As a resident or property owner in the Borough of
you are entitled to use the
Please click on the appropriate link below to
view topic of interest.
The Internet, a
worldwide network of computer networks, is an essential medium for obtaining and
transmitting information of all types.
The Internet enables the Washington Public Library to provide a world of
information beyond the confines of its own collections, facilities and
resources. It provides access to
information that can be personally, professionally and culturally enriching to
individuals. Providing public access to
the Internet for residents of the Borough of Washington and other patrons is
germane to the Washington Public Library's purpose: to serve as a center for information, education,
research and independent living.
Public access to the Internet is provided
to all patrons of the library who are at least seven (7) years old and who have
read the policy, indicating by signing the proper form. Patrons who are less than eighteen years of
age need to have an additional signature provided by a parent or guardian.
The purpose of
Internet access in the library is for information and not recreation. Therefore, Internet use is limited to World
Wide Web access only. There is no
provision for server-based e-mail, chat rooms, news groups, Telnet or File
Transfer Protocols. Patrons who attempt
to interfere with the current software settings or hardware will lose their
Internet privileges for a period of time commensurate with the damage they
cause. Web-based e-mail, chat rooms,
news groups are strongly discouraged; interactive games are not permitted.
The library reserves the right to
terminate a patron's Internet access if it is deemed inappropriate to the
public library setting. The library will
allow one-half hour of access per patron per day. Further time may be granted if there are no
other patrons waiting.
The library requires each patron who uses
the library's Internet access to sign a copy of the current Internet policy
agreement for its files.
Consistent with the mission and
professional principles of public librarianship, this Internet Use Policy
affirms the safeguarding of First Amendment rights, intellectual freedom,
equity of access, confidentiality of information about users and their use of
all library resources including electronic and individual responsibility. The library affirms the following principles
and user rights as delineated in the American Library Association's Library
Bill of Rights in Cyberspace:
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Electronic information, services
and networks provided by libraries should be readily, equally and equitably
accessible to all library users.
·
Libraries and librarians should
not deny or limit access to information available via electronic resources
because of its controversial content or because of personal beliefs or fear of
confrontation.
·
Information retrieved or utilized
electronically should be considered constitutionally protected unless
determined otherwise by a court with appropriate jurisdiction.
·
Responsibility for, and any
restriction of, a child's use of the Internet rests solely with his or her
parents or legal guardians.
The library assumes no responsibility for
any damages, direct or indirect, arising from its connections to the
Internet. The library makes no
guarantee, either expressed or implied, with respect to the quality or content
of the information available on the Internet.
Not all the information available via the Internet is accurate, current
or complete. Users are encouraged to be
good information consumers by evaluating the validity of information accessed
via the Internet.
The library will identify on its web site
specific Internet sites of potential interest to library users. However, the library cannot limit access to
other Internet resources.
Staff will assist library users to access
the Internet. However, the library
cannot guarantee that Internet-trained staff will be available to assist users
at all times. Regrettably, staff is not
able to offer extensive explanations about the Internet or personal computer
use or provide in-depth training. Time
permitting, staff will try to answer specific questions about the Internet and
offer suggestions for effective searching.
Staff will not directly monitor an
individual's Internet use, except for length of use in order to ensure
equitable opportunity of access to all users.
However, if disruptive or illegal behavior results from said
individual's use, staff will take appropriate steps to ensure the welfare of
themselves and the library's other patrons.
These may include suspension of the individual's Internet privileges for
a specified period of time.
Parents or guardians
are responsible for the Internet information selected and/or accessed by their
children. Children who use the Internet
unsupervised may be exposed to inappropriate or disturbing information or
images. Parents are encouraged to
discuss the use of the Internet in relation to family values and boundaries
with their children and to monitor their children's use of the Internet.
The library shall have no liability for
direct, indirect or consequential damages related to the use of information
accessed through the library's Internet service.
The availability of information via the
library's Internet service does not constitute endorsement of the content of
that information by the library.
Users may not use the library's Internet
access for any illegal activity or place any material on the Internet related
to any illegal activity.
It is the responsibility of individual
users to respect copyright laws and licensing agreements.
Since the library computers on which the
public can access the Internet are located in public areas that must be shared
by library users of all ages, backgrounds and sensibilities, individuals are
asked to consider this when accessing potentially controversial information and
images. Library staff cannot
consistently and effectively monitor the public's use of the Internet. Yet the library reserves the right to ask
individuals to discontinue the display of information and images that cause a
disruption. Further, playing of interactive games that lead to disruptive or
destructive behavior will also result in curtailment of the patron's Internet
privileges.
The library reserves the right to
terminate an Internet session that disrupts library services or that involves
patron behavior which violates the library's Policy Governing Use of the
Library.
As a resident or
property owner in the Borough of
Please click on the appropriate link below to view topic of
interest.
To apply for your borrower’s card, you
fill out a card and present proof of address (driver’s license, checkbook with
address, lease/rental agreement with address,
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Your first library card is issued free
of charge. If the card is lost or
destroyed, there is a two-week waiting period before another card will be
issued. There will be no replacement
charge for the first card. Thereafter
the charge will be $5.00.* |
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You must possess a library card in good
standing to borrow items from the library.
If you do not have your library card with you, you may present current
photo identification until you can procure your library card. |
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When the library is closed please use
the book drop beside the |
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You may borrow up to ten items per card
at a time (only adults may borrow videos, and they may only borrow two videos
at a time. Videos count as part of the
ten-item total.) All items except
videos are lent for two weeks. Items
may be renewed if there are no reserve requests. |
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Renewable items may be renewed over the
phone if they are not yet overdue.
