1. LIBRARY CARDS:
In order to receive a library card, a person must complete an application and supply identification as described below.
RESIDENT CARD: To be eligible for a library card, a person must be a resident of Oconee county, own property in the county or be regularly employed in the county. Employment verification is required for those who live outside Oconee county but are regularly employed in the county. Resident cards must be validated every three years.
In order to receive a card, one of the following must be presented:
-Valid South Carolina Driver’s License showing the current address
-Valid South Carolina Highway Department I.D. card showing the current address
-OR-
-Valid picture ID and one of the following recent forms showing current address:
-utility bill
-voter registration card
-payroll check
-rental or lease agreement
-other official document
NON-RESIDENT CARD: Non-residents who do not meet the criteria above may purchase a non-resident card for a $20.00 annual fee. The card is valid for one year. Students who live outside Oconee County but go to school in the county will be treated as any other non-resident and must pay the non-resident fee for a library card.
RECIPROCAL BORROWING WITH PICKENS AND ANDERSON COUNTIES:
The Oconee County Library System will offer residents of Pickens and Anderson Counties borrowing privileges for all circulating materials at all its service points provided that residents of Oconee County are afforded the same borrowing privileges in all that county’s public library service points. In providing this privilege, it is understood that these out-of-county residents will agree to abide by all borrowing rules of the Oconee County Library System, just as Oconee County residents will be required to abide by the rules of the Pickens County or Anderson County Library.
Following are the guidelines for Reciprocal Borrowing:
ISSUING RECIPROCAL LIBRARY CARDS:
JUVENILE CARDS: If the applicant is less than 18 years of age, his or her parent or responsible party must meet the residency requirements and must accept responsibility for materials borrowed by the juvenile. If they themselves do not have a library card, they must apply for one at the same time. No card will be issued if the parent or responsible party has a blocked account {excessive fines, long overdue or lost items on their own card(s)}.The parent or responsible party may choose to allow the juvenile to receive a restricted access card or an un-restricted access card. Restricted cards do not allow checkout of video material or use of public computers in the adult area of the library. Un-restricted cards allow all privileges, including the ability to check out video material and use of computers in the adult areas of the library. Parents or legal guardians assume the responsibility of the selection of items to be checked out on a juvenile card. OCPL will not monitor nor accept responsibility for the selection of items being checked out on a juvenile card.
INSTITUTIONAL CARDS: If a day care, senior citizen home, assisted living facility, or correctional facility in Oconee County wishes to have an institutional card, the owner, director, or supervisor must present a current business license if applicable and complete an institutional card application form. The institutional card is valid for one year and can be renewed if it is in good standing and account information is verified as being current. The owner, director, or supervisor will be the only person allowed to use the card unless he or she designates another employee to have access to the account. The owner, director, or supervisor of the institution is responsible for ensuring the proper use of his or her institution’s library card.
The institution will be responsible for all items checked out on its card. The Oconee County Public Library reserves the right to seek legal recourse if an institution refuses to return library materials or pay for damaged or lost materials.
GENERAL:
If the applicant can show verification of address at the time he/she applies, he/she will be given a card at that time.
A patron must present his/her own valid library card for any transaction unless a responsible party is designated on an application form.
Patrons are responsible for all materials checked out on their cards.
The library discourages a patron from allowing others to check out materials on his/her library card. However, if a patron presents another patron’s library card to check out materials, staff members will assume that permission has been granted for the use of that card unless the card has been reported lost or stolen.
If a patron’s card is lost or stolen, the patron should notify the library immediately in order to prevent unauthorized use of the card. Patron identification and $2.00 is required for a new card. It is the responsibility of the patron to notify the library of an address or name change.
Library cards must be presented each time a patron wishes to check out any material.
2. LOAN PERIODS:
7 - Day Loans – Videocassettes and DVDs (see Outreach Policy for exception)
14 - Day Loans – New Fiction titles and Magazines (except for the most current issue which cannot be checked out)
28 - Day Loans - Most other books, audiocassettes, and CDs.
