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Patron Service
Library
You may become a registered borrower if you are a resident of Altoona, rural Polk
County or a resident of a community participating in the Open Access program. Cards held by Altoona residents expire in three years, all others expire in one year. Identification with your current verifiable address must be presented before borrowing privileges are approved.
Address changes must be reported immediately with verification of your new
address. Children under the age of 14 must have a parent’s or guardian’s signature on their application. Cards are renewable as long as there are no outstanding fees or fines. There is a $1.00 fee
for the first replacement of a lost, damaged or stolen card, a $3.00 fee for
the second replacement, a $5.00 fee for the third replacement, and a $5.00
fee for any replacements thereafter.
Borrowing Privileges
Your card must be presented each time you borrow materials. You are responsible for all materials checked out on your card. It is recommended that you do not lend your card to others. Borrowing privileges will be restricted if there are six or more items overdue or if $10.00 or more in fines have accrued.
Loan Periods
Three weeks: books, audio books, cassette tapes, music on compact disks, puppets,
DVD's, videos, and all other library material. Items may be renewed once if
no one else is waiting for that item.
Limited Check-Out
A/V materials including videos/DVDs, music CDs/tapes, and audio books
are limited to a combination of ten (10) items per card.
There is a check-out limit of 40 items per person for permanent residents and 10 items for temporary residents.
Renewals
Borrowed materials may be renewed once if no one else has placed a hold on the item. This may be done at the public access catalog stations in the
library, online at the library ’s Web site, at the circulation desk or by calling the
library.
Interlibrary Loan
If the library does not own the book you need, you may request it be
borrowed from another library . There is a limit of three items per request.
The patron making the request is required to have a current library card. Overdue fees are $1 per day.
Returns
You may return borrowed materials at the circulation desk. An outside drop box is located at the
library entrance for books and audiovisual items. When using the drop box, please place items in the appropriate drop box as labeled.
There is a curbside drop box for books and magazines only.
Overdue and Lost or Damaged Items
- Fines and Fees
Library materials: $.10 per item per day for adults, and $.05
per item per day for children's materials.
Lost items:
children's materials - $2.50 processing fee plus the cost of item/adult
materials - $5.00 processing fee plus the cost of the item
Damaged
items: $1.00 for repairable damage
A five day grace period is honored on all items.
- Overdue Notices
First written notice – sent when the item is 7 days overdue
Second written notice – sent when the item is 14 days overdue
Third written notice – sent by the police department when the item is 60 days overdue
At 70 days overdue criminal charges may be filed.
If you pay for a lost item and find it within three months of paying for it, bring the item
and the receipt to the library . The cost of the item, excluding the processing fee, will be refunded.
Purchase Requests
If the library does not own a book that you need or would like to read, you may make a recommendation or request by filling out a suggestion form located at the circulation desk. The request will then be considered for purchase. Not all requests are filled. Once any requested material is purchased and cataloged, it will be held for you at the circulation desk. A staff member will notify you by telephone when it is available.
Reserves/Holds
If the item you want is currently checked out, you may place your own hold on this item at the public access catalog stations in the
library, online or by making a request at the circulation or reference desk. A staff member will call you when the requested item is available. Once you have been notified, it will be held for three days at the circulation desk. If the item is not picked up, the next person on the reserve list will be contacted.
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Internet Use Policy
I. Purpose
The Library provides Internet access to the public as an additional source of information. It is to be used to supplement other reference and educational information.
II. Responsibilities of the Users
A. The Altoona Public Library has no control over the information accessed through the Internet and cannot be held responsible for its content. Individual users must accept responsibility for evaluating content. As with other
library materials, the Library affirms the right and responsibility of parents and/or guardians to guide, determine, and monitor their children’s use of the Internet.
B. The Library cannot guarantee confidentiality on the Internet nor will it
guarantee the use of a secured or non-secured site.
III. Rules for Usage
A. The Internet Policy automatically appears on the computer screen
the first time a patron tries to access the Internet. The patron must
read and accept the policy before they may proceed. Patrons under 14
years of age must have permission from a parent or guardian to use the
Internet. A parent or guardian must indicate on the child's library
application card whether or not they would like their child to have Internet
access and provide their signature.
B. Patrons should use their library card to register
for use of a computer at the self-reservation station. Library staff
will register patrons if they do not have their library card a total of
three times. After that, the patron must fill out a new library card
application form and pay appropriate fees for a new library card or return
to the library with their current valid library card. All users of the
Internet must fill out a library card application form and will receive
either a permanent or temporary library card depending on their
circumstance. Everyone filling out a library card must present a valid
form of identification. People who are just "passing through" will
receive a temporary card without borrowing privileges. Anyone caught
breaking into library PAC terminals to use the Internet will be asked to
leave the library immediately.
C. Users are limited to one (1) hour of Internet use per session. Additional
time is automatically allotted in fifteen (15) minute intervals with no more
than two (2) hours of use per day per individual. Exceptions will be
made on a case by case basis. A patron taking an on-line test is an
example of an approved extension of use.
D. No more than two (2) users will be permitted at a workstation at a time. Both individuals, if under the age of 14
years, must have parental permission to use the Internet.
