Policies

Meeting Room Policies:

The Princeton Public Library provides meeting/activity rooms for the use of library programming and meetings of the Library Board of Trustees. Library programs always take priority for the use of these spaces. When available, the downstairs meeting/activity rooms can be used by organizations, groups, businesses, and governmental entities who agree to abide by the Library’s rules and whose activities do NOT discriminate based on sex, sexual orientation, color, race, national origin, religion, age, or disability. Granting permission for the use of the meeting rooms does not imply library approval of the organization/group and/or of the ideas presented at the meeting. Publicity promoting the event shall not imply that the library is a sponsor of the event nor give the library’s phone number or email address as a point of contact.

Fees:

The rental fee is: $10 per hour per room.
If the individual requires the warming kitchen in addition to their room, there will also be an added $20 fee for all organizations.
There will be an additional fee of $40 if the room is not left in its original condition; i.e., all trash is picked up and floor and table(s) are clear of any/all debris.
All non-profit organizations are exempt from the rental fee, but they are NOT exempt from being charged for warming kitchen use or any damage to the library and will be charged a $40 cleaning fee if the room is not left in its original condition. The organization claiming non-profit status may be asked to provide a copy of their IRS Form 501(c)(3), Articles of Incorporation, or a Tax-Exempt Certificate.
The individual responsible for reserving the room must give a 24-hour notice if the room is no longer needed or they will forfeit the rental fee.

Usage and Availability:

The individual must be at least 21 years of age to reserve the room.
An individual can reserve the room 12 times a calendar year and up to 1 year in advance.
A reservation may only be made using the Meeting Room Agreement form. Reservations will only be confirmed once an agreement has been signed and payment, if required, has been received.
Library events take precedence over other scheduled events or meetings.
The rooms can only be reserved on the days the library is open.
The individual reserving the room must arrive when the library is open and cannot set up earlier than the library’s stated hours.
If the meeting/event lasts longer than the library’s stated hours, the person reserving the room is responsible for making sure all attendees leave the building, toilets are flushed, all items not belonging to the library are taken or placed in a trash receptacle, and the door they exit from locks behind them.
The user shall inspect the premises and facilities and hereby accepts the premises and facilities in their present condition and shall not alter or change the facilities without the written permission of the library.
Upon termination of the use, the premises shall be returned in the same condition as received by the user.
Users and all members and invitees of the User are guests of the library and their use of the space should be and is subject to the library’s rules.
The following are prohibited on library property:
1. No alcohol, controlled substance, or tobacco use (Including e-cigarettes and vape pens)
2. No open flame candles, fireworks, or explosive devices
3. No items can be affixed to the outer walls, windows, or glass panels
All food, drink, user equipment, and personal items that were brought into the room must be removed from the library when the meeting/event is over. The library is not responsible for any equipment, material, etc. left in the room.
If the user is using the warming kitchen:
1. Groups must supply their own utensils, dishes, tableware, and all disposable items such as napkins, paper cups, etc.
2. Users can use the sink to clean utensils, dishes, etc., but they must provide the detergent, dish towels, sponges, etc.
3. Use the refrigerator and microwave to cool or heat items, but must remove when leaving. Ice will be in limited supply.
4. Trash and garbage should be left in closed trash bags or removed from the premises.
Persons under the age of 21 years old using the room must be supervised by an adult at all times.
If children are brought to any adult meeting, the accompanying adult is responsible for the children’s behavior throughout the building. Library staff does NOT provide childcare or babysitting services and cannot be responsible for the safety of children left unattended. If the children create a disturbance in the library, they will be required to stay with the adult in the meeting room or be asked to leave the building.
The user is responsible for any costs associated in returning the room to proper condition, including but not limited to cleaning or repair charges for any damaged property.
Room cannot be used for rummage or yard sales.

Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA):

The user agrees to comply with all applicable requirements of the ADA in assuring availability of auxiliary aids and services required by participants at any event. The User shall be solely responsible for the cost of any such auxiliary aids and services. The User agrees to indemnify, hold harmless, and defend the library, its Board of Trustees, offices, and employees from and against any claims resulting for the User’s failure to comply with ADA standards for access to its programs and services.

Copyright:

Groups showing copyrighted visual material in the library are solely responsible for obtaining written public performance licensing rights. Borrowing, renting, or purchasing a movie does not carry with it the right to show the movie outside of the home.

Security Cameras:

The user understands the library has a variety of monitoring stations for the safety and security of the building. Users may not do anything that interferes with any security cameras located in and around the building.