Reference materials do not circulate. This includes materials made reference temporarily due to heavy demand, as well as materials in the South Carolina Room. Some audiovisual equipment is allowed to be checked out overnight.
3. VIDEOCASSETTES AND DVDs:
Borrowers of videocassettes and DVDs must be at least 18 years of age, or have signed parental permission from ages 12 through 17. These materials circulate for a maximum of seven days. Patrons may check out six (6) titles per one library card per person. A fine of $0.50 per day up to a maximum of $3.00 will be charged for each cassette or DVD that is overdue. They may be renewed once for another seven days if there are no requests for them.
The library reserves the right to discontinue lending videos and/or DVDs to any patron who carelessly handles or fails to return them promptly.
4. AUDIOCASSETTES/CDs:
A limit of five (5) audiocassette and/or CD titles may be checked out at one time per card.
5. MAGAZINES, PERIODICALS:
A patron may check out up to a maximum of ten (10) magazines or periodicals at one time per card, and they must not be the most current issue the library owns.
6. HOLIDAY BOOKS:
A limit of five (5) holiday books may be checked out per card.
7. RETURNS:
Items checked out from any branch or bookmobile stop may be returned at any other branch or bookmobile stop. Book drops are available for convenience in returning library materials during hours when the library is not open. Use of the book drop does not cancel overdue fines. *Reciprocal materials borrowed from one county’s libraries may not be returned to another county’s libraries. (There is no courier service between counties.) If such an item is returned to one of the Oconee County Public Libraries, late fees may accrue to the maximum penalty until the items are picked up by the patron and returned to a branch library in Anderson or Pickens counties.
8. RENEWALS:
Circulating items may be renewed in person, by phone or online. When renewing by phone, patrons must have their library card ID number ready to give. Patrons may also place requests from their home computer by using their library barcode number and a pin number which they may choose. A staff member must enter the pin number as part of the patron’s record. Items with requests on them cannot be renewed.
9. DELINQUENCY:
A patron is Delinquent and unable to check out any material when the total of his/her fines or fees is over $5.00, or with items having a status of “long overdue” on his/her record. A patron is declared Delinquent and their account is “blocked” until all such materials are either returned or otherwise paid for.
10. OVERDUE MATERIALS:
1. FINES
Overdue fines for most materials are $.10 per day per item with a maximum of $2.00 per item. Children's materials (E and J books and audio books) do not accrue fines. Videos and DVDs are $0.50 per day with a $3.00 maximum per item. Audio-visual equipment is $10.00 per day. Overdue fines for materials checked out through Inter-Library Loan are $0.50 per day per item.
After 30 days, the replacement cost of the material is levied to the patron, however if it is returned, only the accumulated fines are charged.
Refunds cannot be given. Once a patron pays for an item, it is theirs. If they subsequently find an item for which they have previously paid lost fees, they may keep the item or donate it to the library.
2. NOTICES
Email is the only method of delivering courtesy notices. Overdue and lost fines are still due, even if a notice was not received by the patron.
3. LOST MATERIALS
Any material lost or damaged beyond repair will be charged to the patron according to the retail price listed in the copy record of the Library’s materials database (OPAC). For those materials not listed in the database, the patron will be charged per the current market price as determined by the Technical Services department. No charges are assessed for damages by normal use, i.e. normal wear and tear. The Library does not accept items from the borrower in lieu of payment of fees for lost, significantly incomplete or severely damaged items.
4. REPLACEMENT CHARGES FOR LOST OR DAMAGED PARTS
Prices in the following schedule are subject to change as the market dictates. Replacement charges may be assessed for lost or damaged parts in the following manner:
*The fee for replacement is determined by the price charged by the DVD distributor. If an individual disc is not available for purchase to complete a multi-disc set, the borrower is responsible for the cost of the complete unit.
