Internet Safety Policy - Sample

The intent of this policy is to restrict access in public libraries to materials that are child pornography, harmful to minors, or obscene supported by tax levies following Kansas law HB 2109, passed in 2013.  “Child pornography is a “visual depiction of a minor (any person under 18) shown or heard engaging in sexually explicit conduct with the intent to arouse or satisfy sexual desires or appeal to the prurient interest of the offender or any other person.” “Obscene” is defined in K.S.A. 2012 21-6401. “Harmful to minors” is defined in K.S.A. 2012 21-6402. “Visual depiction” is defined in K.S.A. 2012 21-5510.

________ Library takes the following precautions to enforce this intent:

[Remove or add to the following list activities that accurately depict the situation in your library.]

• Putting Internet filters on public computers connected to the Internet. Staff will turn off this filter for adults upon request.
• Facing public computer screens toward staff areas.
• Requiring users of public library computers to read and sign an users’ agreement.
• Posting of this policy near the computers warning that viewing visual depictions of child pornography, or pictures that are obscene or harmful to minors.
• Staff response to violations can only be triggered if the staff directly observes violations.
• Patrons observing potential violations can report their observations to staff at the circulation desk.
• Staff members will then attempt to verify these claims.
• Staff response to violations of this policy.
• Viewing child pornography or showing child pornography to another is illegal.
• Staff observing these activities will call the police without warning.
• Staff observing the viewing of visual depictions that are obscene or harmful to minors will give one warning. After a second violation, staff will ask patrons to leave the library for a time.
• Library board will review this policy every third year.

Additional library policies

Categories for additional library policies	Examples
History of the library	Some library policies contain a history of the library. Since we recommend that every trustee have a orientation packet, we recommend putting library histories in these packets, not in the policy.
Mission and goals	Small Public Library Example http://tinyurl.com/qzq9xju
Responsibilities and Authorities of the Library Board	Small Public Library Example http://tinyurl.com/nwj63uf
Who may use the library	Since CKLS member libraries receive funding from the rural areas of 16 counties, member libraries must serve anyone living within the borders of the Central Kansas Library System. These libraries can request the same information for proving identity as any citizen in their own town.
Responsibilities and Authorities of the Library Board	Small Public Library Example http://tinyurl.com/nwj63uf
Circulation	Small Public Library Example http://tinyurl.com/ocn8veg
Programming	Small Public Library Example http://tinyurl.com/pkwj7be
Meeting room	Small Public Library Example http://tinyurl.com/odmea67
Displays and Exhibits	Small Public Library Example http://tinyurl.com/nbq7aqp
Bulletin Board Notices	Small Public Library Example http://tinyurl.com/p2dxdxb
Public Relations	Small Public Library Example http://tinyurl.com/q892zr6
Volunteers and Friends	Small Public Library Example http://tinyurl.com/nb4gl2j
Review of policies	Small Public Library Example http://tinyurl.com/nfjyfbc
Overdues Theft of library materials	Russell Public Library http://tinyurl.com/p7gjgmn (Scroll down to "Charges for lost or damaged materials") Derby Public Library http://www.derbylibrary.com/faqs/ (Scroll down to "Do you notify me if my items are overdue?)

Policy page

2012 Kansas Public Library Standards recommend policies.

Annual review of policies

The 2012 Kansas Public Library Standards says, “Copies of bylaws and policies are provided to every member of the library board, the library director, and the library staff. All library board members annually read and review bylaws and policies.”

These standards list topics all library policies should cover. This handbook lists these topics along with links to real examples found online.

In his Library Policy Review Manual, Jim Swan describes two reasons for rewriting policies.

1. Problems with current policies: loopholes, imprecise wording, negative public (or staff) response, problems in enforcing.


2. Changes in circumstances: new board members with different outlooks, new laws, new library programs and services, and changes in technology.

Well written policies have the following characteristics.

• Reflect the library’s mission, goals and objectives


• Empowers everyone to use of the library and access its materials


• Presents a positive image of the library


• Complies with local, state and federal laws


• Consistent and fair application to everyone, including the staff.
• Room for inconsistent application: Patrons losing library materials may be asked to pay for them.


• Requires consistent application: Patrons losing library materials will be charged the replacement costs.


• Clear, concise language leaving no room for different interpretations.
• Ambiguous policy: Patrons may borrow books and audiotapes for a period of three or two weeks.


• Unambiguous policy: Patrons may borrow books for three weeks and audiotapes for two weeks.


• Ambiguous policy: Overdue fine is $.05 a day. This fine doubles every seven days and continues accruing. (One ambiguity is how long do fines continue doubling and accruing.)


• Unambiguous policy: Overdue fine are $.05 a day. Fines accrue until they exceed item's replacement cost. Patrons are not charged fines greater than the item’s replacement cost.


• Implementation is plausible
• Difficult to implement because of direct board involvement: Trustees will give or deny permission of all postings on bulletin board.


• Board makes policy, library staff implement policy: Library has self-posting bulletin boards. Library staff review postings regularly and remove obsolete items or items conflicting with board policies.

