Policies

Computer & Internet Use

GENERAL COMPUTER USE

The library is providing access to computer technology to give patrons the opportunity to search databases, to use a word processor, and in general to learn about computers.  Access to the internet allows patrons to explore a world of information that is not easily and quickly available in other ways.  The internet provides information from a wide variety of sources, including educational institutions, governmental units, businesses, non-profit groups, and individuals.  Not all of these sources are reputable, current, complete or accurate.  Internet users must exercise critical judgment in evaluating information accessed. 

All Orleans Public Library computer systems are filtered to protect against access to obscenity, child pornography, and sexually explicit graphic materials as required by the Children’s Internet Protection Act of 2001.  Filtering software is not 100 percent effective; parents and individuals must assume responsibility for internet use.  The library is not responsible for any direct or indirect consequences or incidents incurred through a patron’s use of the computer or internet access.

SPECIAL NOTE TO PARENTS

The library believes the internet should be available to children.  However, it is the parent’s responsibility to provide the necessary supervision to ensure that their child uses the internet in an appropriate and safe manner.  For children in the fifth grade or younger (based on the grade in which the child is currently enrolled or, during the summer, the grade the student has just completed), the child must be under the supervision of a parent or other responsible adult at the workstation at all times.

SIGN UP AND TIME LIMITS

  • Computer sessions are for a 60 minute time period.
  • Patrons must immediately surrender their terminal if another patron requests usage and the original 60 minute session has passed. 
  • Patrons may continue past their allotted time period if no one else has requested use, up to a maximum of 2 hours per day
  • Computers will be shut down fifteen minutes before the library closing time.
  • Exceptions may be made at the discretion of the library staff – examples: patrons who are taking on-line exams, tutoring sessions, typing resumes, etc. 

STAFF ASSISTANCE

Library staff members can provide only limited assistance for basic startup procedures and cannot provide in-depth training concerning the internet, computer language or personal computer use.  Most programs provide tutorials within the computer system, offering assistance on how to use the software installed.  

MISUSE OF COMPUTER OR INTERNET PRIVILEGE

Misuse of any computer equipment or the internet connection will result in the loss of the user’s library internet privileges for six months following the first offense, for one year following a second offense, and permanently following a third offense.  Very serious violations, as determined by the library staff, may result in immediate permanent loss of internet privileges after only one offense.

RULES

  • All users must sign in at the circulation desk prior to using one of the library’s computers.
  • Computer stations are designed for individual use.  Only one person may be at a computer at a time.  Exceptions may be made at the discretion of the library staff.
  • Do not pretend to be someone other than yourself.
  • Do not use the library internet connection to violate copyright or other federal or state laws, violate the privacy of others, access pornographic materials or sites, access chat sites, transmit or display any defamatory, inaccurate, abusive, obscene, profane, sexually oriented, threatening, racially offensive, or otherwise illegal materials.  Illegal activity will be reported to the authorities.
  • Do not encourage the use, sale, or distribution of controlled substances or illegal items
  • Do not use the library internet connection for hacking or scamming, or otherwise interfere with or disrupt network users, services or equipment.  Disruptions include but are not limited to:  Distribution of unsolicited advertising; malicious attempts to harm or destroy the data of another user, the system, or any of the agencies or other networks that are connected to the internet; Intentional damage to hardware or software resident on the system; propagation of computer worms or viruses; using the network to make unauthorized entry to any other machine accessible via the network
  • Do not initiate purchases using the library’s computers
  • Do not misuse the library’s hardware or software.  Misuse includes, but is not limited to:  changing the configuration of any of the software on these computers; installing software on any of these computers or running programs from a USB drive; using the computers and peripherals in a manner that may damage the equipment; altering or attaching equipment to the library’s hardware; downloading files onto the hard drives of these computers; using your own USB drives with the library’s computers unless the library staff scans them for viruses immediately before use; wasting the library resources (for example:  computer supplies, paper, computer access time or computer memory)

INTERNET USE DISCLAIMER

The Orleans Public Library has no control over information accessed through the internet and cannot be responsible for its content.  Library patrons use the internet at their own risk.  Children’s access to the internet is the sole responsibility of the child’s parent or guardian.  The library assumes no responsibility for any direct or indirect incidental or consequential damages, loss of data, loss of profits, loss of privacy, sustained or incurred in connection with the use, operations, or inability to use the computer system or from its connection to other internet services.

Circulation Policy

MY ACCOUNT

Library patrons will be given a PIN upon registering for an Evergreen Indiana library card. Evergreen Indiana policy indicates that PINs may only be given in person at an Evergreen Indiana Library, upon presentation of appropriate identification. PINs may not be obtained via telephone or email.

BORROWING PRIVILEGES

A patron must present a card each time they wish to borrow materials and their account must be in good standing to borrow materials. In most cases, a maximum of 100 items may be checked out simultaneously on an Evergreen Indiana library card. There is a maximum limit of 10 DVDs, 10 videos, 5 equipment, 6 art, 2 ereaders, and 2 gaming software items per Evergreen Indiana library card. Borrowing limits are calculated at the consortium level and not at the library level. If a patron forgets their Evergreen Indiana card, they should: return to the library after retrieving their library card (in this instance, materials may be held for a limited time pending the patron’s return); purchase a replacement library card for two dollars ($2).

FINES/FEES

To encourage the prompt return of materials, the Evergreen Indiana libraries have established a schedule of fines and fees as an encouragement for the timely return of materials by their due dates. Overdue materials incur fines of 25¢ per day per item with a $10.00 fine cap per item. Materials with the circulation modifier of “equipment” or “ereader” may incur fines of up to $5 per day per item with either a $225 or the cost of the item fine cap. Materials with the circulation modifier of “special collection” may incur fines of up to $1 per day per item with a fine cap of $10 or the cost of the item.