5. MISCELLANEOUS CHARGES
Photocopies, microfilm copies, and any other black and white copies run by or for the patron using Library equipment are charged $.15 per page. Color copies are $0.50 per page. Any fees other than postage, charged to our library for Inter-Library loans will be charged to the patron, including costs of borrowing census records, and any other costs charged by the lending locations. A fee of $5.00 will be charged to persons requesting staff to make copies of obituaries, birth announcements, etc., and mail them back to the person doing genealogical research. Earbuds, Flash or USB drives, promotional DVDs are available for the current market price.
11. CLAIMS RETURNED:
When a patron receives a notice for an item that he/she says has been returned, the patron will be asked to search for the item, and the library will also check its records and search the stacks in each location for the missing item. If the item is not located within 60 days, the patron is charged the current retail price of that item or according to the schedule in Section 9.3 of this policy. After receipt of payment, the patron’s record is cleared. Once a lost item has been paid for by the patron, no refunds will be given for found materials.
The patron will not be held responsible for uncataloged paperbacks.
12. REQUESTS/HOLDS:
If the material the patron wishes is not on the shelf, the patron may place a reserve on that item. When the item becomes available, the patron will be notified by phone or email. If the material needed is available in another branch location, the item will be transferred from that location to the most convenient location for the patron. We cannot guarantee when an item may arrive at the receiving branch, or whether the item will be available, even if it shows as “available” in the catalog. After notification, the item will be held for 3 days. If the item on reserve has not been picked up within the 3 day period, it will be returned into circulation.
Twenty five (25) items may be reserved on a Library card at any one time. The Branch Manager may place additional limits to the number that may be requested at any one time. Reserves are accepted in person or by phone. Patrons may also place requests from their home computer by using their library barcode number and a pin number.
1. AUTHORITY AND RESPONSIBILITY:
The authority and responsibility for the selection of library materials are delegated by the Board of Trustees to the Library Director, and under his/her direction, to other staff who are qualified for this activity. Suggestions from library patrons and staff are welcome and are given consideration within the framework of policies determined by the Board of Trustees.
2. CRITERIA FOR SELECTION:
The Oconee County Library strives to maintain a balanced, current, and representative collection selected for the general cultural, informational, and recreational needs of the people of Oconee County. The collection is purchased and organized to provide access to ideas and information representing diverse views and modes of expression. Each type of material must be considered in terms of its own excellence and the audience for whom it is intended. Material will be judged as a whole rather than on isolated passages, illustrations or other individual elements. Materials may include a variety of formats, including both print and non-print. All applicable criteria guidelines apply to material selected, regardless of format. Due to limitations of space and budget, the Library’s collection will not be able to satisfy all requests for materials. Specialized materials which are beyond the scope of the collection may be obtained through interlibrary loans. The Library does not advocate particular beliefs or views, nor is the selection of any material equivalent to endorsement of the viewpoint of the author expressed therein. This collection development and materials selection policy reflects the Oconee County Public Library's agreement with the ALA's Library Bill of Rights and the ALA's Freedom to Read Statement, both included as appendices to this policy. It shares with libraries everywhere the goal of intellectual freedom and non-partisanship.
A. General Criteria
The following general criteria apply to all OCPL collections:
B. Criteria for Specific Collections
Fiction
The following areas must be adequately addressed for each type of material before selection:
Non-Fiction
C. Audiovisual and Electronic:
The Library provides materials in a variety of audiovisual and electronic formats for all ages. In addition to selection criteria used for print materials, the appropriateness and expected long-term use and value to the collection are deciding factors in the selection of audiovisual and electronic materials:
• Quality of production
• Reputation of performer(s)
• Ease of access
3. PURCHASE REQUESTS:
The OCPL regularly purchases new releases and bestsellers in all formats. The library will only accept purchase requests for items that have already been released or published, and are not found in the library catalog. The library is pleased to accept purchase requests from patrons, but will not earmark those items for specific patrons until they are in the catalog, where holds may be placed according to normal library procedures.
