Waterbury Public Library Policies

• Mission Statement
• Board of Commissioners Bylaws
• General Operation Policy
• Materials Selection
• Request for Reconsideration of a Library Resource
• Eating and Drinking in the Library
• Appropriate Library Behavior
• Children and Young Adults
• Computer and Internet Use
  

Mission:

To inspire our community to learn, connect and thrive.

Eating and Drinking in the Library

Although not sold in the Library, food and beverages may be consumed in the Café and/or as part of a Library program or meeting in the SAL Room. Please limit food and drinks to these areas.

Appropriate Library Behavior

Residents and visitors of all ages are welcome at the Waterbury Public Library.

All individuals are expected to treat the facilities, materials, and equipment with care and behave in a respectful manner toward other library users and staff.

If, in the opinion of the staff, any individual behaves in a manner inappropriate to a library setting and/or disturbing to other library users (including, but not limited to engaging in loud or long phone conversations, shouting, cursing, fighting, or threatening others, or throwing things) the individual will be asked to stop the behavior or leave the library. If the patron refuses, the police may be called.

Children and Young Adults

Welcome:  Waterbury Public Library welcomes children of all ages. The Library staff is committed to making the library an inviting place for children to develop a life-long love for books, learning, and libraries.

The Library offers weekly Baby/Toddler and Preschool Story Times, picture books and books for growing readers, puppets and puzzles, fiction and nonfiction, magazines, audiobooks and movies, a learning station with educational games, computers and the Internet, places to study and socialize with friends, special programs that provide opportunities to learn and discover, and assistance from the staff in accessing these resources.

Children and young adults are expected to behave appropriately. If, in the opinion of the Library staff, any child or young adult is behaving in a manner inappropriate to a library setting (see Appropriate Library Behavior above), that individual will be told to leave the Library.

Parental Responsibility:

The Library does not assume responsibility or liability for the actions, care, supervision, or safety of minors. Parents/guardians and designated caregivers over 16 are responsible for their children’s safety and behavior while in the Library or on the Library grounds, whether or not they are present on site.

It is the responsibility of parents/guardians and designated caregivers over 16, NOT the Library or Library employees, to provide appropriate supervision of minors.

Parents/guardians are responsible for paying for any damage to library or municipal facilities, materials, or equipment caused by their minor children.

Parents/guardians and designated caregivers are expected to be aware of the Library’s hours. All Library patrons must leave the building at closing time. If a parent/guardian or designated caregiver feels it is unsafe for their child to leave the building at closing or other time without adult supervision, he/she should make arrangements to have the child picked up before the library closes.

Supervision in the Library:

Unattended Child Policy: For the safety and comfort of all children, any child under the age of 8 must be supervised at all times while on Library property by a parent/guardian or designated caregiver over 16.

• • A child is considered unattended if he or she is out of sight of his or her parent/guardian or designated caregiver over 16.

• • Those using a computer are not able to provide adequate supervision.

• • In the event that an unattended child has not been picked up by closing time, and if the child has informed the Library staff of their situation, the staff will attempt to reach a parent guardian or designated caregiver, if possible. If the staff is unable to reach a parent/guardian or caregiver, it is the recommendation of Family Services Division of the Vermont Department for Children and Families that the staff should contact the Vermont State Police and request that the unattended child be picked up at the Library by an officer and held safely at the Police Department until a parent/guardian or designated caregiver can be reached.

Library personnel will not provide after-hours childcare or transportation.

Access to Physical Library Materials:

The Library does not impose limits on access to any materials in its collections or available through its services. Parents/guardians and/or caregivers are responsible for setting boundaries and/or restrictions for their own children regarding access to resources offered by the Library.

Access to Electronic Resources:

The Library is aware of parental and governmental concerns about child safety on the Internet. Library computers are not filtered and the Library staff does not monitor or control the content of materials offered through the Internet. Parents/guardians and/or caregivers are responsible for their children’s use of the Internet at all times. Parents/guardians who believe that their children cannot responsibly make use of the Library’s Internet access must monitor their children’s Internet use individually.

Children and young adults are expected to follow the same guidelines regarding acceptable and/or unacceptable computer use as other patrons. (See Computer and Internet Use.)

One Early Learning Station with educational games appropriate for children ages 6 to 12 is provided near the children’s computers. The Early Learning Station is not connected to the Internet.

Programs and Special Events:

Age designations are stated in notices and program publicity to ensure that those who attend Library programs and special events are capable of the behavior required. The Library staff has the right to deny program admittance to any child outside the recommended age guidelines for particular programs or special events.

Parents/guardians or designated caregivers are required to be in the same room with any child younger than age 8 attending any Library program or special event.

Computer and Internet Use

Computer access, Internet access, and wi-fi connectivity are offered at the Library.

