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Our library policies
Our policies provide a frame of reference for library staff in decision-making to help balance the type and level of service provided to individual library users with the broader needs of the library community.
The library acknowledges that the service context will change over time, and that to remain effective its policies will need to change accordingly.
Library users are expected to abide by all policies. If library users have any concerns about a policy they are encouraged to raise these with library staff, rather than to act contrary to the policy.
Responsibility for addressing these concerns may rest with staff at the immediate service level, or if appropriate may be handed over for further consideration to the Library Service Co-ordinator.
Policies
Our collection is a doorway to a conversation, to a network of experiences that reference each other and engage the library user in turn. This conversation might take place via a book, a web page, a movie, or a song.
Via our collection it speaks to our immediate needs but also recognises our capacity for wonder, our long-term dreams, questions, and aspirations.
Our entry into the conversation might start at one point in our collection but where this conversation will take us remains unknown.
This conversation is an old one, but it’s added to everyday. Some of its voices have been speaking for hundreds of years but others have only just begun.
No one owns the conversation. Everyone has the right to access it and our collection should make us want to join in and help us to do so.
How does our collection make us want to join in and help us to do so?
It does this by responding to the “the current and future … needs” of the library user. These needs may either be met in the short term or over a lifetime and arise out of our curiosity, our capacity for wonder, our long-term dreams, questions, and aspirations.These needs determine the allocation of funds and therefore the size and type of the lending collections held at each branch. These needs and expectations are assessed on a regular basis so as to ensure on going relevance of the collection and to identify areas for future development.
The principal methods of assessment are circulation statistics balanced by an understanding of the current and emerging context of the community of Port Phillip gained through Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) data, in-house surveys, borrower requests and suggestions, and community liaison.
Overall, the library aims to ensure that 47% of each of its collections is aged five years of age or less in line with state-wide standards.
The library upholds the principles set down in the Australian Library and Information Association’s statement on free access to information which states that “library and information services have particular responsibilities in supporting and sustaining the free flow of information and ideas”.
To this end library materials are selected to ensure that a variety of viewpoints are represented in the collection not withstanding that some topics may be considered controversial by different parts of the Port Phillip Community.
Our collection:
- Provides a supportive role to formal education rather than a direct one through the provision of text books.
- Endeavours to include standard or classic works on a variety of subjects and in a variety of formats including Audio Visual material.
- Supports the development of the information, social, and literacy skills of children and young people (those aged 18 years or younger)
- Provides resources in a variety of community languages based on demographic information and demonstrated interest by a specific language community in gaining access to resources
- Does not restrict access to items beyond what has been decided by the Office of Film and Literature Classification.
Items are added that are appropriate for their subject area and the needs, abilities and interest of those for whom they are selected. These new items are selected in a format that is suitable for use as part of a lending collection.
In addition an ongoing withdrawal program is maintained to ensure a quality and relevant collection.
Apart from criteria established for specific collections items are identified for potential withdrawal that are damaged, contain out-dated information, or are over five years of age and have not been borrowed in the last two years. Withdrawn items are disposed of through book sales and donations to schools, community organisations and charities.
- Treat all library users and library staff with courtesy and respect.
- Inform library staff directly of any concerns relating to the behaviour of other patrons
- A member or a user of the Library must not, without the authority of the Library Co-ordinator, enter or use the Library when it is closed
- No dogs or animals may be brought into branch libraries (including library foyers), except Guide Dogs
- Smoking within the library building is illegal under State and Federal law, and is not permitted
- Consumption of alcohol is not permitted on Library premises without the permission of Library staff
- No illegal substances are to be used while on Library premises
- Port Phillip Library Service will not be liable for lost or stolen property. Please ensure that personal belongings are not left unattended while on library premises
- Library staff have the right to ask Library users whether they can inspect any equipment, folders, bags or property that they carry as they enter or leave the Library
- Library users must abide by all instructions or directions given by library staff
- Library staff have the right to ask any person to leave the Library premises if they are creating disturbance, or if their conduct, or manner is likely to interfere with any other people’s use of the library.
Children and young people
- City of Port Phillip is a Child Safe organisation committed to the right of children to be safe.
- It is a criminal offence to leave children under age six unattended in the Library. This will be reported to the relevant authorities
- Children aged twelve years and over may use the library without parent/guardian supervision.