E. Users may print information from the Internet screens at a cost of 50 cents per page for colored prints and 15 cents per page for black prints. Some documents may contain numerous pages; users are financially responsible for all printouts. Those needing assistance with printing are encouraged to seek staff assistance.
F. Users will be asked to discontinue use of the Internet 15 minutes before closing each day.
G. The following Internet protocols are not supported: Electronic Mail, Usernet news groups, Internet Relay Chat (IRC). Direct File Transfer Protocol (FTP) is not permitted.
Exceptions may be made at the discretion of the librarian.
H. Library staff will instruct patrons in how to start an Internet browsing program and other basic procedures of our particular Internet System. Staff will not provide any further instruction or perform searches for patrons. The
Library will provide users with a list of search engines and Web sites. Because of
Library scheduling, Internet-trained staff may not always be available.
IV. Supervising Children’s Use
A.
It is not the responsibility of the library to monitor children’s use of the Internet or to decide which resources are appropriate. It is the
library ’s policy that parents or legal guardians must assume responsibility for deciding what
library resources are appropriate for their children. Concerned parents should let their children know if there are any materials they do not wish them to use and are encouraged to monitor their children’s internet use.
B.
Children under the age of fourteen (14) are required to have a library
application card on file on which the parent or guardian has given the child
permission to use the Internet.
V. Users of the Internet may not…
A. Use any Library workstation for illegal or criminal purposes including:
1. Violation of Iowa state law, which makes
it illegal to download or purvey child pornography, purvey
pornography to children, or to commit fraudulent acts using the Internet.
2. Violation of U.S. copyright law (title 17, U.S. Code) which prohibits the unauthorized reproduction of copyrighted materials, except as permitted by the
principles of “fair use”.
B. Use obscene language.
C. Display offensive messages or pictures.
D. Use Library workstations to gain unauthorized access to the Library ’s or any other organization’s networks or computer systems.
E. Make any attempt to add, delete, modify, or damage the installed hardware or software or any part of the computer system.
VI. Filtering Software
The library makes use of Internet filtering software. Use of filtering
software does not guarantee that questionable sites will not appear.
It is still the responsibility of the parent or guardian to monitor minor
children in their use of the Internet. Adult users, age 18 and above
may request that the Internet filter be turned off while they are using the
Internet.
ANY VIOLATION OF THE ABOVE POLICIES WILL BE CAUSE TO HAVE COMPUTER PRIVILEGES
TERMINATED.
Disclaimer
A. This policy also applies to the Altoona Public Library's
wireless access network (WAN) users.
B.
The Altoona Public Library expressly disclaims any liability or responsibility arising from access to or use of information obtained through its electronic information systems or any consequences thereof.
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Meeting Room Policy
The use of the Library meeting rooms is an extension of Library
services. The rooms should be available to the community in its broadest sense and reflect the educational, cultural, and recreational role the
Library plays.
Meeting Room Rules
1. The meeting room is not to be used for the benefit of private individuals, private organizations, groups that are largely commercial in nature nor for the direct sale of merchandise for the purpose of profit. Permission to use the
Library meeting room in no way implies that the Library supports the views espoused by the group.
2. Reservations for the use of the meeting room are made with the Library director or assistant director by telephone (515-967-3881) or fax (515-967-6934) not more than six (6) months in advance of the date of the meeting.
3. A representative of the group must sign a Room Reservation Form one (1) business day in advance indicating that they agree:
· to comply with the provisions of the meeting room policy
· to accept responsibility for use of the room
· to assume the cost of repair and/or clean up should either be necessary.
Cancellations should be made promptly so other meetings may be scheduled. Prior
notice of seventy-two (72) hours is requested, unless the cancellation is due to an
emergency.
4. The Library reserves the right to approve or deny requests for use of the meeting room.
5. The user acknowledges that the Library reserves the right to cancel any reservations at any time. A two (2)
week notice of cancellation will be given. In the event it is impossible to give two (2) weeks notice, as much notice as possible will be given.
6. Users will be assessed a fee of $15.00 per hour for each hour the meeting continues beyond the
Library 's normal hours of operation.
7. The Library will not be responsible for theft or damage of equipment, materials or personal items supplied by the users.
8. If audio-visual equipment is to be used, reservations should be made at the time the room is booked.
9. Any individual or group who fails to abide by these provisions may be denied future use of meeting room space.
Privileges and Restrictions
1. Library activities take precedence over any other activity.
2. Library kitchen facilities are available for preparing light refreshments in connection with meetings. Each group is responsible for leaving the room in an orderly condition, and for the replacement of lost or damaged equipment.
3. Refreshments must be kept in the meeting room. No alcoholic beverages are allowed.
4. No smoking is allowed in the Library .
5. It is the responsibility of the user to restore the room to its previous condition at the completion of the function.
6. Children's groups may use the rooms, provided they are supervised by two (2) or more adult sponsors. Any craft activity must be approved by the
Library .
7. The Library cannot undertake the care and storage of any materials for groups using the meeting room.
Disclaimer
The user agrees to release the Altoona Public Library from liability of all claims, demands, actions or causes of action of any kind whatsoever arising or resulting directly or indirectly from the use or occupancy by the user, its employees, contractors, agents, officers, guests, or invitees due to any act or omission on any such person.
Failure to comply with any of the stipulations can result in immediate or future denial of permission to use the facility.
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