Welcome & Policy Statement

GRANT COUNTY LIBRARY

COLLECTION DEVELOPMENT POLICY

The purpose of the Grant County Library is to provide all individuals in the community with carefully selected books and other materials to aid the individual in the pursuit of education, information, research, pleasure, and the creative use of leisure time.  Because of the volume of publishing, as well as the limitations of budget and space, the library must have a collection development policy with which to establish guidelines for which items are selected for the collection.  Materials will be judged based on the work as a whole, not on a part taken out of context. 

The collection development policy is used by the library staff in selection of materials and also serves to acquaint the general public with the principles of selection.

The Library Bill of Rights and The Freedom to Read Statement have been endorsed by the Grant County Library Board and are integral parts of the policy.

1. Responsibility for Selection

The ultimate responsibility for selection of library materials rests with the Library Director who operates within the framework of the policies determined by the Grant County Library Board of Trustees.  This responsibility may be shared with other members of the library staff; however, because the Director must be available to answer to the Library Board and the general public for actual selections made, the Director has the authority to reject or select any item contrary to the recommendation of the staff.

2. Criteria for Selection

1. Individual merit of each item (awards, reviews, ALA recommendations, local authors/subject)

2. Popular appeal/demand.

3. Reflection of the Library Bill of Rights philosophy.

4. Quality and quantity of content.

5. Existing library holdings.

6.     Budget.

3. Potential Problems or Challenges

·   The Grant County Library recognizes that some materials are controversial and that any given item may offend some patrons.  Selection of materials will not be made based on anticipated approval or disapproval, but on the criteria listed above.

·   Responsibility for the reading of children rests with their parents and/or legal guardians.  Selection of library materials will not be inhibited by the possibility that materials may come into the possession of children.  

·        Should any material be challenged, procedures in accordance with Arkansas Code § 13-2-106 will be followed and are listed in the Grant County Library Challenge Policy.  The library reserves the right under the law to decide if challenged material will remain available throughout the challenge process. 

GRANT COUNTY LIBRARY

MATERIALS, FURNITURE & EQUIPMENT DISCARD POLICY

Revisions pending approval of county attorney and GCL Board of Trustees.

It is the policy of the Grant County Library to dispose of library materials, furniture, and equipment that is no longer functional or useful. 

When an item no longer has value to the library, it will be removed from inventory and disposed of:

1. Books and other materials no longer deemed appropriate or meeting certain circulation criteria (i.e. # of circulations in a five-year period), excluding materials from reference collections for historical and genealogical purposes, will be weeded and sold in the book sale administered by The Friends of the Grant County Library.  In the event that If the material does not sell, every attempt will be made to donate before permanent discarding.

2. Computer equipment and furniture, no longer of use to the library, may be sold by the library with the funds added to petty cash or donated to the Friends of the Grant County Library the checking account for programming. If it is determined that an item has no resale value, said item may be given away or otherwise discarded.

3. Items not covered by the above will be sold through a public advertised sale with any proceeds from such sale being deposited into the Grant County Memorial Fund, as determined by the Library Board.  Prior to such a sale, the Director will prepare a list of those items to be included in the sale for approval by the Library Board.

4. The Director is authorized to accept trade-in allowances on any items of equipment being replaced or upgraded for which a trade-in allowance is offered.

In an instance where an item of surplus inventory is determined to have unusual, historic, or artistic value, that item may be referred to the Library Board for determination of value which may include services of a professional appraiser or outside expert opinion.

WEEDING POLICY

Materials that no longer fit the stated service roles of the library will be withdrawn from the collection. This may include materials that are damaged, in poor repair, include obsolete information, are replaced by better or updated editions, or no longer meet circulation criteria (i.e., no circulations in a five-year span). Decisions will be made based on accepted professional practice and the professional judgment of the Library Director or designated staff.  When necessary, local specialists will be consulted to determine the continued relevance and reliability of materials.

Items withdrawn from the collection will be disposed of in accordance with local law and the Materials, Furniture, and Equipment Discard Policy.  

GRANT COUNTY LIBRARY

CIRCULATION POLICY

It is the policy of the Grant County Library to provide materials during hours of operation. 

Hours of operation are:

         Monday: 9:00am – 7:30pm

         Tuesday, Wednesday, and Friday: 9:00am – 4:30pm

         Saturday: 10:00am – 2:00pm

The library is closed on Thursday and Sunday.

Operational hours are subject to change for various reasons and will be posted in advance by the Library Director.

Library Card Eligibility:

Residents:

All permanent residents of Grant County are eligible for a GCL library card free of charge.  Current photo ID and proof of address are required to register for an account.  See ‘Obtaining a Library Card’ for verification requirements.

Non-Residents:

The following categories of non-residents shall be issued a GCL library card, free of charge, upon providing the necessary identification documents:

·   Grant County property owners. (Current Grant County tax statement required.)

·   Families with children enrolled in the Sheridan or Poyen School District. (Current student ID required for registration along with proof of address and parent photo ID.)

·   Faculty of Sheridan or Poyen School Districts (Current faculty ID along with proof of address and photo ID.)

·   Residents of the Women’s Shelter in Sheridan. (Photo ID required along with Letter of Stay from the shelter.)

All non-residents not meeting the above eligibility will be charged an annual fee of $10.00 for a Grant County Library card.  Photo ID and proof of address are still required.

