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 events as well as public service notices of educational, cultural or community interest.
POLICY
- Library staff must approve all notices, posters, and brochures.
- Only designated 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.
- Acceptance of materials for display does not imply the library’s endorsement of a group or organization, its policies or beliefs.