Hall Memorial Library
                                     -Serving the towns of Northfield and Tilton-
                                        18 Park Street Northfield, NH 03276
                                        Phone:286-8971   Fax:603-286-2278
                                            Email: hallmemo@metrocast.net
                 Open Monday & Thursday 10-8 | Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday 10-6 | Saturday 10-2

                      

               Other Library Policies:

               
             Unattended Juvenile:
 

    People under the age of 14 who use the library must exhibit the same appropriate library
 behavior expected of everyone. If they are requested to change inappropriate behavior and
 do not do so, rather than just being asked to leave the library, they will be told that their
 parent/guardian will be called and be asked to pick them up. Staff will then make that call.
 If said person is not available, the Northfield police will be called and asked to take the
 juvenile to his/her home.
 ~Updated and approved on November 17, 2005~


                          

            Material Selection and Maintenance:
 

   The Hall Memorial Library will provide a well rounded collection of print and other materials
 of interest and information value to its patrons. Selection of material will be made by the staff
 on a regular basis, taking into consideration reviews, collection development needs, patron requests,
 replacement of outdated material or material in poor condition, and the materials budget.
 An attempt will be made to insure that material about controversial issues reflects more than one
 point of view. The collection will be weeded to keep information available as up-to-date as possible.
 Discarded material will either be thrown away or made available for sale to the public.
 Material given to the library will be added to the collection if the librarian so determines.
 Donors shall be informed that the librarian will determine the disposition of their gifts.
 Receipts will not be given for material donated to the library, however, at the determination
 of the librarian, a thank-you note may be written.
 Complaints about library materials should be referred to the librarian. Complainants shall be
 given a copy of this Materials Selection Policy, and, if needed, a "Request for Reconsideration
 of Library Materials" form. When said form is received, the librarian may contact the NHLA
 Intellectual Freedom Committee for help, and shall bring the request to the attention of the
 Board of Trustees for further action if necessary.
  ~Updated and approved on May 4, 2004~


                        
           

            Library Circulation:

                         Registration- Free cards will be issued upon request to:
                                        *Any resident 14 years or older or taxpayer of Tilton or Northfield  
                                       *Any resident under 14 of Tilton or Northfield who:
                                            Can print his/her name
                                            Has a parent or guardian sign the card
                                       *Any employee of the Winnisquam Regional School District working
                                            in a school situated in Tilton or Northfield.
                                       *Any student of a public school located in the 2 towns.
                                       *Institutions located in the towns and approved by the library director.
                                    Nonresidents will be charged a yearly fee set by the trustees.
 

                    Overdue charges - Overdue charges shall be set by the trustees.
                                         Materials which have been “willfully detained” shall be pursued
                                         according to New Hampshire RSA 202-A:25.

                    Interlibrary loans - Libraryrary users in good standing shall be able to request materials
                                           from other libraries in New Hampshire, and, at the discretion of the staff,
                                          beyond. The library shall make every effort to reciprocate by lending our
                                          material to other libraries in the state.

                    Right to Privacy - In accordance with RSA 201-D:11, all library user records are confidential.
                                        An effort shall be made by staff issuing juvenile library cards to explain this
                                        law to the juvenile’s parent/guardian. The US Patriot Act supersedes the
                                        New Hampshire RSA’s. The Hall Memorial Library keeps minimal records to
                                        safeguard out patrons’ privacy. See the Hall Memorial Library Patriot Act
                                        Response Policy for further clarification.
                                        ~Approved April 6, 2004~

               Internet Use:
 

  The Hall Memorial Library offers access to the internet to valid library card holders and
 approved non-card-holders as part of its commitment to the community to provide accurate
 and timely information to its patrons. Access is limited to the World Wide Web, and free
 email accounts and is not available for chat rooms or electronic bulletin boards. The internet
  as a resource enables the library to provide information not available in its own collection.
 However, it is an unregulated medium and material obtained through it may be inaccurate,
 offensive, and even illegal. The library cannot censor your access to material or protect you
 from it. You are urged to be an intelligent consumer, checking the validity of the information
 you find.  In addition to requiring that parents/guardians of users under the age of 17  sign
 a consent form stating that this document has been read and understood, it is suggested that
 they supervise their dependent’s access. The library staff will not do so, and the library will not
 be held responsible for inappropriate use.

