Disruptive Behavior Policy

In order that the Public Library of Johnston County and Smithfield may function properly as a library in providing a quiet, pleasant environment conducive to serious study as well as casual use, the Board of Trustees holds that the following forms of conduct are deemed unacceptable and not permitted in the library or on library property:

  • Loud conversation or laughter which is disturbing to others.
  • Obscene or abusive language.
  • Blocking or interfering with the free movement of individuals.
  • Sitting, standing, or lying on tables, stacks, or stair steps inside library building.
  • Rearranging of any furniture or equipment from one location to another. Sitting at tables beyond the limit of chairs normally assigned to that table.
  • Smoking in the library building.
  • Loitering or sleeping.
  • Consumption of food or beverages.
  • Bringing animals into library building, other than seeing-eye dogs.
  • Listening to radios, recordings, or cassettes except with earphones.
  • Sexual activity, solicitation, following staff or users around the building, or other harassing behavior such as staring or other intimidating acts.
  • Consumption or exchange of alcoholic beverages and drugs on library property.
  • Use of rest rooms for meetings, loitering, solicitation for immoral purposes, consumption or exchange of drugs and alcoholic beverages.
  • Solicitation of money, selling of any kind (except sales of public library material by library staff or Friends as authorized by the library), or distribution of literature not approved by the library administration.
  • Use of library telephones by anyone other than library personnel unless use is approved by an employee. There is a pay phone at the parking lot entrance.
  • Entry to non-public areas except by invitation or approval of library personnel.
  • Theft, mutilation, and defacement of library property.
  • Threats, abuse, and/or physical harm to library patrons or employees.
  • Taking library property outside library buildings without authorization by library personnel through established lending procedures.
  • Other activities which are illegal or which prevent staff and patrons from using library services, furniture, facilities, and materials for their intended purposes.
  • Use of elevator except by permission of library personnel.
  • Parking in the bookmobile driveway behind library building.
  • Bearing unauthorized firearms or other lethal weapons.
  • Riding skateboards or rollerblades on library property, and at library entrances.
  • Engaging in disorderly conduct, committing a nuisance, or unreasonably disturbing and/or offending library users or staff.
 

Collection Development Policy

Adopted by the Board of Trustees 7/7/03
Purpose of Policy

This collection development policy has been created:

  • to clearly state the policies of the Library Board,
  • to identify responsibility for collection development and provide staff with consistent guidelines for development and maintenance of the collection,
  • to provide a process for public input,
  • to assist in budget allocation for materials, and
  • to defend freedom of information and protect against censorship.
Policy Framework

PURPOSE OF THE COLLECTION

The Library Board believes that the public library is the principal source for information that is freely available to everyone. Therefore, the Public Library of Johnston County & Smithfield shall:

  • acquire and organize educational, informational and recreational materials to promote the communication of ideas, an informed community and an improved quality of life,
  • provide materials through which inquiring minds may discover original and sometimes controversial ideas essential to a society that depends on the free circulation of ideas for its existence, and
  • provide a progressive, user-oriented service which anticipates and responds to the educational, cultural, recreational and other information needs of Johnston County residents.

RELATIONSHIP TO THE MISSION, GOALS AND STRATEGIC PLAN OF THE LIBRARY

The Library's mission statement is as follows:
"The mission of the Public Library of Johnston County & Smithfield is to help the people of our community meet their lifelong educational, informational, cultural and recreational needs."