- If staff have concerns for the safety and care of any person under 18 years who is unattended in the library, they will report to the Council Child Safe Officer or relevant authority. This is in accordance with Child Safe Law, where unattended young people may be classed as being at risk of harm under the Children, Youth and Families Act 2005 - Section 162
Membership
The City of Port Phillip invites everyone to become a member of the Library Service. Membership allows a person to borrow items and to have free use of the internet, PCs and computer game facilities.
Membership remains current for two (2) years after which patrons need to re-register. All members are expected to comply with the membership conditions listed below.
The purpose of these conditions is to ensure that Council continues to provide a welcoming and safe library environment to its members, visitors and staff for research.
These conditions of entry outlines Council’s expectations for all library members.
Restrictions to access library resources may be imposed on individuals who fail to abide by these conditions. This may include exclusion from the library and library services for a period of time as determined by the Library Co-coordinator.
Membership conditions
To become a full member of the Port Phillip library service you must provide suitable proof of identity and a current address.
Photo-ID is not required.
If you do not have these proofs please talk to a staff member about options for getting a limited membership with limited circulation rights.
Proof of identity
Accepted proofs of identity include health care cards, bank cards, drivers licenses, pension cards, credit cards, and passports.
Privacy
Council is aware of its privacy obligations under state legislation and seeks to maintain high standards of protection for member’s information. No library member’s details will be provided to any outside organisation without prior consent, except in the case of a court order or an official written request by a member of the police force.
Agreement
As a member, you:
- Are responsible for the custody of your library card, and in the event of its loss will report to library staff as soon as possible.
- Will not use facilities booked on anyone else’s library card, or allow another person to use facilities booked with your library card.
- Will not use another member’s library card to borrow items unless you are collecting reservations on their behalf, are the guardian or parent of a juvenile member, or have been given permission to do so and this permission has been noted on their record.
- Are responsible for the care of all library items borrowed on your library card and report to library staff if any of these items have been either lost or damaged.
- Are responsible for the return of library items by the due date at time of issue or the renewal of the loan period for these items. This can be done either in person, online or via telephone.
- Will abide by all current circulation, computer use policies and booking policies. These shall be determined by the Library Co-coordinator.
- Accept that the library takes no responsibility for any damage that may occur to your equipment whilst borrowed videos, DVDs, compact discs, CD ROMs, or tapes are in use.
- Undertake to comply with the provisions of these conditions and any other policy adopted by Council or the Library Co-coordinator.
- In the interests of equitable access, there is a limit on the number and total duration of bookings patrons may have on each facility in a given day. You may not use multiple accounts to exceed these quotas. Use of multiple accounts to circumvent our quotas and conditions of use may result in all accounts used in this way having their access suspended.
- You may not view or download material which may reasonably be deemed offensive to other users or inappropriate for a public space.
- You may not alter or damage computer hardware, software or settings.
- You must comply with all applicable Federal, State and Local laws, including those relating to copyright.
- The library does not guarantee the authority or accuracy of information on the Internet.
- You access the internet at your own risk - the library is not responsible for the presence on the Internet of offensive, distressing, fraudulent or other harmful material, and is not liable for any result of you or other patrons accessing such material.
- The library is not responsible for security on the Internet. We advise against transmitting sensitive information, especially personal and/or financial details, over a public network.
- The library is not responsible for storage or privacy of your personal data or files. Library PCs will delete all such files after every booking, but if you fail to log out of your booking other users may access your private information.
- You must vacate our facilities promptly when your booking is finished.
- If we have grounds to suspect you are breaching any of the above conditions, we may monitor and/or suspend your use of our facilities.
We reserve the right to terminate the wireless network access privileges of any person contravening this Agreement.
- The City of Port Phillip does not guarantee the accuracy of information found on the internet.
- The City of Port Phillip does not take responsibility for security on the internet – sending credit card numbers or other information via the internet is undertaken at the user’s risk.
- The City of Port Phillip does not take responsibility for the availability of material on the internet that may be offensive to users.
- Users must not download or display information or images that may reasonably be deemed to be offensive to others.
- Users must not use the City of Port Phillip network for the commission or attempted commission of any offence that contravenes any applicable Federal, State and Local laws.
- Wireless Network access and use is monitored by the City of Port Phillip to guard against inappropriate use or upon receipt of a complaint about possible inappropriate use.
- Users must not alter or damage network hardware, software, settings or files.
- The City of Port Phillip is bound by Victorian privacy laws. It will not use or disclose information collected about users except as permitted by law.