Policies
The libraries of Lebanon County are independent public libraries that share resources and materials through membership in the library system. Each library has its own policies and procedures, but agrees to shared policies for intercounty lending and internet use.
NON-LEBANON COUNTY RESIDENTS
The Access Pennsylvania Statewide Library Card System allows us to honor non-Lebanon County library cards. If you live in Berks, Lancaster, Dauphin, or any other county in Pennsylvania AND if you have a valid library card from that county, you are welcome to check out books from our collection free of charge. (Materials that circulate for limited periods, such as videos, are generally not loaned out to patrons beyond the Harrisburg Library District of Cumberland, Perry, and Dauphin Counties.) You must have the valid library card with you when you request to borrow materials. We will need it for identification purposes. Books borrowed on Access Pennsylvania may be returned to your local library. They will note the returned date and forward them to us.
CHECKOUT INFORMATION
Books and Most Materials : 21 days
Music CDs: 21 days
DVD, Video, Playaway : 7 days
Magazines and Newspapers : 21-day circulation period with two renewals. Current issues of a magazine do not circulate.
Reference materials marked “Does Not Circulate” may not be taken from the library. Other reference materials may have a circulation period of three days.
RENEWALS, Reserves and Online Requests
You can renew most items a maximum of two times. You cannot renew an item if another patron has placed a reserve or “hold” on the item.
You can renew and place reserves on items
1. Online at http://lclibs.org/my-account
2. At any of the six county libraries
3. By telephone
Overdue Charges:
Books: $.25 per item per day
Audiocassettes: $.25 per item per day
CDs: $.25 per item per day
Puppets: $.25 per item per day
Pamphlets: $.25 per item per day
Magazines: $.25 per item per day
DVDs and Videocassettes: $1.00 per item per day
Interlibrary Loan items: $1.00 per item per day
DVD/Videocassette Policy
- Anyone with a valid library card may borrow DVDs or videocassettes.
- There is a limit of 10 DVDs and videocassettes per patron per card. (The number of videos includes all items checked out at Lebanon County libraries). Those videos must be returned before borrowing others.
- DVDs and videos are loaned for 7 days. There is a $1.00 charge for each day a DVD or video is overdue.
- DVDs and videos may be renewed twice for an additional 7 days (per renewal), by telephone, in person or on the internet via your patron account. DVDs and videos cannot be renewed if another patron has placed a “hold” on that item.
- DVDs and videos may be returned in the circulation desk drop box or in either outside book return.
- All DVDs and videos are inspected before being reshelved. If a DVD or video appears damaged, please notify the library; do not attempt to use it.
- If a DVD or video is damaged while on loan, the borrower will be charged for the replacement cost.
- Remember to adjust the tracking on your videocassette player if the picture appears fuzzy.
- The heads on your videocassette player should be cleaned as recommended in your owner’s manual. Dirty equipment can cause poor picture quality and possible damage to the videocassette.
- The library is not responsible for any damage that might occur to your DVD player or videocassette player when using a video borrowed from the library.
Lost or Damaged Items
If items checked out to you are lost or damaged beyond repair, you are responsible for their replacement costs and any overdue fines incurred. Accounts can be settled at the Circulation desk, where arrangements can be made for payment. The card you have received creates a permanent record in the Library’s database. Please let us know as soon as possible if your name, address or other information changes, or if your card is lost or stolen.
Interlibrary Loan
If a needed item is not located within the county, we will place an Interlibrary Loan request for you. Audio-visual materials and items added to a library’s collection within the previous six months generally cannot be requested through Interlibrary Loan.
Please note that items borrowed from outside the county may not have three week loan period and must be returned on or before the lending library’s due date. There may be a charge for this service depending on the lending library’s policy.
Patrons will be notified when materials arrive, and they will be held for one week. The Library will charge patrons a postage fee (to return the item back to the library it was borrowed from) if they do not pick up a requested item.
Internet Use Policy
Lebanon County Library System (LCLS)
Internet and Public Computers Use Policy
As of March 20, 2006
Internet and Public PC users must read and accept this policy. Section I describes the county-wide policy. Section II describes the local library policy particulars.
Section I: System wide policy:
Purpose:
The public libraries in Lebanon County are committed to the promotion of lifelong learning. Accordingly, the libraries provide public access to the diverse and unique resources available on the Internet. LCLS libraries support the principles of intellectual freedom as laid out in the American Library Association’s Library Bill of Rights and Freedom to Read and view statements.
Conditions and Terms of Use:
1. Information available on the Internet may be protected by copyrights or trademarks; therefore, use of such information must not violate any copyright or trademark laws.
2. The libraries cannot control Internet content. Individual users are responsible for determining the validity and accuracy of information located via the Internet. The libraries are not responsible for any use made of information obtained from Internet resources.
3. The Internet and its resources contain materials of controversial nature, thus parents or legal guardians, NOT library staff, are responsible for any information accessed by their children on the Internet. Parents or legal guardians who believe that their children cannot use the libraries’ Internet access responsibly are requested to monitor their children’s Internet use.
