Tarpon Springs Public Library Policies Jump To: General Policy | Patron Code of Conduct | Internet Policy | Interlibrary Loan Policy | Web Site Policy
1. Objectives The Tarpon Springs Public Library has been established by Chapter 10 of the Tarpon Springs Code of Ordinances to provide "... a free library and reading room to the inhabitants of the city." The objectives of this service are to develop a collection of materials, the space, staff and programs that will meet the immediate educational, informational, cultural and recreational interests and needs of the varied and growing population. To accomplish this purpose, the Library's goal is to acquire books, sound recordings, video recordings, online databases, and other new formats, when available and appropriate, in a quantity recommended by state and federal standards and in a ratio that reflects the different groups of library users. Additional materials, as required, will be obtained through the Pinellas Public Library Consortium and the OCLC interlibrary loan system. Materials are selected in accordance with the Library's Materials Selection Policy, Library Bill of Rights, and Freedom to Read policy of the American Library Association. A Vision for the 21st Century; Standards for Florida Public Libraries will be the optimum goal in all areas. These are Leadership and Funding, Personnel, Access, Materials and Collections, Services, Facilities, Cooperation and Resource Sharing, and Community Relations. 2. Who May Get A Library Card A resident of one of the member cities of the Pinellas Public Library Cooperative or the unincorporated areas of Pinellas County is entitled to a free library card. Patrons not living within an area participating in the Pinellas Public Library Cooperative may purchase a one-year membership for $100.00 per household. Visitors may obtain a six month card for $10 for use at the Tarpon Springs Library only. Pinellas Public Library Cooperative visitor cards are also available for use at all PPLC member libraries. Prices for a PPLC visitor card are as follows: $25 for up to 90 days, $50 for 90 to 120 days, and $100 for over 120 days. Picture identification with name and current local address are required to register. Acceptable forms of identification include a current valid Florida driver's license or identification card, current tax or utility bill, long-term lease or deed for property in the Cooperative area, voter's or vehicle registration, and other appropriate identification. Cards issued for children under 14 require the signature of a parent/guardian. Reciprocal borrowing agreements exist with St. Petersburg College and several counties. Contact the library for details. 3. Circulation New books may be borrowed for 14 days. Other books, including audiobooks, may be borrowed for 28 days. DVDs may be borrowed for 7 days. Videotapes may be borrowed for 28 days. Music CDs and magazines may be borrowed for 14 days. Most materials may be renewed twice (once for DVDs) if not in demand by other patrons.
Access to Pinellas Public Library Cooperative (PPLC) libraries will not be denied to any individual based on age, sex, education, philosophy, occupation, economic level, or ethnic origin. However, patron who violate the rights of others or create disorder in the library may be asked to leave. The following Code of Patron Conduct must be followed. The following activities are NOT allowed in the library:
Library privileges may be limited or suspended for the following reasons:
Appropriate attire, to include shoes and shirts, must be worn.
It is the policy of the Tarpon Springs Public Library to make Internet resources available to its patrons, together with its collection of Library materials and access to electronic databases, as a means of providing information in support of its mission. The Library offers materials and information in a variety of formats and media, with selection guided by its Collection Development Policy. Its goal in providing Internet resources is to enhance its collection in size and depth with information that may not be otherwise available or as up-to-date. The Library complies with the requirements of the Children's Internet Protection Act (CIPA) by filtering its Internet computers to block, to the extent technically possible, visual depictions that are obscene, child pornography, or harmful to minors. For adult patrons, the Library provides a method to allow the disabling of the technology protection measure for bona fide research or other lawful purpose. Parents or their designated guardians are responsible for personally overseeing their child(ren)'s use of the Internet and limiting or restricting their child(ren)'s access to the Internet. The Library cannot ensure the safety and security of minors when using electronic mail, chat rooms, and other forms of direct electronic communications and cannot protect against unauthorized disclosure, use, and dissemination of personal information regarding minors. Resources for using the Internet more safely are available online and at the Library. Provision of Internet service does not constitute any endorsement by the Tarpon Springs Public Library. The Library shall have no liability for direct, indirect or consequential damages related to the use of information accessed on the Internet from Library equipment. Internet users are reminded that:
Unauthorized access, including "hacking," and other unlawful online activities are prohibited on Library computers. Violation of this policy may result in loss of use of Library equipment or facilities.
