A. Operation and Building Use
1. The Service Hours of the Liberal Memorial Library are:
Monday - Thursday
Friday
Saturday
Sunday
9:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m.
9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.
ClosedThe library may limit its hours of operation during the summertime to allow for staff training and/or physical improvements to the facility.
2. The library follows the City of Liberal holiday schedule.
3. Use of the Public Library will be as follows:
a. The Library Board accepts the responsibility in striving to provide and maintain the public library facilities which will adequately meet the physical requirements of modern library service. Such facilities will offer to the community an invitation to enter, read, look, listen, and learn. The Library strives to meet Public Library Standard Guidelines for the State of Kansas. (See Appendix A)
b. Service will not be denied or abridged because of sex, religion, race, social, economic, or political status.
c. Cooper-Clark Meeting Room guidelines are as follows: library and library affiliated programs will be given priority when scheduling the use of the activity room. (See Appendix B: includes use policy for Cooper-Clark)
d. Exhibit and Gallery Policy - Displays and exhibits will be determined at the discretion of the Library Director and the Library Board. While library personnel will make every effort and take every precaution for the safety of the items on display or exhibit, the library cannot be responsible for or be held liable for damaged or stolen property. The library personnel are not responsible for setting up or taking down the exhibitions. (See Appendix C for Exhibit Form)
4. ADA Compliance: The provisions of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 will be upheld to the full extent reasonable and practical by the Library Board, the Library Director, and by the library staff. The staff of the Liberal Memorial Library will always be willing to assist to make all materials and services available.
B. Circulation Procedures
1. Procedure for Obtaining a Library Card at Liberal Memorial Library
a. Library cards are free to all residents of Kansas. Please present some form of identification which shows that you are a Kansas resident.
b. Out of state patrons are required by the Board of Directors to pay an annual fee of $25 per family.
c. Out-of-state individuals 65 years old or older will receive an out of state fee waiver if requested. Documentation must be provided to verify age.
d. All library patrons over the age of 18 MUST present two forms of identification as proof of residency to get a library card.
i. The first form must be a United States government issued form of identification.
ii. The second form can be a receipt from a utility company, or another similar item that has the patron’s name and current mailing address and has been sent through the mail with a canceled stamp. No personal correspondence please.
e. The library issues non-picture cards. Upon request, if a patron would like an ID card there will be a fee of $15 and the same procedures will be required for verification as those to obtain a library card.
f. Library cards are sent through the United States Postal Services to library patrons and should arrive within one week of application.
g. Children are entitled to the same check-out privileges as adults.
i. Children under 18 years of age must have a parent or guardian present to get a library card. This parent or guardian will be held responsible for the safe return of all library property and any fines or fees that are accrued.
ii. The parent or guardian must present two forms of identification as proof of residency (see above) or already have a library card of their own for the child to get a library card.
iii. We ask that parents or guardians monitor the appropriateness of the materials their children borrow from the library. The library staff is unable to make that judgment as individual families have different ways of deciding what is suitable for their children.
2. Circulation Desk Procedures
a. All materials in the library may be checked out for two weeks, except for DVDs and video cassettes which may be checked out for one week and non-circulating items which must be used in the library.
b. All library patrons must have their own library account to check out materials.
c. If patrons do not have their library card in possession, a United States government issued form of identification must be shown to check out materials. Once appropriate identification has been shown, the staff will look the patron’s number up on the computer and proceed with the check-out.
d. In an effort to circulate as many materials as possible, a patron is limited to no more than 15 items checked out at any given time. Included in the 15 items is
i. ten (10) books
ii. six (6) video cassettes
iii. four (4) DVDs
iv. six (6) audio CDs (including audio CD books and music CDs)
v. six (6) audio cassettes
vi. six (6) CD-ROMs (computer programs)
vii. four (4) graphic novels
viii. six (6) magazines
ix. one (1) equipment (mp3 player)
x. four (4) Interlibrary loan itemse. There will be $.50 charge per item on patron interlibrary loan requests.
a. Materials may be renewed in person, by telephone, or online.
b. Most materials may be renewed twice (2), unless another patron has reserved this item.
c. DVDs, video cassettes, pre-literacy kits, and items that have been placed in the New York Times Bestseller location cannot be renewed.
d. A request for renewal of Interlibrary loan materials must be made three (3) days before the due date or they may not be subject to renewal.
a. For most items, there is a charge of $0.10 per day for each item that is overdue with a maximum limit of $10.00 per item.
b. For DVDs and Interlibrary Loan materials, there is a charge of $1.00 per day for each item that is overdue with a maximum limit of $10.00 per item.
c. We ask that fines in excess of $5.00 be paid at the time of check-out. Fines that do not exceed the limit may be paid at a later date.
d. Materials 90 days overdue will be sent to a collection agency. A $10.00 collection fee will be added to the patron’s account.
5. Lost or Damaged Materials
Materials that are lost or damaged must be paid for by the patron within one month of notification of loss in order to be eligible for further check-out materials.
1. Materials - The library will accept gifts of books, pamphlets, periodicals, videos, and other materials and items with the understanding that the same principles of selection which are applied to new purchases are applied to gifts. Some items may not be added to the collection and may be sold or otherwise disposed. Gift items are permanently given and may not be returned. A form that explains this should be signed by the donor at the time the gift is made. (See Appendix D).