To achieve these goals the library will:

· acquire and organize a well-balanced and broad collection, in various formats, representing a variety of viewpoints,

· provide useful, current information sources for individuals, businesses, and organizations,

· monitor the needs of the community by doing surveys, use studies, etc. regularly,

· ensure that the collection reflects the priorities in the current strategic plan, and

· make the collection freely available to everyone.THE LIBRARY AND THE COMMUNITY

As a public, tax-supported institution, the Library must serve all sections of a diverse community. Materials are selected on the basis of their interest and information to all people in the community. The Library encourages comments and opinions regarding the collection from customers. Discussion and the exchange of ideas between customers and the Library help to ensure that the collection more accurately reflects and supports the needs and interests of customers. The Library welcomes suggestions for the purchase of material from customers. These suggestions shall be considered in light of the Library's selection criteria.INTELLECTUAL FREEDOM

The Public Library of Johnston County & Smithfield supports the American Library Association's Library Bill of Rights and its interpretations and the American Library Association's Freedom to Read Statement. (Appendix A.)

The Public Library of Johnston County & Smithfield provides a collection that presents various and diverse points of view. The Library makes no attempt to promote specific beliefs or viewpoints through its collection.

Parents or legal guardians are responsible for the selection and use of library materials by their children. The Library supports the right of individuals to reject for themselves or for their children materials they find unsuitable or objectionable and makes no attempt to limit or restrict access.

In accordance with this statement, the library staff develops collections to represent as many viewpoints as possible within constraints of budget, space, and availability of resources.

The presence of materials in the library does not constitute endorsement of their contents by the Library Board.

GIFTS/DONATIONS

The Public Library of Johnston County & Smithfield welcomes gifts/donations of books and other materials. Gifts/donations are added according to the same selection criteria as purchased materials. However, since processing and housing materials is expensive, the library reserves the right to accept or discard any materials received as gifts/donations. In addition, the library has the right to reject or discard any materials because of age or physical condition. Gifts/donations that are not added to the collection are usually put in the ongoing library book sale or forwarded to other libraries. Once received, materials are the exclusive property of the Public Library of Johnston County & Smithfield.

Cash donations and bequests of money may be made to the Public Library of Johnston County & Smithfield. The donor may request that these funds be used for the development of specific collections, but the Library Board reserves the right to select materials it deems appropriate.

Authority and Responsibility

RESPONSIBILITY FOR SELECTION

The Library Director is responsible for collection development and maintenance, acting in accordance with the general policies established by the Library Board. In practice, the Director delegates these responsibilities to members of the library staff who are qualified by reason of education or training. Any library materials so selected are held to have been selected by the Board.

The Director may elect to bring to the attention of the Board any acquisition which in her judgment may be of concern to the Board.

The presence of any book, video or other material in the library does not indicate endorsement of its contents by the Library Board.

RESPONSIBILITY OF THE CUSTOMER

The library realizes that some materials are controversial and that any given item may offend some customers. While the library staff is available to assist individuals and groups to select material, the ultimate responsibility for the choice of materials lies with the customer.
 

Meeting Room Policy

The Library meeting room is available for public gatherings of a civic, cultural, or educational character. The room is not available for meetings for social, political, or partisan purposes; for the benefit of private individuals or commercial concerns; or when in the judgment of the Director of the Library any disorder may be likely to occur. Library sponsored programs always take precedence over other programs in reserving use of the meeting room.

Reservations or booking for the use of the meeting room should be made through the circulation desk and arranged at least three (3) days before the commencement of the meeting. Each meeting should be booked separately on the reservation slip provided and final approval of the use of the meeting room will be given by the Director of the Library. In order not to be designated as a regular meeting site, reservations or bookings will not be accepted for regular series of meetings of long duration, such as the second Wednesday of every month.

The person or organization reserving the meeting room will be held responsible for the proper conduct of those attending the meeting and for the expense of any damage to library property. The Chairman or host for the meeting will be responsible for seeing that the participants are quiet while entering and leaving as well as during the meeting. Food may not be served or taken into the meeting room for most functions. Light refreshments may be served for Library, County and Town functions only.

Use of the meeting room does not include use of other Library materials such as AV materials, unless special arrangements are made with the Director of the Library. The meeting room may be reserved for use during regular library hours only. Meetings must not extend beyond closing time of the Library.
 