Transferability:

This agreement is not transferrable and if the original signer is unable or unwilling to commit to hte agreement, they will need to cancel the agreement and have a new user sign the meeting room agreement. Nothing in this agreement shall imply any sponsorship, joint venture, or any other association between the library and the user. The users shall have sole responsibility for the content and the conduct of its activities on library property.

Indemnity and Damages:

All Users and persons attending User sponsored events using library facilities take the premises “as is” and assume all risks of loss, damage, or injury, including death or property damage, resulting from the use by User(s) of the library facilities and services under this agreement. Library “facilities” and “premises” include not only meeting rooms but the entire building, parking lot, and grounds.

The library assumes no liability whatsoever for any property placed by the User or any person attending a User sponsored event in or about the library building or property. User agrees that all persons on library premises because of User’s event (participants, members, invitees) are under the direct and complete control of the User. As such, the User is liable for all damages resulting from a participant’s use of the library’s facilities and services. User shall reimburse the library for all damages to its facilities or equipment resulting from the use of the same.

The User shall indemnify, hold harmless, and defend the Library, its Board of Trustees, officers, and employees from and against any and all liability or financial loss, costs, or expense (including reasonable attorney’s fees and legal costs) resulting from any suit, claim, loss, or action brought against the library, its Board of Trustees, officers, and/or employees, which arises or results directly or indirectly from the use of the library’s facilities or services under this agreement by the user or its sponsors, spectators, participants, members, officers, directors, or agents.

Notwithstanding the foregoing, if the user is a governmental entity or a public employee acting within the scope of his or her employment, then the provisions of this section will not apply.

Miscellaneous:

The user provides their own office equipment, services, and/or supplies. Fax, photocopying, and/or computers are available in regular patron areas in the library and are available during regular library hours. The user is responsible for handling registrations, screening attendees, loading, unloading, and/or carrying of the group’s materials.
The library reserves the right to share contact information of any individual/organization that reserves the meeting room, if a request is made by a member of the public.
The library reserves the right to refuse or discontinue any use which is disruptive or destructive to the library or when falsified information was given on the meeting room application/agreement.
The library reserves the right to allow staff members to enter any meeting to ensure adherence to library policy and to ask groups to vacate the building if they are not adhering to library policy.
ALL individuals and groups regardless of status MUST come to the library to sign for the rooms and confirm their requested date with library staff.

Study/Tutor Room Policy:

The Princeton Public Library now has small study/tutor rooms for use in our building upstairs. The rules and policies for those rooms are as follows:

There will be no reservations for these rooms
The rooms will be locked between users.
An individual must be at least 12 years of age or older to use the room and must show a picture ID or a valid Princeton Library Card.
The individual can use the room for 4 hours. They can use it longer if no other individual needs a room.
The individual will sign up and out of the room at the circulation desk giving name and telephone number.
Drinks with lids and snacks are allowed.
Nothing can be placed on the walls.
The person who signed for the room is held responsible for any damage or mess to the room. If the room or its content is damaged they will forfeit the use of the room until they pay.
The rooms are available during regular library hours but the individual(s) must vacate the room one half hour (30 minutes) before the library closes.
The library cannot be held responsible for theft, damage, or loss of personal property left in the room.
Library staff will not be responsible for child care and the unattended children policy will be enforced if a child is in the building at closing time.

To Obtain a Library Card:

Residents of Patoka Township wishing to obtain a library card must present a valid driver’s license with current address, valid State ID with current address or current government issued photo ID. If the address is not current, they must present one of the following showing current address:

Valid voter’s registration card
Utility bill issued within the last 60 days
Bank statement issued with the last 60 days
Valid current government issued ID (e.g. military ID, passport)
Property tax receipt

If they do not reside in the library’s taxing district but do own real property in the library’s taxing district, they must present a current tax bill or a deed to the property.

The application for a child under the age of 18 but over the age of 5 must be completed by a parent or legal guardian (who must prove residency).

Resident library cards will be renewed every two years from the date of receiving the library card.

Non-resident students (K-12) who reside within the North Gibson School District or attend a school within the school district are eligible for a complimentary one-year, renewable library card entitling the student to all rights and privileges of this library only and OVERDRIVE.

Reciprocal borrowers will receive a library card by showing valid proof—a current library card from their home library and photo ID. The card will be valid at this library only. The card is valid for one year from the date of receiving the library card and may be renewed by showing a photo ID and valid library card. The person must be in good standing at their home library.

