The following are a selected group of policies that are most often addressed in daily library business. All library policies are available upon request at the library.

Confidentiality of Records

The Freeburg Area Library District abides by Illinois Law that states that the records of patron transactions and the identity of registered library patrons is confidential material.

The Freeburg Area Library District does not make available the records of patron transactions to any party except in compliance with the law.

The Freeburg Area Library District does not make available lists of registered library patrons except in compliance with the law.

Unattended Children

Parents are responsible for the behavior of their children while they are in the Library.  The Freeburg Area Library District staff is committed to help children with activities related to the Library.  However, Library staff cannot, nor is it their responsibility to serve as baby-sitters, teachers or disciplinarians.  The library also cannot and does not assume responsibility for unattended children.

Violations of this policy are grounds for suspension of library privileges.  Whenever advisable, the Library will notify the parent of incidents involving an unattended child.

Children under the age of 14 must be accompanied and directly supervised at all times by a parent or other responsible caregiver age 14 or older.

From time to time, the Freeburg Area Library District schedules or provides programs which are designed and suitable for attendance by children without parental supervision.  Such program announcements will so indicate and if no indication is included then supervision is required.  Special privileges may be granted at the discretion of the Library Director.

Teens ages 14 and older may use the Library unattended by an adult, subject to other Library rules and policies concerning behavior, conduct and demeanor.

When the safety of an unattended child is in doubt, or the parent or responsible caregiver cannot be located, or if the Library is closing, Library staff are authorized to call the police and stay with the child until the police arrive.  Under no circumstance will library staff take an unattended child home.  The following letter will be sent to the child’s parents or guardians in such instances:

UNATTENDED CHILDREN PARENTAL NOTIFICATION LETTER

Dear _____________,

The Freeburg Area Library District has recently experienced an incident involving your child, ____________________, where they were on Library grounds unattended by you or a responsible caregiver.  A copy of the Library’s Unattended Children Policy is enclosed here for your attention.  We ask that you review this policy and make every effort to follow it.  We do not wish to suspend Library privileges for you or your family, but the safety of children as well as the proper operation of the Library is our first responsibility.  If you have any questions regarding this policy or its enforcement, please contact the Library Director.

Sincerely,

_______________________

Library Director

Adopted by the Board of Trustees of the Freeburg Area Library District on February 22, 2022.

Discipline Policy

To insure that all patrons may have considerate use of the Freeburg Area Library District, appropriate behavior is expected.

Violation of any of the following rules will result in a warning and/or expulsion from the property. Whenever necessary police will be contacted.

The Director and supervisory staff have authority to carry out all powers of this policy.

  1. No loud talking or boisterous behavior (running, excessive seat changing, etc.).
  2. No food or drink may be consumed in the library (except with prior approval of the Library Board of Library Trustees or library director).
  3. No smoking.
  4. No destruction or mutilation of library property.
  5. No parking bicycles or other vehicles in a manner that block or hinders entry to the library.
  6. No conduct that is disruptive to the operation of the library, or threatening to patrons, staff, or library property.

PERTAINING TO THE CONDUCT OF THE PATRONS

FOR THE FREEBURG AREA LIBRARY DISTRICT,

COUNTY OF ST. CLAIR AND STATE OF ILLINOIS

(This ordinance is reviewed yearly.)

WHEREAS, the Board of Trustees of the Freeburg Area Library District is dedicated to providing access to knowledge and information through reading, writing and quiet contemplation, and providing for patrons the right to use materials and services without being disturbed or impeded and providing patrons and employees with a secure and comfortable environment, and

WHEREAS, the Public Library District Act of 1991 provides the Board of Trustees with the general power to carry out the spirit and intent of the Act in establishing and maintaining the library and providing library services, and the specific power to “exclude from the use of the library any person who willfully violates an ordinance or regulation prescribed,”

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT ORDAINED by the Freeburg Area Library District Board of Trustees in the County of St. Clair and State of Illinois, as follows:

Section 1. Anyone who engages in any activity that disrupts or damages library facilities, collections, or services or disrupts the ability of the staff to perform its duties is considered a nuisance.