4. GIFTS/DONATIONS:
In general, the Oconee County Public Library welcomes gifts of money, books, materials, equipment, artwork, documents, photographs, or property of any kind, which promotes the mission of the Library. The Library reserves the right to refuse any gift that the Board of Library Trustees or Library Director, in their sole discretion, deems to not be in the best interests of the Library to accept. If a gift is accepted by the Library, the gift shall be final and no restrictions on the Library’s ownership, possession, use or disposition of the gift shall be effective other than restrictions approved by the express vote of the Board of Library Trustees. The Board of Trustees must approve acceptance of gifts $10,000 and over. Donated materials must meet the same general standards of merit and relevance that apply to all materials selection. A future foundation for the Library may be established under the Foothills Community Foundation. Donors may utilize for gifts if established and if in adherence to this policy and other regulations.
Guidelines
Monetary gifts: The Library welcomes gifts of cash or stock. If the gift is used to purchase library materials, library staff will try to accommodate the donor’s subject or title preferences. The Library reserves the right to refuse accommodating preferences if doing so is not in accordance with the needs and selections policies of the Library or of Oconee County. A plate with the donor’s name will be affixed to the item purchased, if so desired.
Materials: Gifts of miscellaneous books or other materials in good condition are accepted with the understanding that items which are not added to collections will be disposed of at the discretion of the Library. These items may be given to the Friends of the Library for sale, given to other libraries, or discarded. Gift materials not added to the collection cannot be returned to the donor. Donors should check with Library staff for any specific restrictions.
Collections: Gift collections will be accepted only by the Director in consultation with the Board of Trustees, and with the understanding that the collection may not be kept intact.
Recognition gifts: The Library welcomes monetary gifts for purchase of materials for the collections given in recognition of individuals or organizations. The library staff will choose items which accommodate the donor’s subject or title preferences, whenever possible. The Library reserves the right to refuse accommodating preferences if doing so is not in accordance with the needs and selections policies of the Library or of Oconee County. The names of the donor(s) and those recognized by the gift will be listed on a bookplate affixed to the material, if so desired.
Real estate or other personal property: The Library will accept gifts of real property that either support or could be sold to support the mission of the Library. Such offers will be handled by the Director, who in consultation with the Board of Trustees will determine the suitability of the gift and the terms of acceptance compatible with the Library’s mission and policies, the donor’s intent, and applicable laws.
Art & decoration objects: In general, gifts of art objects shall be of local interest to the community, of a professional quality, well executed and in good condition. As with all other gifts, art objects will be accepted only with the donor’s full agreement that the Library has the right to handle or dispose of the gift in the best interests of the institution. Because of the Library’s limited display and storage areas and focus on its primary mission as a Library and not a museum, potential donors of art & decorative objects are requested to discuss any possible gifts with the Director and Board of Trustees. No gifts posing a danger or threat to patrons will be accepted (e. g. metal sculpture with sharp, moving parts). No gifts that require extensive, regular special care or conservation will be accepted.
Valuation: The Library will provide a timely, written acknowledgment of the receipt of gifts to the donor and, if desired, to a recognized individual or organization. Income tax regulations leave the determination of the gift’s monetary value to the donor. Donors wishing to have an appraisal of their gifts done for income tax purposes should do so prior to donation.
Future disposition of gifts: Libraries used extensively by their patrons sustain losses through theft, mutilation and ordinary wear. Resources with obsolete and/or misleading information may be discarded with time. The Library therefore cannot guarantee that any gift will be part of the collection or furnishings permanently and therefore will dispose of items as it sees fit.
5. WEEDING:
An up-to-date, attractive, and useful collection will be maintained by retaining or replacing essential materials, and removing on a systematic and continuous basis those works that are worn, outdated, of little historical significance, or no longer in demand.
