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Policies
Statement on Confidentiality
Meeting Room Policy
Basic Rules for Computer Use
Internet Policy
Laptop Use Policy
Lobby Policy
Display Case and Other Display Space
Statement on Confidentiality
The Seekonk Public Library considers the individual record of a patron's computer use to be highly confidential information.
The Library endeavors to treat the record of a patron's computer use with the the same level of confidentiality as his or her borrowing record.
The Library will not release any information that can be used to personally identify an individual.
The Library does, however, gather statistical information from individual records for the purposes of developing services and selecting software.
Meeting Room Policy
Click here to obtain an application to use the meeting room in Adobe Acrobat.
Policy and Regulations for use of the Seekonk Library Meeting Room
The Board of Library Trustees of the Seekonk Public Library welcomes the use of the Library’s Meeting Room by community groups, organizations and individuals for civic, cultural and educational activities of a nonprofit nature. The Board of Library Trustees has adopted the following regulations.
1. Reservations for the use of the meeting room must be made by an individual who resides in the Town of Seekonk or by an accredited representative of an organization, and only for those purposes that in the judgment of the Board of Trustees are compatible with the mission of the library. The Board of Library Trustees may accept, reject or rescind any or all applications without reason given.
2. The Board of Library Trustees reserves the right to waive the requirements of this policy if such a waiver is determined to be compatible with the mission of the library. The Director of the Library shall be authorized to act on behalf of the Library Trustees in the enforcement or waiver of provisions of this policy, and shall report to the Library Board of Trustees relative to any such enforcement or waiver at the next regularly scheduled meeting of the Library Board.
3. Reservations must be made on the library’s application form and submitted to the Library Director. First time applicants must be approved at a Board of Library Trustees meeting scheduled the third Wednesday of each month. The Library Director must approve all other applications. Priorities for booking are 1) Seekonk Public Library; 2) Seekonk Town Government; 3) Not for Profit groups serving Seekonk; 4) Profit making organizations, for a fee.
4. The Meeting Room is available free of charge during regular library hours so long as the room is vacated by closing time (including the time for clean-up). The library staff will notify the organization fifteen minutes before closing to insure this condition is met. An organization holding the meeting after library hours will be responsible for payment of a supervisory closing fee of $50.00 payable to the Town of Seekonk with the application and is refundable if the meeting is cancelled. No extensions can be made the night of the meeting. The Meeting Room must be cleared by 10:30 p.m.
5. No admission fee may be charged nor any money collected by the group, except with the permission of the Library Trustees.
6. All meetings must be open to the public.
7. Smoking and alcoholic beverages are prohibited in the library. Light refreshments may be served.
8. Groups holding meetings must assume responsibility for any loss or damage to library property and must leave the facility in order. Set-up of chairs and tables is the responsibility of the organization. All chairs and tables must be returned to their carts. Groups must remove all trash from the building. The library is not responsible for anything left in the library.
9. Reservations must be made in advance for the use of library audiovisual and videotaping equipment. A qualified person must operate the equipment.
9. All announcements concerning a meeting should include a telephone number (other than the library number) to handle questions.
10. The library will not be used as a mailing address for any non-library affiliated group or organization.
11. The library may close in the event of inclement weather or an impending storm. Organizations planning to use the room in this event must call the library to ascertain if the library will remain open.
12. Conduct that disturbs library use, or any infringement of the rules of the Library, will be considered a justifiable cause to have the organization or individual immediately vacate the Seekonk Public Library premises
13. The individual or organization making the reservation shall indemnify and hold harmless the Seekonk Public Library, the Town of Seekonk, its agents and representatives, from any and all suits, action, claims or demands of any character or nature arising our of or brought on account of any injuries or damages sustained by any person as a consequence or result of using the meeting room, its furnishings or its equipment.
14. The individual or organization making the reservation shall agree to assume financial obligation for all costs related to providing additional security and public safety measures that in the judgment of the Board of Library Trustees are required to protect library property and individuals at the library, and to ensure free access to and use of library facilities and services by the general public.
NOTE: Use of the Meeting Room by any group in no way constitutes endorsement of that group’s policies or activities by the library.
Adopted 1981, Revised July 1989, February 1991, February 1993, May 1994, February 1997, December 2001, November 2003
Basic Rules for Computer Use
You must have a valid library card and establish an account to use all of the Library's computers except for those designated as library catalogs (iBistro).
- It takes a week to ten days for your account to be activated. A staff member can sign you on as a guest until your account is activated.
- You may not share your account with another user or logon using another user’s account.
- You are solely responsible for remembering your password and keeping it secure.
- The computers are available from the time the Library opens each day until ten minutes before closing. Patrons are expected to complete all work and printing in the allotted time.
- You must log-off immediately when prompted to do so by the network. Public users may be disconnected from the network without warning, however.
- You use the computers at your own risk. The library is not responsible for lost or damaged computer files due to network shutdowns or equipment failures.
