Policies
- Smoking and recreational drugs in the library, including restrooms, meeting room, and the outdoor reading courtyard are prohibited.
- Food and beverages in covered containers are permitted in the library, except at public computer workstations.
- Pets, with the exception of animals serving impaired or disabled patrons, must be carried by the patron.
- Loud or abusive language is prohibited in the library or on the library property.
- Sleeping in the library is prohibited.
- The use of rollerskates, rollerblades, skateboards, etc., in the library or on the library grounds is prohibited.
- Actions, including public displays of affection, which are disruptive or distracting to others are prohibited.
- All patrons are required to treat the facility, equipment and grounds with respect. Any acts of vandalism will be reported immediately to the village police department.
- There will be no solicitation of library personnel or patrons on the library grounds.
- Upon request, patrons will show staff members contents of bookbags, backpacks and other totes.
- Guns, other weapons, or dangerous ordnances are not permitted on the Community Library property. Anyone found in possession of same will be asked to leave immediately.
- Parents are responsible for the behavior of their children while they are in the library. If it is determined the child is lost or left unattended, the library staff will attempt to notify the parents. If parents cannot be reached the village police will be called for resolution.
In accordance with the Community Library’s mission, the library provides Internet access to the community via the Ohio Public Library Information Network (OPLIN).
- As with all library materials, it is the patron, or the parent or legal guardian of minor children, who assumes responsibility for supervising access and selection of online resources through the library.
- Patrons may access the Internet on personal devices via the library’s wireless network. Library staff are not responsible for any changes made to personal hardware or software settings. The library also makes public access computers available during regular hours. Use of public access computers is limited to one-half hour unless no one is waiting.
- The library’s Internet service may not be used for any misrepresentation or for any unlawful purposes including viewing or transmitting material that reasonably could be considered pornographic or prurient. Access to and display of obscene language and sexually explicit graphics, as defined in §2907.01 and §2907.31 of the Ohio Revised Code, are prohibited.
- Files downloaded from the Internet may contain malicious software. The library is not responsible for damage to patrons’ hardware or loss of data that may occur from use of the library’s network or computers.
- Misuse of the Internet in the library will result in loss of Internet use for 30 days.
Mission Statement:
Community Library’s mission is to provide welcoming environments for all to pursue knowledge and cultivate interests.
Objectives:
To select, organize, and make available library materials to the people of the community. To stimulate an interest in reading as a source of pleasure, relaxation, and recreation. To provide additional materials for teachers and students of the Big Walnut School District. To assist patrons in obtaining library materials not owned by Community Library.
Scope of Collection:
In a free society, information on many points of view and in many fields of endeavor must be readily available. Community Library serves the public as a general center of information and diverse ideas. It has the responsibility of providing materials reflecting both majority and minority views. Community Library Board of Trustees believes education is a universal and lifelong process. For the self-directed, the library is a center of thought and knowledge. The library recognizes its obligations to provide reference and research materials for direct answering of specific questions and for continuing research. It also recognizes the purpose and resources of other libraries in the community and shall not needlessly duplicate functions and materials.
Community Library is not a supervisor of public morals. In 1970, the Board of Trustees adopted the Library Bill of Rights as attached. The library believes in the right and obligation of parents and guardians to guide moral development of their children. Adults may choose or reject library materials for themselves, but never for another adult.
The library recognizes its role in collecting the local history of the community and the genealogies of families in the community. These materials will be actively sought, protected, and stored in the heritage collection. The collection will primarily concentrate on the Big Walnut area with additional information on Delaware County, Ohio, and other areas from which the local settlers came. A staff member will be trained to share the local history materials with the community.
Selection:
Responsibility for the selection of library materials shall be vested in the library director. The library director may delegate to trained staff the authority to interpret and guide the application of the policy in day-to-day selection. Any materials so selected shall be held to be selected by the board. Questions concerning materials will be referred to the director for resolution. Selection of library materials will be from reviews in Publisher’s Weekly, New York Times Book Review, Booklist, Wilson Library Journal, Library Journal, School Library Journal, VOYA, Hornbook, WEB, Ohio Children’s Book Review, and other reputable review sources as well as criticism appearing in selection aids, periodicals, brochures, and bibliographies and/or upon reading and examination of materials by staff members.
Criteria for selection:
- The importance of the subject matter to the collection.
- Community demands, needs and availability in community.
- Authoritativeness.
- Inclusion in standard bibliographies or indexes.
- Suitability of physical format for library purposes including possibility of rebinding.
- Price
Donations:
Donations of library materials will only be taken with the understanding the library director will apply the criteria for selection to each individual title. Those needed in the collection will be added. Those not used in the collection will be sold by Community Library Friends.
Community Library will accept donations of money for the purchase of materials to serve as memorials or to honor individuals. The library director will work with the donor to purchase materials which are meaningful to the family and the donor.
Maintaining the collection:
Systematic withdrawal of materials no longer useful is necessary in order to maintain relevant resources. The same criteria used in adding the materials to the collection will be used in removing them. The guidelines for weeding, as set forth in the CREW Manual, will be used by the library director in making the decision on each item.
Materials withdrawn from the collection will be offered to the Community Library Friends for resale or recycled through other local organizations who may be able to use the materials. Any materials not sold or recycled will be disposed of in the most energy efficient and cost effective method.