Policies and Bylaws

Difference between bylaws, policies, and procedures

• Bylaws describe the structure and rules for library trustees, e.g., when the board meets, open meetings requirements and executive session exceptions, how board officers are chosen and their duties, trustee term limits, funding and how the library can handle money, etc. Kansas laws about boards should be distilled into every library board's bylaws. Not following bylaws may get the library board in legal trouble.


• Policies describe what work should be done by library staff and establish proper relationships between staff, patrons and library materials. Poor policies mean poor library service.


• Procedures describe how library staff does specific library work. The Board approves policies describing what work should be done. The library director and staff write procedures describing how library work is done. Poor procedures mean inefficient library service.

Information about policies

• 9-minute video about the types of policies. The meat of this video begins 2.5 minutes into the video.


• Policies recommended by 2012 Standards for Kansas Public Libraries


• Additional policies libraries may need


• Annual review of policies

Information about bylaws

• Expanded Library Board Bylaws

Recommended Policies

The 2012 Kansas Public Library Standards recommends every library have policies on the following.

Additional policies your library's policies may need.

List of recommended policies from 2012 Kansas Public Library Standards	Examples
Appropriate Use of Online Services	Small Public Library Example http://tinyurl.com/o8hc29o Lincoln Public Library http://tinyurl.com/bjy8mc2 Kenton County Public Library http://tinyurl.com/a8bzou6 Pacific Grove Public Library http://tinyurl.com/bza5ztg Madison Public Library http://tinyurl.com/al6evfa
Budget and Finance Kansas laws about budgeting	Jefferson County Library http://tinyurl.com/by8gpc2 Ann Arbor District Library http://tinyurl.com/b6tm4md Westchester Public Library http://tinyurl.com/bcsj6wv Daniel Boone Library http://tinyurl.com/awmusd4
Building/ Meeting Room Use	Basehor Community Library http://tinyurl.com/b2gb4je Morrill Public Library http://tinyurl.com/dyj873q Derby Public Library http://bitly.com/ShVWFa Newton Public Library http://tinyurl.com/a7xww8k
Capital Improvements	Liberal Memorial Library http://tinyurl.com/aw757xe
Confidentiality of Library Records Patron Privacy	Kansas City Public Library http://tinyurl.com/bc8xh8l Topeka Shawnee County Public Library http://tinyurl.com/am5o3rz Overbrook Public Library http://tinyurl.com/aqg45jt (Scroll down to confidentiality) Newton Public Library http://tinyurl.com/c5qbdjw (Scroll down to confidentiality)
Continuing Education	This is a personnel policy explaining how the library encourages and supports library staff attending continuing education events, e.g., library pays for travel, meals, registration, and staff to keep the library open while the library staff attends events.
Emergency Preparedness/Disaster Recovery	Disaster plans http://cklsdisasterrecovery.blogspot.com/
Equipment Use	Small Public Library Example http://tinyurl.com/nk78vcr Spirit Lake Public Library http://tinyurl.com/ayyu94k Winneconne Public Library http://tinyurl.com/9wt7o5y Jervis Library http://tinyurl.com/b4x92wh
Gifts and donations	Keller Public Library http://tinyurl.com/b329yxh (Scroll down) Osage City Public Library http://tinyurl.com/bjekn4z (Don’t put donated or memorial books in a stand alone collection. They are not likely to circulate well. Interfile donations and gifts on the shelf where they will be found and used.)
Intellectual Freedom Important statements about Intellectual Freedom	North Scituate Public Library http://tinyurl.com/a7qng8h St. Joseph Public Library http://tinyurl.com/bcjvvel
Patron Behavior	Small Public Library Policy http://tinyurl.com/on3wyrz Independence Public Library http://tinyurl.com/cwgtcfp Fowler Library http://tinyurl.com/bbe57q3 Park City Public Library http://tinyurl.com/ayr2lb5
Personnel	Small Public Library Example http://tinyurl.com/q2dxsrx Iola Public Library http://tinyurl.com/clutlsx
Public Services	Small Public Library Example http://tinyurl.com/nclcfgt Girard Public Library http://tinyurl.com/ba3jouc Beck Bookman (Holton) Library http://tinyurl.com/b6nhdu9 Liberal Memorial Library http://tinyurl.com/d4rxxq7 Fowler Public Library http://tinyurl.com/c4yn7l9
Selection/Collection Management	Small Public Library Example http://tinyurl.com/pogut9r Aurora Public Library http://tinyurl.com/arwo5ub Franklin Public Library http://tinyurl.com/b4fvzyr Somerville Public Library http://tinyurl.com/apxy5fj Hillsboro Public Library http://tinyurl.com/asuxkc7 Wichita Public Library http://tinyurl.com/aed5qrc
Surplus Property	Lincoln County Libraries http://tinyurl.com/ba37og4 Oak Park Public Library http://tinyurl.com/ac7we4s Lee Public Library http://tinyurl.com/b7psfot