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Cloquet Public Library Policies
Effective July 1, 2009
Fines
- Children’s materials- 25 cents per day to a maximum of $1.00 per item
- Adult and young adult books, and sound recordings – 25 cents per day to a maximum of $5 per item
- Videocassettes and DVDs- $2.00 per day per item, up to a maximum of $10 per item.
- Adult magazines- 25 cents per day per item, up to the cost of the magazine
- Civil service exam books- 25 cents per day per item, up to a maximum of $10 per item
- Patrons will be stopped at checkout when their fines total $10 or more.
- Notices will be sent to patrons two weeks after materials are due. A service charge of $2 will be assessed to patrons if a bill is sent. A fee equal to that charged by the City of Cloquet will be charged for returned checks. Accumulated fines of $50 or more will be turned over to a local collection agency.
Loan period
- Books, audio books, compact discs and records- 3 weeks
- Civil service exam books and magazines- 1 week
- Popular videocassettes and DVDs- 1 week
- Instructional videos- 2 weeks
- Toys- 3 weeks
- All items may be renewed once, unless the item is on reserve for another library patron.
- All items may be placed on reserve.
Videocassettes and DVDs on reserve must be picked up within 24 hours; all other items on reserve must be picked up within one week.
Lost or damaged materials
Patrons will pay the replacement cost of lost or damaged materials, plus a $4 processing fee.
Proctoring Policy
The following guidelines pertain to:
• the institution requesting the proctoring of a test,
• the student taking the test, and
• the library staff who will proctor the test.
It is the responsibility both of the student and the institution requesting the proctoring to verify, before sending the exam to the Cloquet Public Library, that the guidelines and conditions presented here are acceptable.
The Library
- The library does not monitor the student during the test.
- Library staff cannot interpret test instructions for the student, nor can they assist in any technical manner with an online test.
- The Library reserves the right to cancel the exam for reasons due to technical malfunction, staffing changes or availability, inclement weather, or other unforeseen emergency.
Cloquet Public Library must:
- Provide a study room or computer for the exam
- Check the ID of the student taking the exam
- Mail the completed exam to the test institution
The Student (test taker) responsibilities:
- Test takers are responsible for supplying all materials, including paper, pencils, calculators, and audio equipment such as headphones.
- Tests must be completed one-half hour before the library’s scheduled closing time.
Students must:
- reserve a computer or study room in advance. (If more than 60 minutes of computer time are required, staff may, at the beginning of the session, extend the time limit on use of the public PC workstation to accommodate the exam.)
- ensure in advance that the computing resources are adequate for their testing requirements
- contact the Library Director at least 48 hours before possible test dates
- provide a valid photo identification
- arrange all necessary contacts and communication with the school offering the exam
- call the library to verify that the test has arrived
- arrive at the library at the agreed-upon time and date
- bring supplies needed for the exam
Testing Institution responsibilities:
Institutions requesting that a student take an online examination must realize that the Internet is not considered to be a secure environment. (See the Internet & Computer Use Policy) Installation of any special software that may be needed to complete the examination on a library computer is NOT allowed.
Testing institutions must:
- Send the test to the Cloquet Public Library by U.S. Postal Service, to arrive by the agreed-upon testing date
- Provide clear instructions for the student taking the test
- Include an addressed, postage-paid envelope for return of the test
Meeting Room Policy
The meeting rooms and grounds of the Cloquet Public Library shall be available for community use under the conditions prescribed or permitted by law and in accordance with policies adopted by the Library Board. The meeting rooms and grounds shall not be available for the financial benefit of private individuals or organizations.
Meeting rooms may be used only during regular library business hours unless special arrangements are made with the Library Director. Library-related organizations or functions will be given priority for room use.
All requests to use the meeting rooms, meeting room equipment, or grounds shall be made during regular library business hours.
The Library Board and/or Library Director reserves the right to:
- Cancel any use of the meeting room by giving two weeks’ advance notice
- Limit the frequency that any one group may use the meeting rooms
- Limit reservations of rooms to no more than ten (10) weeks in advance
Use of the library meeting rooms does not constitute library endorsement of the philosophies, practices or viewpoints of the meeting participants.
