Policies

FREEDOM TO READ STATEMENT

This is YOUR library. EVERYONE is welcome here.

In your library you have:

  • The right to choose any book you want (no judgments here!)

  • The right to read for fun or read to learn

  • The right to explore new ideas, new topics and new worlds

  • The right to ask questions and seek answers

  • The right to abandon a book that doesn’t interest you

  • The right to share your opinion of books with others

  • The right to get lost between the pages of a book

  • The right to fall in love with reading

Created by Michele Greco, July 2019, based on the ALA's Library Bill of Rights and First Amendment and Censorship page

Montgomery County Public Schools Policies

Student & Staff Acceptable Use Policy

I will...

  • keep my username and password private

  • respect the privacy of others

  • use technology for educational purposes only

  • report inappropriate use immediately

  • use technology appropriately and responsibly, following the school, library, and classroom rules both on and offline

  • acknowledge the ideas and work by properly cite copyrighted material

*Adapted from the following documents:

MCPS Policy: User Responsibilities for Computer Systems, Electronic Information, and Network Security

MCPS Student Rights and Responsibilities

MCPS Policy: Using Copyrighted Materials

Additional Resources

TEACHERS: Guidelines for Educational Copying

What you need to know before you make copies of materials

STUDENTS: Chromebooks Agreement

Your responsibilities when using school technology

American Library Association Policies

Intellectual Freedom

All students and staff have the right to access information from all points of view. You have the right to receive assistance from your library staff to provide you unbiased information. You have the right to form your own opinions based on the information.

Want to know more? Check out this video from ALA on Intellectual Freedom.


Equitable Access

You have the right to be able to access information freely without barriers. The library has the responsibility to provide you access to materials regardless of your age, gender identity, ethnicity, religious beliefs, language, income, or physical limitations.

Want to know more? Check out ALA's Access to Library Resources and Services


Privacy

All students and staff have the right to privacy in the library. You may check out any materials without judgment. You have the right to keep the books you check out private (only the library staff and you have access to your account). You have the responsibility to respect others right to privacy in the library.

Want to know more? Check out the ALA's Privacy page or Privacy: An Interpretation of the Library Bill of Rights


Ethical Use of Information

It is our responsibility to use information responsibly. The information on copyright, plagiarism, and citing sources will help you ensure you understand how to do that.

As your librarian, I promise to uphold the ALA Code of Ethics by:

  • Providing equitable access to ALL staff and students

  • Upholding your right to intellectual freedom and not censoring the resources available to you

  • Protecting the privacy of ALL staff and students

  • Respecting your rights as an information user, while upholding copyright laws

  • Not allowing my personal beliefs to impact your access to information resources

  • Ensuring that I maintain and enhance my knowledge to better serve your needs


Copyright

Copyrighted material has limits to how we are allowed to use it. Movies, music, books, workbooks, plays, and other works of art and literature are examples of copyrighted material. Copyright laws protect the creators of these materials. We have a responsibility to learn, understand, and follow copyright laws.

Want to know more? Check Out Copyright Kids, Copyright and Fair Use Guidelines for Teachers, or ALA's Copyright page

Plagiarism and Citation

Plagiarism

When conducting research it is our responsibility to cite our sources to avoid plagiarizing others work. Plagiarizing means to steal the work or ideas of others without giving credit to the creator.

Want to know more? Check out Plagiarism.org


Citation

In order to avoid plagiarism, it is your responsibility to cite your sources. This means you are giving credit to the author or creator. Usually you include the author, title, copyright date, and publisher. Depending on the type of source more information may be required.

Want to know more? Try using EasyBib to cite your sources or to learn how to cite sources

Montgomery County Public Library Policies

Borrowing Policy

Your rights and responsibilities for checking out public library books.

Privacy & Confidentiality

Your right to privacy in the public library.

Behavior Guidelines for public library spaces

Your responsibilities as a member of the public library community.

Image Citations:

Small cloud filled globe hovering above open book, . Photography. Britannica ImageQuest, Encyclopædia Britannica, 25 May 2016. quest.eb.com/search/165_3339619/1/165_3339619/cite. Accessed 9 Jul 2020.

Policy Citations:

American Library Association. American Library Association, 2020, http://www.ala.org/. Accessed 9 July 2020.

Copyright Kids. The Copyright Society of the U.S.A., 2007, http://www.copyrightkids.org/. Accessed 9 July 2020.

EasyBib. Chegg Services, 2020, https://www.easybib.com/. Accessed 9 July 2020.

Montgomery County (Maryland) Public Libraries. Montgomery County Government, 2020, https://www.montgomerycountymd.gov/library/. Accessed 7 July 2020.

Montgomery County Public Schools. Montgomery County Public Schools, 2020, https://www.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/. Accessed 7 July 2020.

Plagiarism.org. Turnitin, LLC, 2017, https://plagiarism.org/. Accessed 9 July 2020.