Policies and Procedures | Pataskala Public Library

Pataskala Public Library Policies and Procedures

Approved by the Board of Trustees 12/11/95; amended 04/23/2024

Who may borrow library materials?

Residents of Ohio may acquire a card upon showing proof of residence and a current photo I.D with a valid address (ex: a valid driver’s license). Minors need the signature of their parent or legal guardian who can restrict their child’s borrowing to juvenile materials and access to the public internet if they wish.

The maximum number of items per card is 75.

Loan periods:

DVDs: 7 days
New books, periodicals, music, board games, The Works experience pass: 14 days
Books, audiobooks: 28 days
Interlibrary loan materials: Determined by loaning library.
Reference items and current periodicals may not be checked out.

*Items may be automatically renewed up to three times as long as the items are not reserved for other patrons.

Website:

Patrons can place holds on materials and renew materials online.
Patron ID number is the whole card number. The PIN is the last 4 digits of your primary phone number.

Patron responsibilities:

Patrons are required to present a library card or photo ID to check out items or use the Internet computers.
If a patron loses his or her card, it is the responsibility of the patron to notify the library and pay a $1.00 fee for a replacement card.
Patrons with overdue, unreturned material cannot borrow until all items are returned or paid for in full.
Items overdue for more than 90 days will be marked as lost and the patron will be billed for the replacement cost of the item(s). The patron will be charged the full replacement cost for any lost or damaged item. The lost or damaged item becomes the property of the patron when the cost of the item is paid in full. No refunds are given for lost items that are returned after the patron has paid for the item.
The library is not responsible for damage to any personal equipment or property (such as, but not limited to, DVD players, CD players, or computer hardware) due to the use of Library materials.
There is a book return box located at the library for overnight returns. All material types, except board games, may be placed in the book return.
The Works experience passes are available to be checked out for 14 days. Borrowers must be 18 or older and have a Pataskala Library card in good standing. The Works passes can be reserved but cannot be renewed. Borrowers will be charged the total replacement cost, as set in the catalog, for any lost or damaged passes. Passes to Dawes Arboretum are available for Pataskala Library cardholders 18 or older with a card in good standing.

Other available services:

Interlibrary loan: Items can be requested from other Central Library Consortium libraries and picked up here.
Internet access: OPLIN provides free Internet access. Minors must have written permission from their parent or legal guardian.
Educator Card: Teachers, student teachers, homeschoolers, and day care staff can apply for an Educator Card which allows a 6-week loan period on all materials and one automatic renewal.
Copies: Patrons can copy documents for 10¢ per page for black & white, and 25¢ per page for color.
Computer prints: The first 20 pages of black & white computer printouts are free, and additional black & white pages are 10¢ each. Color computer printouts are 25¢ per page.
Faxing: The first 20 pages of faxing are free, and additional pages are 10¢ each.
Community Room/Study Rooms: Rooms can be reserved online, calling the library, or stopping by during normal business hours.
Window Drive-Thru: Patrons may pick up items reserved for the drive-up window. Patrons must go inside the library for other needs.

Behavior guidelines:

So that everyone may better enjoy their visit to the library, we ask each patron, regardless of age, to respect the rights of others by following these rules:

The following are not permitted inside the library:
Eating, smoking, weapons, or sleeping. Drinks must be in a covered container. Eating in the reserved Community Room is permitted.
Pets, except service animals.
Loud or boisterous talking and conversation, including the use of threatening or profane, obscene, or abusive language, including racial, ethnic, or sexual orientation epithets.
Rollerblades, skates, and skateboards.
Begging, soliciting, and selling (unless authorized by library administrators).
Bathing and shaving in the restrooms.
Taking photographs and/or recording videos of library staff and/or patrons without their permission.
Shirts and shoes are required to be worn in the library.
Bicycles must be parked on the racks outside. We advise the use of a lock. The library is not responsible for lost or stolen personal property.
Smoking, skateboarding, skating, and rollerblading are not permitted on library property.
Destruction of library materials and property is prohibited.
Persons who appear to be under the influence of alcohol or illegal drugs or pose a health risk to others are not permitted in the library and will be asked to leave.
Willful damage, attempted theft, or vandalism of library materials can result in a block on the patron’s library account, banning the patron from the library and/or cause for prosecution.
The library reserves the right to expel any person whose behavior and/or clothing is determined to be disruptive, inappropriate to the library environment, or prevents the use of the library by others.
Children under age 8 must be supervised by a parent or responsible companion. All children must be picked up before closing time.
Library staff have been instructed to call the police department, if necessary, for assistance in any situation that appears to threaten the safety of a library patron or staff member.

Internet Acceptable Use Policy

The Pataskala Public Library, in keeping with its mission, provides public Internet access via its network and public workstations to all users. This service may be used to access any resource, engage in any communication, or conduct any activity available on the Internet provided such activity can be done with standard web browsers, with these exceptions:

You may not send, receive, or display text or graphics that may reasonably be construed as obscene.
You may not use this resource for any illegal purpose.
You may not in any way alter, reconfigure, or damage the public workstations of the Pataskala Public Library.
You may not modify or gain access to files, passwords, or data belonging to others. This includes seeking unauthorized access to any computer system or damaging or altering software components of any network, host server, or database.

Because this is a public resource, the rights of others must be respected and therefore:

Access to the public workstations will be on a first-come, first-served basis.
Time on the public workstations is limited to one-hour sessions, which can be extended depending upon demand.
Cellphone conversations at the public workstations should be kept to a minimum and off speaker.
Users must use headphones to listen to audio content at the workstations. The volume must be kept at a level that does not disturb other users. Earbuds can be purchased at the front desk for $1.00.
Users must be considerate of others using the library and the public workstations by regulating their behavior and what they access online to ensure that they do not interfere with others’ enjoyment of the library and its resources.
To protect the privacy and undisturbed use of OPLIN by all patrons, only one user is permitted at a computer at one time. Exceptions must be approved by library staff and will be based on the genuine need of the user (minor with parent supervising, patron with disabilities, etc.)
A guest pass is available for any user that does not have a library card in good standing with a library in the CLC library consortium. A photo I.D. is required to sign up for a guest pass. Parent/s and/or guardian/s must sign the OPLIN/Internet Access Permission Form when they sign up a minor for a guest pass.

To prevent viruses, protect the integrity of our workstations, and ensure that workstations will serve the greatest number of people, we ask that the following guidelines be observed:

Do not install software of any kind or download any plug-ins without prior approval from the Communications Manager or library staff.
Do not save or download files except to a USB drive or other external device. USB drives can be purchased at the front desk for $2.00.
Take precautions to protect private information by logging out of email accounts and other online resources before leaving a workstation.

DISCLAIMERS

The Internet is a global entity, with a highly diverse user population. Library patrons use it at their own risk.
The library assumes no responsibility for any damage, direct or indirect, arising from its connection to the Internet.
The library makes no guarantees, either expressed or implied, with respect to the quality of content or the information available on the Internet.
The provision of access to the Internet does not mean that the library endorses or sanctions the content or views and opinions on the Internet.
The library cannot protect individuals from information and images which they might find offensive or disturbing.
Parent/s and/or guardian/s must give written consent for a minor to use a public workstation and are solely responsible for the content that their minor children access via the Internet.
Use of the public workstations and/or the Internet at the Pataskala Public Library implies a reasonable level of competency on the part of the user. The library staff can offer assistance in the use of its technology as time and resources permit.
*Misuse of the Library’s internet or its public workstations may result in the loss of internet and computing privileges.