Niagara-on-the-Lake Public Library Policies
Conduct in the Library
The library is a public place where everyone is welcome, therefore, each person in the library will:
- Be considerable of the needs of others by not engaging in disruptive behavior;
- Use cell phones in the lobby and not within the library;
- Provide responsible supervision as necessary for children and adults under their care;
- Respect library materials and return them in the state in which they were issued;
- Eat and drink only in designated areas and place wrappings in garbage cans;
- Leave the newspapers and reading area chairs neat and tidy;
- Respect library staff in their authority to implement these guidelines.
HOW TO JOIN
Adults
Residents of Niagara-on-the-Lake and surrounding area are entitled to a library card at no charge. To apply for a card, please visit the library in person to complete a registration form and present staff with identification showing your name and current address. You will then need to present your card each time you wish to take out resources from the library.
Children
Children 13 years of age and under are encouraged to become avid readers and to have their own library cards. Parents/Caregivers must complete the application on behalf of the child. Children have the same borrowing privileges as adults except for DVD's, videos and CD-ROMS, which can only be checked out on an adult card.
Children 13 years of age , who wish to use the Internet at the library, must have the permission of their parent or caregiver. Parents and caregivers are responsible for the child's use of the Internet and must therefore complete a permission form which ensures that the library's Internet Acceptable Use Guidelines are reviewed and understood.
Library staff is not responsible for monitoring any individual's use of the Internet. In terms of immediate assistance for patrons using Internet, E-mail or other software available on our public access terminals, staff is able to help users get on the Internet, but is not trained in advanced use of Email or software packages. Users are therefore expected to be knowledgeable enough to use the computers in the library on their own. Note that children under the age of 10 cannot be left unattended in the library.
Benefits
Your library card entitles you to free access to:
- circulating resources in the library's collection;
- the Internet for a one-hour session on a first come, first served basis;
- the Job Search workstation with resume software and job search tools;
- the children's computer with educational tools and reading programs for kids;
- place holds on books that are already checked out;
- place requests for items on interlibrary loan;
- the library catalogue and your borrowing information from home via the website;
- wireless access to the Internet from within the library;
- many library programs and special events.
BORROWING MATERIALS
Please present your library card to sign out materials.
Loan Periods
1 week: DVD's, videos, magazines, all materials with 7-day yellow sticker
3 weeks: All other materials including books, CD's (music and audio books), CD-ROM's, books on cassette.
Ask about our extended loan periods if you are planning a vacation. Materials labeled "Reference" or "Carnochan Collection" are for use in the library only.
Limits
Adults may borrow up to 5 DVD's, videos, CD-ROM's at one visit. If there is some event causing a high demand in a particular subject area, we may limit borrowing to 3 items per topic for adults, and 5 items per topic for children doing homework assignments.
Returning Materials
Please bring your returns to the circulating counter in the library during library hours. When the library is closed, please use the Book Drop near the back door off the parking lot.
Note that if you are unable to come to the library the day your materials are due, you can call to renew them by phone, or you visit us online by going to the library catalogue and renewing your materials yourself. You may also return materials in the Book Drop until 10 am the following day and these materials will be checked in as of the day before. For example, if your book is due on Tuesday, July 11 and you arrive after closing that night, you can deposit the materials in the Book Drop up until the library opens at 10am the next morning. These materials will be checked in as returned on July 11.
Reciprocal Returns Between Libraries
If you have taken out a book from any other library in the Niagara Region, you may return it to the NOTL Public Library and we will send it back to the originating library. Please allow at least an extra week before the book is due to do so. The NOTL PL is not responsible for the book in transit or for ensuring the book arrives on time.
Please note: These are books you have borrowed yourself, these are not books we have borrowed for you on interlibrary loan.
Renewals
Provided there is no one on a waiting list for an item you have taken out, an item can be renewed a maximum of two times. Exceptions: No renewal for DVD's, or videos. You can do so in the following ways before the book is due:
- Call us at 905 468-2023 and ask us to renew it for you;
- Renew it yourself by accessing the library catalogue from home or at the library;
- Just ask staff during your next visit to the library.