PAYING FINES/FEES

Evergreen Indiana library fines and fees may be paid at any Evergreen library. Patrons may pay all or a portion of overdue fines. A patron’s record will remain blocked or barred until the fines and fees are paid or the patron has resolved the matter with the particular library to restore his or her privileges. A patron may be (or remain) “blocked” if related group or family member cards are “blocked.”

OVERDUE NOTICES

Overdue notices are sent as a courtesy from the Evergreen Indiana Libraries. Failure to receive notices does not exempt patrons from the responsibility for payment for library materials or overdue fines and fees.

CHECK-OUT LOSS OF PRIVILEGES

A patron’s access to materials may be limited due to overdue materials or fines and fees. A patron’s card will be blocked, and no new circulation services may be obtained with it if the patron has 15 or more overdue items, or owes $10 or more in unpaid fines and/or fees. Patrons may renew overdue circulating materiasls until their account reaches the maxfine threshold of $10 or more in unpaid fines and/or fees. Outreach patrons will not be blocked until they have 50 or more items overdue. The number of overdue materials and/or amount of fines/fees that will result in a patron being “blocked” is calculated at the consortium level and not at the library level. A patron’s card may be “blocked” if related group or family member cards are “blocked.” A patron may also be “barred” if

COLLECTIONS

All member libraries are entitled to seek recompense for their materials when lost and/or damaged by a patron regardless of the patron’s home library. The “Collections: Exempt” switch may be activated for patrons who exclusively access the collection of their home library (i.e., reciprocal borrower or student). Patrons borrowing materials from other libraries may be referred to a collections agency by the owning library in the case of lost or damaged items and may not have the “Collections: Exempt” switch activated. Exempt patrons are, by default, not accessible by the collections agency’s search protocol. Libraries should place an alert on patron accounts for whom extenuating circumstances would suggest alternate forms of recovery should be pursued. Libraries pursuing collections against another library’s patrons should review affected patron accounts for such notes and give appropriate consideration prior to submission to Unique Management or any other collections agency.

PURGING OF INACTIVE PATRON RECORDS

Patron accounts will be automatically marked inactive when the patron’s privilege expires. Patron accounts that do not reflect fines or fees, items checked out or claims returned activity will be deleted automatically three (3) years after being marked inactive.

ALTERNATE ID OPTION

As an occasional courtesy, a patron’s home library may offer to circulate materials to a patron by looking up the patron’s account using a current driver’s license. The current license must match the driver’s license ID number and/or the complete combination of name, DOB, and address in the Evergreen Indiana system. Patrons traveling to Evergreen Indiana libraries other than their home library must present their official Evergreen Indiana library card at all times. Patrons who repeatedly fail to present their library card at their home library will be required to purchase a replacement card.

CHECK-IN LOST ITEMS

A patron may inform library staff that an item is “LOST.” The price of the item and any outstanding fines and fees, plus a processing fee of $10.00 per item, will be assessed to the patron’s card. A patron is encouraged to notify the library that an item is “LOST” to stop the accruing of additional overdue fines. On issuance of the 45-day notice or declaration of loss or damage, the associated circulation fees are reassigned to the owning library. Some Evergreen Indiana Libraries have contracted with third party vendors for collection services. If third party collection services are used, a fee for collection services will be added to the patron’s record.

RECOVERING LOST ITEMS AND REFUNDING PAYMENT

No refund will be given to a patron for a “Lost” item for which a patron has paid. In addition, no fines/fees and third party collection fees will be refunded.

RENEWALS

Renewal requests may be made in person, by phone or via the online catalog “My Account” feature. Certain categories of materials are not eligible for renewal. If a “HOLD” has been placed on an item, it may not be renewed.

HOLDS AND INTRA-EVERGREEN INDIANA LENDING

Evergreen cardholders in the resident, non-resident, PLAC, outreach, temp and staffcard profiles have full access to the consortium and may place holds on any Evergreen library’s holdable materials. Reciprocal borrower, contractual borrower, student, transitional, or teacher profile cardholders may place holds only on the materials owned by the library that issued the library card.

Patrons will have one week after the hold is filled to pick up the held item. Some Evergreen Indiana libraries may impose a fee for failure to pick up a hold. Patrons may have 20 unfilled holds in the system. Evergreen Indiana does not allow holds to be placed on the following items by any patron:  Reference materials; bestsellers with the no-hold designation Evergreen Indiana does not allow Evergreen Indiana library patrons to place holds that would generate Intra-Evergreen Indiana [transiting] loans on the following item categories:  art; bestsellers; CDs; DVDs; equipment; ILL; kits; media; new books; realia; reference; software; software – gaming; Talking Book; videocassettes

These items may be borrowed by any Evergreen Indiana library card holder.  It is the responsibility of the patron to proceed to the owning library and check out the material. The patron may return such materials to any Evergreen Indiana library for transit to the owning library. A library may place a six-month age protection on new items. Local patrons may place holds on such items. Non-local patrons may place holds on such items, but the materials will not be transited until the six-month age protection expires. Non-local patrons may place a hold on such an item, select the owning library as the pickup location, and proceed to the owning library to check out the item. Patrons may place their own holds via the OPAC, and may select their pickup location and notification method. The software will refuse holds requests which do not conform to Evergreen Indiana policies. Patrons may choose any pickup location for holds. Patrons whose Evergreen Indiana cards are “blocked” or “barred” will not be allowed to place holds until their card meets the “in good standing” definition.

You need to add a widget, row, or prebuilt layout before you’ll see anything here. 🙂