Obtaining a library card:

All patrons may apply for a Grant County Library card based on the eligibility requirements listed beforehand.  All patrons completing an application MUST provide the following:

1. Name.

2. Government-issued Photo ID.

3. School Student or Faculty ID. (for Sheridan and Poyen School Districts)

4.  One Additional Item Proving Permanent Address (I.E.: Mail with name and address, county tax receipt/assessment, utility bill (electronic verification accepted).)

5. Telephone Number and/or Email.

6. One Reference:  Name and phone number of someone not living at the same address.

Library cards are available for children. However, any patron 17 years or younger must be linked to an adult library account, and the adult must sign the application accepting fiscal responsibility for the juvenile account.

Unique Situations Clause:

The Grant County Library seeks to provide library services to all patrons seeking to register for a library card.  Occasionally a unique situation arises where the patron meets most but not all the eligibility requirements. In this instance staff may issue a temporary or conditional card with limited borrowing privileges until the situation is resolved. 

Lost or Misplaced Cards:

The first card issued is free.  Replacement cards are $2.00 each.  All lost cards should be reported immediately to ensure that unapproved checkouts are not allowed.  Replacement cards will only be issued if a photo ID is presented at the time of replacement.

Change of Address / Account Updates:

It is the patron’s responsibility to inform the library of any address or contact information changes.

The library maintains the right to update account information as needed or as policy dictates.  Accounts must be updated a minimum of once per year.

Borrowing Policy:

Library materials are circulated with the following rules:

Regular Adult and Juvenile Accounts   

         Books & Audio Books       21 Days; 2 renewals, no limit per household.

         Magazines                          7 Days; 1 renewal, no limit per household.

Adult Accounts Only

         Movies                            7 Days; 1 renewal, limit of 6 per household.

         Hotspot                               14 Days; no renewals, limit 1 per household.

         Blu-Ray Player                   7 Days: 1 renewal, limit 1 per household.

Conditional or Temporary Accounts                 

         Books & Audio Books       14 Days; 1 renewal, limit of 10 items per household.

         Movies                                7 Days; 1 renewal, limit of 2 items per household.

         Hotspot                               14 Days; no renewals, limit 1 per household.

         Blu-Ray Player                   7 Days: 1 renewal, limit 1 per household.

The patron’s library card or photo ID must be presented to borrow materials or access the public computers. Any account with $5.00 or more of unpaid fines and fees is suspended until the account is paid. See ‘Fines and Fees’ for more information on fine accrual.

Items eligible for renewal may be renewed by phone or in person in accordance with the material listed above unless the item is on hold for another patron.  The patron whom the card is issued to is responsible for all items checked out on the card regardless if they were present at the checkout.

Parents or legal guardians of minor children with a juvenile library account must give written permission on the juvenile library account application for juvenile account/s to have unlimited borrowing; otherwise, all juvenile accounts will be locked to borrowing juvenile-labeled material only.

Reserves/Holds:

Any item may be placed on hold for a library patron.  If a patron has fines or overdue items, he/she shall not be permitted to place library materials on hold.  There is a maximum of three (3) holds per library card.  

Deposits:

Some items may be subject to a deposit.  This is not to be done for the limitation of access, but for the preservation of items that are often stolen or damaged.  When a deposit item is returned, the original form of payment will be returned to the patron in the amount of their deposit.

Care of Library Items:

All Library materials are expected to be returned in the same condition as it was when it was checked out.  It is the patron’s responsibility to check an item for damage and report it as such prior to checking out an item.  Damaged library materials must be paid for before any other library materials can be borrowed.  Failure to return clean, properly used materials will result in library privileges being revoked and charges for the repair or replacement.  

Material Replacement:

If an item or items must be replaced, patrons will be charged the replacement cost for the materials plus a processing fee.  Processing fees reflect the library’s loss of staff time to replace misused or damaged materials.  See Fines and Fees for amount.

Fines and Fees:

Fines are charged on all overdue items. Fines are accrued per the following:

                     All materials are charged at ten cents ($0.10) per day with a five-dollar

 ($5.00) maximum per item. 

Lost Charges: Replacement Cost (as assigned in system), $5.00 processing fee, and any late fees accrued.  Replacement costs are charged on all lost or damaged items.  Items are considered lost if a patron reports an item as such or if an item is overdue for more than three (3) months.  

Fines and fees that accumulate over seventy-five ($75.00) dollars and/or are owed for six (6) months or more are subject to being reported to a collection agency and to criminal charges.  

Those owing five dollars ($5.00) or more in fines or fees will be prohibited from checking out additional items or using library computers. For patrons with fines, guest passes may be granted for computer use once arrangements for payment have been made. 

Using Your Card at Other Libraries

Grant County Library is a proud member of the Mid-Arkansas Regional Library which provides more access for our patrons.  The libraries included in the Mid-Arkansas Regional Library are as follows:

Cleveland County Library- Rison

Dallas County Library- Fordyce

Grant County Library- Sheridan

 Malvern-Hot Spring County Library- Malvern

Saline County Libraries- Benton, Bryant, and East End.

Your Grant Count Library card is usable at these libraries for many of the items available for checkout.  For information on items available, contact the library from which you would like to borrow.

Gateway cards are still available to current library patrons with accounts in good standing; however, many libraries are no longer accepting them.  It is the patron’s responsibility to inquire from another library if they are still accepting Gateway cards and what fees are associated.