Placing/Requesting Holds
To place a hold on any book:
- Call us with the book title and ask to go on the hold list;
- Access the library catalogue at the library or from home;
- Just ask staff during your next visit to the library.
Interlibrary Loan Service
The Niagara-on-the-Lake Public Library participates in the local, provincial and national resource sharing networks, which allow us to borrow materials for you, from other libraries across Canada.
If you cannot find a book in our collection, please ask staff to request a book on interlibrary loan for you. Please be prepared to wait 2-3 weeks for the book to arrive, and we will call you when it is in. Please note that most libraries do not loan their most current material (ie. materials purchased within the last year).
FINES & FEES
- Adult Books, Magazines and CD's = $.20/day;
- Children's Materials = $.05/day;
- Videos and DVD's = $1.00/day;
- Interlibrary Loans = $1.00/day;
- Replacement Library Card = $3.00;
- Barcode Missing when Book Returned = $1.00;
- Lost Materials = Current Price + $3.00 Processing Fee;
- Prints from Internet = $.20/page;
- Photocopies = $.20/page;
- Prints from Microfilm = $1/page;
- Faxes = $2.00 for first page/$1 each additional.
Borrowing privileges are suspended once fines have reached $5. Payment must be made before borrowing privileges can be restored.
LOST/STOLEN LIBRARY CARDS
If you lose your card or it is stolen, please call us right away at 905 468-2023. Your library card is a valuable piece of personal information. One replacement card will be issued at no charge. Each replacement thereafter will cost $3.00.
INTERNET ACCEPTABLE USE POLICY
The Niagara-on-the-Lake Public Library provides public access to the Internet at no charge, in keeping with its role in providing equal access to information and resources to meet the needs of our community.
In support of intellectual freedom, the Niagara-on-the-Lake Public Library has no control over the information accessed through the Internet at the library, and cannot be held responsible for its content. Many sites carry information you may find controversial, inappropriate or obscene. The Internet is a global entity with a highly diverse user population and library patrons use it at their own discretion, and acknowledge this when they agree to the Acceptable Use Policy which must be read and acknowledged at each computer before logging onto the Internet.
Users are reminded that not all sources on the Internet provide age-appropriate, accurate, complete or current information. Users should evaluate Internet sources as they would print publications. You may need to question the validity of the information you find.
The library cannot control the availability of information links, which can often change rapidly and unpredictably.
Users are advised that because security is technically difficult to achieve, electronic files and communication could become public.
The Niagara-on-the-Lake Public Library staff and board assume no responsibility for any damages, direct or indirect, arising from the use of its Internet stations or its wireless access.
Children
Children 13 years of age or younger must have written permission from their parent/legal guardian to access the Internet at the library. The parent/legal guardian must coibary has a form which must be completed and signed which indicates that as with other library materials, supervision or restriction of a child's access to the Internet is the responsibility of the parent or legal guardian. The Niagara-on-the-Lake Public Library assumes no responsibility for the use of the Internet by children.
Conditions and Terms of Internet Use in the Library
Violation of the library's Internet Use Policy may result in the loss of Internet privileges and/or removal from the library. Any library users involved in illegal activities will be subject to criminal prosecution.
Users May Not:
- download files
- make any attempt to damage or change the configuration or setup of computer equipment or software
- use or install personal software or data of any media
- send, receive or display text/graphics which may reasonably be construed as obscene
- violate copyright law or software licensing agreements
- attempt to modify or gain unauthorized access to files, data or passwords belonging to others
- seek unauthorized access to any computer system
- harass, slander or libel other users
- engage in activity which is disruptive to other library users
There are information resources which are inappropriate to a library setting. Because the library is a public place, library staff has the authority to end an Internet session when such material displays on the screen.
Staff Assistance
Library staff will assist patrons with Internet use as time permits but cannot offer in-depth training or troubleshooting. Patrons who require extra help or training are encouraged to investigate formal education programs: the library does offer some basic level courses - please enquire.
E-SUGGESTIONS/COMMENTS
We would like to hear from you! Have an idea for a book we should consider purchasing? Think of a program to put on at the library? Do you know someone who would like to volunteer at the library? Do you have an idea for service improvement?