Internet Access Policy 

The mission of the Public Library of Johnston County and Smithfield is to help the people of our community meet their lifelong informational, educational, cultural and recreational needs through our collection, resources, and services.

The Internet, as an information resource, enables the library to provide information beyond the confines of its own collection.  It allows access to ideas, information and commentary from around the world.  However, it is an unregulated medium.  Though it offers access to a wealth of material that is personally, professionally, and culturally enriching, it also enables access to materials that may be offensive, disturbing, and/or illegal.  The library has no control of the Internet and its resources, and assumes no responsibility for the quality, accuracy, currency, or suitability of any Internet resource.

The library upholds and affirms the right of each individual to have access to a wide variety of material.  The library also affirms the right and responsibility of parents to determine and monitor their children's use of library materials and resources.

In affirmation of these rights and to ensure that use of the Internet is consistent with the mission of the Public Library of Johnston County and Smithfield, the following regulations will apply:

  • Upon the issuance of a library card, prospective users will sign an Internet Acceptable Use Agreement that will be kept on file in the library.
  • To assure parental guidance in children's use of the Internet, children age nine and under require parental permission and adult supervision.
         
    Users may not access inappropriate matter, such as matter that is obscene, pornographic, threatening or otherwise in violation of community standards.
  • Users must be careful not to expose themselves to dangerous situations.  Users must be cautious when using e-mail, chat rooms, instant messaging, discussion groups, newsgroups, game rooms, and all other forms of communications.
  • Users may not engage in unlawful activities or misrepresentation.  Users may not attempt unauthorized access (including hacking) to any computer system.
  • Users may not make unauthorized disclosure of, use of, or dissemination of a minor’s personal information by means of the Internet, e-mail or any other electronic technology.  A minor must have the authorization of a parent or guardian to disclose personal information.
  • In accordance with current state and federal laws, all library computers that connect to the Internet use a technology protection measure to filter and block access to images that are obscene, pornographic, or harmful to minors.  Filters are not 100% effective and may not filter images that should be blocked, and conversely, may block images that should not be blocked.
  • Internet use will be managed in a manner consistent with the library's Disruptive Behavior Policy.
  • Failure to use the Internet station(s) appropriately and responsibly, as defined in the acceptable use agreement, will result in revocation of Internet use privileges and/or library use privileges.  Unacceptable use that is illegal may result in criminal prosecution as well.

Approved by Library Board of Trustees, March 4, 2002; revisions approved 7/11/05; rev. approved 1/8/07
 

Library Card Policy

Effective December 1, 2003, patrons of the Public Library of Johnston County and Smithfield will be required to present a library card at checkout. The card must be up to date and registered in the name of the patron who is wishing to check out library materials.

Who can get a card:
  • Any individual who lives in and/or owns property in Johnston County may obtain a card free of charge.
  • Residents who live in the counties of Wake, Harnett, Sampson, Wayne, Wilson, Nash, and Franklin County may also obtain a card free of charge.
  • Any person attending school or working in the county may obtain a card.

Non-residents of the counties above may purchase a card for $10.00 a year. Temporary card holders are limited on some services.

At least on of the following items of identification is required to obtain a library card:
  • A valid NC driver’s license with a current address or a valid driver’s license with your picture and a document showing present address.
  • A student picture ID showing proof of enrollment (if under 16 years old, accompanied by a parent with a valid NC driver’s license with a current address or a valid driver’s license and a document showing present address)
  • A document showing proof of employment (such as a current pay stub) in Johnston County and a picture ID

Cards remain valid for two years. After the two years, the card can be updated free of charge. A picture ID will be required to update the card. There is a $2.00 replacement fee for lost cards.

In the rare event that patrons do not have their card with them at check out, library staff can access the patron’s record on the computer and complete the checkout transaction if the patron has proper identification. Patrons who do not have proper identification with them at this time will be required to fill out a short form with their name, address, birth date, and phone number.
 
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