Please have the items handy, we need information from them in order to
renew them. |
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Overdue fines are $0.10 per day per item
for all items except videos. Video
fines are $1.00 per day. Borrowing
privileges are suspended when fines are owed or items are overdue. |
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Videos may only be borrowed by holders
of adult cards. Please refer to Video Lending Policy . |
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Scooters, skateboards and other similar
items are not allowed in the library.
You may leave them in the box in the lobby if you must bring them with
you, but the library cannot be responsible for watching them. |
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Cellular phones and beepers create an
unnecessary disturbance. Please turn
the sound off when in the Library.
They may be used in the lobby. |
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The circulation desk closes fifteen
minutes before rest of the library.
Please check out all items before that time. |
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Please ask us if you have any questions
about these rules. |
Who May Borrow
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Any person 18 years of age or older who
is a registered borrower in good standing at the Washington Public Library
may borrow Audiobooks. This service is
provided free of charge. |
Loan Period and Regulations for Borrowing
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Audiobooks may be borrowed for a
two-week loan period |
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Audiobooks must be returned directly to
the circulation desk. They may not be
placed in the book drop. |
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The fine for overdue audiobooks is the
same as for adult books. |
Responsibility for Damage or Loss
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It is the borrower’s responsibility to
return the audiobooks rewound and in good condition. |
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If the borrower loses or damages an
audiobook, that borrower must pay the replacement cost. |
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The Library assumes no responsibility
for damage caused to a borrower’s playing device by a library audiobook. |
Suspension of Privileges
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In cases of continued abuse, such as
repeatedly losing or damaging audiobooks, disregarding due dates or putting
audiobooks in the book drop, borrowing privileges may be revoked or suspended
at the discretion of the library director. |
Book Compact Disc (Book
CD) Lending Policy
Who May Borrow
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Any person eighteen (18) years or older
who is a registered borrower in good standing at the Washington Public
Library may borrow Book CDs. This service is provided free of charge. |
Loan Period and
Regulations for Borrowing
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Book CDs may be borrowed for a two-week
loan period. |
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Book CDs must be returned directly to
the circulation desk. They may not be
placed in the book drop. |
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The fine for overdue Book CDs is the
same as for DVDs. |
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Responsibility for Damage or Loss
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It is the borrower's responsibility to
return the CD(s) in good condition. |
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If the borrower loses or damages a CD,
that borrower must pay the replacement cost. |
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The Library assumes no responsibility
for damage caused to a borrower’s playing device by a library CD.. |
Suspension of Privileges
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In cases of continued abuse, such as
repeatedly losing or damaging CDs, disregarding due dates or putting CDs in
the book drop, borrowing privileges may be revoked or suspended at the
discretion of the library director. |
Video Tape Lending Policy
Who May Borrow
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Any person eighteen (18) years or older
who is a registered borrower in good standing at the Washington Public Library
may borrow videos. This service is provided free of charge. |
Loan Period and Regulations for Borrowing
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Only two (2) titles may be borrowed at
one time. |
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All videos may be borrowed for seven
days. |
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Videos may not be renewed. |
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Videos may not be placed on
reserve. All videos are available on a
first come, first served basis. |
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Videos must be returned directly to the
circulation desk. They may NOT be
placed in the book drop. |
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A charge of $1.00 per day per item (up
to the price of the item) will be assessed for videos returned late. |
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Some video titles contain two videos
that can be checked out as one title. |
Responsibility for Damage or Loss
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It is the borrower's responsibility to
return the videocassette rewound and in good condition. |
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If the borrower loses or damages a
video, that borrower must pay the replacement cost. |
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The library assumes no responsibility
for damages caused to a borrower's video recorder by a library video. |
Suspension of Privileges
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In cases of continued abuse, such as
repeatedly losing or damaging videos, disregarding due dates or putting
videos in the book drop, borrowing privileges may be revoked or suspended at
the discretion of the library director. |
DVD Lending Policy
Currently, only dummy cases for DVD items are
shelved in the public area. Once the
patron makes a selection, s/he brings to dummy to the circulation desk to
receive the actual medium.
Who May Borrow
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Any person eighteen (18) years or older
who is a registered borrower in good standing at the Washington Public
Library may borrow DVDs. This service is provided free of charge. |
Loan Period and Regulations for Borrowing
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Only two (2) titles may be borrowed at
one time. |
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All DVD titles may be borrowed for
seven days. |
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DVDs may not be renewed. |
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DVDs may not be placed on reserve. All DVDs are available on a first come,
first served basis. |
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DVDs must be returned directly to the
circulation desk. They may NOT be placed
in the book drop.. |
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A charge of $1.00 per day per item (up
to the price of the item) will be assessed for DVDs returned late. |
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Some DVD titles contain multiple DVDs
that can be checked out as one item. |
Responsibility for Damage or Loss
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It is the borrower's responsibility to
return the DVD in good condition. |
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If the borrower loses or damages a DVD,
that borrower must pay the replacement cost. |
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The Library assumes no responsibility
for damage caused to a borrower’s equipment by a library DVD. |
Suspension of Privileges
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In cases of continued abuse, such as
repeatedly losing or damaging DVDs, disregarding due dates or putting DVDs in
the book drop, borrowing privileges may be revoked or suspended at the
discretion of the library director. |
Back to Borrowing Top Back to Page Top
In the interest of providing quality
service, libraries have an obligation to obtain material to meet the
informational needs of users when local resources do not meet those needs.
Interlibrary loan (