Fees
No fee will be charged for public meetings or meetings of an educational nature that are open to the public, or for use of the small meeting room.
The following fee schedule shall apply for private functions:
Large meeting room:
• $10 per hour up to $30 total for 4 hours or less
• $60 for more than 4 hours
The Library reserves the right to charge a damage deposit to groups that have not previously used the Library facilities.
RENTER RESPONSIBILITIES
- Cancellation of a meeting room/grounds reservation must be made at least 48 hours prior to the scheduled use, or the group will be charged for use of the room. Exceptions may be made in the case of emergency weather situations with the approval of the Library Director.
- The person who signs the rental agreement is responsible for ensuring that the group adheres to all library use policies and procedures, a copy of which will be provided upon reservation of the room.
- Use of open flames, including candles, is prohibited.
- Smoking and use of alcohol are not permitted in the library or on library grounds.
The renting organization/individual agrees to hold the Cloquet Public Library and the City of Cloquet harmless from any and all claims for damages from any source whatsoever, arising directly or indirectly out of the use of Library facilities, and agrees to indemnify and save harmless the Cloquet Public Library and the City of Cloquet, and defend the Cloquet Public Library and the City of Cloquet from all suits, claims, or allegations arising as a direct or indirect result of the agreement between the Cloquet Public Library and said organization and agrees to pay all costs of all legal fees in defense of the Cloquet Public Library and the City of Cloquet, all judgments, settlements or claims of any kind whatsoever.
Code of Conduct
The Cloquet Public Library belongs to the residents of Cloquet, who pay taxes to support it. Therefore, it is the responsibility of the City of Cloquet and the staff of the Cloquet Public Library to ensure that everyone, individuals and library employees alike, enjoy a library that is clean, pleasant, safe, and free from inappropriate behavior and any threat of harm, indignity, or invasion of privacy or property.
While it is impractical to try to address every behavioral situation that may occur, the following rules and guidelines are for the protection of all who use the library. Library staff have the responsibility to make decisions that are in the best interest of the Library, and may require a patron to leave the premises, call the police or ultimately bar a patron from the library for noncompliance with this Code of Conduct. If you observe patron behavior that does not meet this Code of Conduct, please contact a staff member.
Have fun, ask questions, explore. Be considerate of others using the library and everyone will benefit.
Dress Code: Appropriate clothing must be worn in the library. For patrons, this includes shoes, shirts, and pants, shorts, or skirts. Staff should wear clothing appropriate for serving the business public.
Weapons: No one may enter the library with any weapon prohibited by city ordinance or state statutes.
Laws: No one may violate any city ordinance or state statute while within the library building or while on library grounds.
Alcohol/illegal drugs: Alcohol or illegal drugs may not be brought into the library, nor may anyone under the influence of either enter the library or be on the library grounds.
Smoking: Smoking is not permitted at any time in the library or on the library grounds.
Disruptive behavior: Behavior that disturbs or interferes with patrons or employees of the library is not acceptable. Disruptive behavior includes, but is not limited to:
- speaking or laughing loudly
- running or horseplay
- fighting
- making noise of any kind
- playing any audio equipment or device that can be heard by others
- unauthorized game playing
Personal threats: No one may willfully annoy, harass, or threaten another person. This includes, but is not limited to:
- conveying threats or any kind of physical force or harm
- using obscene, abusive, or racially-charged language
- engaging in sexual misconduct
- stalking, staring, or invading personal space
Unattended persons: patrons may not leave unattended in the library any persons who seek or need personal assistance for other than library-related services, and where staff has a reasonable basis to be concerned for the safety of the unattended person, such as young children or persons who need supervision because of physical or mental conditions.
Personal hygiene: Do not interfere with patrons’ use of the library through poor personal hygiene.
