1981-02-02 RM Exhibits
'l.
~
, ~ UJ2lL./I?~~
NEW 'H A N 0 V E RC 0 U N T Y LIBRARY POLICY
I. GENERAL LIBRARY OBJECTIVES
The general library objective of the New Hanover County
Library shall be:
A. To assemble, preserve and administer, in organized
collections, books and related educational and recre-
ational material in order to promote, through guidance
and stimulation in' the communication of ideas f an en".'
lightened citizenship and enrich personal lives.
"",,
B~ To serve the community as a center of reliable infor-
mation.
C. To provide a place where inquiring minds may encounter
the original, sometimes unorthodox, and critical ideas
so necessary as correctives and stimulants in a society
that depends for its survival on free competition in
ideas.
D. To support educational, civic and cultural activities
of groups and organizationse
E. To provide opportunity and encouragement for children,
young people, men and women to educate themselves con-
tinuously.
F~ To seek continuously to identify community needs, to
provide programs of service to meet such needs, and to
co-operate with other organizations, agencies and in-
stitutions which can provide programs or services to
meet community needs.
G. To provide opportunity for recreation through the use
of literature, music, films and other art forms.
II. \....110 MAY USE THE LIBRARY
A. The library will serve all residents of New Hanover
County_ Services will not be denied or abridged be-
cause df religious, racial, social, economic or politi-
cal status. Persons residing outside the geographical
area, but owning property, working, attending an educa-
tional institution in New Hanover County, or living in
the counties of Pender, Bladen, Columbus or Brunswick
shall be eligible to borrow library materials. Transi-
ents are required to deposit the retail price of all
materials and when all materials are returned, the de-
posit will be refunded.
~
"
B. The use of the library or its services may be denied
for due cause. Such cause may be failure to return
books or to pay penalties, destruction of library
property, disturbance of other patrons or any other
objectional conduct on library premises..
III. SERVICES OF THE LIBRARY
A. The library will select from the mass of available ma-
terials and organize for easy access those books and
materials which best meet the needs of the community.
B. The library staff will provide guidance and assistance
for people to obtain the information they seek as re-
corded in print and audio-visual resources.
C. The library will provide information and materials to
help people to:
I. Equip themselves for efficient activities, including
vocational information, parent and home education,
child care, nutrition, physical health,. emotional
stability and growth, budgeting and consumer informa-
tion and specialized business, indust~ial and agri-
cultural information.
2. Increase their competence to form sound judgments on
public problems and to encourage them to express their
opinions and to act according to their judgment.
3. Increase their understanding and appreciation of lit-
erature, the arts, sciences and the political and
natural world..
4. Promote personal and social well-being and develop
creative and spiritual capacities.
D. The library will initiate programs, exhibits, book lists,
etc., to stimulate the use of library materials for the
enlightenment of peoples of all ages.
E. The library will cooperate with other community agencies
and organizations to:
1. Determine and meet the educational needs of the com-
munity.
2. Help them with their programs through such services
as, program planners' clinics, discussion on leader-
ship training, special bibliographies, materials and
exhibits.
- 2 -
'.
F. The library accepts a responsibility for securing infor-
mation beyond its own resources by:
I. Collecting information about, and listing for referral,
resources of agencies, institutions, orgainzations and
individuals in and beyond the community.
2. Borrowing for patrons with serious interests materials
which are not owned by the library and which cannot be
purchased or materials for which the demand does not
justify the purchase.
G. The library will lend to other libraries materials which
are requested for patrons with serious interests and which
are not available in the borrowing library. Patrons of
this library have a priority in the use of materials~
H. The library will endeavor to maintain a balance in its
services to men, women, young people and children. The
public library will cooperate with, but cannot perform
the functions of, school or other institutional libraries
which are designed to meet curricular needs.
I. Library services will be provided during the hours which
best meet the needs of the community and through service
outlets located at points of maximum convenience to the
public.
J. Periodic review will be made of library service to deter-
mine whether the needs of the community indicate that
present services should be discontinued or other services
should be added.
IV. LIBRARY MATERIALS
A. The library will provide any materials which help to meet
its objectives. Materials may include: books, periOdicals,
pamphlets, newspapers, pictures, slides, films, music scores,
maps, recordings and microfilm.
