Policies

Last Updated: 11/20/18
Click here to download the complete policy.

The Laurel County Public Library provides a community bulletin board to display information pertinent to the Laurel County community. Information or events in Laurel County of a civic, cultural, informational, or recreational nature and sponsored by community or non-profit organizations, neighborhood groups, or government agencies may be posted according to this policy.

This policy applies to the bulletin board in the entryway of the Library. Interior boards are used exclusively for library programs.

The Library does not advocate or endorse the viewpoints of organizations permitted to post information on the bulletin board. The Library accepts no responsibility for loss or damage to any item accepted for posting or for the accuracy of the information displayed.

• Library materials, including those from Friends of the Laurel County Public Library, take priority over community announcements.
• All postings must be submitted to the Circulation Desk for review by the Director or designee. All efforts will be made to approve submitted items within 48 hours of the time of submission. Each item will be marked with the initials of the person granting approval and the date of posting. Items not accepted for posting will not be returned.
• Items posted without review will be removed.
• Items will be posted on a first come, first served basis.
• Items that are date sensitive may be posted up to four weeks before the date of the event or deadline for registration for the event.
• Items that are not date sensitive may be posted for up to eight weeks, space permitting.
• Limited space demands that no signage larger than 8.5” x 11” may be posted.
• As the bulletin board is located in a public space, postings must be appropriate for viewing by all ages. No nudity or profanity is allowed.

The following materials will not be approved for use on the bulletin board:

• Postings designed for individual or commercial profit or gain. This includes the advertisement of items or services for sale by commercial entities, profit organizations, or individuals, such as garage sales, rental properties, want ads, etc.
• Political campaign materials of a partisan nature urging people to vote for or against a person or an issue.
• Postings proselytizing for a specific religious sect or affiliation.
• Postings containing content that could be considered discriminatory or harassing based on a group or individual’s protected status (as defined and protected by federal, state, or local law) or which advocates in any way for such discrimination.

In the event that a group or individual would like to appeal the Library’s decision not to display an item, an appeal may be made in writing to the Library’s Board of Trustees, whose decision will be final.

Last Updated: 7/24/18
Click here to download the complete policy.

This policy provides guidance for Laurel County Public Library staff in their roles as selectors of library materials and informs the public about the principles upon which decisions are made in the selection of these materials.

The Library and its Board of Trustees uphold the democratic right of all individuals to freely express their thoughts and ideas, both popular and unpopular. The Library supports the right of each individual to privately read, listen, and view the full range of published thoughts and ideas.

In support of these ideals, the Laurel County Public Library offers a collection of materials that is diverse, inclusive, and protected by the First Amendment of the United States Constitution. The Library Board endorses the American Library Association’s Library Bill of Rights.

The selection of library books and materials is predicated on the library patron’s right to read, and similarly, his freedom from censorship by others. Many books and other items are controversial and any given item may offend some people. Selections for this Library will not, however, be made on the basis of anticipated approval or disapproval, but solely on the merits of the materials in relation to the building of the collection and to serving the interests of the readers. This Library holds censorship to be a purely individual matter and declares that, while anyone is free to reject for himself books and other materials of which he does not approve, he cannot exercise this right to censorship to restrict the freedom of others.

With respect to the use of library materials by children, the decision as to what a minor may read or view is the responsibility of the child’s parent or guardian. Selection will not be inhibited by the possibility that materials may inadvertently come into the possession of minors.

The Library Board of Trustees delegates the responsibility for materials selection to the Director, who then appoints individuals and/or committees from the staff to select materials for specific collections. Staff members have a wide range of reading backgrounds and interests and are knowledgeable in the different types of library materials and are current in their assessment of user needs. Each selector works within an assigned budget and follows the criteria set forth in this policy.

Adult fiction—Public interest is the primary criterion in the selection of fiction. The Library’s collection of fiction for adults includes best sellers, genre fiction, classic literature, literary works, and books of general interest.

Adult nonfiction—Nonfiction materials are selected in accordance with the various needs and interests of our patrons. Currency of topic, accuracy, and authenticity of information are key factors when selecting nonfiction.

Young adult (YA) fiction—Material in this area of the collection is selected to appeal to teens of middle school through high school age. The YA collection provides a transition from juvenile to adult material and is selected to meet the informational, recreational, and emotional concerns of this age group.

Young adult (YA) nonfiction—Selection criteria for YA nonfiction are virtually identical to those used when choosing adult materials. There is a strong emphasis on resources which support the educational needs of this age group, but materials are also selected which reflect the personal interests of tweens and teens.

