The Chappaqua Library

The American Library Association affirms that all libraries are forums for information and ideas, and that the following basic policies should guide their services.

1. Books and other library resources should be provided for the interest, information, and enlightenment of all people of the community the library serves. Materials should not be excluded because of the origin, background, or views of those contributing to their creation.
2. Libraries should provide materials and information presenting all points of view on current and historical issues. Materials should not be proscribed or removed because of partisan or doctrinal disapproval.
3. Libraries should challenge censorship in the fulfillment of their responsibility to provide information and enlightenment.
4. Libraries should cooperate with all persons and groups concerned with resisting abridgment of free expression and free access to ideas.
5. A person's right to use a library should not be denied or abridged because of origin, age, background or views.
6. Libraries which make exhibit spaces and meeting rooms available to the public they serve should make such facilities available on an equitable basis, regardless of the beliefs or affiliations of individuals or groups requesting their use.

Adopted June 18, 1948
Amended February 2, 1961, June 27, 1967, and January 23, 1980
inclusion of "age" reaffirmed January 23, 1996 by the ALA Council.

1. It is in the public interest for publishers and librarians to make available the widest diversity of views and expressions, including those that are unorthodox, unpopular, or considered dangerous by the majority.
2. Publishers, librarians, and booksellers do not need to endorse every idea or presentation they make available. It would conflict with the public interest for them to establish their own political, moral, or aesthetic views as a standard for determining what should be published or circulated.
3. It is contrary to the public interest for publishers or librarians to bar access to writings on the basis of the personal history or political affiliations of the author.
4. There is no place in our society for efforts to coerce the taste of others, to confine adults to the reading matter deemed suitable for adolescents, or to inhibit the efforts of writers to achieve artistic expression.
5. It is not in the public interest to force a reader to accept the prejudgment of a label characterizing any expression or its author as subversive or dangerous.
6. It is the responsibility of publishers and librarians, as guardians of the people's freedom to read, to contest encroachments upon that freedom by individuals or groups seeking to impose their own standards or tastes upon the community at large; and by the government whenever it seeks to reduce or deny public access to public information.
7. It is the responsibility of publishers and librarians to give full meaning to the freedom to read by providing books that enrich the quality and diversity of thought and expression. By the exercise of this affirmative responsibility, they can demonstrate that the answer to a "bad" book is a good one, the answer to a "bad" idea is a good one.

Adopted June 25, 1953, by the ALA Council and the AAP Freedom to Read Committee; amended January 28, 1972; January 16, 1991; July 12, 2000; June 30, 2004.

Adopted by the Chappaqua Library Board of Trustees on October 20, 2009

The FREEDOM TO VIEW, along with the freedom to speak, to hear, and to read, is protected by the First Amendment to the Constitution of the United States. In a free society, there is no place for censorship of any medium of expression. Therefore these principles are affirmed:

1. To provide the broadest possible access to film, video, and other audiovisual materials because they are a means for the communication of ideas. Liberty of circulation is essential to insure the constitutional guarantee of freedom of expression.
2. To protect the confidentiality of all individuals and institutions using film, video, and other audiovisual materials.
3. To provide film, video, and other audiovisual materials which represent a diversity of views and expression. Selection of a work does not constitute or imply agreement with or approval of the content.
4. To provide a diversity of viewpoints without the constraint of labeling or prejudging film, video and other audiovisual materials on the basis of the moral, religious, or political beliefs of the producer or filmmaker or on the basis of controversial content.
5. To contest vigorously, by all lawful means, every encroachment upon the public's freedom to view.

This statement was originally drafted by the Freedom to view Committee of the American Film and Video Association (formerly the Educational Film Library Association) and was adopted by the AFVA Board of directors in February 1979.

This statement was updated and approved by the AFVA Board of Directors in 1989.

This statement was endorsed by the ALA Council, January 10, 1990.

Adopted by the Chappaqua Library Board of Trustees on October 20, 2009

The Board of Trustees of the Chappaqua Central School District Public Library, in order that the library may operate and be administered in the best interests of the community it serves, publishes and posts these regulations.

No person shall destroy, damage or deface any property and/or materials belonging to the library.

Any person abusing or threatening to abuse other patrons or members of the staff may be expelled from the premises at once.

No person while on the premises of the library shall conduct him/herself in a violent or disorderly manner, use abusive or profane language, engage in lewd conduct, disturb any public meeting or assembly, or be found under the influence of alcohol or drugs in such a condition as to threaten the safety and rights of others. The library premises include not only the building, but all associated property, such as sidewalks, parking lots and yards.

No person may smoke anywhere in the building or consume food or drink in the public areas of the building. Exception may be made for specific library programs, when refreshments may be permitted.

No person while on the library premises shall engage in disruptive conversation or conduct or unruly behavior which inhibits the use of the library by others, nor shall any person refuse to obey the reasonable requests of an employee of the library, including a request to present identification.