6. RECONSIDERATION OF MATERIALS:
The choice of library materials by users is an individual matter. Responsibility for the reading materials of children and adolescents rests with their parents or legal guardians. While a person may reject materials for himself/herself and for his/her children, he/she cannot limit access to the materials by others.
Children are not limited to using juvenile materials, although juvenile collections are grouped to facilitate access.
The responsibility of the Library is to serve all the community, not to promote or censor any particular political, moral, philosophical, or religious conviction or opinion. The criteria for Materials Selection ( #2 above) will be followed in considering materials for reconsideration.
Citizen requests for reconsideration shall be made in writing on forms provided by the library. The Library Director will give a written response. Appeals are directed to the Board for final decision.
7. TEXTBOOKS:
Textbooks may be purchased for the collection when they supply information in areas in which they may be the best, or the most suitable source of information on the subject. Providing textbooks and curriculum material is generally held to be the responsibility of the schools.
1. GENERAL:
Reference services are provided at all branches. The main reference collection is housed at the central headquarters branch in Walhalla. Other branches have some basic reference sources but these are limited.
2. GENEALOGY:
Patrons of the Oconee County Library System conducting genealogical research will be given limited assistance.
Because OCPL lacks sufficient staff to do research, any letters, phone calls, and e-mails from persons requesting extensive research will be denied. Names and addresses of local persons who do research for a fee will be provided if such a person is known. If the information sought is easily accessible, such as a photocopy of an obituary, there will be a $5.00 processing charge to cover paper and postage.
The OCPL does not allow any items in the genealogical collection to be loaned through ILL.
3. COPYRIGHT POLICY:
The library provides copying machines for public use. Staff will explain how to operate the copier, but making copies is the responsibility of the user.
The Library follows U.S. Code Title 17, Section 201.14, as set forth below:
WARNING CONCERNING COPYRIGHT RESTRICTIONS
The copyright law of the United States (Title 17, United States Code) governs the making of photocopies or other reproductions of copyrighted material.
Under certain conditions specified in the law, libraries and archives are authorized to furnish a photocopy or reproduction. One of these specified conditions is that the photocopy or reproduction is not to be “used for any purpose other than private study, scholarship, or research.” If a user makes a request for, or later uses, a photocopy or reproduction for purposes in excess of “fair use, “ that user may be liable for copyright infringement.
This institution reserves the right to refuse to accept a copying order if, in its judgment, fulfillment of the order would involve violation of copyright law.
4. REFERENCE SEARCHES:
Extensive searches by the reference librarians for information shall not be conducted for any persons, whether by phone or in person. Reference Librarians will be happy to assist by showing such patrons where information they are requesting may be found, but will not do the research for them.
The OCPL cannot provide legal, medical, or appraisal services. Patrons will be shown resources in these collections and receive instruction in their use, but must understand that there is no substitute for a consultation with a qualified professional in that particular field.
A fee of $5.00 will be charged for requests which require staff to search for material, make copies, and mail the material to the person making the request.
5. PROCTORING POLICY:
Library Proctoring Services
What we can do:
•Provide a place to take exam
•Be available during regular business hours, including evenings and weekends (exams must be completed 30 minutes prior to closing)
•Check student ID
•Sign appropriate paperwork
•Distribute exams received in hard copy
•Print exams that have been emailed
•Return pre-stamped and addressed envelopes using the Library’s postal service.
What we cannot do:
•Provide constant one-on-one monitoring
•Provide troubleshooting for tests or testing software
•Download tests or testing software, or alter any library Internet computer software
•Provide extra peripherals, like headphones
•Provide postage or supplies or provide postage services outside of the Library’s regular mail service (Federal Express, USPS Express Mail, UPS, etc.)