Juvenile fiction—Material in this area is selected to serve the needs and interests of children from infancy to middle school. Basic selection criteria apply, with an emphasis on vocabulary, illustration, and age-appropriate content.

Juvenile nonfiction—Material in this area is selected to serve the recreational and informational needs and interests of children from infancy to middle school. Many of the same selection criteria used by adult book selectors apply to children’s materials, with an emphasis on vocabulary, illustration, and age-appropriate content.

Periodicals collection—The Library maintains a periodical collection of magazines and newspapers obtained by subscription. Selection criteria for magazines are generally the same as those for books and other materials. Newspapers are selected with attention to local interest, accuracy, cost, and demand, among other factors.

Reference collection—Nonfiction materials in this area are acquired in order to provide ready access to factual information. Selections include, but are not limited to, almanacs, directories, encyclopedias, and indexes.

Kentucky collection—The Kentucky collection emphasizes materials dealing with the history of Kentucky and the Laurel County area. The collection consists of both nonfiction and fiction written by Kentuckians or with a Kentucky setting or emphasis.

Local authors collection—This collection consists of self-published books donated by their authors or publishers. The books may be either fiction or nonfiction written by Laurel Countians, or take place in Laurel County, or have an otherwise strong local interest.

Special collections—The Library maintains a special non-circulating collection of genealogy and local history materials. The collection includes genealogy reference materials, census books, family histories, and microfilm.

Large print collection—Large print fiction and nonfiction materials are selected to meet the general recreational reading needs of patrons who have difficulty with standard print.

Foreign language collection—The Library maintains a small collection of foreign language materials. The Library may change the scope of its foreign language collection in response to local demographic changes.

Audiovisual materials are selected to supplement the traditional print collection and to provide information and entertainment not available in print format. The formats collected are both compact discs (CDs) and digital video discs (DVDs).

Audiobooks—The Library collects both fiction and nonfiction audiobooks on CDs. Unabridged versions are preferred whenever possible. Audiobooks are purchased for children, young adults, and adults with an emphasis on popular titles.

DVDs—Emphasis is placed on popular, classic, and award-winning feature films, television productions, children’s features, and educational and instructional videos.

Music CDs—The Library purchases a wide variety of popular music styles for recreational use.

Databases—The Library provides access to a wide variety of informational databases, primarily from the Kentucky Virtual Library. Business information, scholarly and professional articles, newspapers, and magazines are among the resources included. Other databases enable access to resources suitable for students in grades K-12.

Downloadable formats—The Library offers access to a collection of popular and literary titles in downloadable formats, including eBooks, eAudiobooks, eVideo, and eMusic. The Library collects titles available exclusively to Laurel County Public Library patrons through its Overdrive Advantage collection. Additional titles are available through Overdrive and are shared jointly by a statewide consortium of library systems called Kentucky Libraries Unbound. Still more downloadable titles are available through the library’s OneClickdigital platform.

Library materials selectors use several selection tools when make purchasing decisions. The most utilized resources include the following:

• Book review resources, including:

—Library Journal

—Booklist

—Publishers Weekly

—School Library Journal

—Kirkus Reviews

• Publisher and bookseller websites and catalogs, including:

–Ingram

–Amazon

–Midwest Tapes

–Audio Editions

–Recorded Books

–Vendor catalogs

• Other selection sources, including:

—New York Times and other newspapers

–TV/radio interviews with authors

–Patron/staff recommendations

Some library materials are purchased through standing order plans, ensuring that certain titles are automatically received at the time of publication. These plans are reviewed annually and changes made as circulation dictates.

Selection criteria the Library uses with regard to all collections are:

• Age of publication
• Timeliness and/or popularity of a subject or title
• Reputation or qualifications of author, artist, and/or publisher
• Difficulty (reading level, use of technical jargon, etc.)
• Purchase price
• Potential circulation
• Relationship to the existing collection and to other titles and authors dealing with the same subject
• Literary merit as expressed by reviewers, along with the reputation and/or quality of reviewers

An effort will be made to include materials which present various viewpoints on controversial issues. The presence of an item in the collection does not indicate the Library’s endorsement of its content.

Requests for items that the Library does not own may be made by patrons and staff either on the Library’s website or in person at the Reference Desk. Requests are then forwarded to the appropriate selectors for those particular items.

Selectors then review the requests to determine whether to add the items to the collection. While the Library tries to honor as many patron requests as possible, it is not always possible to make requested purchases, either because of the lack of availability or the fact that the items requested do not adhere to the Library’s selection criteria. Patrons will be contacted to let them know the status of their requests. If a patron request is not purchased by the Library, interlibrary loan (ILL) may be an alternative in securing the item for the patron.