Library patrons may not:
- Loiter in or outside the library
- Deface or destroy library property
- Solicit funds, panhandle, gamble, sell, advertise, or petition for contributions or support
- Enter the library with items too large to fit under a study chair
- Enter the library with animals or vehicles, except as required by person with disabilities
- Fail to observe Internet use guidelines and policy
- Plug any personal devices into the library’s network, or tamper in any way with library equipment
Anyone violating these rules of conduct is first warned by the library staff member in charge of the library at the time of the offense. If the conduct continues, the offender will be ordered to leave the premises.
Staff members or security officers will, at their discretion, expel patrons without warning in situations of serious, threatening, or willfully-malicious behavior.
Failure to observe these rules may lead to revocation of library privileges, including the right to visit the buildings or grounds. Repeat offenders or persons ordered from the premises who do not comply may be subject to arrest and prosecution for trespassing. Anyone who wishes to appeal his or her exclusion may submit an appeal in writing to the Library Director.
The library staff reserves the right to search bags, briefcases, backpacks, etc. upon probable cause when staff has reason to believe that library materials have not been properly checked out.
Cloquet Public Library
Internet Use Policy
The Cloquet Public Library provides access to the Internet as one means of fulfilling its mission to provide . . . “resources . . . that support children’s literacy and the fulfillment of lifelong learning, interests and goals.”
The Library’s Internet stations are intended to provide access to valuable information resources. The library does not provide additional services such as technical support, e-mail accounts, or home page housing.
The Cloquet Public Library:
- accepts the Internet usage policy of the Arrowhead Library System, which is found on the System’s home page (www.arrowhead.lib.mn.us) under “About Arrowhead Library System”
- provides Internet access equally to all users
- does not accept responsibility for content found on the Internet
- affirms the right and responsibility of parents to provide guidance for their own children’s use of library materials and resources, including the Internet, and encourages parents to share with their children the rules for online safety (Ask library staff for information on safe web sites.)
- provides access to filtered search engines, which may restrict access to sites that could be deemed objectionable, but may also limit access to sites that have legitimate research value. (Adults doing bona fide research may request that filters be disabled.)
- reserves the right to terminate a user’s access to the Internet for failing to comply with the Cloquet Library’s rules of use. Internet users whose access has been terminated or prohibited may request, in writing, a hearing before the Library Board of Trustees.
WIFI
WIFI (wireless) access provided by the Library is unsecured. Patrons are responsible for having the proper hardware, software, and network settings on their wireless device to connect to the Library-provided WIFI, and must provide their own anti-virus, firewall, privacy, and encryption or other security protection on their personal computers. Library staff will not provide technical assistance and will not configure personal computer equipment.
The Library is not responsible for any theft, loss, damage or misuse of patrons’ personal notebooks, laptops, or other mobile devices.
Rules of Use
- A library card is required to use the Internet rooms; only those 17 or older may use the rooms, and only two people may be in the computer room at a time.
- The computer rooms may be reserved for one-hour blocks of time; unreserved time is available on a first-come, first-served basis. There is a one-hour time limit on use of Gates computers. (Library staff may extend the time limit at their discretion.)
- No Internet access will be given to individuals who have fines of $10.00 or more, outstanding overdue materials, or reported abuse of library equipment or the Internet.
- The Cloquet Public Library cannot guarantee that all Internet sites will be available at all times, as a site may not be accessible for any number of reasons.
- Hours of use:
Monday through Thursday, 10:00 a.m. to 7:30 p.m.
Friday, 10:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Saturday (during the school year), 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.
- Users will be personally responsible for any materials ordered via the Internet, and will need a credit card to pay for the items.
- A charge of 20 cents per page will be made for printing from computers.
- Internet users may not use the library’s computers to display obscene materials or child pornography (as determined by state and federal law); pirate software; degrade or disrupt equipment or system performance; gain unauthorized access to resources or entities; invade the privacy of individuals, violate copyright or licensing agreements; engage in any activity that is deliberately offensive or creates an intimidating or hostile environment; or for any illegal purpose.