B. Materials acquired will meet high standards of quality in
content, expression and format. Also, within budgetary
limitations, recreational materials may be acquired based
on high reader interest.
c. The library will keep itself informed of other publicly
available resources of books and other materials in the
area to avoid unnecessary duplication.
D. The library will not at~empt to furnish needed materials
for formal courses of study offered by elementary and
secondary schools and by institutions of higher learning.
The public library has materials for self-study, but is
not primarily designed to furnish reading required for
academic study.
- 3 -
E. All materials except those that are in special demand or
cannot be replaced, including rare and fragile, items, will
be lent for home use under library regulations and proce~
dures.
F. The library subscribes to the Library Bill of Rights of
the American Library Association which affirms its belief
in the following basic policies~
1. As a responsibility of library service, books and other
reading matter should be chosen for values of interest,
information and enlightenment of all the poeple of the
community. In no case should any book be excluded be-
cause of the race or, nationality, or the political or
religious views of' the writer.
2. There should be the fullest practicable provisions of
material presenting all points of view concerning the
problems and issues of our times, international, na-
tional, and local; and books or other reading matter
of sound factual authority should not be proscribed
or removed from library shelves because of partison
or doctrinal disapproval.
3. Censorship of books urged or practiced by volunteer
arbiters of morals or political opinion or by organi-
zations which would establish a coercive concept of
Americanism, must be challenged 'by libraries, in main-
tenance of their responsibility to provide public in-
formation and enlightenment through recorded word.
4. Libraries should enlist the cooperation of all allied
groups in the field of science, of education and of
book publishing in the resistance of all abridgement
of free ac-cess to ideas and full freedom of expression
that are the tradition and heritage of Americans.
5. As an institution of education for democratic living,
the library should welcome the use of its Meeting
Rooms according to the policy adopted. (See VI.-F)
G. The library also subscribes to the Freedom to Read state-
ment prepared by the American Library Association and the
American Book Publishers' Council.
H. Materials which are no longer useful in the light of stated
objectives of the library will be systematically weeded
from the collection according to accepted professional
practices.
v. COOPERATION WITH OTHER LIBRARIES
A. The New Hanover County Library Advisory Board recognizes
that no single library can meet all demands in its community.
- 4 -
," ~
V. A. continued....
Libraries in different political subdivisions working
together, sharing their services and resources, can meet
more nearly the full needs of their users. It is our in-
tention to cooperate with the North Carolina State Library.
B. The New Hanover County Library Advisory Board and the
Librarian will be alert to opportunities of cooperation
with other libr~ries, to strengthen the services and re-
sources of the library.
VI. PHYSICAL FACILITIES
A. To achieve the goal of good library service, the New Han-
over County Library Board accepts the responsibility to
see that public library building facilities are provided
which will adequately meet the physical requirements of
modern aggressive library service. Such facilities will
offer to the community a compelling invitation to enter,
read, look, listen and learn. Each building or bookmobile
will.fit an expanding program of library se~vice.
B. The New Hanover County Library Advisory Board will recom-
mend to the New Hanover County Commissioners sites and/or
new buildings only after a service program has been adopted
and the librarian or a consulting librarian has written an
outline of the community's library building needs.
c. The Library Advisory Board accepts the responsibility to
recommend that the New Hanover" County Commissioners secure
the funds for needed facilities.
D. The librarian, the building committee, the New Hanover
County Commissioners and the New Hanover County Library
Advisory Board will endeavor to plan facilities to meet
the recognized standards and the needs of the community~
E. Meeting Rooms in the library may be reserved for use by
educational, civic, cultural and governmental groups when
no admission charge is made.
F. (Insert adopted Meeting Room Policy)
VII. GIFTS
A. Within the provisions of the laws, the New Hanover County
Library Advisory Board adopts the following policies:
I. Books and other materials will be accepted on the
condition that the librarian has the authority to
make whatever disposition he or she deems advisable.
(See policy on library materials.)