In recent years, there has been a dramatic increase in the number of titles that are either self-published or published by “vanity presses”. Requests for purchases of these books will considered following the Library’s Self-Published Books policy.

Some items are in very high demand by patrons, particularly new videos and bestselling books. These items are monitored by the Circulation Supervisor, who generally seeks to maintain a ratio of one copy of a book or DVD for every five holds (5:1 ratio). However, the cost per item and space considerations are also determining factors in purchasing additional copies.

Donated materials are accepted by the Library with the understanding that most items will be given to the Friends of the Laurel County Public Library organization for inclusion in an upcoming used book sale. If a patron wants the donated item(s) to be considered for the Library’s collection, the patron should make that desire known at the time the donation is made to the Library.

Donations are final and become the property of the Laurel County Public Library. The Library reserves the right to dispose of items that are in poor condition, out-of-date, or not needed for other reasons, in the manner it deems most appropriate.

Upon request, a receipt for donations will be given to the donor indicating the number and nature of items donated. No value will be assigned to the material by the Library.

The Library does accept memorial gift books or funds for the purchase of memorial gift books. The Library will attempt to honor requests to buy materials in a particular subject area or genre. Such decisions will be based upon availability of materials and the needs of the collection. When requested, bookplates will be placed in/on items purchased with donated patron funds, usually in the name of the person a donor wishes to honor.

Donations and gifts which have specific stipulations attached, other than those described above, are not normally accepted.

Regular deselection, or weeding, of the collection is essential as it removes dated, inaccurate, damaged, and unneeded duplicate copies from the shelves. Finding sufficient space for the materials patrons need and want is also a priority, and weeding is often the only way to accomplish this.

Print and audiovisual collections (excluding periodicals)—Factors to be considered include:

• Age of the publication
• Number of circulations
• Condition of the material
• Availability of a newer edition
• Significance of the item
• Ability to borrow through ILL

Materials that are weeded from the collection will be disposed of in a manner appropriate for each item. Materials may be given to Friends of the Laurel County Public Library for sale, donated to another library or agency, sold online through Better World Books, or discarded/recycled, depending on condition. The Library does not offer any withdrawn items directly to patrons.

Electronic resource collection—Titles acquired in downloadable formats generally follow the same weeding criteria as their printed counterparts. However, in addition to the criteria listed above, copyright issues and the non-compatibility of formats may also be considered when weeding.

Periodicals collection—Back issues of magazines are generally kept for 6-12 months, depending on the frequency of publication and space considerations. Newspaper back issues are generally kept for 1-3 months, depending on the frequency of publication. Every three months, copies of the local newspaper are microfilmed to be kept permanently as part of the Kentucky collection. Weeded magazines and newspapers are recycled.

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.

Any registered card holder of the Laurel County Public Library who seriously requests reconsideration of an item will be given a “Request for Reconsideration of Library Materials” form. The completed form should be returned to the Library Director, who will then appoint a committee to evaluate the reasons for the item’s purchase, including any reviewing sources considered. The committee may also consider reclassification (moving to another section of the Library) of the item.

The Director will then make a decision regarding the item in question and communicate that decision in writing to the patron. The patron may appeal the Director’s decision to the Board of Trustees.

Items which have been lost, damaged, or weeded from the collection will not be automatically replaced. Consideration for replacing an item will be based on criteria including the following:

• Demand for the specific title
• Subject coverage in more current material
• Ability to borrow through ILL

Last Updated: 9/18/18
Click here to download the complete policy.

All transactions between the Laurel County Public Library and its patrons are considered confidential. The Library is obligated to protect the privacy of its patrons. Types of information protected include, but are not limited to:

• Patron registration files. Information included in printed and automated patron registration files is confidential. It is not available for distribution nor should it be discussed with other patrons. It should be discussed with other staff only as it relates to the Library’s business.
• Circulation records. Information regarding materials used by a patron is confidential. It is not available for distribution nor should it be discussed with other patrons. It should be discussed with other staff only as it relates to Library business. The parent or legal guardian of a child under 18 may receive information concerning charged materials with appropriate identification.
• Verbal transactions. Reference transactions and other verbal exchanges between staff and patrons are confidential and not to be related or discussed except as related to the Library’s business.

Registration and circulation records shall not be available to any agency of state, federal, or local government except pursuant to process, order, or subpoena as may be authorized under the authority of, and pursuant to, federal, state, and local law relating to civil, criminal, or administrative discovery procedure of legislative investigative power. Such requests to release patron information will be forwarded to the Director immediately. Written documentation of all requests to release patron information is required.

