Whitman
County Library
The Whitman County Library Board of Trustees sets forth as a primary goal the basic tenants of the Library Bill of Rights (Appendix A) and the Freedom to Read Statement (Appendix B).
Mission
Statement
The mission of Whitman County Rural Library is to provide the highest level of public library service in the most efficient and cost effective manner to all residents in our service area in the safest and most healthy environment possible.It is our aim to stimulate the connections between people and ideas, to promote access to information, to encourage literacy, and to enhance opportunities for self-education and recreation.
Belief
Statement
A.Quality public service: service that is reliable, confidential, competent, accessible, respectful, courteous, credible, understanding and responsive.
B.Insure first amendment rights by protecting library materials from censorship
C.Intellectual freedom
D.Equal access and opportunity through equitable and universal service for all customers regardless of origin, age, background, or views
E.Respect for diversity in the community
F.Stewardship of public funds: effective and accountable management of fiscal matters
G.Providing books and other library resources for the interest, information, and enlightenment of all
H.Services and library materials based on the needs and desires of the community
I.Informed citizens as the foundation of a democratic society
J.Cooperation among libraries and strong relations with local agencies and organizations
K.Basic literacy and information literacy as critical life skills in our ever-changing world
L.Encouraging employees who are enthusiastic and willing to achieve
M.Providing a public meeting place that is available on an equitable basis
Service Roles defined for Whitman County Rural Library by the Strategic Plan of 200-2005 are:
A.Quality service to customers
B.Popular materials center
C.Children's door to learning
D.Access to information and community referral
E.Centers for lifelong learning
Please see the "Whitman County Library System Strategic Plan 2000-2005"
for Goals and Objectives and
development of strategic plan.
A.Whitman County Library is organized and operates under the County Rural Library District Laws of the State of Washington, and other statutes applicable to public libraries.
B.A headquarters is maintained where administrative offices will supervise services throughout the area.
C.Library service is extended to all residents of the Rural Library District by means of branch libraries and mail service.Additional outreach programs will be provided as dictated by need and budget limitations.
D.Any incorporated city or town inside the district may contract for library service.Service
outlets in incorporated cities and towns may be by means of branches, deposit collections, or a
combination of such outlets.
E.Incorporated cities may request to become a part of the rural library district as provided by RCW 27.12.360(see Annexation.).
F.Whitman County Rural Library District:
1.Is a single county library district which, by law, serves all unincorporated rural areas of the county.By law, the Library Board may choose to contract with incorporated towns to provide library service.
2.Incorporated cities or towns in Whitman County may also choose to annex to the library district.
3. Whitman County Library System serves adults and children from the headquarters library and thebranch libraries and with books by mail.
G.Audience/User Groups
1.Whitman County Library System serves all residents of unincorporated areas within the county, all residents of cities contracting with the library system, and all residents of annexed cities.
2.Non-residents may use the collection in-house, or may choose to acquire a non-resident library card.This card may restrict the non-resident borrower's privileges (see Circulation Policy).
3.The library has a reciprocal agreement with Neill Public Library in Pullman and Latah County Library in Moscow, ID to provide residents in their service area cards free of charge.
4.The
library offers to cooperatewith
school libraries in the county who wish to utilize some library resources
.This is arranged on a case-by-case
basis.
A.The number one objective at Whitman County Library is friendly, top quality customer service.
B.The library strives to select from available materials, and to organize for easy access those books and materials that best meet and enrich the needs of the community.The library strives to provide quality online services and products that assist people in obtaining the Information they seek.
C.The library staff provides guidance and assistance for people to obtain the information they seek in a variety of formats.See also Reference Policy (Appendix I.)
D.The library provides information and materials to help people to equip themselves for useful occupational and practical affairs; to increase their competence to form sound judgments; to increase their understanding and appreciation of their cultural heritage; and to promote personal and social well being.
