Policies

Circulation Policy
Computer Access Policy
Museum Passes
Materials Selection Policy
Quiet Study Room Policy

Circulation Policy

Portsmouth Free Public Library is a member of the Ocean State Libraries (OSL), a consortium of public libraries in Rhode Island. To obtain a library card, patrons must show proof of residency in Rhode Island. Children must have a parent/guardian sign the completed registration form in the library.
New fiction books may be checked out for 3 weeks. No renewals allowed.
New non–fiction, audio books, and older books (both fiction & non–fiction books older than 6 months) may be checked out for 3 weeks. One renewal allowed for an additional 3 weeks.
A maximum of 4 videos or 4 DVDs may be checked out for 1 week. No renewals allowed.
Periodicals circulate for 1 week. No renewals allowed. The current issue does not circulate. Some weekly news issues do not circulate.
Music CDs circulate for 1 week. No renewals allowed.
It is OSL policy that any card holder with fines over $5.00 will have their borrowing privileges suspended until such fine is brought under $5.00.

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Computer Access Policy

Access by Minors

Parents or legal guardians must assume responsibility for deciding which library resources are appropriate for their own children. Parents or legal guardians should guide their children in use of the Internet and inform them about materials they should not use. While the Library affirms and acknowledges the rights and responsibilities of parents and guardians to monitor and determine their children's access to Library materials and resources, including those available through the Internet, the Library has taken certain measures designed to assist in the safe and effective use of these resources by all minors.

  1. To address the issue of access by minors to inappropriate material on the Internet, including material that is harmful to minors, the Library:
    1. Develops and maintains special web sites for children and teens;
    2. Helps by training users on safe and effective Internet use;
    3. Encourages staff to guide minors away from materials that may be inappropriate if observed by a staff member.
  2. To address the issue of the safety and security of minors when using electronic mail, chat rooms have been prohibited in the Library. In addition, email is prohibited in the Children's Room. The unauthorized disclosure, use and dissemination of personal identification information regarding minors are also prohibited. The following rules should be observed by all patrons:
    1. Never give out identifying information such as home address, school name, or telephone number.
    2. Let parents or guardians decide whether personal information such as age, marital status, or financial information should be revealed.
    3. Never arrange a face–to–face meeting with someone via the computer without parents' or guardians' approval.
    4. Never respond to messages that are suggestive, obscene, threatening, or make one uncomfortable.
    5. Have parents or guardians report an incident to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children at 1–800–843–5678 if one becomes aware of the transmission of child pornography.
    6. Remember that people online may not be who they say they are.
    7. Remember that everything one reads may not be true.
  3. To address the issue of unauthorized access, including so–called "hacking," and other unlawful activities by minors online, minors and all other Library users are hereby advised that use of the Library's computers for hacking or any other unlawful activity is strictly prohibited.

Rules Governing Use

Patrons cannot use the network to make unauthorized entry into other computational, informational or communication services or resources. They may not:

Violations may result in loss of access. Unlawful activities will be dealt with in an appropriate manner.

Specific Regulations Regarding Patron Use of Computer Workstations:

  1. All Users must have a valid OSL card.
  2. Computers may be used by library patrons age 10 and over. Children younger than 10 must be supervised by an adult.
  3. A parent/guardian's signature is required for those under 18.
  4. All users must sign up at the reference desk prior to using one of the workstations.
  5. A maximum of 2 users per workstation is allowed.
  6. Users should report any problems with the hardware or software to a library staff member immediately.
  7. Users can sign up for 1 hour at a time.
  8. Users can sign up in advance to reserve a workstation for 1 hour at a time but may remain on the computer until another user signs up.
  9. Workstations may be used on a drop in basis unless they are previously reserved.
  10. Reservations for Internet/computer use will be held for 15 minutes only.
  11. Library staff will try to assist users if possible but their availability is limited.
  12. Users are responsible for bringing in their own 3.5 diskettes for saving their files.
  13. Printing costs are payable at the circulation desk.
  14. Misuse or abuse of the computer workstation will result in suspension of the user's computer access privileges.

Public Users' Security

Users should be aware that the Internet is not a secure medium and that third parties may be able to obtain information regarding users' activities. However, the Portsmouth Free Public Library will not release information on the use of specific Internet resources by members of the public except as required by law or necessary for the proper operation of the Library.

Compliance

The Library reserves the right to take appropriate action to insure compliance with this policy.

Guidelines on Access to Information

The Portsmouth Free Public Library is guided by the following American Library Association statements on access to information:

In general, the Library is guided by a commitment to access to information policies that provide appropriate protections to its patrons while being consistent with the Library's longstanding commitment to the principles of free expression as set forth in the First Amendment to the United States Constitution.

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Museum Pass Policy

  1. Adults must present a valid Ocean State Libraries (OSL) library card to borrow a pass.
  2. Loan period is three (3) days.
  3. Museum passes may not be renewed or reserved.
  4. Adults may borrow only one museum pass at a time. Each museum pass may be borrowed by an adult a maximum of 4 times per year.
  5. Each museum has its own policy that governs the attendance on each pass which includes the number of adults and children in the same household who will be admitted with the use of the museum pass.
  6. FINE! A fine of $5.00 per day will be charged for an overdue pass.
  7. LOSS OR REPLACEMENT! If a museum pass is lost, the patron will be charged the replacement cost of the library's museum membership fee. The fee in some cases is $100.00.
  8. The Library assumes no responsibility as to the admittance, hours, and days of the week that a museum is open to the public. This pass is not valid for special exhibits or programs that a museum may offer. For specifics, patrons are encouraged to call the museum.