•Help students find answers to test questions
•Contact students to make test arrangements
•Provide proctor’s personal information, such as Social Security number
•Be responsible for mailed, faxed, or emailed exams not received by the college or institution
Other issues to consider:
Incidental fees include: printing costs ($0.15 per B/W page, $0.50 per color page), and photocopies ($0.15 per page per B/W page). Computer access for online exams may vary per location. If computer access is available at a location, proctors are subject to the Library’s policies regarding Internet usage (this includes NOT downloading or modifying any software on the library’s Internet computers). Any student testing online who requires use of a library Internet PC will need an OCPL library card. For those who don’t reside in Oconee County, a photo ID will be needed for Internet guest pass. Internet PCs are generally limited to 45 minute sessions. The Library also provides free Wi-Fi at most locations. Students may choose to bring their own personal laptop if their institution allows. You should contact your branch ahead of time if you have any questions regarding public PC use for proctored exams.
Fax service is not available at any Library location.
Please schedule all exams one week prior to the exam. You may schedule multiple exams at once if possible. Missed appointments will be handled on a case by case basis. But the availability of proctors may vary per location. Please contact your library location regarding any changes for scheduled exams.
These are the locations where proctoring is offered:
Seneca Branch Library (contact: Emily Whitmire, Branch Manager)
Walhalla Main Library (contact: Donna Wales, Youth Services Librarian)
1. PURPOSE:
The OCPL Outreach Services seeks to serve residents whose physical disabilities, distance from the library, socioeconomic status, institutionalization, limited literacy in English, and/or educational deprivation may preclude their benefitting from traditional public library services to the same extent as other members in the community. Outreach also strives to increase the visibility and impact of the OCPL in advocating the significance of the library’s role in its community.
2. OUTREACH SERVICES INCLUDES:
1. Mobile Library Services
a. Bookmobile Services through a series of regularly scheduled stops throughout the County. Stops will be no closer than 1.5 miles to a library branch.
b. Homebound Services through home delivery of materials on a regular basis to residents who cannot receive library services traditionally due to age and/or physical disabilities and other medical conditions lasting six months or longer.
2. Programming and activities conducted by library personnel away from library facilities in the library’s service communities.
3. Assistance to persons who meet the requirements of the South Carolina State Library’s Talking Book Services to enroll and receive large print and audiobooks, recorded magazines, Braille materials and assistive equipment from the South Carolina State Library.
3. TYPES OF BOOKMOBILE STOPS:
1. Community stops: Stops in a public location where the public can see the Bookmobile from the road and can access the Bookmobile easily.
2. Institutional stops: Stops not generally open to the public, such as day cares, senior citizen homes, or assisted living facilities. Persons checking out material at an institutional stop may use their own library card or the institution may obtain and use a library card according to the institutional card policy.
Bookmobile stops will be publicized and any changes in schedules (barring unforeseen mechanical or other issues) will be publicized in advance.
Bookmobile stops will be monitored for activity, typically for several months. Stops with low participation will be dropped from the schedule. A replacement stop may be substituted. All stops must be approved by the Library Director or Branch Services Librarian.
4. COLLECTION:
Borrowing privileges and responsibilities, and additional services, provided to patrons by Mobile Library Services will be the same as for patrons at other branches except as defined in this section.
Mobile Library Services will own and maintain a collection of items. Items checked out by Mobile Library Services will follow the same checkout policies as other branches with the exception that Bookmobile video material may be checked out for two (2) weeks with no renewals and Homebound items will be checked out for four (4) weeks.
5. STAFFING:
1. The Bookmobile will be staffed by two persons when making stops. One of the persons may be a volunteer. If two persons are not available to work, the Bookmobile will not go out on the route.
2. Home delivery will be staffed by two persons, both of whom may be volunteers. Exceptions may include partner agencies as opportunities for expanding or altering the program of service develop.