E.The library initiates programs, promotes exhibits and provides other guides to stimulate the use of library materials for the enlightenment of people of all ages.Requests for program sponsorship are evaluated by the Director.
F.The library cooperates with other community agencies and organizations in ways that meet the mission ofthe library.
G. The library accepts a responsibility for securing information beyond its own resources by:
1.Collecting information about and listing for referral, resources of agencies, institutions, organizations, and individuals in and beyond the community both in print and online.Whitman County Rural Library District cannot accept responsibility for the accuracy of these print or online resources.
2.Borrowing for patrons materials that are not owned by the library and which cannot be purchased or materials for which the demand does not justify purchase.
3.The library adheres to the policies and procedures set forth in the regional manuals. (See Interlibrary Loan Policy)
H.The library will lend to other libraries upon request, adhering to the policies and procedures set forth in the regional manuals.
I.The library endeavors to maintain a balance in its services to all age groups.
1. The public library cooperates with, but cannot perform the function of school and other institutional libraries which are designed to meet curricular needs.The library endeavors to assist school libraries in the proper performance of their function whenever possible.Special borrowing privileges for teachers are allowed as long as such loans do not weaken the collections available to the public.The children's department conducts classroom visits, gives library instruction at the headquarters branch in an effort to promote full use of the public library.
2.Other groups, i.e., disabled persons, will have the opportunity for equal access to library programs and services.
J.Library services are provided during the hours which seem to best meet the needs of the community and through service outlets located at points of maximum convenience to the public.
K.Periodic review is made of library service to determine whether the needs of the community indicate that present services should be altered in any way.
L.The
library may charge such fees or impose such penalties as it deems necessary
to assure fair use of its services or to ensure the return of borrowed
materials.
III.COMMUNITY LIBRARY SERVICES
A.The library establishes community libraries under the following conditions:
1.Need
2.Demand
3.Availability of physical quarters
4.Potential for future growth
5. Contribution for overall service patterns in the area
B.Community libraries are maintained by contractual agreements between the library and cities, or by other arrangements in the unincorporated community.
C.The community library has regular hours of service which are based on the size and needs of the community served.Such hours are determined by the Director, working in cooperation with the Board of Trustees.
D. Community libraries are not located in private homes or in school buildings unless there is no other location available.
E. Branch managers are responsible for library operations as defined in the Branch manual.
1.Circulation and reference service of the highest quality.
2.Service and special programs for area children like summer reading and storytime.
3.Library promotion and public relations in local media and newsletters.
4.Operation of assisting customers with library computers or related technologies.
5.Collection management, including trips to Colfax to rotate collection.
A.Patrons are encouraged to request material, by author, title, or subject when the local collections do not meet their needs. Such requests are filled from within the library collections, by transfer from headquarters or between outlets.When the collection cannot meet the demand, such requests are forwarded to other agencies according to Interlibrary Loan protocol.
B.Residents of Whitman County Rural Library District are able to use the libraries of WSU, U of I, Neill Public and Moscow Latah free of charge, thanks to a reciprocal agreement with these libraries.Residents will be required to obtain a card from the library and adhere to their policies for borrowing.
C.Teachers wishing to assure the availability of materials for mass student assignments on single or limited topics are urged to contact the library headquarters prior to the assignment.If materials are limited, the library will be happy to place a borrowing period limitation on these materials and/or place some materials on reserve.
D.A Books by Mail program is offered to Whitman County Rural Library District residents that are homebound or have difficulty accessing conventional services.
E.Parent Resource Center
A.The Board of Trustees assumes responsibility to assure that the headquarters building meets the requirements of modern library service.
B.Communities are urged to make continuous analysis of community library buildings to determine if they are adequate and inviting. Programs for site acquisition, remodeling or construction should be adopted only after careful study and consultation with the Director and the Library Board.
C.Quarters for community libraries are provided in all cases by the local cities and towns.Contracts specifying the responsibilities of the Library District and the contracting or annexed city are provided by the Library District and must be signed in order for the District to provide library service at a branch site. Contract uniformity must be maintained.