                   INTERNET/COMPUTER USE Procedures:
 1. Before using the internet-access computer, patrons must read these policies and guidelines
     and sign a form to be kept on file stating that they understand and will follow them.
     This form will be renewed on a yearly basis. Users without a valid library card will leave
     requested ID with circulation staff while using the internet access computer.
 2. (new)  Patrons may reserve 1 hour blocks of time on the day of expected use, with the possibility or staying on up to 2 hours if no one is waiting. If a patron has used more than 3 hours of computer time during the week beginning each Monday, they may be bumped to enable another patron's use. Access is limited to 6 hours per patron per week. This schedule will be reviewed by the trustees at their June meeting so if you have comments please put them in the suggestion box once again. Your February comments have been heard,
Please do not turn the computer off.
 3. Users are not permitted to download to or access the hard drive or DOS. Material to be saved
     may be downloaded to a floppy disk ($1.00) purchased and kept in the library or printed at
     $.15 a page. To be reused in the library, the floppy must be labeled with the patron’s name
     and kept at the circulation desk. It may not be reused in the library once it has been removed.
 4. Material ordered through the internet must be paid for by the user via credit card and sent
     to a home address.
 5. Users shall respect the rights of other individuals and organizations using the internet, and
     obey all applicable federal, state and local laws regarding access, copyright, and licensing.
 6. Damage to the computer or its peripheral devices during use shall be the responsibility
     of the user or, if the user is a minor, of the parent/guardian whose signature is on the
     consent form, and may result in repair/replacement charges as well as denial of further access.
     Any problems must be reported to the staff immediately.
 7. Patrons must sign in at the circulation desk before using the computer for any reason.
 8. Library appropriate behavior is required at the computer at all times. The user will be asked
     to leave if such behavior is not exhibited.
 9. Only one person at a time may use the computer, with the exception of a minor's parent/guardian.
 10.Help will be given by the staff only if time permits.  Staff access takes precedence  
     over patron access.

 ~Updated January 2000~
 ~Re-approved April 2004~
 ~Re-updated November 2005~
          
                PLEASE DO NOT TURN THE COMPUTER OFF!

 

               Patriot Act Policy:
 

The USA PATRIOT (Uniting and Strengthening America by Providing Appropriate Tools Required to Intercept and Obstruct Terrorism) Act was signed into law on October 26, 2001. The Act has several provisions that affect libraries: 
  • It lowers the legal standard for obtaining a search warrant from “probable cause” that a crime is being committed to suspicion that the library information is linked to an ongoing terrorist or intelligence investigation.
  • It allows the FBI to get a special search warrant from the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA) court, whose proceedings are classified and closed to the public.
  • It permits the FBI to use special search warrants to retrieve library usage records of someone who is under investigation of involvement in suspicious activities.
  • It overrides state and local privacy laws in the case of FISA search warrants.
  • It prohibits the library from notifying the patron under suspicion, the press, or anyone else that an investigation is underway.
  • It grants expanded wiretapping authority to federal and state law enforcement agencies that allows monitoring of public computers.

The FBI can retrieve any information about a patron under investigation that the library has. This includes, but is not limited to: 

  • Books and other materials checked out
  • Searches performed on library computers, including Internet sites visited
  • Books and other materials borrowed through interlibrary loan
  • When and where a patron has signed up for library programs or to use library computers, the local history room, etc.
  • Notes taken by librarians when helping answer a reference question

 It is important to remember that the provisions above apply only to FBI search warrants issued under the USA PATRIOT Act. State and local privacy laws are still in effect for other investigations that are not being performed under the authority of the Act.

 To safeguard our patrons’ privacy, Hall Memorial Library keeps as few records as possible on individual patrons’ library use. Specifically, HML takes the following measures: 

  1. Our automated circulation system does not retain records on which patron has used a particular item beyond the last patron to check out the item.
  2. We dispose of computer use sign-in sheets for the upstairs public access computers at the end of every two days, and have installed Centurion Guard on all public access computers, which erases any changes that have been made to them whenever they are rebooted.

If a librarian does not comply with an FBI search warrant issued under the Act, he or she may be charged with contempt of court. No specific penalty is spelled out in the Act.

 Procedures 

  1. Hall Memorial Library employees will immediately refer all investigations to the library director or acting director.
  2. The library director or acting director will immediately consult with the library’s attorney concerning the warrant and notify the chair of the board of trustees.
  3. Employees and or the director will ask the investigator(s) to show official identification and legal documents including warrants.
  4. Employees and or the director will write down the name and identification number listed on said documents
  5. Employees and or the director will make a photocopy of the search warrant.
  6. An attempt will be made to delay execution of the warrant until the director or acting director consults with the library attorney
  7. If the agent/officer insists on executing the warrant immediately, the staff involved will follow the agent’s directions and provide the material requested.

 Adopted December 4th, 2007 by the Board of Trustees

 


                                               

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