1. General Information The Tarpon Springs Public Library supports resource sharing, or interlibrary loan (ILL), and conforms to the guidelines of the National Interlibrary Loan Code for the United States, approved by the Reference and User Services Association, American Library Association, Feb. 8, 1994, revised 2008, as well as the ILL policies of the Florida Library Information Network. Borrowing and lending of materials takes place using three different methods:
Of the aforementioned methods, the first two allow patrons to request items independently; the third is performed by trained library staff. The library does not participate in international resource sharing. 2. Borrowing Patrons are limited to five active OCLC ILL requests (WorldCat plus Navigator combined) per library card. ILL services are generally free of charge to Tarpon Springs Public Library patrons in good standing with valid library cards. Expenses for which patrons are responsible are:
The library will attempt to borrow materials in all formats: books, audio-visual, and microform, and to acquire copies of cited articles. The library cannot borrow:
The library will handle all communication with the lending library for ILL services. Patrons who have any ILL questions should contact the staff of the Tarpon Springs Public Library and not the lending library. Reasons that patron requests for materials may not be permitted by library staff include the aforementioned policies, as well as the patron’s habitual abuse of ILL privileges as determined by library staff, including (but not limited to) lost items or excessive late fees. Patrons may lose their interlibrary loan privileges completely. 3. Lending The library will lend books and audio-visual materials, and will make photocopies of articles, all free of charge. Consult the library’s Circulation Department, Reference Department, or OCLC Policy Directory for loan policies of specific types of materials. 4. Affiliations The Tarpon Springs Public Library is a participating member of:
The library's OCLC symbol is FTP.
1. Links to Third Party Sites In an attempt to provide as much information as possible and for the convenience of the Tarpon Springs Community, the Tarpon Springs Library has included links to other Web pages on our Web site. When these links are accessed, the pages leave the Tarpon Springs Library's own Web site and connect with another Web site on the Internet. The Tarpon Springs Library attempts to link to sites of community interest and those that meet our governmental and library purpose, but once you leave Tarpon Springs Library's site and link to another site these linked sites are not under the control of the Tarpon Springs Library. Therefore, the Tarpon Springs Library is not responsible for the contents of any linked site or any additional links within those sites. In addition, the Tarpon Springs Library is not responsible for any other form of transmission received from any linked site. In addition, the inclusion of links to our Web site does not imply endorsement by the Tarpon Springs Library or the City of Tarpon Springs. 2. Disclaimer/Limitations The Tarpon Springs Library makes every attempt to provide information that is accurate, complete, timely, and relevant to the Library mission, but the library does not warranty or pledge the site will be free from errors. The Tarpon Springs Library makes no pledge to suitability, timeliness, or accuracy of the links. The information contained within our Web pages is provided as a service on an "as is" basis with the understanding the user will access the information discriminately. 3. Linking to the Tarpon Springs Library Web Site (a) Copyright The Tarpon Springs Library Web site is copyright protected and includes, but is not limited to, all the design, HTML code, text, and images, unless otherwise stated. All rights are reserved. (b) Guidelines In view of the ever changing nature of the Internet, the Tarpon Springs
Library requests that
(c) Proprietary Rights You acknowledge that content contained within this Web site may be protected by copyrights, trademarks, service marks, patents or other proprietary rights and laws. A copy can be made for your personal, non-commercial use only, as long as copyright or other notices are kept intact. You may not modify, copy, reproduce, republish, upload, post, or transmit for distribution in any way the content found on this Web site unless it is public domain or public documents, i.e. agendas, etc.
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