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Loan
Periods
21 Days Books, non-fiction
videos, CD-ROMs, spoken word & music CDs &
cassettes and Interlibrary Loan materials
14 Days New books,
magazines
3 Days All feature
film videos, DVDs & Ocean County College course
videos
7 Days Video games
Renewals
All materials EXCEPT browser copies
and magazines may be renewed twice if not requested
by another customer. Interlibrary Loan materials
may be renewed once for an additional seven days.
Checkout
Limits --- 30 Item Limit
A. 6. FEES and FINES SCHEDULE (Effective February 1st, 2012)
a. The Ocean County Library's fees and fines schedule is established and reviewed annually from a public service viewpoint. The Ocean County Library believes in providing access to resources and services without fee to the library's customers. Fees may be imposed for auxiliary services beyond the Library's accepted roles, and/or when applied as a measure of preserving service equity to curtail excessive individual demand detrimental to the constituency at large. Assessment of any fines or fees for service by any Library unit requires Administrative and Commission approval.
Borrowing privileges are suspended when unpaid fines and fees and/or the value of overdue, unreturned material exceeds $25.00.
b. Fines Schedule
- Maximum fine is $15.00 per item
- Books, magazines, spoken word, Playaways, music cassettes and CDs, and all videos and DVDs with the exception of Adult feature films and video games: 15¢ per day, per item
- Adult feature film videos, video games: 50¢ per day, per item
- Interlibrary Loan Materials: 50¢ per day, per item
c. Fees Schedule
Photocopy
- Public photocopy machines: 10¢ per exposure
- Microfilm prints: 10¢ per exposure
Right to Know Law and Copy Fees
- Library records are still considered confidential under this law and require a subpoena issued by a court to be released. Types of materials that would require immediate access are budgets, bills, vouchers, contracts, including collective negotiations agreements and individual employment contracts, and public employee salary and overtime information.
- A copy or copies of a government record may be purchased by any person upon payment of the fee prescribed by law or regulation (N.J.S.A. 47:1A-5.b)
For letter size page or smaller: 5¢ per page
For legal size page or larger: 7¢ per page
Fax or Mail
- Information will be faxed or mailed to customers upon request free of charge.
First 5 pages: Free of charge
Over 5 pages: 20¢ per page
- Requests incurring charges up to $3.00 (5 free pages plus 15 pages at 20¢ each1) can be sent in advance of payment. If the charge is more than $3.00, payment must be received before the information will be sent.
- Public Fax machines are provided at selected branches through an outside vendor.
- 1 page: $1.50; 2 pages: $2.50; 3 pages: $3.50; 6 pages: $6.50; 18 pages: $18.50
Borrowers Cards
- Borrowers Cards are replaced at no charge when a customer reports a lost or missing card. Worn out cards are replaced at no cost to customers.
Temporary Borrowers
- A temporary card may be issued to an individual who does not qualify for a free library card upon payment of a nonrefundable $8.00 per month.
- One temporary borrower card will be issued per family. All members of the family are eligible to borrow items for the one fee. The total number of items borrowed will not exceed 30.
Lost or Damaged Materials
- Replacement cost will be the price of item for all materials except magazines
- Magazines - $5.00
- Replacement copies of lost/damaged materials will be accepted if the ISBN is identical
- Customers are not eligible for refunds for lost material
Miscellaneous
- Collection Agency Fee : A $10.00 charge will be levied for delinquent accounts referred to the collection agency
- Returned Check Fee: A $10.00 fee will be levied for any returned check
Loan of Equipment
- Devices for People with Disabilities (free)
- In-house use of equipment (free)
Interlibrary Loan - Preapproved by Customer
- All charges levied by other institutions are the responsibility of the requesting customer
- There will be a $5.00 per item charge for materials requested and not picked up by the customer
Public computers and Public Access Catalogs
- In‑house use of equipment and software: free
- Prints: 20¢ per page.(Customers supplying their own paper are still expected to honor the fee for printing)
- Blank CDs: $2.00
- USB Flash Drives: $7.00
- Earbuds: $2.00
Meeting Rooms
Out-of-County clubs and organizations holding programs independently of Library sponsorship:
$50 per program.
Used and Donated Materials (with suggested donation fees)
- Hardcovers, Music CDs and Books on CD, Playaways, Video Games, DVDs, Trade paperbacks: $1.00 per item
- Books on Cassette, Video Cassette: 50¢
- Paperbacks 20¢
- Children's books 10¢.
- Special Event book sales sponsored by Friends of the Library are exempt from this pricing policy.
