• GENERAL
• LOANS
• HOLDS
• FINES
• RENEWALS
• INTERLIBRARY LOANS
• OTHER FEES
• DONATIONS
• CONDUCT
• INTERNET USE POLICY

Library cards are obtainable at the Circulation Desk. Please ask the librarian for a registration form. You must be a resident of Graham County and at least 5 years old to be eligible for a free card. Non-residents may obtain a card for an annual fee of $10.00. Please bring a picture I.D. and proof of residence, or school enrollment.

Additional cards for family members may be added to non-resident registration for an additional $2.00 per card.

Lost cards will be replaced for a fee of $1.00.

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The loan period is 2 weeks for all materials

Reference material may be checked out overnight at the discretion of the librarian.

At the time of checkout, the borrower will be notified of the due date for each item. The borrower is responsible for meeting the due date.

Adult patrons (14 years and older) may check out 10 items.
Children may check out 5 items.

The bookdrop is provided for the convenience of the patron when the library is closed. It is not a secure facility and is subject to vandalism. Although vandalism is not a common occurrence, the patron assumes the risk for putting books in the bookdrop. The bookdrop is checked by the librarian each day upon opening of the library and is not checked again until the next day. Do not use the bookdrop during normal library hours, as late fines may be assessed.

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Another patron may put an item that is checked out on hold. When the item is checked in, it will be held for the first person on the hold list. Upon notification that the hold is ready, the first person on the hold list has two days to come in and get the item. After two days, the next person on the list will be notified. A patron may have three holds at a time. Items that have holds placed on them may not be renewed. When a hold is placed on an item that is checked out, the original borrower will be notified. For items on hold that are not returned by the due date, a $3.00 fee will be assessed in addition to the daily late fines. Hold late fines are strictly enforced. When the library is closed, used the bookdrop.

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The late fine for all materials, except reference, is $.05 per day, per item.

The late fine for reference material is $1.00 per day, per item.

A courtesy reminder for overdue items will be given by phone or mail the first week of each month. Failure to receive an overdue reminder, for whatever reason, does not remove the responsibility of the borrower for meeting each due date. Second notices will be sent by mail during the first week of the second month items are overdue. During the first week of the third month that items are overdue, collection will be turned over to the Pima Police Department. At that time, the overdue items will be considered lost and the cost of each item plus a non-refundable fee of $10.00 per item will be assessed. If the items are returned within one week after this time, the cost of the item will be refunded, if returned in good condition.

A borrower with outstanding charges of $5.00 or more is denied borrowing privileges unless a payment is made on the fine.

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Library materials may be renewed by phone or in person. Items can be renewed up to 3 times, provided there is not another patron waiting for the item. Videos and reference materials may not be renewed.

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The Interlibrary loan service is the process of acquiring books NOT held in the Pima Public Library. In order to obtain a book or article, the patron must fill out a request form. This service is offered free of charge. It generally takes 2-3 weeks to get a book into our library, as these books come from all over the United States. Materials that are rare, in fragile condition, in high use or non-circulating in most libraries take considerably longer and may be impossible to acquire. Most libraries do not offer rush service and most do not grant renewals.

Effective 9-1-10 The Pima Public Library will provide 4 ILL books per household, per month at no expense to the patron. The Patron will prepay all ILL's exceeding 4 per household, per month at a cost of $2.50* per book. (*This amount will increase with postage cost increases.)

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• Copies - 5 cents per side copied. No discounts will be made for using your own paper.
• Fax - Sending & receiving- $1.00 first page, .25 each additional page
• Replacement of lost library card
  - $1.00 first replacement
  - $5.00 each additional replacement
• Replacement of video case - $2.50 non-refundable

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We welcome your donation of books and other library materials to the library. Although we will accept all donations, we cannot promise that all items donated will be put on our shelves. Unless otherwise requested by the donor, unshelved materials will be placed in the sale room with proceeds being used to purchase new materials. Materials which fall into the following categories generally will not be added to the library’s collection:

• Textbooks
• Magazines
• Incomplete multi-volume sets
• Material in poor condition
• Pamphlets
• Titles that the library already owns

The library reserves the right to utilize materials accepted in whatever way best benefits the library. Gifts may be added to the collection, sold with the proceeds to benefit the library, or donated to another institution.

