, federal, or local government except pursuant to such process, order, or subpoena as may be authorized under the authority of, and pursuant to, federal, state, or local law relating to civil, criminal, or administrative discovery procedures or legislative investigatory powers.
Upon receipt of such process, order, or subpoena, the library director will consult with legal counsel to determine if such process, order, or subpoena is in proper form and if there is a showing of good cause for its issuance; if the process, order, or subpoena is not in proper form or if good cause has not been shown, the director will insist that such defects be cured. Any costs incurred, as a result of such order, in a search of patron records, shall be borne by the agency, group or individual demanding the search.
Public Records:
Access to public records is governed by IC 5-14-3. The official policy of the state regarding records is “that all persons are entitled to full and complete information regarding the affairs of government and the official acts of those who represent them as public officials and employees.”
A public record is defined as any writing, paper, report, study, map, photograph, book, card, tape recording, or other material that is created, received, retained, maintained, used, or filed by or with a public agency and which is generated on paper, paper substitutes, photographic media, chemically based media, magnetic or machine readable media, or any other material, regardless of form or characteristics. Any person may inspect and copy the public records of a library during business hours.
The following public records are exempted from the disclosure requirements:
1. Personnel files of library employees and files of applicants for employment, except for:
a. The name, compensation, job title, business address, business telephone number, job description, education and training background, previous work experience, or
dates of first and last employment of present or former officers or employees of the library;
b. Information relating to the status of any formal charges against the employee; and
c. Information concerning disciplinary actions in which final action has been taken and that resulted in the employee being disciplined or discharged. However, all personnel file information shall be made available to the affected employee or his representative. General personnel information on all employees or for groups of employees, without individual names, may not be exempted from disclosure.
2. Administrative or technical information that would jeopardize a record keeping or security system.
3. Computer programs, computer codes, computer filing systems, and other software that are owned by the library or entrusted to it.
4. Records specifically prepared for discussion or developed during discussion in an executive session under IC 5-14-1.5-6.
5. The identity of a donor of a gift made to the library if the donor requires nondisclosure of his identity as a condition of making the gift.
6. Library records which can be used to identify a library patron.
RULES OF CONDUCT:
The following behavior is not permitted:
• Disruptive conduct
• Sleeping
• Using Abusive Language
• Soliciting
• Eating and Drinking
• Use of Drugs and Alcohol
• Use of Tobacco
• Loitering
• Running and Playing
• Skateboarding or Rollerblading
• Feet on Furniture
• Cell Phone Use
SOLICITING is not permitted except in support of the Library and sanctioned Library activities. Soliciting includes selling items, begging, panhandling, circulating petitions, distributing printed material, and conducting surveys.
PATRONS MAY NOT BRING ANY ANIMALS, except seeing-eye, hearing-assist, or therapy dogs, into the library.
LIBRARY BUSINESS PHONES may be used in emergencies or at the discretion of library staff. Pay telephones, where available, are for out-going calls only. Patrons are asked to keep their conversations brief.
WEAPONS (with the exception of firearms per Indiana Code 35-47-11.1 et seq.) are not allowed except when carried by law enforcement officers.
SHIRTS AND SHOES must be worn in the Library.
Failure to abide by these rules may result in expulsion from the Library.
Patron Rights:
Patrons have the right to full and courteous library service. This includes the right to use the collection in the library, to borrow materials from the circulating collection, to request materials
through inter-library loan and to receive help from the library staff in locating or using library materials.
Lost or Stolen Property:
The library system is not responsible for articles lost or stolen. The staff and public should be warned against leaving personal property unguarded. If a theft occurs, however, every effort should be made to secure the return of the stolen property. Thefts should be reported to the Director or Branch Manager and the police. Articles found in the libraries will be held at the circulation desk for sixty days, after which time they will be disposed of in an appropriate
manner.
Staff Areas:
Patrons are not allowed in the library meeting rooms, staff room, kitchen, or work areas without permission of library staff.
Illegal Behavior:
The following are examples of illegal behavior:
Assault |
Intentionally or by reckless conduct causes injury to another person. |
Criminal Mischief |
Intentionally damages the property of another (includes vandalism and mutilating library materials). |
Drunk and/or Disorderly Conduct |
Causes public inconvenience by fighting, unreasonable noises, abusive or obscene language/gesture, threatening behavior, hazardous or physically offensive condition. |
Harassment |
Threatens or annoys another person by physical contact or abusive or obscene language, or continually follows a person. |
Public Lewdness |
Intentionally exposes the private or intimate parts of the body. |
Theft (Larceny) |
Wrongfully takes, obtains, or withholds the property of another. |
Trespass |
Knowingly enters or remains unlawfully in or upon a premises. |
Drugs |
Using, selling, buying, or stashing illegal drugs on library property. |
@ Copyright LaCrosse Public Library 2013 – 2017