The Library Board will set subscription fees for non-library district residents not living in an area supported by another library. Only full year subscriptions for an individual will be sold. They have full EVERGREEN privileges.

Library card replacement fee will be $2.00 and a valid photo ID is required.

Computer Policy:

While using the computers at the Princeton Public Library, please follow these below guidelines for your safety and the safety of others:

Library card and be in good standing or by showing a picture ID in which to obtain a guest library computer card. ooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo
Any person 9 years of age or older may use the library’s 3D printer. ooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo
The cost for printing a 3D object is $1.00 per hour with a minimum amount of $.50 which is payable in advance of printing. Rev. September 19, 2017 oooooooooooooooo
Parents must give written permission for any child 15 years or younger to use the Internet without the parent being present. oooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo
Children age 7 and younger must be accompanied by a responsible person while using the internet computers. ooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo
Any staff member can request a person show their library card or picture ID before they can use the library’s computers. ooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo
Anyone may use our wireless access provided they can manually setup their devices to see our access point. oooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo
The public may not plug their internet accessible devices into our wired network. ooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo
No food or drinks are allowed around the computers. ooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo
Patrons are allowed 2 hours of computer usage after signing in on the library’s computers and may continue up to a maximum of six hours per day as long as no one is waiting to use a computer. Staff members have the right to ask the person to leave the computer they are on after two hours if someone else needs that particular computer due to the nature of their work i.e. they need to use the scanner.

If all terminals are in use, patrons may reserve a computer. Reservations are made on a day-to-day basis in person.

Computers in the Youth area are for children 15 and under only. Children under 16 may use the computers in the Technology Center as long as no adult needs the computer. Individuals over the age of 16 may use the computers in the youth area if they have a mental disability as that term is defined by the Americans with Disabilities Act, which disability makes it age appropriate for the individual to use the computers in the youth area.

The library will not allow information to be stored on library’s computer. Patrons are to store any files on their own storage devices.

The library does not provide any listening device to use with the computers. Sounds from the computer must be low enough that others can’t hear it, or patrons must provide their own headphones.

15.The fee for printing is $.15 per page for b&w and $.50 for color printing. Printing from the computers must be released by 7:45 p.m. on Monday-Thursday and by 4:45 p.m. on Friday-Sunday. Printing can only be done from library owned computers

Library computers and any computer using the Library’s internet connection may not be used to:

View or transmit sexually explicit material that appeals to the prurient interest or any other material that is not constitutionally protected or to conduct other illegal activity.
Violate any applicable federal, state, or local laws, ordinances, rules, or regulations.
Harass other persons or parties.
Libel or slander other persons of parties.
Destruct or damage equipment, software, or data belonging to the library or other users.
Disrupt or monitor electronic communications.
Copy copyrighted or other protected material.
Violate computer system security.
Use unauthorized computer accounts, access codes, or network identification numbers assigned to others.
Violate software license agreements.
Perform any activity deemed inappropriate by the library.

Any library staff member who observes a person viewing material that is in opposition to this computer use policy will direct that person to remove the material from the computer screen and to refrain from viewing such material in the future. Any person who refuses to comply with these directions will be asked to leave the library premises. Library staff may contact law enforcement officials to enforce compliance with such a request.

A violator of these guidelines will be barred from entry into all library facilities for a period of time commensurate with the nature of the violation, in the sole discretion of the Library Director or the Director’s designee. A person will be considered in violation of these guidelines if he or she refuses to comply with the directions of the staff, or if he or she repeatedly uses the computer resources in an inappropriate manner, requiring the staff to intervene. The following penalties will generally be imposed, subject to the discretion of the Library Director or the Director’s designee:

For a first offense, the violator will be excluded for the remainder of the day ooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo
For a second offense, the violator will be excluded for up to one week, at the discretion of the staff member who observes the violation ooooooooooooooooooooooo
For a third offense, the violator will be excluded for up to one month, at the discretion of the staff member who observes the violation

The Library Director may exclude a habitual offender for a longer period of time, or permanently. (Note: An unattended child should not be asked to leave the building unless that child is clearly capable of making his or her way home safely. For instructions on handling this kind of situation, see Unattended Children Operating Procedure.)

The Princeton Public Library assumes no responsibility for any damages, direct or indirect, arising from use of the Internet services and access points

Mobile Printing:

Printing Fees:

Copies:

B&W $.15 per side

Color $.50 per side

Fax:

$1.00 per page

Loan periods and fines:

Library cards must be presented to check out material. You are responsible for every item checked out on that card. Please report any stolen cards.