4. Viewing of certain materials in the public library may be considered improper in time, place, or manner. Libraries reserve the right to terminate an Internet session that disrupts library services or that involves user behavior that violates other library policies.
5. A patron may not use a public library Internet connection for any commercial or for-profit purpose.
6. Downloads to removable disks are subject to member library disk use policies.
7. A cost-recovery fee for printouts is required at all libraries and must be paid in advance.
8. LCLS expressly prohibits any use of computers for illegal activities, or to access material that contains or makes reference to explicit sexual materials as defined in 18Pa. C.S. 5903, is obscene, contains child pornography, or is harmful to minors.
9. The following practices are prohibited: a. Violating the computer system integrity including tampering with hardware or software; b. Storage of personal data; c. Violating software license agreements and copyright laws; d. Use of personal software; e. Violating another user’s privacy; f: Use of computer for any illegal or promotion of illegal activates; g. Hacking activities; and h. Uploading, downloading or creation of computer viruses.
Children and the Internet:
Parents or legal guardians must assume responsibility for deciding what library resources are appropriate for their own children. Parents or legal guardians should guide their children in the use of the Internet and inform them about material they should not use.
Library staff will seek to limit children’s exposure to materials of an explicit sexual nature using Internet filtering technology, by monitoring the use of Internet terminals when possible, and by intervening in on-line sessions when necessary. However, staff monitoring and/or filtering software do not offer absolute protection against the possibility that children may encounter sexually explicit materials while on-line. Parental supervision of children searching the Internet is strongly advised.
Filtering Policy:
LCLS implements content filtering to comply with Children’s Internet Protection Act. Users are reminded however, that filtering software is not foolproof. It diminishes the likelihood that searchers will inadvertently retrieve text or images that they may find offensive, but does not eliminate that possibility. Filters often block access to sites that users would otherwise consider both inoffensive and useful. Please inform the library staff about blocked useful sites, as well as unblocked offensive sites.
Conditions:
1. Users must have a valid library card and PIN, however, a Computer Courtesy Card or a Visitor Card will be provided to occasional users and visitors.
2. Users are allowed a maximum of two hours per day, in thirty-minute sessions. The library has the right to limit usage to only one thirty-minute session.
3. Users who owe more than $5.00 in fines will be blocked.
4. All printing must be pre-paid in the user’s account. A maximum of $20 can be pre-paid. Balances on accounts cannot be refunded, but will remain on the user’s account.
5. Printing will be charged as follows:
30 Cents per page, tax included.
6. Users will be accommodated by First Available Sign-up System.
7. All library computers will be filtered, including staff PCs.
8. Adults will be given the option to change their filtering choices, including turning the filter off; ‘Teen’ filtering level will be used for children between thirteen and seventeen years of age; and ‘Safe Harbor’ level will be used for children under thirteen years of age.
Limitations:
Availability of access to web-based services such as e-mail, is subject to member library access policies.
User Responsibilities:
1. Users will sign an Internet agreement; agreements for children under eighteen years of age may require a parent or legal guardian’s signature.
2. Users must observe time limits and other procedural guidelines set by individual libraries for use of the Internet.
3. Users are responsible for damage to equipment beyond that which occurs with normal usage; hardware and software may not be abused, modified or destroyed.
Staff Assistance:
Library staff will be able to assist in basic navigation, but due to limited staffing and time constrains, patrons are encouraged to search the Internet on their own.
Section II: Local library policies:
Annville Free Library:
Third Party Media: Due to computer system protection, downloading or uploading material from (or to) CD’s, Thumb drives, floppies, etc. is not possible.
Children and Youth Restrictions: a. Children 8 years and younger must be accompanied by a parent/guardian when using the Internet.
Lebanon Community Library:
Chat Rooms are prohibited.
Violation Penalties: First violation leads to loss of Internet use privileges.
Matthews Public Library:
Removing of privacy screens is prohibited.
No more than 2 youth at a PC at a time.
Violation Penalties: First violation leads to loss of Internet use privileges.
Myerstown Community Library:
Children Restrictions: Patrons under the age of twelve must be accompanied by a parent or guardian while using the internet.
Prohibited Use: Chat Rooms, news groups, list-serves and File Transfer Protocol (FTP) are prohibited.
Violation Penalties: First violation: leads to loss of Internet use privileges.
Palmyra Public Library:
Children and Youth Restrictions: a. Children 10 years and younger must be accompanied by a parent/guardian when using the Internet. b. No more than 1 youth at a PC at a time.
Violation Penalties:
First violation: Warning and immediate loss of Internet use privileges for 24 hours.
Second Violation: Loss of Internet use privileges for 90 days.
Third violation: Loss of Internet use privileges for minimum of one year. Check library policy for appeal procedure.
Richland Community Library:
Children and Youth Restrictions: a. Children 12 years and younger must be accompanied by a parent/guardian when using the Internet.
Violation Penalties:
First violation: Warning and immediate loss of Internet use privileges for 24 hours.
Second Violation: Loss of Internet use privileges.