- Users must log-off their accounts when they are finished using a computer. The user logged-on is responsible for how a computer is used if it is left unattended.
- Please be advised that sending personal information over the Internet exposes you to the threat of identity theft and fraud. You do so at your own risk.
- Every user is allotted space on the system server to temporarily store his or her files. The network automatically deletes these files without notifying the public users.
- The Library does not offer e-mail service. Please check with the Reference or Children’s Librarian to learn how to subscribe to free Internet mail services such as Hot Mail.
- Your use of a computer may be limited to one half-hour if others are waiting.
- Only two people may work at one computer at a time.
- You may reserve a computer by calling 336-8230. Ask for the Reference or Children's Librarian on-duty. He or she will explain the procedure.
- You may not reset computers, or switch them on or off without the permission of a librarian on-duty.
- You may not install software or peripheral devices on the computers without the permission of a librarian on-duty.
- Eating or drinking in the computer areas is prohibited.
- The Library may suspend or terminate some or all of your computer use privileges if you violate the Library's rules or policies, or if in the judgment of a librarian on-duty, you fail to use the computers in a responsible manner.
Revised 11/07
Internet Policy
To fulfill our mission, the Seekonk Public Library provides information access via electronic resources to meet the informational, educational, recreational and cultural needs of our community. One of those resources is the Internet.
All patrons using the Internet must do so in a responsible manner.
This includes the following:
accessing resources only for educational, cultural, recreational and informational purposes; not seeking unauthorized access to any computer system; not displaying text or graphics which may be considered obscene as defined in MGL 272 § 31; not using the Internet for unauthorized, illegal or unethical purposes; not reproducing copyright protected materials.
The Internet is a vast information repository with no governance. The Seekonk Public Library cannot be held responsible for any information found on the Internet. Patrons must use their own judgment as to the accuracy and currency of each site.
The library assumes no responsibility for the use of the Internet by children under 18 years of age. Restriction of a child’s access to the Internet is solely the responsibility of the parent or legal guardian.
The Board of Library Trustees authorizes the Library Director to establish and enforce all rules and procedures needed to implement the above policy statement.
Adopted & Approved by the Board of Trustees
Laptop Use Policy
Seekonk Public Library Laptops
In addition to following our Internet Use Policy and Computer Use Policy
You must have your library card with you when checking out a laptop
The laptop cannot leave the building
The laptop must not be transferred to another user.
The laptop must not be left unattended.
Food and drink may not be consumed near the laptops.
Laptops must be returned 30 minutes prior to closing:
Monday – Thursday 7:30 pm
Friday 4:30 pm
Saturday 3:30 pm
Lobby Policy
Organizations assisting tax supported town institutions may use the lobby of the Seekonk Public Library for fund raising directly benefiting a town institution. These activities must take place during normal library hours. Use is restricted to the placement of tables that will not hinder the flow of traffic in the lobby or obstruct the means of egress. Organization must man the tables and be responsible for set up and removal of any materials used for their purposes including removal of rubbish from the premises. An organization must file an application to be reviewed by the Board of Library Trustees at its monthly meetings, the third Wednesday of every month.
Display Case and Other Display Space Policy
The Seekonk Public Library has an obligation to inform the people it serves about the resources and programs offered by their library. Since the display case and other display space in the building presents a unique opportunity to inform the public, these spaces are intended to be used primarily by the library. The display case as well as other display spaces may be offered to others only when it is not needed by the library.
An integral part of the library’s mission is to provide information about the community it serves as well as to support those local organizations that share its goal of improving the quality of life in Seekonk. The library shall show preference to these organizations when scheduling use of its display case. The Seekonk Library Trust and the Friends of the Seekonk Public Library, two non-profit organizations that exist to support the library, shall be given preference over other organizations. Applications from other organizations will be consider in the order in which they are received.
The library recognizes that there are many people who also improve the quality of life in Seekonk through their individual efforts. These individuals may also be granted permission to use the display case. Displays by individuals must reflect the goals of the library, and not directly or prominently promote the private or commercial interest of an individual. Preference shall be given to displays that demonstrate the application and use of resources available at the library. The display case shall only be offered to individuals when it is not being used by the library or other community organizations. Applications from individuals will be consider in the order in which they are received.
The owners display their items at their own risk. The library and the Town of Seekonk do not assume any responsibility for the safety or security of materials placed on display at the library.
The library director shall be the sole determiner of what is acceptable for display in the library. When considering applications to use library display space, the library director shall determine if the display is compatible with the mission of the library. The library director shall also determine if the display inappropriately promotes the private or commercial interest of an individual.
People who believe that they have been improperly denied access to the display space may appeal the Director’s decision in accordance with library policy on appealing the loss of services.
The Board of Library Trustees authorizes the library director to establish appropriate rules and procedures to implement this policy.
This policy replaces the previous policy and was adopted by the Board of Library Trustees on March 17, 2009 by a unanimous vote.