The library staff is prohibited by law from appraising gifts for tax deduction purposes.

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Patrons of the Pima Public Library expect to have:

• A library environment free of disruptive activity
  
• Access to library materials or an ability to put them on hold as regulations allow
  
• Books, magazines, and newspapers that are complete and unmarked
  
• Surroundings free from food, beverages, and their resulting problems

Ensuring a pleasant and productive environment for study, research, and pleasure reading for all users requires that each user of the library refrain from the following activities listed below.

• Removal, or attempted removal, of library materials or property without checking them out or without authorization.
• Consumption of food or beverages within the library.
• Smoking in the library or on the library grounds.
• Mutilation of library materials by marking, underlining, removing pages or portions of pages, removing binding, removing circulation barcodes, removing spine labels, or in any other way injuring or defacing library materials.
• Concealing library materials in the library for the exclusive use of an individual or group.
• Failure to return materials following the expiration of the loan period.
• Failure to pay the library the value of lost or damaged materials.
• Any disturbance or behavior that interferes with normal use of the library (rowdiness, noise, skates, skateboards, scooters, offensive sexual behavior, and so forth.)
• Harassment of library staff or users.
• Being in an unauthorized area of the library, remaining in the library after closing, or remaining when requested to leave during emergency situations.

Misuse of the library, whether by theft, mutilation or vandalism of library materials or property, or by interference with the activities of other library users, shows disrespect for the institution and disregard of the right of the members of the community. The library will actively seek legal action and/or prosecution for the offenses listed above.

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Consistent with our mission and the professional principles of public librarianship, the Internet Use Policy affirms the safeguarding of First Amendment rights, intellectual freedom, equity of access, confidentiality of information about users and their use of all library resources including electronic, and individual responsibility. The Library affirms the principles and user rights as delineated in the American Library Association's "Access to Electronic Information, Services, and Networks: and Interpretation of the Library Bill of Rights"

The Library assumes no responsibility for any damages, direct or indirect, arising from its connections to the Internet. Not all the information available via the Internet is accurate, current, or complete. Users are encouraged to be good information consumers by evaluating the validity of information accessed via the Internet.

Users are cautioned that ideas, points of view, and images can be found on the Internet that are controversial, divergent, and/or inflammatory. The provision of access does not mean or imply that the Library endorses or sanctions the content or point of view of any of the information or commentary that may be found on the Internet.

The Internet offers access to a wealth of information that can be personally, professionally, and culturally enriching. Library staff have attempted to identify on the Library's home page specific starting points for searches and links to sources on the Internet that are consistent with the Library's mission and roles. However, because the Internet is a vast and unregulated information network, it also enables access to ideas, information, images, and commentary beyond the confines of the Library's collection, mission, selection criteria, and collection development policies. Because of this and the fact that access points on the Internet can and do change often, rapidly, and unpredictably, the Library's cannot protect individuals from information and images which they might find offensive or disturbing.

Since the Library computers on which the public can access the Internet are located in public areas, which must be shared by library users of all ages, backgrounds, and sensibilities, individuals are asked to consider this when accessing potentially controversial information and images. Library staff cannot consistently and effectively monitor the public's use of the Internet. The Library, however, reserves the right to ask individuals to discontinue the display of information and images which cause a disruption or are not appropriate for viewing in a public area.

Users are cautioned that, because security in an electronic environment such as the Internet cannot be guaranteed, all transactions, files, and communication are vulnerable to unauthorized access and use and therefore should be considered public.

