McCook City Library - Library Policies

Our Mission Statement

General Library Objective

• To serve the community as a center of reliable information.
• To support educational, civic, and cultural activities of groups and organizations.
• To provide opportunity and encouragement for children, young people, men and women to educate themselves continuously.
• To strive continually to identify community needs, to provide programs of service to meet such needs and to cooperate with other organizations, agencies, and institutions which can provide programs or services to meet community needs.
• The staff will provide guidance and assistance for patrons to obtain information they seek.
• The staff will achieve to maintain a balance in its service to men, women, young people and children.
• The library will initiate programs to stimulate the use of library materials to fill the needs of people of all ages.
• The library will cooperate with civic and community agencies and organizations to help them with program materials.
• The library will supplement, but can not perform the functions of schools and other  libraries which are designed to meet special needs.  The library will, at all opportunities, cooperate with other libraries to strengthen the services and resources of all.
• Nondiscrimination - The McCook City Library does not discriminate on the basis of sex, race, religion, or disability.  Physically disabled persons using the library shall be provided with all necessary assistance in using library equipment and materials.

Library Use

• Patrons living outside of McCook at this time must pay a yearly fee of $10.00 per family.
• Children must be 7 years of age to have their own library card. A parent or legal guardian must come in and complete the application card. If a child is under the age of 7, items can be checked out on the parent’s or legal guardian’s card. parents or legal guardians will be held responsible for items checked out.
• Patrons 14 years of age or older will be given an adult card and will be responsible for the items checked out with their card.
• Library services will be provided during the hours which best meet the needs of the community.  Hours will be set by McCook City Council with recommendations from the Library Director and Library Advisory Board.
• Individuals who display disruptive, destructive, or threatening behavior will be cautioned or asked to leave. Law enforcement may be called in to deal with situations that may pose a threat to library staff and other library users.

Censorship

 Books and Materials Selection

Weeding the Collection

• The McCook City Library supports the ALA suggestion that libraries weed up to 3% of their collections a year, so that the collection will be attractive, usable and accurate.  Materials which no longer meet the stated objectives of the library will discarded.
• The City Manager may authorize the Library Director to sell, exchange, or dispose of any surplus, damaged, defective, obsolete, or duplicate books in the library. Records shall be kept of any such surplus damages, defective, obsolete or duplicate books so disposed of.

Circulation

•  All materials classified as Reference may not be checked out of the library unless  permission is given by the Library Director.
• All  materials are checked out for a period of three weeks.
• Patrons in good standing with the McCook City Library, that is without fines and overdue materials, will be able to check out the following items:

                   Use one of the internet computers.

                  5 Books (Only 2 new,2 by the same author, same subject, or same series)

                  5 Books on-tape or 5 CDs (if new, only 2)

                  5 Magazines (most current are kept in binder and not available for check-out)

                  2 Videos or 2 DVDs per household (must be checked out on an adult card)

                  Borrow items through "Inter-library" from other libraries.

• Items maybe renewed twice.
• Renewal of an item must be made before the item becomes over due. If you cannot get to the library, call before the due date for a renewal. (If an item has a hold on it by another patron, it cannot be renewed.)
• Holds may be put on items that have been owned by the library for at least 3 months.
• Patrons may have holds on no more than two items at a time.

Fines

• Fines are not calculated until the overdue item is checked in.  Fines are $.50 per item, per day for videos, DVDs, Books on tape or CD.  All other items are $.10 per item per day.
• Inter-library loans are $1.00 per day or as assessed by the lending library.

Lost or Destroyed Items

• The full amount will be charged for lost or destroyed items. A replacement can be made at the discretion of the library director.
• Any item checked out for 6 months or longer and not returned will be considered and treated as lost.

Inter-library Loans

• Patrons must have a library card and be in good standing at the library to request materials from other libraries across the United States.  Items are usually loaned for a month.
• Patrons can order 3 items at a time.
• Patrons must pay the return postage for each item requested.