VI.ANNEXATION TO THE RURAL LIBRARY DISTRICT
A.General Purpose:
1. Annexation is the method by which an incorporated city may become part of the rural library district as provided by RCW 27.12.360.
B.Method:(to be followed in numerical order)
1. Board approval of annexation is required.
2. An ordinance must be passed by the city council stating an intention to annex to the library district.
3. Approval of the ordinance must be made by the Library Board of Trustees.
4. A resolution by the County Commissioners must be made approving a special election.
5. The issue is placed on ballot by themunicipality.
6. Approval of the ballot issue by the majority of the voters within the city limits.
C.Responsibilities of the City Government:
1. To provide a suitable space for the operation of a library.
2. To pay the cost of providing heating, lighting, furniture, water, garbage, janitorial services, janitorial supplies and other items as negotiatedper contract.
3.To maintain the grounds and the premises and to keep the same in good repair at the city's expense.
D. Responsibilities of the Library District:
1. To provide rotating collections of library materials on a monthly basis.
2.To pay the salaries of the branch manager and substitute.
2.To set the wages of the branch manager and substitute.
3.To hire and discharge the branch manager and substitute.
4.In the case of the City of Colfax, a building/janitorial fee will be computed to determine annual contract fees.
Interlibrary loan is an important and necessary part of library services. It is impossible for any library to purchase all materials. Whitman County Library System encourages patrons to make use of this service (see Appendix L.) However, some restrictions are necessary.
A. Interlibrary loan materials should not be requested more than once by a patron.
B. Only materials which are not owned by the Whitman County Library System may be borrowed via interlibrary loan.We cannot borrow books that we own which are in use at the time of the request.
C. Audio-visual materials, reference books, rare books and books less than one year old cannot be borrowed via interlibrary loan in accordance with national interlibrary loan standards.
D. Due to the nature of public library collections, staff members cannot undertake original research through interlibrary loan for patrons or students. We cannot support college courses by providing required reading materials. Specific reading lists or specialized subject materials for college research should be requested through the appropriate university library.
E. We will make every effort to have books by a date specified on the request form.However, we can make no guarantees.Patrons can expect to wait up to several months for interlibrary loan books to arrive.
F.The Library will borrow up to five (5) Items per month per patron, so long as the lending library does not charge a fee.Any items beyond 5 per month will be assessed a borrowing fee to offset postage and staff costs.If a patron does not want to pay possible charges, he/she should note that on the request form, and we will send the request only to those libraries known to not charge for interlibrary loan service. If lending library charges a fee, that fee will be paid by the patron with their pre-approval.
G. Interlibrary
loan service is a privilege.Patrons
who abuse this privilege by failing to return books on time or by failing
to pick up interlibrary loan books may have their interlibrary loan privileges
suspended.
(See also Appendix F)
1.The
basement meeting room is not accessible to people with physical disabilities,
so if needed, an alternate site must be found.
2.The
meeting room shall be available for public use only when there is no interference
with library activities during regular hours of operation.
3.Scheduled
meeting dates may be changed if they conflict with library activities.
4.Completion
of the meeting room application for use and payment of any fees
are necessary before use of the meeting room will be granted. Permission
to use the room shall be granted by the Director (or designee). If there
is any question as to the suitability of the application, the request will
be deferred to the library board of trustees.
5.The
individual accepting responsibility for the meeting room by signing the
meeting room application for use must be at least 18 years of
age. All meetings must have at least one adult (18 or older) in attendance.
The Director (or designee) must approve any exceptions to this rule.
6.The
meeting room shall not be available for commercial purposes. Political
and religious groups may use the room, provided that no funds are solicited
during the meeting.
7.College
credit and continuing education classes may be granted use of this facility
even though the sponsoring college collects fees for these classes.