The Oconee County Library System makes its meeting rooms available to local community groups or organizations devoted to educational, cultural or community welfare activities under non-profit and non-sectarian sponsorship whose purpose is not illegal, subject to the following regulations.
1. Meetings, programs and exhibits must be open to the public except for organized clubs, which may restrict their meetings to members only.
2. Behavior of all participants using a meeting room must be in accordance with OCPL Code of Conduct. The Library reserves the right to monitor the meeting and revoke the privileges of any group that violates the Code of Conduct.
3. There will be no fee for the use of the room.
4. Any group using the facility will be responsible for maintaining order and for seeing that the rooms are neat and clean at the conclusion of the meeting.
5. If the Library determines that special clean-up is required, a fee may be charged.
6. Groups are liable for any damage to the building, furniture or equipment.
7. Reservations and cancellations shall be made in advance. Any group may be asked to re-schedule a meeting if the Library Director determines that such re-scheduling is necessary in the Library’s interest.
8. No admission may be charged and no donations or collections other than organizational dues may be taken. Tuition and fees may be charged for educational courses that are approved by the Library.
9. Meeting Rooms will be available for public use only during regular operating hours of the respective branches.
10. Children and youth groups must be adequately supervised by adults and must conform to the OCPL Library System Code of Conduct.
11. The Library will not be responsible for the security of an exhibit or other items. The Library will not provide porter service to load and unload materials or equipment.
12. Light refreshments, but no alcoholic beverages, may be served. No kitchen facilities are available for use. All trash and garbage shall be removed from Library property.
13. No smoking or other tobacco use is allowed in any part of the Library.
14. Facilities and equipment may vary with each location. Any request for available equipment must be made at the time the room is booked.
15. Use of the meeting rooms for book signings by authors with sale of that author’s books will be permitted at the discretion of the Library Board and/or the Library Director. Any that are sponsored by the Friends of the Library will be allowed.
Use of the meeting room is assigned on a first come/first served basis. The Director will resolve problems developing from this, with priority as follows:
1. Users and groups directly related to the Library and the operation of the Library;
2. Departments or agencies of the municipal or county governments;
3. Community organizations formed for educational, cultural, and civic purposes as may be approved by the Director;
Granting permission to use Library facilities does not constitute an endorsement of the group or organization by the Oconee County Library System, its Board of Trustees, or the County Council of Oconee County, South Carolina.
Groups may not use photos of any library location or the library’s logo in their advertisement. Only the library name and address should be used in any publicity for location purposes only. Non-library groups meeting in the library may not claim endorsement by the library or state or imply that the library is sponsoring the program. Publicity announcing the meetings must not imply library sponsorship. Copies of announcements may be requested for approval before distribution.
The Oconee County Library System, an educational and cultural institution, and as part of its public service and information mission, welcomes exhibits, displays, brochures, notices, etc., for items of civic, cultural, recreational, and educational nature subject to the following policies. Materials may be provided by the Library or other non-profit organizations, community groups, individuals, educational institutions, or governmental agencies.
Displays and exhibits are subject to the following conditions:
1. No poster, display, exhibit, pamphlet, brochure, leaflet, or booklet shall be exhibited without permission from the Library Director, Branch Manager, or designated staff person.
2. No outside organization or individual shall be permitted to display or exhibit any materials which advocate the election or defeat of a candidate for public office, or which advocates an affirmative or negative vote for or against any proposition, whether political or otherwise. Political or religious editorializing or recruiting is forbidden.
3. No organization or individual shall be permitted to place in the library any box, receptacle, or canister which solicits donations. Any displays, etc., will have listed only the name of the person or group providing the display. If items are for sale, the public must deal directly with the person or group providing the display, not the Library.
4. Displays or distribution of materials will be permitted only in designated areas of the library.
5. Exhibit or display space will not be approved for those exhibits which are, or may be reasonably construed to be, patently offensive to others.