Patrons should respect the rights of other patrons and shall not harass or annoy others through noisy or boisterous activities, by improperly touching someone, by staring at another person with the intent to annoy that person, by following another person about the building with the intent to annoy that person, by playing audio equipment so that others can hear it, by singing or talking loudly to others or in monologues, or by behaving in a manner which reasonably can be expected to disturb other patrons. This is considered harassment and a nuisance to others and will cease such activity immediately upon request by library personnel.

Anyone whose bodily hygiene is offensive or unsanitary so as to constitute a nuisance to other persons shall be required to leave the building immediately and may return after the problem has been resolved. Bodily hygiene includes being free from filth, strong odors, lice, fleas, etc.

Section 2. In such instances involving minors, identification will be requested and the incident may be reported to the parent or guardian.

Section 3. If, following a request, the patron fails or refuses to comply, or responds to the request in an abusive fashion, he or she will be required to leave the library premises immediately for the balance of that calendar day. If he or she refuses to leave, the police will be summoned.

Section 4. Library personnel will record instances in which patrons are required to leave the library in a ledger maintained by the library for that purpose. Upon a second recorded instance in which a patron is required to leave the library premises within a thirty day period, the Director shall bar the patron from use of library premises for a period of thirty days. Parents or guardians of minors will be notified in writing after a second recorded instance in which a minor is required to leave the library and advised of the consequences of any further recorded instances.

Section 5. Patrons wishing to appeal such action may do so upon written request to the Board of Trustees.

Section 6. In the event a patron barred from the use of the library attempts entry to the library during any such period of exclusion, the police will be summoned and informed of the prior action.

Section 7. In the event the patron persists in abusive conduct or disruptive behavior following such period of exclusion, the Director shall report such conduct to the Board of Trustees and the Board will consider a long-term exclusion of that patron.

PASSED by the Board of Trustees of the Freeburg Area Library District, County of St. Clair and State of Illinois, in public session assembled this 26th day of July 2011.

This ordinance supersedes all prior ordinances on the subject matter and shall take effect immediately upon enactment. A copy of this ordinance shall be posted at the Library within 3 days after enactment and shall remain posted for 14 days and the Secretary shall maintain a certified copy of the ordinance available for public inspection.

Board: Trustees of the Freeburg Area Library District

By: Lawrence Meggs, President of the Library Board of Trustees

Attest: Kathryn E. Marshall, Secretary of the Library Board of Trustees

Equipment and Computer Use Policy

The Library reserves the right to limit, refuse, and/or ban any patron or from using the library equipment and computers. Use is limited to patrons or in good standing:

all fines, fees, and lost materials paid,

all overdue materials returned,

current local library card

and must agree to the library policies.

A parent or legal guardian must accompany and supervise the child under the age of 12 when there is a need to use library equipment such as the typewriter or Internet.

Copyright laws forbid duplication of copyrighted software.

Costs: Printing from the computer in color is 50 cents.

Printing from the computer in black-and-white is 15 cents.

Public Access to Electronic Information Networks

Electronic Networks and the Library’s Mission

Libraries make it possible for citizens to have access to the information they need to make informed decisions. As a member of the Illinois Library and Information Network (ILLINET), the Freeburg Area Library District is committed to networking which represents good public policy by maximizing the use of the resources of all types of libraries. Every library user benefits from expanded access to information beyond the four walls of a single library building.

The Freeburg Area Library District and all ILLINET libraries use electronic information networks such as the Internet for a variety of purposes:

  1. access to shared automation systems that provide bibliographic access to the

collections of the local library and libraries in the region and across the state

  1. access to the wealth of information resources available via the Internet
  2. access to general and specialized shared licensed databases available to ILLINET

member libraries through regional and statewide cooperative programs.

Internet electronic mail service is available to patrons in libraries that elect to offer this service. In many areas of Illinois, regional community information networks are operational and offer library patrons access to Internet electronic mail and related services.