Parental Responsibility and Child Safety on the Internet
Parents or guardians are responsible for the Internet information selected and/or accessed by their children. Children who use the Internet unsupervised may be exposed to inappropriate or disturbing information and images. Written parental permission is required for minors (17 and under). Parental supervision is required for minors 11 and under, but may be waived for students in grades 4-6 doing school-related work, provided the supervision waiver form is signed by the student’s parent or guardian and is on file in the library. The supervision waiver form must be renewed each school year until the minor reaches 12 years of age.

The following are recommended guidelines for parents and guardians to
ensure that children have positive online experiences, whether at home
or in the library.

• Use the Internet as a family. Join your children in Internet exploration.
• Explore the wide range of available information and tell your children about sites you consider inappropriate for them.
• Encourage children to use sites recommended in the Library's website and counsel them to avoid sites you consider unsuitable.
• Provide guidelines for your children on the amount of time they spend online, just as for television viewing.
• Instruct children NEVER to give out personal information (name, address, password, telephone number, credit card number) online.
• Teach children to be good online consumers. As with print information, consider the source, date, and accuracy of online information.
  

To assist parents, the Library has available on-line the pamphlet "Child Safety on the Information Highway", published by the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children, which includes "Guidelines for Parents". Parents are encouraged to review this information with their children. See our Links to Parental Guides to the Internet

User Responsibilities and Guidelines
All users of the Internet are expected to use this library resource in a responsible and courteous manner, consistent with the purposes for which it is provided, and to follow all Internet-related rules, regulations, and procedures established for its use including, but not limited to, those of the Library.

Responsible, courteous use of the Internet includes:

• Recognizing that the Internet, like all of the Library's information resources, must be shared and used in a manner that respects the rights of others and refrains from activity that prevents others from using it.
• Using the Library's Internet resources for educational and informational purposes only.
• Refraining from using the Library's Internet resources to conduct a business or commercial enterprise, or engage in a commercial activity such as distribution of advertising.
• Refraining from illegal or unethical use of the Internet.
• Respecting intellectual property rights by making only authorized copies of copyrighted, licensed, or otherwise controlled software or data residing on the Internet.
• Respecting the privacy of others by not misrepresenting oneself as another user; by not attempting to modify or gain access to files, passwords, or data belonging to others; and by not seeking disallowed access to any computer system via the Internet.
• Refraining from damaging or altering the set-up of the equipment used to access the Internet at the Library.
• Refraining from damaging or altering software or data residing on the Internet.
• Refraining from the deliberate propagation of computer worms and viruses.
• Refraining from the transmission of threatening, harassing, or abusive language and images.
• Refraining from sending, accessing, or displaying offensive messages or pictures.
• Refraining from any interaction involving any “chat” or “talk” room.
• Time limit of one hour, if other patrons are waiting, must be observed.
• Internet access computers will be turned off 15 minutes before the close of the library.

Work done on library computers is not to be saved to the hard drive. Any work so saved will be erased within 24 hours. Virus detecting software is provided on each public assess machine. Patrons may use their own floppy disks or purchase one for $1.00 at the desk.

Compliance with Library Policy and Guidelines
Violation of the policies and regulations, which govern the use of the Library’s Internet resources, may result in suspension or loss of the privilege to use these resources. Illegal activity involving the Library's Internet resources will be subject to prosecution by the appropriate authorities.

Staff Assistance
Staff will assist library users in getting started on the Internet. Internet instruction classes are offered in the Reference Department--please ask at the reference desk for more details. Time permitting, the staff will try to answer specific questions about the Internet and offer suggestions for effective searching. Library staff can also provide information about Internet training opportunities and Internet books and manuals.

E-Mail
The Library is not able to offer e-mail accounts to Library users. Patrons may receive free email from online companies.

Adapted from the Internet Policy of the Sparta Public Library and the Ames Public Library
Adopted by the Pima Public Library Board March 27, 2001. Revised June 25, 2002.