- 5 -
~'--~"-'-'-.'t!'~-"""_--"""_--'''_.,,;,:,,,,,,,''''''''__~-n_~.;~~=~Yl'tu.o.::'''~~l;~~}''"w:[4"w.lWj~~.f~$d;l.l1.if;idw...r~~lfut,p~jM~Jli'iilt'~\~6O.1'i';r"'~:~~-;~~~~~1iii{~~M;",~:&i7)XJ.Bi;>?~<r~1;t1%.:':~:}.@!;~~&~..ii.[~~~~i~;;,'r,:tj;:~~:i",
'. .
\. (
INSERT - VI. F.
''l;;
REGULATIONS FOR PUBLIC USE OF THE MEETING ROOM AND CONFERENCE ROOM
1. The Library Meeting Room and Conference Room are available for the use of
educational, cultural, civic and governmental groups to conduct nrn)"~profit
meetings. Profit making organizations sponsoring an educational program
of a non-profit nature will be permitted to use the room provided the meet-
ings are open to the general public.
2. The use of the Meeting Room will be limited to meetings for which no ad-
mission charge is made; except for meetings sponsored by the Library or a
non-profit educational group for short term classes, institutes, discussion
groups or forums.
3. Bookings shall be arranged at least 7 days before the opening of the meeting.
Standing reservations will not be accepted for meetings; for example, the
second Tuesday of every month.
4. All applications are to be approved by the Library Director and are subject
to review by the Library Advisory Board.
S. The person or organization reserving the roOm will re held responsible for
leaving tile room in proper order, and for the expense for damage to any li-
brary property. They will also be held responsible for the conduct of those
attending the meeting.
6. Groups using the Meeting Room or Conference Room will be responsible for
handling their own exhibits and equipment. The Library cannot provide staff
for this service. The Library does not accept responsibility for any damage
or theft to property brought into the library.
7. Canteen facilities are provided adjacent to:',the Meeting Room. Serving and
consumption of all food must be limited to the Meeting Room and the adjacent
hallway. Organizations wishing to use the canteen must provide their o~m
equipment and supplies and are responsible for cleaning this area. (In
accordance with the New Hanover County Library Policy, no alcoholic beverages
may be served.)
8. All meetings must be held during regular library hours with the exception of
evening meetings. Since the Library closes at 9:00 P.M., special arrangements
must be made for any meeting lasting after 9:00 P.M. and a $10.00 fee will be
charged to pay the custodian. Meetings scheduled for Sunday afternoons must
end before 6:00 P.M.
9. The capacity of the Meeting Room is 99 people.
10. This policy will be revised only by the Library Advisory Board.
._------------------_.._---'------_._---......",---~~~
11.
RESERVATION AND POLICY AGREEMENT FORM
(a. ) Name of Organization:
(b. ) Purpose of Meeting:
(d. ) Date: Time: From:
(d. ) Number of Persons Expected:
(e. ) Use of Canteen. Yes No
(f. ) Heeting Room:
(g' . ) Name of Responsible Person:
Address:
Telephone Number: Home
(h. ) Signature:
To:
Conference Room:
Business_
,....- .
2. Gifts of money, real property and/or stock will be
accepted if conditions attached thereto are accept-
able to the New Hanover County Library Advisory Board
and the County Commissioners. (Or other governing.
bodies involved.)
3. Personal property, art objects, portraits, antiques
and other museum objects will not be accepted.
4. The library will not accept for deposit materials
which are not outright gifts.
VIII. PUBLIC RELATIONS
A. Some of the primary public relations goals of the library
are:
1. Understanding the library's objectives and services
by governing officials, by civic leaders, and by the
general public.
2. Active participation in the varied services offered
by the library to people of all ages.
3. The New Hanover County Advisory Board recognizes that
public relations involves every person who has a con-
nection with the library. The Board urges its own
members and every staff member to realize that he or
she represents the library in every public contact.
Good services supports good public relations.
B. The New Hanover County Library Advisory Board recognizes
that closer cooperation between staff, Library Advisor~
Board and the New Hanover County Commissioners is needed;
therefore, one day a year all three groups will be invited
for a day of in-service training.
IX. POLICY REVIEW
This statement of policy will be reviewed periodically and
revised only by the Library Advisory Board~
- 6 -