REVISED and APPROVED: OCEAN COUNTY LIBRARY COMMISSION: January 17, 2012
1Fax Charges correction made as noted in January 2012 Director’s Report
APPLICATION
FOR USE OF MEETING ROOM
Most of the branches of the Ocean County Library contain meeting rooms. These rooms are intended for the Library’s use and for programs sponsored or co-sponsored by the Library. These rooms may be available for use by non-profit or community organizations during regular Library hours by advanced scheduling. The Bishop Memorial Library, located adjacent to the Toms River Headquarters Branch on Washington Street, is also covered by this policy and may be available as a meeting space at the discretion of the Library.
The Library does not endorse the views expressed by any group using its meeting rooms. This disclaimer is posted outside all Library meeting rooms. The Library, however, does endorse the right of groups to express their views as long as they follow the Rules of Conduct of the Library and engage in civil discourse.
Non-profit organizations may apply for the use of a meeting room via a written request form, available on the Library website or from any branch. The form must be returned to the branch where the meeting/program will be held. Requests for equipment, easels, or other special needs should be made at this time.
Meetings must be booked for times when the Library is open. Meeting room capacities and branch hours vary by location. Meeting room assignments will be at the discretion of the Library. Meetings will be booked no more than three months in advance
Meeting rooms are booked following these priorities:
Priority 1: Events conducted by the Library staff. These include public programs and meetings.
Priority 2: Events co-sponsored by the Library. These may include municipal, county, state and federal government agencies, Friends groups, or other agencies working on a cooperative project with the Library.
Priority 3: Ocean County clubs and organizations holding programs independently of the Library. These meetings must be open to the public and free of charge. No selling of goods or services is to be conducted. A group may use one of the library system’s meeting rooms up to 6 times in a calendar year.
Priority 4: Businesses located in Ocean County may reserve the meeting rooms for employee training or community service programs. No selling of goods or services is to be conducted. A business may use one of the library system’s meeting rooms up to 2 times in a calendar year.
Priority 5: Out-of-County groups may use one of the library system’s meeting rooms up to 2 times a calendar year. A $50.00 fee will be charged for out-of county groups.
The Library reserves the right to cancel meeting room bookings in priorities 3, 4, and 5 up to 30 days before the scheduled date, if a priority 1 or 2 event requires that time slot.
Organizations using the Library meeting rooms must agree to the following:
- The Library’s Rules of Conduct are observed and enforced.
- No selling of goods or services is to be conducted. Organizations wishing to solicit funds during a program or meeting must comply with the Library’s policy on fundraising.
- The programs are free and open to the public.
- The Library must review all publicity before it is distributed to the public, and publicity should clearly indicate the name of sponsoring agency or agencies.
- A representative from the organization conducts and monitors the meeting.
- Beverages and light refreshments are permitted, but the room should be left clean.
- No alcoholic beverages or smoking are permitted.
- Content of the program should not differ from the original proposal.
- Gratuities to Library employees are not permitted. A donation to the library is acceptable, but not required.
- For attendance greater than 50, an announcement should be made prior to the program indicating the locations of the exits.
- The booking organization must notify the Library if the meeting or program is cancelled.
- The organization is responsible for damage to Library property.
- The organization is responsible for set-up, break-down, and clean-up of the meeting room
- Programs and clean-up will be completed 15 minutes before closing.
Failure to comply with any of the above procedures may also be cause to deny future use of the meeting room by any organization.
REVISED and APPROVED: OCEAN COUNTY LIBRARY COMMISSION - April 20, 2010
The Ocean County Library provides customers with
access to the information on the Internet, as part
of its mission to provide a wide range of resources
that serve the current and future informational,
educational, and recreational needs of the county's
population. The Internet is an unregulated medium.
As such, while it offers access to a wealth of material
that is personally, professionally, and culturally
enriching to individuals of all ages, it also enables
access to some material that may be offensive, disturbing,
inaccurate and/or illegal. It is not possible for
the library to provide the same selection criteria
as is used for other materials; therefore, the library
does not assume responsibility for the content of
material on the Internet. The Internet is not to
be used for illegal purposes. The library does not
retain computer registration logs for more than
24 hours, and will only release information if subpoenaed.
The viewing and use of materials on the Internet
is the responsibility of each individual user, and
the responsibility of parents or guardians for their
children.
All public Internet computers will be filtered
for the categories of Adult Material: Sex, and Adult
Material: Adult Content. PCs in computer labs will
additionally be filtered for Drugs: Abused Medications;
Drugs: Marijuana; Illegal/Questionable; Information
Technology: Hacking and Proxy Avoidance Systems;
and Violence. Computers in children’s rooms
or designated children’s areas will be filtered
for the additional categories of Adult Content:
Nudity; Gambling; Racism/Hate; Society and Lifestyles:
Alcohol and Tobacco; Tasteless; and Weapons. Filtering
does not guarantee that offensive sites will be
blocked. Adult customers may request unfiltered
access.