2. Monetary - Unrestricted gifts of money, lands, or property will be accepted by the Library Foundation Board to be used at their discretion. Plants, trees, or shrubbery and gifts or bequests with specific restrictions attached, will be referred to the Library Board with recommendations from the Library Director for acceptance or rejection. Funds are placed in foundation accounts. The library is grateful for cash donations because programming and services are enhanced by gifts such as these.
3. Appraisals - The library cannot be responsible for cash appraisals of gifts.
4. Unsolicited and Free Materials Posting - Government notices and activities and events for the general public are posted. The library will not post sale items, job listings, or church activities.
The library staff will offer guidance and assistance to people to obtain the information they seek. The staff will initiate programs to stimulate the use of library materials to fill the needs of all ages in the community.
1. Reference - Within the library, use of all reference collections and materials are free to the public. Patrons are encouraged to make use of the library reference service. Information will be provided on a walk-in basis or by telephone in an accurate and timely fashion. All resources on the premises will be consulted.
2. Referrals - If all in-house resources are exhausted referrals will be made or the regional library system will be consulted. Prompt interlibrary loan service is an asset to the community.
3. Children's Services and Programming - The Children's Collection will contain resources in most formats including books (fiction and non-fiction), magazines, kits (books with audio cassette), video tapes, computer software, toys, and puppets. Story times will be provided for age groups ranging from 18 months to 5 years. Summer Library Program activities will be provided for children age 4 through 6th grade. Toys are being phased out as they become unusable due to lost or broken pieces.
4. Telephone - A free telephone for public use is available by the copy machine. It is for local calls only. The nearest pay phone available for long distance calls is at Arby's.
5. Outreach - Homebound patrons and institutions within the city may request delivery of materials.
6. Cooperation with Other Libraries - The library will cooperate with regional, state, and national interlibrary loan programs for resources sharing purposes.
a. School/public library relationship - The library will strive to supplement, but cannot perform the functions of school and other institutional libraries which are designed to meet specific curricular needs.
b. The library will cooperate with civic and community agencies and organizations to help obtain materials and to support programs.
1. Problem/Disruptive Behavior
The Library Board endorses the policy for dealing with disruptive and problem patrons. These procedures will be reviewed by the board on an as needed basis. (Patrons of any age may be asked to leave the library if the disruptive behavior continues after being issued a verbal warning from the Library Director or designated staff member). The use of the library and its services may be denied for due cause. Reasons for denying services to library patrons may include, but are not limited to the following:
- Violation of any library policy;
- Rude or demeaning behavior toward staff or library patrons;
- Physically aggressive behavior toward staff or library patrons
The process for denying the use of the library or its services is a 30 day suspension, a one year suspension, or a lifetime suspension based on the severity of the situation.
2. Unattended Children - The Library Board endorses a policy of child safety that includes these guidelines:
Children ages 7 and younger should be accompanied by their care provider at all times, except during regularly scheduled children's activities.
Children ages 8 and older may be left unattended provided their behavior is appropriate for the library and/or their stay in the library does not exceed two hours.
Children with special problems related to physical or mental ability shall be supervised at all times. The Liberal Memorial Library assumes no responsibility for children left unattended on the library premises. (See Appendix G).
3. Complaints - The Library Board will ask a patron who has a complaint to talk with the library director first about the problem. If the problem is not resolved at this level, the patron should prepare a written statement of the problem in a letter through the mail to the Library Board Chair, and may also request to present the problem at a regularly scheduled board meeting.
4. Lost and Found - The library is not responsible for items left in the library. All items and materials not the property of the library should be removed from the library for the protection of all involved. Any items or materials left in the library become the property of the library.
F. Public Records Retention and Disposition of Library Records
It is the official policy of the Liberal Memorial Library Board that all public records maintained by the library are to be accessible to the public for inspection and copying, and that the provisions of the Kansas Open Records Act, K.S.A. 45-215 shall be enforced (See Appendix F for definition of the conditions related to required access and the charging of fees for copies of records requested).
G. Confidentiality of Patron Records
1. All outside inquiries regarding information about patrons registration and charge records will be referred to the Library Director. No records may be made available to anyone without the director's approval. Patron registration information is exempt from required disclosure pursuant to the Kansas Open Records Act, KSA 45-221, and should only be released upon the receipt of a valid court order or subpoena authorized under local, state, or federal law. (See Appendix E).
2. Library staff will not disclose information regarding patrons' use or frequency of use of the library with respect to information sought and received, except under valid court order or subpoena authorized under local, state, or federal law.
H. Capital Improvement
The Library Board is hereby authorized to direct a transfer annually from the general operating fund of the library not to exceed 10% of the amount of money credited to such a fund to a capital improvement fund (K.S.A. 12-1258). All money credited to such fund shall be used, at the decision of the Library Board, for the purpose of improving, furnishing, equipping, remodeling or making additions to the library. Such fund shall not be subject to the provisions of K.S.A. 79-2925 through 79-2937 and amendments thereto. If the Library Board determines that money which has been transferred to such a fund or any part thereof is not needed for the purpose for which transferred the Library Board is hereby authorized to direct a retransfer of such amount not needed to the general operating fund, subject to the provisions of K.S.A. 79-2925 through 79-2937.
In preparing the budget for the library, the amounts credited to and the amount on hand in, the capital improvement fund and the amount expanded therefrom shall be shown on the budget for the information of the taxpayers of the municipality in which the library is located. Moneys in such a fund may be invested in accordance with the provisions of K.S.A. 10-131 and amendments thereto, with interest thereon credited to such a fund.