10 Written Policies Your Library Should Have on Hand

10 Written Policies Your Library Should Have on Hand NJLA Professional Development Committee Mimi Hui, Library Director Hasbrouck Heights Public Library hui@bccls.org / (201) 288-0488

OVERVIEW • Why have a policy? • How are policies generated? • What policies every library should have? • What makes a good policy? • Where to go for additional resources

Why have a policy? • Policies ensure equitable treatment among staff, departments, branches and offer support to the staff handling difficulties. • Policies help staff members know exactly what is expected of them. • Policies help customers know exactly what is expected of them. • Policies protect both the customer and the library when differences occur.

How are policies generated? • Policies are generally suggested by the staff or • director, drafted by the director and reviewed & • adopted by the Board of Trustees. • Policies frequently come into existence after the fact. • If your library doesn’t have a Reconsideration of • Library Materials policy, for instance, and a customer • complains about materials in your collection, you will • find yourself drafting a policy in order to better protect • the library in the event that another complaint is made. • Policies are often generated when a library director, • staff member, or trustee becomes aware.

What policies every library should have? Library

Ten Written Policies Your Library Should Have On Hand… • Library Rules of Conduct • Circulation Policies (ie. Fines & Charges, Library Card) • Confidentiality of Library Records • Displays • Gifts & Donations • Internet Access • Material Selection & Reconsideration • Meeting Room • Unattended Children • Volunteers

Policy #1 Library Rules of Conduct

Policy #2 Circulation Policies - Fines & Charges

Sample Publicity

#2 Circulation Policies Eligibility for a Library Card

Policy # 3 Confidentiality of Library Records

Policy # 4 Displays

Policy # 5 Gifts & Donations

Policy # 6 Internet Access

Policy # 7 Material Selection & Reconsideration

Policy # 8 Meeting Room

Policy # 9 Unattended Children

Policy # 10 Volunteers

What makes a good policy? • Policies work best when they are as simple as possible and flexible. Avoid the use of library jargon. • Policies should clearly define appropriate and inappropriate behavior in the library and the action taken if rules are broken. Include what recourse is available in the event that customers think they have been treated unfairly. • Policies that are good today won’t always remain so. • A good policy is… • Reviewed • Revised if needed • Reaffirmed by the Board of Trustees

What makes a good policy? • Good policies exist in printed form and readily available to the public, the staff, and the library trustees. • Good policies are realistic. If a policy on unattended children says that the children will be turned over to the police department and your police department won’t respond to your call to do so, your policy is not a good one. • Policies can only accomplish their goals if they are accompanied by a staff training component. Communication is key!

Additional Resources Websites http://www.ALA.org – Search “public library policies” http://www.njla.org http://www.webjunction.org/explore-topics/policies-procedures.html http://www.google.com – Search (public library policies) https://www.tsl.texas.gov/ld/workshops/slm/librarypolicies.html http://www.nmstatelibrary.org/services-for-nm-libraries/programs-services/librarians-toolkit -- (See: Policy Samples) New library website – to be unveiled March 24th… http://hasbrouckheights.bccls.org/

Questions? NJLA Professional Development Committee Mimi Hui, Library Director Hasbrouck Heights Public Library hui@bccls.org (201) 288-0488

10 Written Policies Your Library Should Have on Hand