The Richmond Free Public Library Home Bound Delivery Policy
The Richmond Free Public Library is pleased to offer delivery of library materials to our Richmond patrons who are home bound. This service allows our home bound patrons access to all our Richmond Library materials. The library will arrange to have items delivered to and picked up from his/her home by staff members.
Eligibility and Requirements
A Richmond resident or Richmond patron requesting home bound delivery services is required to meet one of the following criteria:
Permanent physical disabilities (such as limited mobility, prolonged illness, low vision)
Temporary physical limitations
Other age-related limitations
Does not have a driver’s license or access to transportation
Note – A home bound delivery patron must have a reliable means of contact (home phone, cell phone or email address).
Eligibility will be established when a librarian conducts an interview with the interested patron. The librarian will fill out a Questionnaire to establish the borrowing and reading tastes of the new user. Each home delivery patron must have a registered C/W MARS library card. A librarian can help a new patron register for one.
Patrons requesting home delivery must provide a safe and appropriate environment for staff members who make deliveries to their home and protect all library materials while in their custody. Home delivery will be suspended if the delivery staff determines that delivery to a patron poses a substantial risk to health and well being of the library staff.
Library staff will only deliver or pick up 2 items per visit. Library staff will not pick up or deliver items that have been Inter Library Loaned from other libraries by the patron. Circulated items will be from Richmond.
Safe Child Policy
The Richmond Free Public Library provides a safe environment for all children. The safety and well being of our young patrons is one of our priorities and caregivers and guardians must do their part.
Children under 12 must be accompanied by an adult. Library staff cannot always see all patrons, especially young children. Library staff cannot assume responsibility for the safety of an unattended child. Library staff is not responsible to keep children inside the building. We make an exception for our Young Librarians volunteer program as the volunteers are in a supervised space with a Richmond librarian.
Should the situation arise that a child under the age of 12 is left unattended in the library; the following steps will be taken:
- Attempts will be made to contact a parent or legal guardian
- If the library is closing and a staff member could not contact a parent or legal guardian, the staff member will call the police.
- Staff members, under no circumstance, will take a child out of the building or bring the child to a different location.
- Approved by the Board of Trustees
Richmond Free Public Library Patron Behavior Policy
For the safety and comfort of library visitors, staff, and volunteers and the protection of library materials, the following activities are not allowed on library property.
Audio Equipment – Playing audio equipment so that others can hear is not allowed.
Bicycles – Bicycles must be parked in the designated area outside the building. They are not allowed in the library building.
Firearms or dangerous weapons of any type are not allowed on library property (except by law enforcement officials).
Cell Phone Use – Please do not have cell phone conversations inside the building.
Clothing – Shirt and shoes must be worn in the library.
Computer Equipment/Damages – The abuse of library computer equipment, library materials or property will be prosecuted.
Disturbances- Creating a disturbance by making noise, talking loudly, or engaging in other disruptive conduct is not allowed. The library staff determines what conduct constitutes disruptive behavior.
Entrances- The building entrance and exit may not be blocked and people entering the building cannot be interfered with.
Solicitation – Soliciting without the express permission of the Board of Trustees is prohibited.
Library staff will intervene to stop prohibited activities and behaviors. Noncompliance with the library’s established standards of acceptable behavior may result in the restriction of library privileges. Library staff may ask patrons to leave.
Approved by the Board of Trustees 2/16/2023
Collection Development
Mission Statement
The Richmond Free Public Library endeavors to:
- be an integral part of community life in Richmond where patrons can gather in a welcoming place
- provide educational support to lifelong learners,
- support the civic, cultural and social pursuits of our patrons,
- provide equal service to all library users,
- provide informational and popular materials for the entire Richmond community in a variety of formats.
Materials that are purchased to fulfill the library’s mission are selected according to the following criteria.
Selection Criteria:
- Contemporary significance or current usefulness or interest.
- Authority and competence of presentation.
- Importance as an historical record or of permanent value.
- Relevance to existing collection.
- Physical quality of format and binding.
- Presentation of multiple views on controversial issues.
- Balance of special group interest with general demand.
- Cost in relation to the individual title and to the overall collection.
- Recommendations of accepted established review sources such as The Berkshire Eagle, The Horn Book, Booklist, and the New York Times Book Review.
- Availability at other libraries.
Local Authors
The library will attempt to acquire titles by local Berkshire authors that are published by mainstream publishers if they also fit our other selection criteria. Books by local authors that are donated may be considered for inclusion in the library’s collection but will be subject to the same selection criteria as books purchased by the library. They will also be treated like all other gifts (see below). Materials that are not selected will be transferred to the Friends of the Richmond Library for use in its book sale.
Self-published materials
Titles that are self-published, even if available via mainstream distributors, will be added only if they meet the library’s selection criteria.
Gifts
1. All gifts of books and other library materials will be subject to the selection criteria given above.
2. The library does not provide evaluation of gifts for tax purposes. If requested, a formal acknowledgement of the gift(s) will be sent to the donor.
3. Monetary gifts in the form of a check should be made out to the Friends of the Richmond Library.
Objections to Library Materials
Requests from patrons to withdraw materials from the collection are to be made in writing using our Request for Reconsideration form.
Deselection of Materials /Collection Maintenance
Weeding and discarding of materials from the collection is done on a systematic basis. This function is necessitated by limitations of space, obsolescence of material, lack of use over extended period of time, physical condition of the item, and acquisition of new materials. Materials discarded because of loss, vandalism, poor condition, or outdated content will be considered for replacement.