Warrants are immediately executable and staff should comply with law enforcement personnel in their execution. The Director will be notified whenever a warrant is used to gain access to patron information. A copy of the warrant will be retained by staff, then delivered to the Director.

Last Updated: 9/19/17
Click here to download the complete policy.

In accordance with KRS 61.931-934, the Laurel County Public Library will take every reasonable precaution to ensure that any personal information that is kept by the Library for any purpose is safeguarded from unauthorized access.

The Laurel County Public Library will comply with best practices established by the Department for Local Government (as required in KRS 61.932). See Security and Incident Investigation procedures and Practices for Local Governmental Units for these best practices.

Per the Department of Local Government’s guidance, a “Point of Contact” is designated by the Laurel County Public Library to:

1. Maintain the Library’s adopted Information Security Policy and be familiar with its requirements;
2. Ensure the Library’s employees and others with access to personal information are aware of and understand the Information Security Policy;
3. Serve as contact for inquiries from other agencies regarding its Information Security Policy and any incidents;
4. Be responsible for ensuring compliance with the Information Security Policy; and
5. Be responsible for responding to any incidents.

The Director is the Laurel County Public Library’s Point of Contact for the purpose of adherence to Department for Local Government guidance.

The Laurel County Public Library acts to limit the amount of personally identifiable information that it retains. Some information, however, is necessarily and understandably retained for the transaction of day-to-day business.

Most information related to patrons is kept for the purposes of circulating materials and ensuring that responsibility is attributed to the correct person when an item is borrowed. This information is not publicly available and, beyond interactions between the Library and the patron, will be shared only with third-party vendors with whom the Library has contracted services necessary for conducting business and law enforcement personnel upon valid, legal request. Information related to delinquent patrons may be shared with a third party vendor for the purposes of collection. The Library will not share personally identifiable patron information for any other purpose.

When a patron record has been inactive for 5 years and carries no outstanding debt (financial or in borrowed materials), the record is deleted from the Library’s computer system and is not archived.

Personal information about patrons is generally only retained in electronic format with appropriate back-up devices in place for recovery in the event of a database failure. All back-up devices are kept secured at all times in areas that are not accessible to the general public and with limited accessibility by staff.

The Laurel County Public Library retains information about its staff that is directly related to the work environment. Social security numbers, health information, and performance records are retained only as a part of standard human resources processes (such as payroll, retirement, or health insurance). This information is subject to records retention policies of the Commonwealth of Kentucky and the Laurel County Public Library. Records will be retained and destroyed according to the records retention schedule.

Personal information about staff members is, in some cases, subject to the Open Records Act and will be shared with anyone properly requesting that information as specified by Kentucky Revised Statute. Information protected from disclosure under the Open Records Act will not be shared with any outside agency for any purpose other than for the reason it was collected (i.e. to a payroll vendor for tax purposes).

Personal information about staff will be kept secured at all times in areas that are not accessible to the general public and with limited accessibility by staff.

The Library does not share any information with any outside agency for any reason other than the purposes for which it was collected. Third party vendors with whom the Library does business are required by KRS 61.932 to provide their own security measures to protect any personal information. Where possible, the Library has informed each entity in writing that appropriate security and breach notification is required.

The Library provides an internal, closed network for the collection and use of most patron data. The network is not accessible to the general public and access to it is limited to third party vendors with whom the Library has contracted services.

Where the Library’s systems do have interaction with any outside vendor or patron (i.e. through the internet-based catalog), transactions will take place using secure transmission protocols. Such interactions will be limited to the purpose of the transaction only and will not allow access to any more information than is required for the purpose of the transaction (i.e. a patron reviewing a list of items that are currently checked out to him/her).

Personal information stored on computer back-up devices is not accessible to the general public and is protected by a computer firewall and anti-virus systems.

If the Laurel County Public Library becomes aware of a breach that would allow outside access to its network or access to devices used to store personal information, action will immediately be taken to remove the device from the network or to close the network to all external traffic.

The Laurel County Public Library will notify vendors of their responsibilities to inform the Library of any breach in their own systems which would expose or compromise the security of personal information provided by the Library. Notification of such must conform to the requirements of KRS 61.932 and will include any reports of investigations that are conducted into the breach. Contracts that are made or amended with the Library after January 1, 2015 must contain provisions to account for the requirements under KRS 61.932.