8.No
admission may be charged except to cover the cost of rental.
9.Except
for charges specified in the meeting room application for use,
organizations may use the meeting room during library hours without charge.
10.Whitman
County Library will not be held responsible for failure or unavailability
of equipment as listed on themeeting
room application for use. The Director (or designee) can authorize
a refund of fees if equipment fails or becomes unavailable.
11.Meetings
may not be booked for more than two months in advance without prior approval
from the Director (or designee).
12.The
meeting room, kitchen and other equipment must be left in the same condition
they were found. If cleaning or repair after use is necessary the cost
will be charged to the individual named as responsible on the meeting
room application for use."
13.Any
behavior or programming deemed by library staff to be innapropriate, obscene
or threatening will result in the loss of meeting room privileges.
IX.ANNOUNCEMENTS AND SOLICITATIONS
A.Solicitations:
1.Due to its status as a public, non-profit, non-partisan organization, Whitman County Library cannot collect money for any group or individual for non-library purposes.Upon approval by the library Board of Trustees, the library may display posters or other materials indicating where such donations may be made in the case of non-profit groups.
2.In order to protect the library staff and to assure library patrons of their freedom to peaceful use of the library, neither individuals nor groups will be allowed to solicit for any purpose, monetary or otherwise, on the library premises.
B.Public Announcements:
1.Whitman County Library System will be happy to display or distribute announcements in the form of posters or printed handouts for any community agency or organization.Posters making religious or political statements will not be displayed due to our status as a public agency.If there is any question as to suitability of the material, it will be forwarded to the Director for approval.
2.In order to protect library staff and to assure library patrons of their right to peaceful use of the public library, neither individuals nor groups will be allowed to distribute printed materials on the library premises.
A.The Director may grant the privilege of placing exhibits and displays in the library, subject to the following conditions:
1.No poster, display, exhibit, pamphlet, brochure, leaflet or booklet shall be exhibited, displayed or placed in the library for distribution without permission of the Director (or designee.)
2.No organization or individual shall be permitted to display or exhibit any materials which advocate the election or defeat of a candidate for public office, or which advocate an affirmative or negative vote for or against any proposition or initiative, whether political or otherwise. Official election information will be made available in the library.Exceptions will be made for library related issues.
3.No organization or individual shall be permitted to place in the library any receptacle which solicits donations, nor shall any poster or display be permitted which advocates or solicits consideration of any product or item sold by any commercial or charitable enterprise.
4.Available space may be used by any group whose purpose for the display promotes the welfare or educational enlightenment of the community.Such displays shall be on a "first-come, first served" basis, subject to the limitations of space as determined by the Director.Any organization requesting the use of this space must sign the "display contract". (Appendix G)
5.The library assumes no responsibility for the preservation, protection, or possible damage or theft of any item displayed or exhibited.All items placed in the library are done so at the owner's risk.
6.Items are displayed for one month, unless otherwise agreed upon y the library and the display owner. In the event that the owner of the display does not reclaim
it by 14 days afterthe agreed ending date of the exhibit, the library assumes ownership with the right to sell or dispose of the property.
7.Display areas for the public includes two sides of the bulletin board of the triangular display module.
A.Services:
1. The library serves residents of the District, annexed cities and contracting cities.These residents are issued library cards free of charge by showing proof of residency in the county.Persons or families residing outside of the library district but owning property against which the library tax is levied are given free resident library cards with current identification.Persons who live outside the library district in areas with which the library does not have a reciprocal agreement or negotiated contract may be issued a non-resident cardupon showing current identification, for a annual fee of $30.00 per family.
2.Whitman County Rural Library District has a reciprocal agreement with both Neill Public Library in Pullman and Latah Free PublicLibrary in Moscow to honor their residents by issuing these patrons Whitman County Library Cards free of charge.
3.Reference service via our Internet website, the U.S. Mail, orby phone will be offered to people outside of our library district at a rate of $30.00 per hour.