Relationship to Other Library Policies

The Freeburg Area Library District’s Policy for Access to Electronic Information Networks is part of the library’s overall policy structure and should be interpreted in conjunction with other existing policies. Copies of all library policies are available upon request from a library staff member.

“Global” Versus “Local” Resources

Most resources available via the Internet and other electronic information networks are “global” resources rather than “local” resources. The library does not and can not control the information content available through global resources such as information obtained from outside sources via the Internet. Internet resources enhance and supplement resources that are available locally within a library. Library users must be aware that this library does not exercise control over information obtained via the Internet and must keep in mind the following points when evaluating information obtained via the Internet:

“Global” Versus “Local” Resources

Information obtained via the Internet may or may not be reliable and may or may not be obtained from a reliable source.

Information obtained via the Internet may or may not be accurate.

Information obtained via the Internet may or may not be current and up to date.

  1. Links to information on the Internet may not always be valid, and particular information sites on the Internet may sometimes be unavailable and this unavailability often occurs unpredictably.
  2. Certain information obtained via the Internet may be considered controversial by some library patrons.

The Freeburg Area Library District urges library patrons to be informed consumers and carefully evaluate information obtained via the Internet. Library staff may be available to assist patrons in making judgments about the reliability or currency of certain types of Internet information sources, but are unable to provide definitive analysis of particular sources due to the extremely large variety and volume of information available via the Internet.

This library is not responsible for damages, indirect or direct, arising from a library patron’s use of Internet information resources.

Library Patrons’ Rights

Library patrons have certain rights with respect to use of electronic information networks such as the Internet. This library will work with other libraries in the Illinois Library and Information Network to preserve and protect these rights, subject to limitations imposed by licensing and payment agreements with database providers.

Library patrons have the right to confidentiality and privacy in the use of electronic information networks to the extent possible given certain constraints such as proximity of other patrons and staff in public access settings.

Library patrons have the right to equitable access to electronic information networks.

Library patrons have the right to access and read all library service policies and discuss questions with appropriate library staff.

Patron Assistance and Instruction

The Freeburg Area Library District’s staff may provide assistance to patrons in the use of electronic information networks as time and staff knowledge permits. Printed and online documentation and instructions are available at or near points of service. Formal instruction in particular aspects of electronic information network use may be available.

Use of Equipment and Networks

The Freeburg Area Library District requires that library patrons using electronic information networks such as the Internet do so within the guidelines of acceptable use. The following activities are unacceptable:

  • use of electronic information networks for any purpose which results in the harassment of other users,
  • destruction of, damage to or unauthorized alteration of the library’s computer equipment software, or network security procedures,
  • use of electronic information networks in any way which violates a Federal or State law,
  • use of electronic information networks in any way which violates licensing and payment agreements between [this library] and network/database providers,
  • unauthorized duplication of copy protected software or violation of software license agreements,
  • violation of system security,
  • behaving in a manner that is disruptive to other users, including but not limited to overuse of computer equipment which serves to deny access to other users.

Children’s Access to Electronic Information Networks

The Freeburg Area Library District supports the right of all library users to access information and will not deny access to electronic information networks based solely on age. Children under the age of 12 must be accompanied by a parent or legal guardian to use the Internet.

This library recognizes that the electronic information networks such as the Internet may contain material that is inappropriate for children. Parents are expected to monitor and supervise their children’s use of the Internet. Library staff are unable to monitor children’s use. Parents are encouraged to discuss with their children issues of appropriate use and electronic information network safety.

Library Procedures Relating to Electronic Networks

This library has developed certain procedures to assist staff and patrons in the use of electronic information resources. These procedures include (but are not necessarily limited to) the following:

  • time limits for access to allow use of resources by the maximum number of library patrons,
  • cost recovery for printouts using the library’s computer equipment,
  • priority usage for accessing the library’s online catalog,
  • specific instructions for downloading including compliance with virus protection measures,
  • restrictions on the use of personal software on library computer equipment,
  • a registration and use agreement form which must be completed prior to usage.

Breach of Policy

Violation of any aspect of this policy may result in the loss of library privileges.