In the event, the Laurel County Public Library’s own computer network or data storage systems are breached, the Library will immediately take action to secure the network or system, to prohibit any off-site access, and to determine the extent of the data that was obtained by the unauthorized party. Where appropriate, the Library will notify any/all affected parties within the guidelines of KRS 61.933 or as directed in guidance from the Department for Local Government. Investigations which follow such a breach will be reported as required by the same statute.

Last Updated: 3/15/17
Click here to download the complete policy.

According to the guidelines of the Motion Picture Association of American (MPAA), a PG-13 rating means that parents are strongly cautioned. Some material may be inappropriate for children under 13. This signifies that the film rated may be inappropriate for pre-teens. Parents should be especially careful about letting their younger children attend. Rough or persistent violence is generally absent; sexually-oriented nudity is generally absent; some scenes of drug use may be seen; one use of the harsher sexually derived words may be heard.

The Laurel County Public Library strongly suggests that a parent or responsible adult accompany children under the age of 13 to any showing of a PG-13 rated film.

According to the guidelines of the MPAA, an R rating means that the movie is restricted and anyone under the age of 17 requires an accompanying parent or adult guardian. This signifies that the rating board has concluded that the film rated contains some adult material. Parents are urged to learn more about the film before taking their children to see it. An R rating may be assigned due to, among other things, a film’s use of language, theme, violence, sex, or its portrayal of drug use.

The Laurel County Public Library requires that a parent or responsible adult accompany anyone under the age of 17 to any showing of an R rated film. Proper identification may be required.

Last Updated: 10/26/17
Click here to download the complete policy.

The Laurel County Public Library is subject to the Kentucky Open Records Act (KRS 61.870-61.884) and certain requirements with regard to records retention.

The Laurel County Public Library will maintain and retain its records in accordance with applicable laws and regulations.  Unless otherwise provided by law, records may be retained or discarded according to the Records Retention Schedules as adopted by the State Archives and Records Commission.

Not all records of the Laurel County Public Library will necessarily be “public records” under the Open Records Act, and even some public records are exempt from operation of the Act.  “Public record” generally means all books, papers, maps, photographs, cards, tapes, discs, diskettes, records, or other documentary materials prepared, owned, used, in the possession of, or retained by the Library.  It does not include any records owned by a private person or corporation that are in the possession of the Library or one of its employees.

The Laurel County Public Library Director (or designee) acts as Custodian for all of the Library’s public records. Any person may request to inspect or receive copies of the Library’s non-exempt public records.  All requests to view or copy the Library’s public records pursuant to the Kentucky Open Records Act must be made in writing and must contain the requester’s name and signature.  Requesters may use the Request to Inspect Public Records form, but are not required to do so. All Open Records Requests must be submitted via U.S. Mail, facsimile transmission, or hand delivery.  Emailed Open Records Requests will not be honored.  Open Records Requests should be directed to the attention of the Library’s Records Custodian.  If a requester is requesting to be provided with copies of non-exempt public records, they must provide a sufficiently precise description of the documents they are seeking so as to allow the Records Custodian to readily identify them.

The Laurel County Public Library has three business days in which to respond to an Open Records Request.  This time begins to run the next business day after the request is received.

The response to an Open Record Request may: (1) grant the request, (2) deny the request, (3) explain that there will be a delay in responding to the request; or any combination thereof. To the extent a request is granted, the response will provide a timeframe when the requested non-exempt public documents may be inspected in person, or will inform the requester of the applicable copying charge and postage fee required to be paid before copies of the non-exempt public documents may be provided. To the extent a request is denied, the response will provide the legal cause for the denial.  To the extent the full response to a request is delayed, the initial response will give a detailed explanation of the cause for any delay and an estimate of when a complete response may be expected.

To the extent a request is granted, copies of the responsive non-exempt public records requested may be provided at a cost of $0.10 per page, along with any applicable postage costs, all of which must be pre-paid by the requester.  Requests for specialized or non-standard copies (e.g. color or oversized copies) will be provided at the cost incurred by the Library to produce them. The Laurel County Public Library may also recover costs associated with staff time expended in responding to a request made for a commercial purpose.  Non-public or exempt information may be redacted as appropriate from copies of otherwise non-exempt public records provided.

To the extent a request is granted, individuals requesting to review records will be allowed to schedule a time to conduct on-site inspection of non-exempt public records during the regular hours of the Laurel County Public Library.  An on-site inspection may be required by the Library if the request is not precise in nature or if the requester resides or maintains his or her principal place of business within Laurel County.  Public records must be inspected in the location set by the Library.  During their inspection, a requester may copy non-exempt public records (at their own cost), but may not remove, alter or add to documents provided for review.  The Library is responsible for protecting the security of public records in its custody, and may require that a staff member be present during any inspection or copying of its public records.