Censorship Policies:
The selection of materials is predicated on the library patron’s right to read and freedom to view and, similarly, freedom from censorship by others. Much material is controversial and any given item may offend some persons. Selections for this library will not be made on the basis of anticipated approval or disapproval but solely on the criteria for selection.
Community Library holds censorship to be a purely individual matter and declares that while anyone is free to reject materials for oneself, one cannot exercise this right of censorship to restrict the freedom of others. Selection will not be inhibited by the possibility that the materials may inadvertently come into the possession of minors. Parents or legal guardians who do not want their children to have access to certain library services, materials or facilities, should so advise their children. Librarians and the Board of Trustees cannot assume the role of parents or function as authority in the private relationship between parent and child.
Procedure for reconsideration of materials:
- The library will reconsider any material in its collection upon written request from a patron. If a complaint is made, the following procedure is to be followed:
- The patron will be given the Request for Reconsideration of Library Material form to complete.
- The completed form along with the material (if possible) will be given to the library director.
- The library director will locate the source from which the material was selected.
- If the material appears to meet the criteria for selection, the patron will be notified and the material will be returned to the shelf. If the patron has read/viewed the material in its entirety and is not satisfied with the library director’s decision the reconsideration committee will review the material. (Skip to #6)
- If the library director finds the material does not meet the criteria for selection the reconsideration committee will review the material. The reconsideration committee will consist of the library director, the assistant library director, and the service director for the area in which the material is located. The committee will undertake the following:
- Read, view, or listen to the challenged material in its entirety;
- Review the selection process and the criteria for selection;
- Check reviews and recommended lists to determine recommendations by the experts and critics;
- Meet to discuss the challenge;
- Make a recommendation for removal, retention, or replacement.
- The Board of Trustees and the patron will be notified of the recommendation of the reconsideration committee.
- If the patron is not satisfied with the reconsideration committee’s finding, the complaint will be forwarded to the Community Library Board of Trustees for review.
Community Library’s mission is to provide welcoming environments for all to pursue knowledge and cultivate interests. To that end, the library makes its meeting rooms available to our community for educational, intellectual, cultural, and charitable activities. The library does not advocate or endorse the viewpoints of meetings or meeting room users.
Following are the guidelines for using the library meeting room.
- The Community Library meeting room may be scheduled when it is not being used for library programming. The meeting room can accommodate no more than 50 attendees.
- Entrance fees/admission charges are prohibited. Fundraising, solicitations, or the sale of goods and services are not permitted unless sponsored by the library, by Community Library Friends, or an agency partnering with the library.
- An adult who is at least 18 years of age with an active Community Library account must complete the Application for Meeting Room Use Form and return it to the library. A deposit of $15 is required against damages or failure to clean the room. Additional payment may be required for any damage or loss of library property, and a fee for janitorial service may be assessed if the room is not left in the condition in which it was found. If the room is left as it was found, the deposit will be returned. An adult must be present the entire time the room is in use. The library is not liable for injuries to people or damage to property of organizations using the room.
- Cancellation of the reservation must be made 24 hours in advance. Failure to cancel may result in a forfeiture of deposit and denial of future use of facilities.
- Permission to use the meeting room does not imply the Community Library Board of Trustees supports the event. The library’s name and address should not be used as the official address or headquarters of a scheduling organization. Any publicity or marketing materials must include the disclaimer, “This event is not sponsored or endorsed by Community Library.” Copies of all publicity of events to be held in the meeting room should be provided to the library prior to publication.
- No hazardous materials such as flammable liquids, fuels, adhesives, etc., are permitted in the meeting room.
- All people attending the event must comply with the library Code of Conduct. Anyone interrupting the normal library functions by abusing the Code of Conduct will be asked to leave the premises.
- The reserving group is responsible for setting up the room and returning the room to original set-up when finished. All trash is to be taken from the room as instructed.
- The meeting room is available during library hours unless an after-hours meeting has been approved by library staff. If the meeting is to extend beyond normal hours, the adult reserving the room is to check the restrooms, kitchenette, and meeting room, turn off lights as instructed, and secure the front door.
- If the library must close due to unforeseen circumstances, all efforts will be made to notify groups scheduled to use the meeting room. It is the responsibility of the group to notify its members. Rescheduling the event in the meeting room will be determined by the library calendar.
Click Here for an application or ask at the desk.
Community Library’s mission is to provide welcoming environments for all to pursue knowledge and cultivate interests. In an effort to provide spaces for the diverse needs of our users, the library offers group study rooms for the purpose of meeting, collaborating, studying, and reading, just to name a few.
Following are the guidelines for using library study rooms.
- Rooms are available when the library is open and when they are not being used for a library program.
- Rooms can be reserved, but no more than once a week. Otherwise, they are available on a first come, first served basis.
- Reservations cannot exceed two months in advance.
- Cancellation of a reservation must be made at least two hours in advance. Failure to cancel may result in a denial of future reservations.
- Rooms can only be used for two hours, unless no one is waiting to use them. Following the initial two hours, rooms are used in one hour increments.
- An adult who is at least 18 years of age must be present while the room is in use. Special exceptions may be made for youth working on research projects, etc.
- Room capacity for group study rooms A and B are four each. Capacity for group study room C is six.
- Rooms remained locked when not in use.
Book a Room online or contact the library at 740-965-3901 to reserve a space.
