Hubbard Memorial Library | Ludlow, Massachusetts Public Library

Meeting Room Policy
Patron Behavior Policy
Internet Use Policy

Meeting Room Policy

References: American Library Association, Library Bill of Rights and Interpretations: Meeting rooms.

Statement of Policy: The Hubbard Memorial Library provides meeting and study room space for Library programs and for other meetings and programs of an informational, educational, cultural, or civic nature, subject to this policy as established by the Library Board of Trustees. The meeting rooms are intended primarily for use of the library’s own programs. Use of the facilities by other groups is allowed when not needed by library or library related activities, programs, and meetings.

The Library Board specifically excludes the following types of uses of its meeting and conference rooms:

Programs involving the sale, advertising or promotion of products or services.
Business firms and other for-profit organizations soliciting or selling products or services, regardless of purpose.
Private social functions, such as showers, birthday parties, or dances.
Religious services, although study groups & business meetings are allowed.
Political campaigns, although bi-partisan political forums are permitted.
Programs not in keeping with the library’s goals and objectives, or programs that would interfere with the library’s operation by causing excessive noise, safety hazards, or security risks.

Reservations:

There are no restrictions on the scheduling of library and library-related events and programs.
Groups are accommodated as space is available.
Meetings must end at least 10 minutes before the closing of the library, so that the room may be cleared.

Fees and Admission Charges:

No fees are charged for the use of the meeting rooms.
Groups using the meeting rooms may not charge admission. Exceptions may be made for an educational program or course that requires a registration fee or tuition.

Use:

Meeting rooms cannot serve as a permanent or regular meeting location for any non-library group. To insure fair access to the facility for all groups, non-library groups may request scheduling for 4 consecutive meetings with an option to renew. All meetings are considered public meetings and shall be open to the public.
Permission for use of the library meeting rooms does not imply Library endorsement of the views, opinions, policies, or activities of groups or organizations using the library facilities.
Permission to use meeting rooms is revocable and does not constitute a lease. The Library reserves the right to cancel and/or reschedule any meeting by giving at least 2 weeks advance notice before the meeting.

Additional Considerations:

Use of tobacco products and alcoholic beverages are not permitted on the library’s premises.
The Library does not provide storage space for groups or individuals using the meeting rooms.
The Library reserves the right to refuse to book meeting room space for groups that do not comply with the guidelines of this policy.

The Board of Trustees will review the Meeting Room Policy and regulations periodically, and reserves the right to amend the policy at any time.

Approved June 22, 2004

Meeting Room Application

Patron Behavior Policy

The Hubbard Memorial Library Board of Trustees encourages all members of the community to use the library. It is the Board’s hope that patrons of all ages see the library as a warm, inviting, and secure place to be. To insure that all library users are able to utilize the library without unnecessary distractions, each patron must behave in a manner that respects the rights of all users.

Library patrons are asked to respect and follow the policies listed below. The library reserves the right to require anyone who engages in disruptive behavior to leave the premises, the right to restrict privileges for a specified period of time, and the right to ban the individual from the library for a specified period of time or permanently. Patrons who violate the Behavior Policy will receive 2 verbal warnings as notice they are in violation and will be asked to leave the library with the 3^rd violation.

Disruptive behavior is defined as any patron behavior that interferes with the normal operation of the library, or which unreasonably interferes with another patron’s ability to use the library. Disruptive behavior will not be tolerated.

Disruptive behavior includes but is not limited to the following:

Shouting, talking, or making noise loud enough to disturb others. If one person or group is heard above the general noise level in the building at a particular time, this person or group will be asked to lower their voices.
Fighting. Includes any type of fighting, including pretend.
Loud or boisterous behavior. Includes running, horseplay, playing on the elevator or in stairwells, and annoying other patrons.
Abusive, obscene or threatening language or gestures. Includes language or gestures that convey a sexually explicit message or are conveyed in a coarse or crude manner. Any language that verbally abuses another individual. Includes harassing, stalking, staring, or offensive touching.
Eating and drinking. Non-alcoholic beverages in containers designed to prevent spills are permitted in all areas of the library except at computer workstations.
Smoking. No smoking is permitted in the building, or within 30 feet of the exterior doors.
Sleeping. Habitual sleepers, noisy sleepers and those who are sprawled on furniture or the floor in a manner disturbing to other persons will not be tolerated. Library users who simply doze for a short time should ordinarily be left alone. Discretion should be used when approaching a sleeping patron. Do not touch or shake them. Tell them they must remain awake or they may be asked to leave.
Solicitation. Soliciting patrons and staff for donations or for the purpose of obtaining signatures on petitions is not allowed in the library.
Improper attire. Patrons must wear shirts and shoes in the building.
Cell phones. Not to be used in a way that disturbs other patrons.
Loitering. Defined as a person who wanders around the building without apparent legitimate reason and disturbs other patrons.
Animals. Service animals are welcome in the library. No other animals of any kind are permitted, unless part of a library-sponsored program.
Unattended children. A parent, guardian, or other responsible adult must accompany children under age 8 at all times in the library.
Excessive displays of affection. Includes any sexual conduct or physical contact deemed inappropriate for a public place.
Abuse of library equipment, furniture, and materials. Includes placing feet on tables and chairs, standing on furniture, mutilating or defacing books or periodicals, and mistreating equipment or computers.
Rest rooms. Misusing the rest rooms (using them as a laundry or bathing facility) is not allowed.
Skateboards, rollerblades, and scooters. Must not be ridden anywhere in the library building.
Weapons. Carrying weapons of any type on library property is not allowed, except by law enforcement officers.