Approved by the Board of Trustees
Date: 2/16/2023
Bulletin Board Policy
The Richmond Free Public Library provides a public bulletin board for the posting of community activities and current, local, regional and nonprofit events, as well as public service notices of educational, cultural or community interest.
POLICY
- Library staff must approve all notices, posters, and brochures.
- Only library staff can post or remove notices.
- Once notices are removed, they are discarded.
- Approved notices, posters, and brochures will be posted as space on the board becomes available and at the staff’s discretion. If the board is crowded, library staff reserve the right to select notices for events with the widest appeal. Preference is given to events in Richmond and West Stockbridge.
- Acceptance of materials for display does not imply the library’s endorsement of a group or organization, its policies or beliefs.
- Postings should be no larger than 8.5″ by 11″
- Approved by the Board of Trustees
- Date: 11/8/2024
Information for Artists
- Artists are responsible for hanging and taking down their exhibits. _____
- There is no charge for the use of the space. If works are sold, the library requests a donation of 20% of the proceeds. Donation checks should be made out to the Friends of the Richmond Library. _____
- The library sends out press releases to local media. The artist must provide a brief statement and publicity photos for this purpose. _____
- Artists may send announcements/invitations, and/or provide for an opening reception at their own expense. _____
- The library is not responsible for any losses or damage. _____
- Artwork or artists should have a connection to Richmond. _____
- Artwork will be displayed for an agreed upon time. _____
- Artwork must be appropriate for all ages. This decision will be made by the Director or Assistant Director. _____
- Staff does not sell or mail artwork but will give out the artist’s contact information. Please provide contact information.
Name:
Address:
Telephone:
Email address:
- Does library staff have permission to hold artwork for a potential buyer? And if so, how long can it be held? _____
- The library will not keep artwork that has been left behind. If the artist fails to pick up their artwork after the agreed upon display time, the library will discard it. _____
Local History Collection
Mission and Scope
Richmond’s Local History Collection is housed in the Richmond Historical Room. It comprises materials that document the history of Richmond along with supplemental materials on Berkshire County and Massachusetts which aid use of the primary collection. The Local History Collection includes, but is not limited to, items by and about the people of Richmond, the Iron Ore industry, a complete set of the Town of Richmond’s Annual Reports, a few Richmond Consolidated School Yearbooks, cemetery maps, books, and genealogical information. It also holds scrapbooks of local newspaper clippings pertaining to the library, Richmond businesses, town government, local schools, and Richmond town history.
The Local History Collection does not contain government records, such as minutes for meetings of town boards and committees or day to day business records. Official town documents are retained at the Town Hall.
Collecting Policy:
The Library may acquire materials for the Local History Collection by purchase or donation. New acquisitions must, in the opinion of the Library, contribute to knowledge of the community’s social, civic, religious, economic and cultural life, past and present.
All donated materials must be free of dirt, mold, moisture, and pests and should be in good condition. Donors sign a “Deed of Gift” transferring ownership, and copyright, if applicable, to the Richmond Free Public Library. The donor and the library each retain a copy of the Deed of Gift (see Appendix 1). The library cannot advise prospective donors about legal, tax or financial matters. All prospective donors are encouraged to consult with their own legal, tax and /or financial advisers before making a gift to the Richmond Free Public Library.
Materials that will not be accepted include but are not limited to:
· duplicates of items already in the collection
· items that are out of scope
· items that require more resources to preserve and make available than the library can provide.
Discarding Policy
The Library periodically reviews the collection and may withdraw materials that:
· no longer fit the scope of the Local History Collection,
· are readily available at other Berkshire County Libraries or through CW/MARS interlibrary loan,
· can be accessed in digitized editions online for free.
This policy applies to both purchased and donated items.
Richmond Historical Room
Access
The Richmond Historical Room is open to the public during library hours. Some materials of the Local History Collection are held on open shelves. Others are kept in a locked cabinet and may be removed only by a member of the library staff. All materials must be used in the Historical Room only.
A paper catalogue is kept in the room and will be explained to first-time users by library staff.
A patron may request up to 5 items from the locked cabinet at one time. Library staff will remove and sign them out to the patron. The patron must return the items to a staff member at the checkout desk.
A dedicated Historical Room Laptop with additional collection information may be checked out at the circulation desk. This laptop is solely for Historical Room use and may not leave the library and should be returned to the circulation desk with any borrowed items from the locked cabinets.
Photocopying
Most paper items may be photocopied by the patron. However, some especially fragile items may have slips inserted that indicate that the material must be copied by a staff member. The library reserves the right to limit copying of material, especially non-print material, because of copyright, condition of material, and other considerations.
Approved by the Library Board of Trustees: __________________________.
Appendix 1: Deed of Gift Form
| Deed of Gift |
| This gift deed is a legal document voluntarily transferring title to real property from one party (the grantor or donor) to the Richmond Free Public Library. This deed serves as proof that the transfer is indeed a gift and without consideration (any conditions or form of compensation). This gift is irrevocable, and in order to be valid it must meet the following requirements: The grantor must intend to make a present gift of the property, the grantor must delivery the property to the grantee, and the grantee must accept the gift. This deed explicitly states that no consideration is expected or required. |
| Donor Information Name: Address: Phone: | Recipient Information Name: The Richmond Free Public Library Address: P.O. Box 458 Richmond, MA 01254 Phone: |
| Description of Gift _________________________________________________________________ Description of the property that is being gifted should include its location, size and value. |
| The transfer of the above described gift is made this day by __________________ and received by ________________ at the Richmond Free Public Library, 1751 State Rd, Richmond, MA 01254. Date of transfer: ________________________________Signature of Donor ______________________Witness________________Signature of Recipient _____________________Witness________________ |