Internet
Policy REVISED
and APPROVED:
Ocean County Library Commission – October
19, 2004
Please
Note: The Ocean County Library requires
registration and a form of ID in order to use the
public internet computers.
a. Ocean County Library
facilities are open for use by the general public.
Service will not be denied because of age, race,
religion, social or economic status, political affiliation
or any other discriminatory criterion.
b. All persons residing in an
Ocean County Library member municipality are entitled
to an Ocean County Library card, issued free of
charge, upon completion of an application card and
presentation of identification which verifies residency.
The library will request that a parent or guardian
sign applications for children aged 12 or under.
c. Students attending a school
or college located in a member municipality may
obtain a FREE library card. School identification
will be accepted as verification.
d. Teachers, school librarians
in schools or colleges, the position of County Superintendent
of Schools, and tutors and trainers affiliated with
Literacy Volunteers of America - Ocean County Chapter
are eligible for a FREE library card. School identification
or membership affiliation will be accepted as verification.
e. Persons who do not reside in
a member municipality but who own property or own
and operate a business in a member municipality,
or are employed by the County of Ocean or by a member
municipality, qualify for a FREE library card upon
presentation of identification verifying ownership
or employment.
| EXCEPTIONS: The Ocean County Library may enter
into contractual agreements with other jurisdictions
through which access to the Ocean County Library
and its resources is provided. Usage is subject
to terms and conditions of said agreements. |
f. Library privileges may be revoked
or temporarily suspended due to activity or behavior
which infringes on the ability of others to utilize
the library and/or its resources, or which infringes
on the ability of library employees to carry out
their public service responsibilities. The Library's
Rules of Conduct provide more detailed examples
of inappropriate behavior.
g. The following applies to all
customer-owned digital media: floppy disks, CDs
DVDs, zip disks, memory sticks, etc. Digital files
will be scanned for viruses prior to use on library
computer systems. Customers are responsible for
backing up their own files on electronic media used
on Ocean County Library computers. The library strongly
recommends that customers make back-up copies of
all personal files before using such files on Ocean
County Library System computers. The Ocean County
Library System cannot guarantee the integrity of
electronic files loaded onto library computers and
accepts no responsibility for any such files.
h. Ocean County Library encourages
children of all ages to visit the library and make
use of its programs, resources, and services. The
library strives to create a warm welcoming environment
for our customers of all ages. Our goal is to connect
children to library resources and develop a lifelong
appreciation for libraries and their services.
The library is a public place and the safety of
children is therefore a serious concern. Young children
need to feel safe and secure, which may require
the presence of an adult or caregiver. Children
are generally able to occupy themselves for limited
time periods, but may become bored and restless
after extended periods in the library. The library
does have expectations for appropriate conduct that
apply to all our customers. In an attempt to be
prepared for challenging situations, and primarily
to make the library experience a positive one, Ocean
County Library has established the policy that follows.
Unattended children when library is open:
Children under 6 may not be left
unattended by an adult in any part of the library.
If children under the age of 6 are found without
an adult, staff will attempt to locate the parent
or other caregiver. During story times or other
programs, adults who are not attending the program
with the child must remain in the building and be
visible when their children return from the program.
Children ages 6 - 8 must have
a parent or caregiver in the building with them
at all times during the library visit. If children
ages 6 - 8 are found without an adult, staff will
attempt to locate the parent or other caregiver.
Children ages 9-12 are welcome
to use the library unattended, but should not be
left alone for extended periods of time. The parent
will be the best judge of the appropriate time period
for each child. The library is a public space and,
as such, cannot guarantee the safety of children.
Parents are responsible for the behavior of their
children. If a child becomes anxious or disruptive,
the staff will attempt to find the parent or caregiver
in the library. If a parent or caregiver is not
available, staff will call the child’s home.
It is the responsibility of the parent or caregiver
to be accessible to pick up the child at any time.
When unattended children under the age of 14 are
present at library closing time, staff will notify
the parents. If a parent cannot be reached by 15
minutes past closing, county or local police may
be called. Two adult staff will wait with the child
outside the closed building until a parent or the
police arrive. Staff will not wait inside the closed
building or invite the child into their car. Under
no circumstances will staff transport the child
from the library building.
In accordance with NJSA 2A:53A-14,15 Negligence,
the following conditions will be observed: Parents
have responsibility for the conduct of their children.
A parent, guardian or other person having legal
custody of a child under 18 years of age, who fails
or neglects to exercise reasonable supervision and
control of the conduct of the child, shall be liable
in a civil action for any willful, malicious or
unlawful injury or destruction by such child of
the property of the library.
APPROVED: OCEAN COUNTY LIBRARY
COMMISSION September 1986
REVISED and APPROVED: OCEAN COUNTY LIBRARY COMMISSION
– May 18, 1999
h. Revised and Approved: Ocean County Library Commission
– July 15, 2003
g. Approved: Ocean County Library Commission –
October 19, 2004
 Rules of Conduct
The Ocean County Library Commission shall hold in trust and manage all property of the Library, including making proper rules and regulations for the government of the Library, and generally doing all things necessary and proper for the establishment and maintenance of free public library (NJSA 40:54-12).
