Cards
Required for check-outs and Internet use.
Issued for free-photo ID required.
Parent/guardian signature required for library cards for children under 16 and for Internet use for children under 18.
Replacement cards - $1.00 and photo ID required.

Limits
25 total checked-out items per patron, including magazines.
Books-25.
CD Books, Audiotapes, CDs, Videos, DVDs or Software - 10 total (any combination).
Equiptment - 2.

Late Fees
50 cents per day, per item (except reference books, DVD's, Videos).
$1.00 per day, per item for reference books, Vidoes, and DVD's.

Loan Periods
Books, CD Books, Audiotapes, CDs, Software -14 days.
Videos, DVDs, Reference Books - 7 days.
Equipment - See Circulation Staff.

Renewals
Videos, DVDs- None.
Reference Books - None.
Equipment - See Circulation Staff. All other materials - 2 times.
(Remember that renewals can be done online!)

Lost Items
Lost or damaged items will be billed to the patron.
A $10 processing fee is also applied.

The Laurel County Public Library offers access to the Internet to library patrons in good standing with the library. The following criteria must be met prior to logging on:

          • Each library user must have a library card to access the Internet
          • Each library user must sign a User Agreement
          • A parent or guardian must sign a User Agreement for those under age 18
          • In an effort to control the spread of computer viruses diskettes needed
            for downloading purposes must be purchased at the library.

The Internet contains material of a controversial nature. Library employees cannot control this information which changes rapidly and unpredictably. Certain websites are filtered by the library. Adults may ask to have the filter disabled for research purposes.

Parents of minor children must assume responsibility for their children’s use of the Internet while in the library. The Laurel County Public Library makes every attempt to protect children from pictures that are:

          A. Obscene
          B. Considered to be child pornography
          C. Harmful to minors

Computers in the Children’s Department are filtered. Only partial access to the Internet is available to children.

Patrons are expected to abide by proper rules of Internet etiquette. Library users are not permitted to:
          1. Send or display offensive messages or pictures
          2. Use obscene language
          3. Harass, insult, or attack others
          4. Damage computers, systems or library networks
          5. Violate copyright laws
          6. Employ the library network for commercial purposes
          7. Access chat rooms or social network sites

Violations of the regulations may result in loss of library privileges, including access to the Internet. Certain violations may also be criminal offenses under Kentucky law.

Laurel County Public Library provides wireless access for public Internet use. Patrons using their own laptop or wireless equipment must have a library card to use our wireless service in the library. The card must be scanned at the Reference Desk in the center of the library before accessing wireless service.

Library patrons are cautioned that the library is a public area which must be shared by library users of all ages, backgrounds and sensibilities. Individuals are asked to consider this and to respect others when accessing information and images.

Library patrons may not use the library’s wireless service to transmit or receive illegal, harmful, or disruptive material. Library patrons are expected to respect intellectual property rights by making only authorized copies of copyrighted or licensed software or data residing on the Internet.

Violation of the library’s Wireless Policy or abuse of networking equipment may result in loss of library privileges at all branches.

Library staff will not be available to assist patrons using the wireless network. Please consult the reference desk for brochures on specific wireless configurations.

Wireless network users will not be able to use the library’s printers to print documents. To print, a patron must log onto one of our public use computers.

Responsibility for Selection
The Laurel County Public Library Boards delegates the responsibility for the selection of materials to the director, who appoints individuals and committees from the staff to select materials for specific collections. Staff have a wide range of reading backgrounds and interests and are knowledgeable in all areas of library media and keep current in assessment of user needs. The library staff consults a variety of reviewing sources and selection tools.

Selection tools used by the staff include:

          1. Library Journal
          2. Booklist
          3. Publishers Weekly
          4. New York Times Book Review
          5. Horn Book
          6. School Library Journal
          7. Newspaper and Magazine Reviews
          8. Best Seller Lists
          9. Publishers and Booksellers Catalogs
          10. Other Media Publicity
          11. Patron Requests
          12. Internet Sources
          13. Various standing order plans from different companies due to the popularity of materials.
          14. Book Leasing Program from Baker and Taylor

Guidelines for Selection of Material

          • Community needs, interests and demand
          • Relationship to the collection
          • Recommendations of reviews
          • Reputation and qualifications of the creators, publisher or producer
          • Literary, artistic and technical values
          • Availability of material in other libraries
          • Format
          • Durability
          • Price
          • Suitability for intended user
          • Judgment of work as a whole

Book titles are added to the collection with consideration given to:
          1. Demand displayed by the community
          2. Value to overall selection
          3. Credibility of information
          4. Current treatment of topic
          5. Popularity of title

Videos/DVDs
Selection emphasis is placed on critically acclaimed and educational items.

Audio Items
Selection emphasis is placed on popular fiction or non-fiction items. Both abridged and unabridged versions are purchased.

Musical works are selected with consideration given to:
          • Demand displayed by the community
          • Value to overall music collection

Reconsideration of Challenged Materials
Once an item has been accepted as qualifying under the selection policies and criteria of the Laurel County Public Library, it will not be removed from the collection unless it can be shown to be in violation of these policies and criteria. In the instance of a challenged item, a Request for Reconsideration Form must be completed and given to the Director of the library. The Director will appoint a committee to consider the challenged material and present a recommendation on the request. The Director will make a decision regarding the material. The requestor may appeal the decision to the Board of Trustees.

Donations and Gifts
Gift materials, donations and bequests of private collections are accepted with the understanding that their inclusion in the collection, sale or disposal is subject to the needs of the library. The decisions are based upon the criteria set forth in this document. Gifts, donations or bequests which have specific stipulations attached are not normally accepted.

Weeding
Withdrawal or weeding of materials which are no longer useful to the current collection is as necessary as the purchase of materials. Factors to be considered are:

          • Age of the material
          • Availability of a newer edition
          • Significance of the item
          • Use/Popularity
          • Condition of the material

Replacement
An item which has been lost, damaged or weeded from the collection will not be automatically replaced. Need for replacement will be determined by the selection criteria and other factors which include:

          • Demand for the specific title or material
          • Subject coverage in more current material

1. Reservations must be made in advance either by letter, telephone, or in person.

2. The library’s meeting areas can be reserved for use by non-profit groups and organizations which strive to improve the civic, educational and social conditions of the community and county. Meeting areas may not be used for general social activities.

3. The library shall not be listed as a business address of any club or organization.

4. Meetings scheduled during library hours will be free of charge. Groups scheduling meetings after hours will be required to pay a $15 hourly fee.

5. After-hours meetings are required to pay a damage deposit of $150, due by the day of the scheduled meeting. The deposit is refundable and will be returned to the organization provided there are no damages to library property.

6. No alcoholic beverages or gambling is allowed on library property. Smoking is not allowed inside the building.

7. No food is to be prepared on-site, although coffee can be made and refreshments and snacks can be served, with the group leaving the area in an orderly condition.

8. A responsible representative from the organization shall make arrangements for access to the library for meetings held during the time the library is closed.

9. Groups and organizations are responsible for any damaged caused by any member.

10. Monopolization of the community room by organizations is not allowed, such as regularly scheduled weekly meetings.

11. Library activities take precedence over other activities.

12. All meetings are subject to the final approval of the District Director and the Board of Trustees, who shall define the activities which can be held within the library.

13. This statement of policy is subject to amendment at any time by the Laurel County Public Library Board of Trustees.