Use of the library:
Service shall be free to all persons residing, working,
owning property or attending school in Chester County.
Persons who do not meet this criteria will be charged a
one-time $5.00 fee for a library card granting check-out
privileges of library materials. The use
of the collection within the library is free to everyone.
The use of the library shall be limited when excessive
demands of groups or individuals tend to curtail service to
the general public. Library programs take
place over group use. Library usage may
be denied for failure to abide by the rules of the library;
destruction of library property; or objectionable conduct on
library premises.
Conduct in the library:
Smoking is not permitted in the library.
Food or drink is not to be brought into the library except
for a library sponsored activity.
Library directors may ask customer to leave when and if they are display-ing inappropriate behavior, conduct which might be a safety hazard, or conduct which creates a disturbance to other customers. Young children are not to be left unattended by a quardian or authorized adult except for planned library activities. An authorized adult is a parent, guardian, or other relative or friend who is eighteen years of age or older. A sibling who is younger than this does not constitute a responsible adult. The proper local authorities may be contacted at the discretion of the library director. The library director and library staff are not a baby-sitting service for unattended children.
Circulation:
Library staff members will not restrict the circulation of
materials based on age. Parents are
responsible for maintaining the physical condition of the
books, videos, audio tapes and CDs checked out by their
children including
loss damage or overdue, and are wholly responsible for
monitoring the appropriate-ness of materials their children
check out.
Patrons must apply for a library card in order to check out any materials and must do so in person.
To be issued a card, a patron must be:
1. Be five years old.
2. Reside, work, own property or attend school in Chester County
3. Obtain signature of parent or legal guardian on application if younger than fourteen years of age
Limits of materials per card are:
Five
hardback books and/or eight paperback books—they may be
checked out for two weeks and the fines, if overdue, are
five cents per book per day.
Two videos or DVDs per household—they may be checked
out for two days and the fine, if overdue, is $2.00 per day.
Two CDs or audio books per card—they may be checked out for
one week and the fine, if overdue, is $1.00 per day.
One cake pan per card—cake pans may be checked out for one
week with a $5.00 deposit. The fine, if
overdue, is $1.00 per day. Refunds for
deposits are made if the cake pan is returned clean and with
the instructions.
Test books such as ACT or SAT Prep, GED books, or any other
study guides for testing may be checked out with a $10.00
deposit.
Library materials may be renewed over the phone and they may
be checked out three times on the same card.
The following caps are placed on overdue items:
hardback and paperback books: the price
of the book; videos, DVDs, CDs, or audio tapes:
$10.00. Charges for lost or badly damaged
material shall be the cost necessary to replace it at the
present market price.
Reference books, genealogy materials, and Tennessee Room
books may not be checked out. They must
be used in the library.
During the periods designated as Fine Free Month, all fines
will be forgiven as long as library materials are returned.
Patrons who display a frequency of
repeated overdue materials such as keeping materials out for
months at a time without returning them will be designated
an Unreliable Patron (Patron Type: 4) and
will not be allowed to check out.
Computer usage will be granted upon payment of fines.
Library cards:
Library cards must be produced to check out library
materials. Fines that total over $2.00 must be
paid before any other materials can be checked out.
Any materials that are a month overdue should be returned
before more can be checked out.
Replacement library cards cost $5.00. In
the event that a library card is lost due to theft, fire, or
other natural disaster the library will replace the card
without a charge. Patrons who move away
from Chester County and return later are still expected to
produce their library card or to replace the card if it has
been lost. Personal identification is
required to get a library card. Parents’
ID should be used for children under 14.
Cell Phone Usage:
Patrons should turn off cell phones when entering the
library. If a cell phone goes off
inadvertently, patrons may be directed to the foyer or the
hallway to conduct the conversation.
Computer Use and Internet Access:
Computers must be checked out at the circulation desk.
A library card does not necessarily have to be produced just
to use the computer, but fines that are over $2.00 must be
paid before computer access can be granted.
Also, materials that are a month overdue must be returned
before computer access can be granted.
Laptop computers may only be checked out by patrons who have
a library card in our circulation system.
Visitors may check out a computer using a visitor’s library
card.
The Chester County Library provides wireless access without
charge. However, patrons who bring in
their own laptops will not be able to print from the library
printers.
Free internet access and computer use is available to all
Chester County Library patrons except for printer use.
Prices are charged at current rate.
Patrons are responsible for paying for every page they or
their child print.
Computer use is limited to library hours
and is on a first-come, first-served basis.
Use is limited to a one-hour session per user if anyone is
waiting.
Children under 17 must have a signed permission form
from their parent or guardian on file at the circulation
desk before computer usage can be granted.
The internet filter, Cybersitter, may be disabled upon
request if the patron is 17 years of age or over.
Proof of age may be required at the discretion of library
staff. Cybersitter may not be disabled
for any reason to anyone who is under 17 regardless of
whether or not the parent or guardian is present.
This is in accordance with the Children’s Internet
Protection Act.
The library is not responsible for the content or validity
of information found on the Internet.
Parents are responsible for ensuring maerial is appropriate
for their childen.
Library staff offers only minimal assistance with computers
or internet applications. Staff cannot
assist in internet searches or in-depth personal computer
training. The computers are not to be
turned off at any time.
Internet work stations are not to be used to:
Use fee-based services
Install, remove, or modify software
Violate copyright laws or software licensing agreements
Violate another person’s privacy
Engage in disruptive, offensive, libelous, or slanderous
behavior
Engage in illegal activities
Anyone who goes into sites that are lewd or pornographic
will receive one warning that these sites will not be
tolerated in the library. Patrons who are
caught viewing images of this nature a second time will have
their computer priviliges terminated.
Failure to follow the above rules will result in loss of
computer privileges.