Certain public records are exempt from inspection under the Open Records Act.  Circulation and Library use records for individual patrons are exempt from inspection, and requests to inspect or receive copies of these records will be denied, as will a request to inspect or receive copies of any other records which either are not public or which are exempt under the Act.  Under certain circumstances, the Library may find that a request would create an unreasonable burden to comply with, and may deny such a request for that reason. Requests that the Library believes are intended to disrupt its essential functions will also be denied.  Reasons that a request may be deemed unduly burdensome for compliance, or which may be disruptive to the Library may include time and expense involved in retrieving and duplicating the records, or in the type and nature of the request.  To the extent a request is denied, the Library will provide the legal basis for the denial to the requester.

Last Updated: 7/24/18
Click here to download the complete policy.

This policy addresses patron complaints regarding Library services, materials, procedures, or policies. It is the goal of the staff and Board of Trustees to provide the best possible service to our patrons. Library policies and procedures have been developed to provide fair and efficient service to all individuals.

Persons who have experienced difficulties with service or who wish to question a library policy are always welcome to discuss those concerns with the Director and/or member of management staff. The Director and/or management staff will endeavor to resolve issues as quickly and fairly as possible. If an informal meeting with the Director and/or management staff does not settle the complaint, a patron may request to enter into the Library’s formal grievance procedure.

Written complaint—A patron who wishes to file a formal grievance about a library policy or procedure, a service, or a staff member’s conduct should submit a complaint in writing to the Director. The written complaint should include the following:

• The date of the complaint
• The name, address, and telephone number of the person making the complaint
• A detailed explanation of the issue
• The date of the incident, if the complaint deals with a specific incident

A complaint form is available, but its use is not mandatory. The Director will respond within 10 working days of the submission of the complaint.

Complaints about the Director should be submitted to the President of the Board of Trustees. Complaints must be in writing.

Appeal process—If the patron is not satisfied with the response of the Director, the individual may request the issue be brought before the Library’s Board of Trustees. Requests for Board consideration must be in writing and must be submitted no later than 30 days after the decision by the Director. If the Board chooses to review the issue, it will be placed on the agenda of the next regularly scheduled library Board meeting.

Board review—If reviewed by the Board and the Board finds it has ample information to make a decision, the Board will render a decision at that time. Summaries of all discussion at Board meetings will be recorded in the minutes as part of the public record. Board minutes are open to the public after they have been approved by the Board.

The Board may determine added information, testimony, or expert advice is needed to render a fair decision. In that case, the Board may choose to postpone the decision to the following meeting. In no event will the final decision be rendered any later than 90 days after the complaint to the Board is received by the Board President or the Director, unless an outside mediator is used.

Final decision and records—The decision of the Board of Trustees is final.

The Library will maintain an accurate record of the action taken at each level of the complaint process.

Last Updated: 2/20/18
Click here to download the complete policy.

The Laurel County Public Library is committed to making every reasonable effort to provide equal access to all patrons, including those reliant upon service animals.

The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) requires that organizations that serve the public, including public libraries, must allow people with disabilities to bring their service animals into all areas of the facility where patrons are normally allowed to go. This applies to patrons and employees. The protections provided by the ADA take priority over local and state laws and regulations.

The ADA generally defines service animals as dogs. Dogs employed as service animals may be any breed, size, or weight. Some, but not all, service animals wear special collars or harnesses. Service animals are not required to have special licenses, to be certified, or to have any visible identification.

In addition to the provisions about service dogs, ADA regulations allow for miniature horses that have been individually trained to do work or perform tasks for people with disabilities. Miniature horses generally range in height from 24 to 34 inches measured to the shoulders and generally weigh between 70 and 100 pounds.

In some situations, a person with a disability may require more than one service animal, where each animal provides a different type of assistance. For example, an individual may need both a hearing dog and a seizure alert dog.

Service animals perform various tasks and provide services for people with disabilities. Some examples are:

• Guide—serves as a travel aide for a person who is legally blind.
• Hearing or signal—alerts a person with hearing loss or deafness when a sound occurs, such as an alarm or a knock on the door.
• Mobility assistance—helps a person who has a mobility or health disability. They may carry, fetch, open doors, ring doorbells, activate elevator buttons, pull a wheelchair, steady a person while walking, help someone get up after a fall, etc.
• Seizure response—warns a person of an impending seizure, or provides aid during a seizure, such as going for help or standing guard over the person.
• Therapeutic assistance—aids people with cognitive or psychological disabilities, allowing them to live more independently. These animals may bring an emergency phone during a crisis, call 911 or the suicide hotline, turn on the lights in a dark room, bring medications, bark for help in an emergency, assist a person with panic disorder in coping with crowds, etc.
• Psychiatric and neurological assistance—The use of service dogs for psychiatric and neurological disabilities is explicitly protected under the ADA.