New adult books (purchased within the last 4 months), magazines (not the current issue), audio compact discs, and playaways check out for 2 weeks with 2 renewals if no one else has requested them

Regular books check out for 3 weeks with 2 renewals if no one else has requested them.

DVDs check out for 1 week with 1 renewal if no one else has requested them. There is a limit of 10 per library card.

Renewals can be done in person, by telephone or you can do them online.

If an item becomes overdue there is a $.25 per day per item fine. Fines will not be charged on days the library is closed. Items can be returned in the outside drop box which is checked twice a day. Fines are capped at $10.00 or the cost of the item minus $.50 whichever is the lesser amount.

Fees will be assessed for damaged items to cover the repair or for replacement parts. Charges cannot exceed the replacement cost of the item.

If the item is lost or is damaged beyond repair, the patron will pay for the cost of the item, and a $10.00 processing fee could also be charged. If the item is later found the item is theirs. There is no refund

Tablets, chrome notebooks, and other electronic equipment that the Board of Trustees permits will check out for two weeks with no renewals to adults (18 years or older) with a valid Princeton/Patoka township resident library card or Princeton/Patoka township subscription card. The individual can’t have any outstanding fines or charges at the library. The individual must present their driver’s license or state picture ID along with their library card to check out the item. They must also sign an agreement stating they will pay for any damage to the item while it is checked out under their library card or pay the replacement cost if damage beyond repair or lost.
There will be no renewals. If the item is not returned by the due date, there will be a $5.00 per day fine. The item must be returned to the front circulation desk. A staff member will verify with the patron that all the equipment was returned in good shape and does work. If the individual returns the item through the book drop there will be a $25.00 fee assessed to the individual along with any cost due to tablet being damaged.

Holds/Requests:

Only patrons who reside in our taxing district or subscription card holders may request items from other libraries through EVERGREEN, SCRS, or Indiana Share. Individuals with expired cards, or owe $10.00 in fines, or have 15 items overdue cannot place holds. An individual can only have 30 active holds at one time. The library cannot guarantee that the item can be obtained from another library.

The individual card holder can place the hold themselves through their on-line library account for EVERGREEN holdings and SCRS or request that the library staff place the holds for them. Items that cannot be found on these two sources will have to be placed on hold by library staff through the Indiana share program.

Items that have been published or released within the last six months may not be loaned out from another library. The library will consider purchasing the item based on its selection criteria

The only charge for this service is postage if the item comes from a library outside of Indiana Express circuit or any photocopy fees.

Individuals will receive a recorded telephone message with a 317 prefix when the item arrives at the library. They will have 5 days to pick up the item before it is returned to the lending library.

Fines will be charged for any overdue item the same as if the item belonged to this library

Charges for damaged or lost items will be assessed by the owning library.

Staff will not automatically place holds for individuals. They must request the hold.

Appropriate Behavior

No use of tobacco products, vaping, alcoholic beverages, or using obscene language.
Treat all individuals with courtesy and respect
No running, skateboarding, roller skating or bicycling.
No hitting, pushing, or shoving another person
Talking is permitted using your normal voice level, no shouting or screaming
Shoes and shirts must be worn at all times
No soliciting
No sitting, standing or crawling on tables or desks.
No lying on the floor if you are 8 years old or older
Staff has the right to ask you to leave/ban you from the library if your behavior is not acceptable. You can appeal this decision by writing a letter address to the director and the Board of Trustees.
You can ask for a complete list of guidelines from any staff member

Unattended Children

Responsibility for the safety and behavior of All children using the Library resides with the parent, guardian, or assigned chaperone, not with the Library staff.
If a child is being disruptive, they will be warned that their behavior is unacceptable. If they continue to misbehave, they will be asked to leave. If they came with a parent, the parent will be notified. If they were dropped off, the staff will telephone the parent to come and pick up their child. If the child is being banned for more than 24 hours, the parent will be notified by the staff.
If a child is unattended at the Library and we are closing the staff will try to contact the parent or guardian. If a responsible person is reached, the staff will ask their location and wait with the child the normal driving time to reach the Library. If no responsible individual can be reached and the Library closes, the police will be called.
Under no circumstances will a staff member take a child out of the Library and its grounds, or transport a child in any manner without written parental consent.
Children under the age of 12 will not be left alone outside the Library after closing.