Illegal Behavior. Any staff member who witnesses illegal behavior will notify the director who will contact the police when necessary. Illegal behavior includes, but is not limited to the following:

Assault. Intentional or reckless conduct that causes injury to another person.
Criminal mischief. Intentional damage to the property of another. This includes vandalism and mutilating library materials.
Drunk and/or disorderly conduct. Causes public inconvenience by fighting, unreasonable noise, abusive or obscene language or gestures, threatening behavior, hazardous or physically offensive condition.
Harassment. Threatens or annoys another person by physical contact or abusive or obscene language or follows a person in or about a public place.
Public lewdness. Intentionally exposes the private parts of the body in a lewd manner in a public place.
Theft. Wrongfully takes, obtains, or withholds the property of another.
Trespass. Knowingly enters or remains unlawfully on the premises.
Controlled substances. Includes using, selling, or possessing controlled substances on library property, and entering library property while intoxicated or under the influence of illegal controlled substances. The use of alcohol is prohibited on library property.

The Board of Trustees will review the Behavior Policy periodically, and reserves the right to amend the policy at any time.

Approved October 28, 2004

Internet Use Policy

In accordance with its mission to support the cultural, educational and recreational needs of the community, the Hubbard Memorial Library offers Internet access to all patrons. A parent, guardian, or other responsible party must accompany users under age ten.

Consistent with our mission and the professional principles of public librarianship, this Internet Use Policy affirms intellectual freedom, equality of access, individual responsibility, confidentiality of information about users and their use of all Library resources including electronic resources, and safeguarding of First Amendment rights.

The Library assumes no responsibility for any damages, direct or indirect, arising from its connections to the Internet. The Library can make no guarantees with respect to the quality or content of the information available on the Internet. Not all the information on 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.

Users are cautioned that ideas, points of view and images can be found on the Internet which are controversial, divergent and inflammatory. The provision of access does not mean or imply that the Library endorses or sanctions the content or point of view of any of the information or commentary which may be found on the Internet.

The Internet offers access to a wealth of information that can be personally, professionally and culturally enriching. Library staff has identified links for starting points in searches, which are consistent with the Library’s mission. However, because the Internet is a vast and unregulated informational network, it allows access to ideas, information, images, and commentary beyond the scope of the Library’s collection, selection criteria and collection development policy.

There are many sources (books, periodicals, databases, etc.) that have the information users need right in the Library. Users may save time by searching these sources before going online.

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Disclaimer

Neither the Hubbard Memorial Library Board of Trustees, nor the Hubbard Memorial Library staff, nor the Town of Ludlow is liable for any negative consequences that may result from using the Hubbard Memorial Library’s computer services.

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User Responsibilities

All users of the Library’s computers are expected to use these resources in a responsible and courteous way, consistent with the purposes for which it is provided, and follow all Internet-related regulations and procedures.

Recognize that the Internet, like all Library information resources, must be shared and used in a manner that respects the rights of others and refrains from activities that prevents others from using it.
Use the Library’s Internet resources for educational, informational and recreational purposes only.
Refrain form using the Internet to conduct a business or commercial enterprise.
Refrain from illegal or unethical use of the Internet.
Respect intellectual property rights by making only authorized copies of copyrighted, licensed, or otherwise protected software or data.
Respect the privacy of others by not representing oneself as another user for any purpose.
Refrain from damaging equipment or altering the setup of computers used to access the Internet.
Refrain from installing or running personal software.
Refrain from the transmission of threatening, harassing or abusive language and images.
Respect posted time limits and sign-in procedures.

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Access by Minors

Parents and/or legal guardians are responsible for the Internet information selected and/or accessed by their children. Parents and/or legal guardians should guide their children in the use of the Internet and inform them about materials they should not use. The Library acknowledges the rights and responsibilities of parents and guardians to monitor and determine their children’s access to library materials and resources, including those available through the Internet. The Library has taken certain measures designed to assist in the safe and effective use of these resources by all minors.

Develops and maintains special web sites for children and teens.
Encourages staff to guide minors away from materials that may be inappropriate.
Distributes several publications, Child Safety on the Information Highway published by the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children and The Internet, Your Child and You: What Every Parent Should Know published by the Massachusetts Office of the Attorney General.

To address the issue of the safety and security of minors when using electronic mail, chat rooms and other forms of direct electronic communications, as well as the unauthorized disclosure, use and dissemination of personal identification information regarding minors, the Library urges minors to keep in mind the following safety guidelines:

Never give out identifying information such as home address, school name, or telephone number.
Let parents or guardians decide whether personal information such as age, marital status, or financial information should be revealed.
Never arrange a face-to-face meeting with someone via the computer without Parent or guardians’ approval.
Never respond to messages that are suggestive, obscene, threatening, or make you uncomfortable.
Have parents or guardians report any incident to the National Center for Missing And Exploited Children at 1-800-843-5678 if anyone becomes aware of the transmission of child pornography.
Remember that people online may not be who they say they are.
Remember that everything you read online may not be true.

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