Dogs or other animals whose sole function is “the provision of emotional support, well-being, comfort, or companionship” are not considered service animals under the ADA regulations.

The Laurel County Public Library will ensure that staff members are properly trained in treating patrons and employees who require the assistance of service animals with sensitivity and respect.

Library staff cannot require patrons accompanied by service animals to provide documentation, such as special ID cards or proof of certification. They also may not ask about the specific nature of a person’s disability, e.g. “Are you blind?” or “Are you under a physician’s care?”

Library staff may only ask the following two questions:

• Is your animal a service or assistance animal required because of a disability?
• What tasks has your animal been trained to perform?

Based upon the answers to these questions, library staff will make a determination as to the status of the animal as a pet or legitimate service animal.

The following guidelines provide some basic information on accommodating patrons and staff accompanied by service animals.

• Staff will allow a service animal to accompany the patron/employee at all times and everywhere in the library except where animals are prohibited for safety reasons.
• People with disabilities who use service animals will not be isolated from or treated less favorably than other patrons or employees.
• Be aware that many people with disabilities do not care to share personal details about their disability or their service animal.
• Do not separate or attempt to separate a patron or employee from the service animal.
• Do not pet or talk to a service animal when it is working. This distracts the animal from its tasks.
• Do not feed a service animal, which may have specific dietary requirements. Unusual food or food at an unexpected time may cause the animal to become ill.
• Do not deliberately startle a service animal or make noises at the animal (barking, whistling, etc.).
• If other patrons complain that they are not allowed pets and want to know why an exception was made, staff should state that the library complies with the Americans with Disabilities Act.

Remember, the library will not require someone to provide details about his or her disability.

• The library cannot place limitations on the size, weight, or breed of service animals.
• The library can require service animals to meet reasonable behavior rules that ensure the safety of all library patrons, and require that service animals have current appropriate vaccinations.
• The patron/employee has the responsibility to care for and supervise the service animal.
• The patron/employee should retain full control of the animal at all times. This generally means that while the animal is in the library, it must be on leash, in a carrier, or otherwise in the direct control of its owner.
• When around other people or animals, the service animal should be well behaved (no jumping, snarling, nipping, excessive barking, etc.).
• The patron/employee is responsible for the safe removal of animal waste products.

Special provisions apply to miniature horses. ADA regulations set out four assessment factors to assist entities in determining whether miniature horses can be accommodated with their facility. The assessment factors are:

• Whether the miniature horse is housebroken.
• Whether the miniature horse is under the owner’s control.
• Whether the facility accommodate the miniature horse’s type, size, and weight.
• Whether the miniature horse’s presence will not compromise legitimate safety requirements necessary for safe operation of the facility.

If these criteria are satisfied, the miniature horse must be allowed to accompany the disabled person within the facility.

If a service animal is unruly, disruptive (aggressively jumping, nipping, etc.) or not housetrained, the patron/employee may be asked to remove the animal.

If the animal’s inappropriate behavior happens repeatedly, the patron/employee may be asked to not bring the animal into common areas of the library until steps have been taken to mitigate the behavior (such as refresher training). If the behavior poses a significant threat to patrons or employees, the patron/employee may be required to remove the animal from the library altogether.

A fear of or minor allergy to dogs or other animals is not a disability, so the library does not need to “accommodate” in those situations.

In rare cases, a person’s allergy may be so severe that animal contact may cause respiratory distress. In those situations, the allergic person may also request an accommodation, such as keeping the animal and the allergic person separate, as much as is possible.

Any complaints or concerns about service animals in the library should be forwarded to the Director.

Last Updated: 9/18/18
Click here to download the complete policy.

The Laurel County Public Library is committed to providing patrons and staff with a smoke- and tobacco-free environment. Therefore, smoking is prohibited on any property belonging to the Laurel County Public Library, including enclosed areas and outside grounds.

Additionally, smoking is not permitted inside of or within twenty-five feet of any library-owned vehicle.

Furthermore, the Library prohibits the use of all tobacco products, the use of smokeless tobacco products, and the use of electronic cigarettes on any property belonging to the Library, including enclosed areas and outside grounds.

