Illinois - Policies & Procedures

RE: Collecting disaster planning policies

2009-10-20T16:03:10Z

Thanks to Liz Grant for posting the H1N1 Contingency Plan from the Seagoville Public Library. A well thought-out plan. I hope you don't have to resort to the contingency plans, but this certainly illustrates how much preparation can be accounted for in a one page plan.

Thanks again!

Collecting disaster planning policies

2009-10-02T15:31:08Z

Does your library have an up-to-date disaster policy? Please either attach the file or post the link in a reply to this discussion thread. We'll gather them all into the Disaster Planning topic area, so that other libraries who can browse through them and get some tips. Thanks!

RE: Internet policy agreement on desktop

2009-08-27T15:23:39Z

I am very interested. Please sent it to me. jfrye@harnett.org I may have more questions once I have it in my hands.

thanks
Jackie

Policy for guest Internet use?

2009-08-27T00:16:34Z

Does anyone have a good written Internet use policy out there in public library land that discusses specifics about out of town internet use, perhaps an Internet-only card for those who don't live in the area?

This question came from the webinar on Library Technology Policies.

Please share!

RE: Privacy, Confidentiality, Child's Library Card, Mom's Email Address

2009-08-20T19:26:20Z

Certainly always tricky!

At Seattle Public, a patron can request to grant permission for named spouses and/or children to pick up holds on your behalf, as long as they 1. have their own card present 2. your permission is indicated in their account for staff to cross-reference.

I can't remember if it was a form we had folks fill out or if the request just needed to be made, but it's been a life saver for our family and for staff dealing with busy public desks.

I think it's tricky too, when children are using their parent's email for notification. I think as long as the kids know that their parents will see what they request, you're right, it's the parent's responsibility to make sure they understand this. My son now has his own email so he gets his own notifications, but we still need to drive him to the library to pick it up!

RE: Unethical? Self-Censorship?

2009-08-06T20:09:28Z

If there is a call for it in the community and you still don't think that you should buy the book for your collection, why not do an interlibrary loan and borrow it from somewhere else.

RE: Privacy, Confidentiality, Child's Library Card, Mom's Email Address

2009-08-06T20:05:02Z

This is an interesting predicament. On one hand is the question of privacy and the rights of children, and on the other hand, is the question of the rights of parents.

As librarians we are taught to abhor censorship, even in regard to childrens books. That it is not our responsibility to censor or determine what someone else should or should not read, only to provide the information the satisfies the intellectual and leisurely needs and wants of the communities that our public libraries serve. Conversely, it is the sole responsiblity of the parent or caregiver to determine what is appropriate for thier children to read.

As a parent, I alone have the right to know what my child is reading and to determine what he should or should not be reading. It is not his job to find appropriate material, it is mine, not as a librarian, but as a parent.

Though I am a semester away from my MLIS degree the one thing that I have found most surprising about librarianship is the degree to which politics plays a roll. While it is important to adhere to the policies which our libraries abide by in order in protect and serve all of our patrons, sometimes those rules must be bent in order to serve our patrons best.

If a gentlemen comes into the library where I work, and wants to pick up a hold for his wife and he does not have her library card, even though it is contrary to our policy to do so, I will check it out for him. Do I look and make sure that they have the same address if I do not recognize them? Of course! It is more important to me that our patrons leave the library knowing that we are here to serve them.

As far as I'm concerned, and maybe this opinion is founded in the fact that I was raised in the south, but a child has no right to privacy when it comes to thier parent wanting to know what they are reading. Some other adult, another kid, or even grandparents wanting to know is another story, and in these cases, absolutely would I protect that child's right to privacy. The parent or legal guardian though, that is another story.

Now to answer your questions:

1. We make it clear that to parents that thier child's library account is ultimately thier responsiblity, not the child's. We let them know that if thier child checks out 50 books and does not return them, the parents' names will be sent to collections, not the child's.

2. I would think not.

3. This is a fuzzy question. I want to say yes, except in cases where a library card has been reported stolen or missing, but logically I know that if there is no picture on the card, nor a name, that you are only going on good faith that the card belongs to the presenter.

RE: Library computer policies in the news

2009-08-05T23:23:30Z

The article drifts all over the place, but it did mention that the protester was an alum. I am assuming that alumni of the university do not get any additional privileges, but are relegated to the 1-hour open-access computers after graduation (or at least until their expired student card is taken notice of)?

P.S. To Librarybob, that is a hellacious acronym.

Privacy, Confidentiality, Child's Library Card, Mom's Email Address

2009-08-03T22:38:45Z

A mother came in to pick up her son's book at the library. She had an email that arrived on her cell phone with a message addressed to her son telling her that the book he had requested was available for pick up. She did not have her son or her son's card with her when she stopped in to pick up the book.

Staff would not check the book out to her because she did not have her son's card or her son with her. Somehow the issue of confidentiality was raised, and she pointed to her phone and said "What confidentiality? You sent this message to my email. Here it is. I just want to pick up the book."

In the end, she was concerned to learn that her son has rights to privacy and confidentiality that she did not realize she gave to him by signing for the library card.

Question 1: How do other libraries make it clear to parents that by allowing their child to have a card, they are also allowing their child their right to privacy? I mean really clear, not just a line in two pages of circulation policy.

I recognize that privacy boundaries are skewed when we send emails or leave messages on answering machines where there may be more than one person who has access to the messaging service. On a voicemail, we do not name the titles that are available, but the email notice does.