Internet Policy

     Everyone must have a current library and free of fines to use the library's internet computers.

• You do need to have a basic knowledge of computers.
• You must sign in at the circulation desk  and check out a computer.
• The computers will be used on a first come, first serve basis.
• Time will be allotted is 45 mins.
• When you are finished on the computer, you must check in the computer you were using.
• In the event you damage the equipment or programs, you will pay the cost to repair or replace the equipment or software.
• The  computers shut down 15 minutes before the library closes.
• Minors under 18 must use the computer only after the parent/guardian signs a parental consent form . No one under the age of 9 will be allowed on the Internet.
• Only the computer user will be at the computer station except for adult assistance for minors.
• No downloading of any kind except to the printer.
• No outside personal software, diskettes or cds will be allowed.
• Chat rooms , instant messaging or playing any interactive games will not be allowed.
• No patron under the age of 18 is allowed to play games on the internet computers.

Memorials, Gifts and Donations

Microfilm Reader/Printer

Searches

Complaints

Unattended Children

• In order to prevent undue disruption of normal activities, to provide for the general welfare of all persons using the library and to provide for the general safety of children using the library, all children under the age of six (6) shall, at all times, be attended and adequately supervised by a responsible person.

• Children may be left unattended during scheduled library programs and the responsible person may choose to leave the building, but should plan to be at the library when the program is scheduled to conclude.  Persons responsible for children who have special needs shall remain with their children at all times.

Copy Machine

• Patrons must use the paper furnished by the library.

• Patrons are responsible to make their own copies.

• All copies must be paid for.

Public Bulletin Board

Telephone Use

 Services Provided:

• The library staff will provide guidance and assistance to patrons in obtaining information they seek.
• The staff will try to provide a balance in delivering its services to all patrons.
• The library offers magazines, newspapers, books, large print books, audio books, videos and DVDs.
• Automated card catalog.
• Web site (www.mccooklibrary.info), card catalog is also on the web.
• The library has wireless service throughout the building.
• Free public access to the internet.
• Computer assistance for youth and adults.
• Free data bases offered to us by the Nebraska Library Commission.
• Nebraska Overdrive(down loading books to your computer)
• Public access to microfilm reader and printer.
• Access to a black/white copy machine, word processor and typewriter.
• Interlibrary loans from libraries across Nebraska and the United States. Rental of censes microfilms.
• Telesensory Machine, magnifies printed material.
• Internet and Basic Computer Classes, Tuesday night 6:00 to 7:30.
• Searches will be done on the microfilms (McCook Daily Gazette) for persons wanting to pay a $5.00 per reel or persons may come into the library and do the search for no charge.
• Nebraska Overdrive (downloading audio books to your computer).

Programs

• Story-hour on Wednesday mornings at the library  with the "Book lady" at 10:00 A.M. for pre-schoolers.
• The "Book lady" goes to day-care centers and pre-schools in McCook and reads to the children .
• Summer reading programs for the 1st - 6th grades in June and July.
• "Home-bound" program, taking library materials out to persons who cannot get to the library.
• "Leading to Reading", post cards are sent to families for each month for the first five years with suggested book titles for that age group.
• 6 7 8 Club.

Library Microfilm Collections:

• Microfilm must be used in the library.

• Research by  staff members is  $5.00 a search.
  
  

• McCook Tribune (weekly newspaper)
  • June 8, 1882 - May 21, 1914
  • May 22, 1916 - September 27, 1926
  • May 2, 1932 – June 18, 1936
    
    
• McCook Daily Gazette
  • January 1943 – present
    
    
• McCook Daily Gazette Centennial Edition
  • February 5, 1982 – May 28, 1982
    
    
• Red Willow County Gazette
  • July 6, 1911 – July 1914
  • April 23, 1917 – June 29, 1925
    
    
• McCook Gazette Rancher Farmer (weekly)
  • February 16, 1954 – January 22, 1958