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Materials Selection Policy

The Portsmouth Free Public Library provides free service to all individuals and groups in the community. The general library objective of Portsmouth Free Public Library is stated in the By–laws:

“The Purpose and aim of the Portsmouth Free Public Library shall be to furnish the best kind of reading matter freely to the people of said Town, and especially to encourage a love of literature in the youth of the community.”
Today it is recognized that to meet the cultural, educational, recreational and informational needs of the community the resources of the Portsmouth Free Public Library must include print and non–print materials.

Responsibility for Selection

Ultimate responsibility for materials rests with the Library Director, who operates within the framework of policies established by the Board of Trustees. The Children's librarian is responsible for the initial selection of juvenile material and the Reference/Young Adult librarian is responsible for reference and young adult material.

Types of Material

Books are, and will continue to be the basic materials for the public library. In this rapidly changing world great amounts of information are being contained in other forms. The library is acquiring appropriate materials regardless of form, and integrating each into its total holdings.

General Selection Policies

The object of selection is to collect those books and other library materials that will inform, entertain and contribute to the enrichment of the spirit. Each type of material must be considered in terms of its own merit and the audience for who it is intended. While some material may be evaluated in terms of artistic merit, scholarship or their value as human documents, others are selected to meet the recreational and entertainment needs of the community.

The Library Director selects library materials. As broad a sample as possible of competent reviewing media and basic lists of standard works are consulted as an aid to selection. Recommendations also are accepted for review from staff and patrons.

“Request for Reconsideration of Library Materials” forms are available at the Circulation Desk. The Board of Trustees has adopted these forms which have been recommended by the Rhode Island Library Association for this procedure. Upon receipt of such a request, the library will review decisions regarding such specific material. The forms concerning censorship issues should be kept for three (3) years.*

Basic to the Library Materials Selection Policy, the Library reaffirms its belief in the Library Bill of Rights, the Freedom to Read Statement, the Freedom to View Statement, Intellectual Freedom Statement and the Free Access to Library's for Minors which are appended.

To build a quality collection, objective guidelines are considered. All acquisitions purchased or donated, are evaluated in terms of the following standards:

  1. Current usefulness or permanent value.
  2. Authority and competence in presentation.
  3. Importance as a record of the times.
  4. Its function in broadening or balancing the existing collection.
  5. Relative importance in comparison with other works on the subject.
  6. High standards of quality in content, format and binding.

The Use of the Library's Materials

Library materials are not marked or identified to show approval or disapproval of the contents and no book or other item is sequestered.

The use of rare and scholarly items of great value is controlled to the extent required to preserve them from harm.

Responsibility for the reading of children rests with their parents and legal guardians. Selection of materials for the Library's collections is not restricted by the possibility that children may obtain materials their parents consider inappropriate.

The Scope of the Collection

The Library makes every effort to make its collection relevant to meet the multi–faceted needs in the community. Close cooperation with other libraries through inter–library loan will be developed and maintained to meet the highly specialized technical needs that are beyond the capability of this library.

The Library cooperates with school and academic libraries so that the services of these agencies may compliment each other. The major function of the school and academic libraries is to furnish curriculum–related materials. The public library seeks to provide a collection that is broad–based to meet the needs of all segments of the community.

The Library acknowledges a particular interest in local and state history and in the works of local authors.

Gifts

Books and other materials are accepted on the condition that the Library Director has the authority to make whatever disposition he/she deems advisable.

The Portsmouth Free Public Library will not undertake to evaluate the worth of gift books for tax purposes, but suggests that contact be made with an experienced and reputable book dealer.

Gifts of money, real property and/or stock are accepted if conditions attached thereto are acceptable to the Board of Trustees.

Maintaining the Collection

The same criteria will be used in weeding materials from the collection as are used in their acquisition. In order to maintain the collection in its most attractive and useful condition, the Library Director will use his or her judgment in removing from the collection materials that are no longer useful, or are not in a condition suitable for circulation. Materials no longer useful to the Library may be given to other libraries or sold for the benefit of the Library.

Revision of Policy

This statement of policy will be revised as times and circumstances require.

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Quiet Study Room Policy

Portsmouth Free Public Library maintains two (2) Quiet Study Rooms for those patrons who want minimal distractions. These rooms are open to all patrons and may be scheduled in advance by calling or visiting the Library. No more than three (3) people may use one room at a time. A computer is available in each Quiet Study Room with Internet access, Microsoft Office, and access to network printers. As with all computers in the Library, a parental permission form must be signed for those patrons under 18. Inappropriate behavior may result in the loss of the use of the room. Patrons wanting to use a Quiet Study Room must sign up at the Reference Desk.

The rooms may be scheduled up to two (2) weeks in advance by calling the Reference Desk at 683-9457. Unless reserved, Quiet Study Rooms may also be scheduled on a walk-in basis by checking with and registering at the Reference Desk.

A maximum of four hours at a time may be scheduled. This time may be extended however, if no one is waiting. Quiet Study Rooms may not be scheduled for more than three (3) consecutive days. Patrons more than 15 minutes late will forfeit their reservations unless they call the Library. Reserved room time is not transferable to any other person, including family members. If a user leaves the room for more than 15 minutes, the room will be considered vacant. All personal belongings will be removed, and the room will be available for use by another patron.

Personal laptop computers may be used.

Covered drinks are permitted in the Quiet Study Rooms but food is not allowed. Patrons are expected to clean up after themselves.

Patrons using the Quiet Study Rooms must register by signing up at the Reference Desk. If a room suffers damage, the patron will be billed for necessary repairs and will be denied future use of the study rooms.

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