Question 2: Are we liable for the information presented, if the patron gave us that method for notification?

And finally, Question 3: If we accept a library card with no picture and no actual proof that the card actually belongs to the person in front of us, are we really upholding our patron's right to confidentiality and privacy?

RE: Library computer policies in the news

2009-07-22T23:12:17Z

TANSTAAFL

There ain't no such thing as a free lunch ...

(Apologies to Heinlein.)

Library computer policies in the news

2009-07-22T23:04:12Z

New UM computer policy sparks library arrest
By ALAINA ABBOTT for the Missoulian
http://www.missoulian.com/articles/2009/07/17/news/local/news03.txt

RE: Privacy

2009-06-26T14:45:38Z

I am going to cross post this here and in the Social Networking & Web Tools discussion section. I think this article is worth reading although I don't necessarily agree with the suggested solution on how to achieve better privacy:

"Privacy Requires Security, Not Abstinence: Protecting an inalienable right in the age of Facebook." By Simson Garfinkel --
http://www.technologyreview.com/computing/22831/page1/

RE: "At will" employment

2009-06-05T19:18:52Z

From what I understand there is no such thing as a 'permanent' employee in a right to work state. This means that an employee can be fired for no reason, at any time.

DOPA to DOPA Jr.

2007-01-25T16:48:02Z

Here's an interesting article John Patrick of Florence-Lauderdale Public in Alabama dug up for our reading:

http://www.pbs.org/teachersource/learning.now/2007/01/the_birth_of_dopa_jr_1.html

RE: reciprocal borrowing agreements

2009-05-06T21:12:52Z

I just saw this while looking for something else and thought I'd attach the agreement we came up with for anyone looking for a real example.

RPL

Unethical? Self-Censorship?

2009-04-23T00:14:10Z

I am tired of being called "unethical" just because I won't order a "controversial book" or because I won't put my job on the line for a book.

I have to face facts and here they are:
I am a widow
I live in a mobile home (paid for thank you very much)
I have one dependent who has autism

Ergo, I need my job.

I not only need it, I LOVE IT! But a recent article in School Library Journal would label me "unethical." Certainly, if I had an unlimited budget I would be able to purchase anything and everything. Because of this, aren't we all just a little bit unethical? There are always going to be books that we can't purchase simply because we don't have the money.

Now before anyone starts getting upset over my views, I must confess that I have purchased the following controversial books:

And Tango Makes Three
The Higher Power of Lucky

To be sure there are other books in our collection that can be found on the banned books list, but these two have been ordered in the last couple of years. We also own a copy of Walter the Farting Dog and I admit that I am relieved that no one has questioned why we have it.

Reasons for ordering these items are based on reviews, awards and/or best-sellers. So I don't think I'm all that unethical. Let's just say I don't purposely look for trouble.

RE: Challenges to Materials

2009-03-02T20:24:26Z

What people like that Pleasantville patron fail to realize is the sole purpose behind civil liberties. Civil liberties, which so happens to include freedom of speech, are designed to protect those that we despise so as to prevent us from harassing them. The patron had every right to feel uncomfortable, and express discontent, knowing that a picture of a prehistoric woman in the nude is being distributed in a journal. I will admit that such imagery can be offensive, but cases like those are not intended to promote cheap, adult entertainment. If people wish to look at pornography, I seriously doubt they will turn to the library for such material and I have even greater doubts that the libraries will provide them. But this does not necessarily mean libraries advocate censorship. Libraries are a haven for information and will make sure the sources they come from are being distributed everywhere. With the use of technology, information can now be formatted in so many different ways and travel in so many different directions. With the first amendment well intact, information from even the darkest corners are entitled to be distributed. It should feel comforting to know that if the authors of such sources are not having their personal rights discriminated against, than we should all feel just as courageous to express our opinions. Any attempt to draw the line anywhere can put everyone's personal freedom at risk and there is no use making everyone feel threatened, simple because someone got uncomfortable.

French video on a demonstration exercise for training of collections rescue

2008-12-12T16:49:08Z

French and English video a demonstration exercise used for training on how to rescue a collection in case of fire. Nice jazzy music in the background.

http://www.cosadoca.ch/. Click on "clip vid=E9o de = l'exercice du 27 mars 2008"

RE: Headphone Policies

2008-12-02T22:32:43Z

Our system has in the past sold headphones for @ $2.25 each. Amazingly these inexpensive headphones hold up really well. Once we sell the ones we have, we are going to sell ear buds for $1.25.
I'm not sure of our cost as supplies are ordered by an Administrative Asst. at our headquarters. If anyone is interested, contact me and I will get the information for you.

Patricia Henson, Branch Manager
Southside Branch
Dougherty County Public Library
Albany, Georgia 31701
henson@docolib.org

RE: Internet policy agreement on desktop

2008-11-05T17:16:58Z

Helen Plankinton:

Looking for a way to display our internet policy on our patron computer desktops so that when patrons log on they must agree to our policy.

I created an Access form that has our Computer Use Policy on it. At the bottom there are three buttons with vba code. First one says "I agree open Internet explorer". The second one says "I agree open Firefox" The third one says "I disagree". I think you can tell what happens. Each button closes the Access form but 1 & 2 open the program requested.

I can send you a copy if you want. You don't have to have Access to run it, you only need the access runtime installed. You wouldn't be able to edit it but, neither could your patrons.