1. 10 Written Policies Your Library Should Have on Hand NJLA Professional Development Committee Mimi Hui, Library Director Hasbrouck Heights Public Library hui@bccls.org / (201) 288-0488

2. OVERVIEW  Why have a policy?  How are policies generated?  What policies every library should have?  What makes a good policy?  Where to go for additional resources

3. Policies ensure equitable treatment among staff, departments, branches and offer support to the staff handling difficulties. Policies help staff members know exactly what is expected of them. Policies help customers know exactly what is expected of them. Policies protect both the customer and the library when differences occur. Why have a policy?

4. How are policies generated? Policies are generally suggested by the staff or director, drafted by the director and reviewed & adopted by the Board of Trustees. Policies frequently come into existence after the fact. If your library doesn’t have a Reconsideration of Library Materials policy, for instance, and a customer complains about materials in your collection, you will find yourself drafting a policy in order to better protect the library in the event that another complaint is made. Policies are often generated when a library director, staff member, or trustee becomes aware.

5. What policies every library should have?

6.  Library Rules of Conduct  Circulation Policies ( ie. Fines & Charges, Library Card)  Confidentiality of Library Records  Displays  Gifts & Donations  Internet Access  Material Selection & Reconsideration  Meeting Room  Unattended Children  Volunteers Ten Written Policies Your Library Should Have On Hand…

7. Policy #1 Library Rules of Conduct

8. Policy #2 Circulation Policies - Fines & Charges

9. Sample Publicity

10. #2 Circulation Policies Eligibility for a Library Card

11. Policy # 3 Confidentiality of Library Records

12. Policy # 4 Displays

13. Policy # 5 Gifts & Donations

14. Policy # 6 Internet Access

15. Policy # 7 Material Selection & Reconsideration

17. Policy # 8 Meeting Room

20. Policy # 9 Unattended Children

21. Policy # 10 Volunteers

22. What makes a good policy? Policies work best when they are as simple as possible and flexible. Avoid the use of library jargon. Policies should clearly define appropriate and inappropriate behavior in the library and the action taken if rules are broken. Include what recourse is available in the event that customers think they have been treated unfairly. Policies that are good today won’t always remain so. A good policy is…  R eviewed  R evised if needed  R eaffirmed by the Board of Trustees

23. Good policies exist in printed form and readily available to the public, the staff, and the library trustees. Good policies are realistic. If a policy on unattended children says that the children will be turned over to the police department and your police department won’t respond to your call to do so, your policy is not a good one. Policies can only accomplish their goals if they are accompanied by a staff training component. Communication is key! What makes a good policy?

24. Websites http://www.ALA.org – Search “public library policies” http://www.njla.org http://www.webjunction.org/explore-topics/policies-procedures.html http://www.google.com – Search (public library policies) https://www.tsl.texas.gov/ld/workshops/slm/librarypolicies.html http://www.nmstatelibrary.org/services-for-nm-libraries/programs- services/librarians-toolkit -- (See: Policy Samples) New library website – to be unveiled March 24 th … http://hasbrouckheights.bccls.org/ Additional Resources

25. NJLA Professional Development Committee Mimi Hui, Library Director Hasbrouck Heights Public Library hui@bccls.org (201) 288-0488 Questions?