Failure to comply with this policy may result in the loss of library privileges.

Last Updated: 9/18/18
Click here to download the complete policy.

Library telephones are for library business only. Library staff will use telephones to call 911 for emergencies.

Although the Library does not encourage the use of cell phones in the building, we do understand that there are times when it may be necessary. During these times, we ask that patrons be considerate and respectful of others by following these guidelines:

• Patrons are requested to place cell phones on vibrate or silence when in the library.
• Patrons should limit their calls to brief, quiet conversations.
• Patrons should not use their phones during library programs.
• Whenever possible, patrons should make and take calls on cell phones in the foyer or outside areas of the building.
• Library staff may require that patrons engaged in cell phone conversations move to the foyer or outside areas of the building to continue their conversations.
• Patrons should not use their phones at public service desks. Library staff will help the next patron needing assistance if a patron is actively using a cell phone.

Last Updated: 12/21/16
Click here to download the complete policy.

The Laurel County Public Library welcomes all children to use our facility and services. However, responsibility for children using the library rests with the parent/guardian or assigned chaperone. The Library is a public building in an open environment which means many people of all ages and interests make use of all the areas of the Library with little or no supervision. Library employees cannot function as caregivers or babysitters. The Library is not equipped—and it is not the Library’s role—to provide long- or short-term childcare.

The Library is mandated by statute (KRS 620.030) to report suspected neglect or abuse of children. Anytime neglect or abuse of children is suspected, the appropriate authorities will be notified.

Therefore, the following guidelines will be followed concerning the care and behavior of children.

Any child under the age of 12 years must have a caregiver (age 16 or older) with them in the immediate area (generally defined as being within eyesight and normal earshot) at all times. This caregiver must supervise, guide, and control the behavior of his/her charge at all times.

Patrons of all ages must adhere to the Library’s Code of Conduct. If a child age 17 or younger does not respond to the correction of staff, the parent or guardian will be notified. In the event the parent or guardian cannot be located within a reasonable period of time, staff will contact law enforcement. Examples of when this may occur can include, but is not limited to, the following:

• When the behavior of the child is disruptive or inappropriate
• When the child appears to be a danger to him/herself or others
• When the child appears to be threatened by others
• When the child appears to threaten, bully, or intimidate others
• When the child appears to be ill or upset

When a child age 17 or younger is unattended at the time of the Library’s closing, the staff will make reasonable attempt to contact the parent, guardian, or caregiver. If staff members are unable to contact the parent, guardian, or caregiver, law enforcement will be called to take custody of the child. Staff will remain with the child until law enforcement takes custody.

Incident reports will be written for any disruptive behavior from a child. Repeated incidents involving a particular child may result in loss of library privileges for both child and caregiver.

Last Updated: 10/19/16
Click here to download the complete policy.

The Laurel County Public Library has a program to assist students in completing community service hours needed for high school or college requirements. Volunteer positions will be filled to meet the needs of the Library.

Volunteer positions will be filled without regard to race, color, religion, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, national origin, age, disability, genetic information, marital status, amnesty or status as a covered veteran in accordance with applicable federal, state and local laws.

The minimum age for volunteers is generally 16; others will be approved on a case-by-case basis. All volunteers under the age of 18 must submit a letter of permission from their parent or legal guardian.

All volunteers are required to complete an application form. This form will be used to determine the individual’s eligibility for volunteer service, identify skills that the Library may use, and to anticipate the length of service. All completed applications are kept confidential.

A letter of recommendation from the assigning teacher or professor is required for Library volunteers completing community service. The letter must be received prior to beginning any volunteer services.

Before beginning service, background checks are required for Library volunteers 18 years of age or older. The Library reserves the right to discontinue planned service based on the results of a background check.

Individual volunteers who are completing required service hours for high school or college requirements are welcome at the Library.

The Library does not accept volunteers who are completing court-ordered community service hours.

Volunteers must abide by the “Alcohol, Substance Abuse, and Testing” policy for Library employees.

Volunteers must abide by the “Dress Code” and “Employee Conduct” policies for Library employees.

Volunteers are covered by the Library’s liability insurance while conducting assigned tasks at the Library. No other types of insurance are available to volunteers.

Volunteers will be appropriately trained for their positions, and will be supervised by a Library employee appropriate to the task being performed.

Volunteer activities must take place on library property. Volunteers will not be permitted to perform duties on the library’s bookmobile or to use their personal vehicles to complete errands or other tasks.

Volunteers may discontinue their service to the Library at any time by notifying their Library supervisor.

The Library also reserves the right to discontinue the services of any volunteer at any time.