Internet Access: The Internet is an essential medium for obtaining and transmitting information of all types. Therefore, public access to the Internet is germane to the Library’s mission.

The Internet is an unregulated medium. Although it is a valuable tool for accessing information, the Internet also provides access to information that is inaccurate, illegal or that some may find disturbing. The Library does not control a user’s access to Internet sites. Library computers are not filtered, and the Library will not monitor content, nor deny or limit access, except when a clear violation of this policy has occurred.

Responsibilities of Library Staff and Users:  The Library Director will establish procedures for use of the Library’s computers and Internet access, in order to ensure equitable access to resources. Library staff will not monitor an individual’s Internet use, except for the length of use in order to ensure equal opportunity of access for everyone. The user, or the parent of a minor, is responsible for his or her Internet session at all times. Wi-fi users are expected to comply with all Library policies regarding the use of the Internet.

The Library reserves the right to terminate an Internet session that disrupts library services or is disruptive to other patrons.

As with all Library resources, the Library affirms the right and responsibility of parents or guardians, not Library staff, to determine and monitor the use of the Library’s resources and facilities, including the Internet, by young people under the age of 16 years. Parents who believe that their children cannot responsibly make use of the Library’s Internet access are requested to supervise their children’s Internet use.

Privacy:  All records relating to library patrons and their use of library materials and services, including computer and Internet use, are confidential.

Library users are reminded that computers are located in public areas where screens are easily viewed by staff and other Library users of all ages. Individuals are expected to respect the sensibilities of others when accessing content that is potentially disturbing to others.

Unacceptable Uses of Library Computers:  Library users are expected to use the Internet in a responsible and ethical manner. This includes complying with Library policy, as well as local, state, and federal laws while using the Internet.

Among the uses that are considered unacceptable and which constitute a violation of this policy include, but are not limited to, the following:

• Using library computers or wireless connection for any purpose that violates local, state, or federal laws (including, but not limited to, committing fraud, hacking, or engaging in communications which are libelous or slanderous);
• Using library computers to engage in threatening or harassing communications.
• Offering for sale or use any substance the possession or use of which is prohibited by law;
• Viewing, transmitting or downloading any illegal materials;
• Viewing child pornography;
• Deliberate display of materials or images that are disturbing to others in the library space, including attempting to print those materials using library printers;
• Violating copyright law or software licenses;
• Compromising the privacy of users;
• Attempting to gain unauthorized access to the Library’s network or to cause degradation of system performance;
• Uploading any form of harmful programming or vandalism;
• Attempting to install or delete software on any of the Library’s computers;
• Altering the Library’s computer settings; moving library equipment, or in any way modifying or damaging the Library’s computer equipment or software;
• Disrupting the intended use of library computers.

Response to Violations:  The user’s access to the Library’s computer network and Internet connectivity is a privilege, not a right. Failure to comply with this policy and computer use procedures will result in the loss of computer/Internet privileges at Waterbury Public Library.

Compliance with the Neighborhood Children’s Internet Protection Act (NCIPA): The Library believes this policy to be in compliance with the requirements of the Children’s Internet Protection Act (CIPA), Pub. L. No. 106-554, Subtitle C (Neighborhood Children’s Internet Protection Act), § 1731-32.

Disclaimer:  While the Library endeavors to provide access to information of the highest quality, the Library has no control over the information accessed through the Internet and specifically disclaims any warrant as to the information’s accuracy, timeliness, authoritativeness, usefulness or fitness for a particular purpose.

The provision of Internet access does not imply sponsorship or endorsement of any particular content or point of view.

The Library will have no liability for direct, indirect or consequential damages related to the use of information access through the Library’s Internet service.

The Library will have no liability for any charges a user may incur when accessing commercial sites and online fee-based services while using the Library’s computer.  Any service involving the submission of a credit card number involves the user in a transaction with an outside service provider, not with the Library.

Use of volunteers

The Waterbury Public Library supports lifelong learning, cultural enrichment, and personal development and serves its community as a multigenerational gathering place. Volunteers are a vital resource for the library to ensure the highest quality patron service for the tens of thousands of visits each year. They are recruited, supervised, and trained by the Library Director and Patron Services staff and must adhere to all policies to the same extent as paid personnel. Volunteers under 18 must provide a reference letter or telephone call from an adult.

Volunteers need:
● Enthusiasm and willingness to learn
● Commitment to a regular schedule
○ At minimum a two hour volunteer block weekly or every other week
● Good work habits
● Compliance with library rules, policies, and procedures

Examples of projects
● Materials Shelver/Organizer
● Prepare program materials
● Assist with outreach (hanging posters in the community, materials delivery)
● Assist with other daily library tasks as needed.

Library volunteers will not be used to staff the help desk.

Review/revision of policy

This policy will be officially reviewed annually at a regular meeting of the Commissioners and will be modified at that time to the extent deemed necessary.