In accordance with NJSA 2C:33-2 Disorderly Conduct, the following activities are not permitted:
- Engaging in fighting or threatening other patrons or staff.
- Violent or tumultuous behavior, including talking loudly, making noise, running, jumping, pushing, shoving, throwing objects, skateboarding, playing in the elevators, stairwells, or entrances, or any behavior which creates a hazardous or physically dangerous condition or which purpose is to cause public inconvenience, annoyance or alarm, or which interferes with another person's use of the library or with the library staff's performance of their duties.
- Unreasonably loud and offensively coarse or abusive language
- Being intoxicated.
In accordance with NJSA 2C:17-3 Criminal Mischief, the following activities are not permitted:
- Purposely or knowingly damaging property of the library, including any portion of the buildings, surrounding grounds, or the contents. Examples include damaging restrooms, defacing furniture and walls, removing pages from books, destroying landscaping or other outdoor fixtures.
In accordance with NJSA 2C:33-8 Disrupting Meetings and Processions, the following activities are not permitted:
- Preventing or disrupting a lawful meeting, procession or gathering through noisy or disorderly conduct or by physically interfering.
- Interfering with the quiet or good order of any public or private place of assembly, including libraries, schools, churches and reading rooms.
In accordance with NJSA 2C:33-4 Harassment, the following activities are not permitted:
- Communicating in offensively coarse language or in any other manner likely to cause annoyance or alarm.
- Striking, kicking, shoving, or other offensive touching, or threats to do so.
In accordance with NJSA 2C:20-12,13,14 Theft of Library Materials, the following activities are not permitted:
- Concealing, on or off the premises of the Ocean County Library, upon one's person or among their belongings, or upon the person or belongings of another, any library material or portions of library material, regardless of physical form, for the purpose of depriving the library facility of its use or benefit. A security guard or employee of the library who has probable cause for believing that a person has willfully concealed library material and that the material can be recovered by taking the person into custody can detain the person in a reasonable manner for a reasonable time without being held civilly or criminally liable.
- Smoking.
In accordance with NJSA 10:5-29 Blind or Partially Blind Person Accompanied by Guide Dog, the following conditions will be observed:
- Guide dogs trained by a recognized training agency or school are permitted in the library when accompanying a blind, partially blind person, hearing impaired or physically disabled person.
- Animals are otherwise not permitted in the library unless they are part of an authorized educational program.
In accordance with NJSA 2C:33-12 Maintaining a Nuisance, and with an Ocean County Health Department local ordinance, the following activities are not permitted:
- Using the public restrooms as a laundry or personal bathing facility.
The following conditions will also be observed in the Library:
- Eating or drinking is not permitted in public areas.
- Proper attire, including shoes and shirts, must be worn.
- Solicitation which is covered by Local Municipal Ordinance.
In accordance with NJSA 2C:39-5, the following activity is not permitted:
- Carrying weapons.
In accordance with NJSA 2C:34-4 Public Communication of Obscenity, the following activity is not permitted:
- Using the Internet for illegal activities or to display obscenity.
VIOLATION OF THE LIBRARY'S RULES OF CONDUCT SHALL RESULT IN SUSPENSION OR LIMITATION OF LIBRARY PRIVILEGES IN THE OCEAN COUNTY LIBRARY.
REVISED and APPROVED: OCEAN COUNTY LIBRARY COMMISSION – April 18, 2006
Camera Surveillance
The Library uses surveillance cameras in some of its facilities to complement other measures to ensure a safe and secure environment for customers and staff. The equipment helps to protect the library’s property against theft or vandalism and can assist in identifying intruders and persons breaking the law or violating the library’s Rules of Conduct.
Surveillance cameras are positioned to monitor public areas of the library that are not easily viewed from public service desks and staff areas where valuable library property is stored. Surveillance cameras are not used in rest rooms, nor are they positioned to identify a person’s reading, viewing or listening activities in the library.
Signs will be posted in all library facilities that are monitored by surveillance cameras.
Recorded information from security cameras is retained for one month, unless an incident occurs that requires holding the tape longer. In the event of a reported or observed incident, the recorded information may be used to assist in the investigation of the incident. The library will maintain control of and responsibility for the video security surveillance equipment at all times.
For investigations initiated by law enforcement, security camera tapes are only made available to law enforcement through a legal subpoena or warrant. Recorded information that is subpoenaed will be retained for one year.
REVIEWED by Legal Counsel – April 2007
APPROVED: OCEAN COUNTY LIBRARY – April 24, 2007 |