6. The library makes reasonable efforts to protect materials on display or exhibit in the library, but assumes no responsibility for loss or damage to such material. The library carries insurance which partially protects some materials, but final determination of the validity of a claim rests with the insurance company.
7. Individuals exhibiting materials must sign a statement provided by the Library releasing the Library of any responsibility beyond its normal coverage. The Library will require a complete inventory of each item of an exhibit, including title, dimensions, description and estimated cost by the owner.
Bulletin boards:
Bulletin boards are to be used only for general announcements of the library, other community agencies, and generally not-for-profit groups. They should not be used to display notices regarding church events or sales, lost animals, for-profit services, yard sales, benefits, etc. They will have announcements such as job openings in the county, library information, and information by other agencies.
The Oconee County Public Library System recognizes that its circulation records and other records identifying the names of library users are confidential in nature and accepts the responsibility of safeguarding information about any individual’s use of the library from improper disclosure. The following guidelines are prescribed for carrying out this responsibility.
1. All librarians and library employees are advised that circulation records and other records identifying the names of library users with specific materials shall be held to be confidential in nature. Such records shall not be made available to any agency of State, Federal, or local government except pursuant to such authority of, and pursuant to, Federal, State, or local law relating to civil, criminal, or administrative discovery procedures or legislative investigative power.
2. The details of an individual’s borrowing history will not be released to unauthorized persons. This rule will not prevent the library from maintaining records of delinquent borrowers. Such records will, however, be maintained in confidence.
3. Upon receipt of a process, order, or subpoena (as mentioned in Item 1), the library’s officers will consult with legal counsel to determine if such process, order, or subpoena is in proper form and if there is a showing of good cause for its issuance; if the process, order, or subpoena is not in proper form or if good cause has not been shown, they will insist that such defects be cured.
4. South Carolina Act 108 of 1985 provides that records related to registration and circulation of library materials which contain names of other personally identifying details regarding the users of public, private, school, college, university, and state institutional libraries and library systems, supported in whole or in part by public funds or expending public funds are confidential information.
5. The OCPL supports the President of the United States and congressional leaders in our nation’s efforts to preserve and protect the many hard-fought freedoms we enjoy as Americans. While the library will do its utmost to uphold the privacy and confidentiality of patrons’ free access to information, OCPL will comply with law enforcement when supplied with legal subpoena or warrant.
6. If anyone in the library community has a computer upon which they reasonably believe an electronic trespass has occurred and desire an investigation of it, they should contact the Library Director. That person will, in turn, consult with the appropriate administrative and legal offices and, if necessary, make the appropriate contacts to federal law enforcement.
An Interlibrary loan is a transaction in which materials or photocopies of materials are made available by one library to another upon request. This service is a means of greatly expanding the range of library materials available to library patrons without allocating large sums of limited book funds for seldom requested items.
The Oconee County Library System will borrow books and other library materials through Interlibrary Loan (ILL) for registered borrowers subject to the following:
1. Any fees over normal postage costs will be passed on to the borrower, including census records rental and any extra charges of lending institutions.
2. All lost, damaged, or overdue material costs will be the responsibility of the borrower.
3. Overdue ILL materials will be charged 50 cents per item per day, plus any late charges levied by the lending institution.
4. The number of requests will be limited to 3 titles per patron at a time, and these must be returned before more will be ordered. The patron may not have more than 3 ILL items checked out at one time.
5. Patrons must be in good standing with the library system and owe NO fines.
6. No books published or copyrighted in the past 12 months will be ordered.
7. No current best sellers will be ordered.
8. DVDs and audiobooks will not be requested from other libraries nor will OCPL lend out such items through interlibrary loan. Special exceptions may be made strictly in the case of educational or research purposes at the discretion of the Library Director.
9. OCPL collections must be thoroughly searched before items are ordered through ILL.
10. In general, OCPL will lend only non-reference books on which there is not a request or reserve.
11. ILL services will be available only to adult library card holders.