4. The use of the library or its services may be limited when excessive demands of groups or individuals tend to curtail service to the general public.
5.The use of the library or its services may be denied for due cause.Such cause may be, but is not limited to, having two lost books or having ten dollars ($10.00) or more in un-paid library charges, or not following rules governing the use of the library (see appendix H)or computer use policies (see appendix J).But service will not be denied or abridged on the grounds of religious, racial, social, economic, or political status.
In addition, when Whitman County Rural Library has been formally notified that a person has failed to return materials to another Washington public library(ies), such person willnot be permitted to register with the Whitman County Rural Library until such time as the items from the other library(ies) have been returned and/or paid for.
6.If a user damages library property, he/she will be asked to pay replacement or repair costs at the discretion of the director.In the case of materials, this cost shall be the cost of replacing the item.In the case of damage to other property or to the building, the user will either repair the damage at his/her own expense or pay the cost of having the repair done.
7.To protect the rights of Whitman County Library users of all ages, no one will be allowed to check out library materials without first presenting his or her library card, or the number of same, or picture identification to the person at the circulation desk.
B.Registration:
1.A computerized patron registration file will be maintained.
2.The registration forms used by persons under 18 years of age will be signed by their parent or guardian and will be filed for reference of responsibility.The one exception will be if a person under 18 can show documentation that he/she is emancipated.
3.Each patron's first library card is free.If, however, it shall be lost, a replacement card fee of one dollar ($1.00) shall be charged.
C.Circulation Period:
1.The rules for circulation of materials are based on the value of the Item, popularity, the number of Items of that type owned by Whitman County Library or other factors.
2.The basic circulation period for library materials varies according to type, age and cost of material.
D.Renewals:
Renewals will be made for most print materials unless there are other patrons waiting for the material. Telephone renewals will be made.
E.Overdue Notices:
1. Patrons will receive 2 overdue notices, then a statement after item is 6 weeks overdue. A schedule of overdue notices is maintained by the person in charge of circulation.
2.Persons who consistently have overdue notices may be denied library privileges. Willingly retaining books is a Class 4 Civil Infraction (RCW 27.12.340).
F.Lost Materials
1.All materials will be considered "lost" when they are six weeks overdue or sooner for just cause such as (but not limited to) change of residence without notification.A statement will be sent notifying them of the lost material charges.The balance on their account includes a charge for the lost material plus a processing fee.Patrons who pay for lost items and subsequently return the item within one year of the date it is lost will receive a refund for the material but not the processing fee.
2.Patron accounts with balances $25.00 or more are sent to collection 30 days or more after the last notice was sent.The library will assess a collection fee to offset staff time, postage and other expenses. Any items on accounts that have been sent to collection may not be returned to Whitman County Library for refund.Patrons sent to collection must deal with the collection agency once their account has been turned over to a collection agency.
3.Past due accounts of $75 or more may be referred to civil court.The library willassess
additional fees to cover staff time, service fees, garnishment fees, attorney fees, etc.
4.Patrons writing checks to Whitman County Library that are returned for insufficient funds will be charged an additional $20.00 handling fee.
G.Requests:
Requests will be taken for books not on the shelf.The borrower will be notified when the book is available.These items will be held for the patron at the circulation desk for one week.
H.Limits
1. At any given time, each patron is limited to twenty-five (25) items and each family card is limited to fifty (50) items.
2. New patrons or those with a troublesome history record may be assessedlower check-out limits by the director(or designee.)
I.Privacy of Circulation:
All circulation records and
other records identifying the names of library users are confidential in
nature.Such records shall not be
made available to any person, agency of state, federal or local government
except under 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
investigative power.Upon receipt
of such process, order, or subpoena, the library attorney will be consulted
to determine if such process, order or subpoena is in proper form and if
there is a showing of good cause for its issuance.Children's
circulation records shall be made available only to themselves and/or their
parents or legal guardians.