No person may play any audio equipment on library premises without using headphones or earphones which make the sound inaudible to others. If sound is heard, despite the use of earphones or headphones, the patron must turn the audio device off. Persons receiving or making calls on cellular phones may do so only outside or in the library’s entrance lobby.

No person while on the premises of the library shall obtain or attempt to obtain signatures to a petition or conduct surveys or investigations or distribute printed material. No posters or flyers and other forms of material may be posted without the express permission of the Library Director or his representative. Solicitations for charitable, religious or other purposes, selling of tickets, magazines or merchandise of any kind are prohibited on library premises. The only exceptions to this rule are the on-going book sales and other fund-raising events sponsored by the Library or the Friends of the Library, or by similar groups authorized by the Director to use the library theater.

No person shall bring animals into the building, except for those needed to assist a patron with a disability, or any animals used in library programs.
A responsible parent or adult guardian must accompany any child under the age of ten who is using the library. For a child under eight, the responsible parent or adult guardian must always be in the same vicinity as the child. The responsible parent or adult guardian must stay with any child under six while the child uses a computer in the children’s computer room.

Roller skates, in-line skates and skateboards are not permitted in the library or on library premises. Bicycles must be walked between the street and the bike rack provided.

Bicycles may not be brought into the library; they must be parked in the bicycle racks by the entrance to the library.

The parking lot is for the exclusive use of the staff and patrons of the library.

Members of the public who violate these regulations may be expelled from the library premises and/or have library privileges withdrawn by the Library Director for a specific or indefinite period of time. Persons from whom these privileges have been withdrawn have the right to appeal in writing to the Library Board of Trustees.

Library Cards
All adults and children who live, work, attend school or own property in the Chappaqua School District are eligible for a free Westchester Library System (WLS) card from the Chappaqua Library. With a Chappaqua Library card, you may borrow materials from all 38 WLS Libraries and Westchester County Community College. To obtain a Chappaqua Library Card you may register online or bring a photo I.D. and proof of address (driver’s license, utility bill, etc.) to the circulation desk. Parents should bring their children to the library to register in person.

Your Responsibility
A library card is a financial responsibility. You are responsible for all materials borrowed on your or your child’s library card. Library resources are shared resources. Loan periods and fine schedules are designed to encourage fair and equal access to available resources for all library users. Your responsibility to the library community includes the timely payment of all fines, replacement costs, or damage fees for items you borrow but do not renew or return on time and in good condition. Failure to fulfil financial obligations will result in the loss of library privileges. You must advise the circulation desk of any changes in your name, address, or phone number. Please report lost cards immediately.

Forgotten Cards
In order to check out library materials, you must present some form of ID with current name and address.

Reserves
You may reserve items electronically in the library, at home through our web site, or by calling the Reference Desk at 238-4779, ext. 2. You will need your library barcode number. You will receive notification via phone or email when your item is available for pickup. Reserve items must be checked out on the same library card that was used to reserve the items. Items will be held for 8 days.

Renewals
All items except Rapid Read books and Express DVDs may be renewed once as long as the item is not on reserve for another patron. You may renew by calling TeleCirc at 674-4169, by using our web site, or by calling 238-4779 ext. 5 during business hours. Items may not be renewed more than once. Renewing an item extends the loan period from the date of renewal (not the original due date). Renewals must be completed by 10 pm to be valid for that day. Always review your due dates to make sure your renewal was successful.

NYS Privacy Law
“Library records, which contain names or other personally identifying details regarding the users of public, free association, school, college and university libraries and library systems of this state, including but not limited to records related to the circulation of library materials, computer database searches, interlibrary loan transactions, reference queries, requests for photocopies of library materials, title reserve requests, or the use of audio-visual materials, films or records, shall be confidential and shall not be disclosed except that such records may be disclosed to the extent necessary for the proper operation of such library and shall be disclosed upon request or consent of the user or pursuant to subpoena, court order or where otherwise required by statute.”

This means you will need your library card number to transact business by phone.  If you are picking up items or transacting business for a friend or family member, you will need their library card number to do so.  No exceptions. 

TeleCirc
Patrons may call TeleCirc at 674-4169 to renew materials, check on fines, or cancel a hold. Enter your library barcode number and follow the prompts.

Loan Periods and Overdue Fines
Loan periods and overdue fines vary by item and are summarized on the following table. Please note there is a 50-item limit on a Chappaqua library card.  There is also a maximum of 3 items in any one subject (fewer if there is a school assignment on that subject). The Chappaqua Library is in compliance with the Westchester Library System's policy for the circulation of library materials

Long Overdue Items
Items overdue for more than six weeks are billed as lost. The replacement cost will be the actual price listed in the WLS database.  When an item is billed for replacement, fines are removed.  Because acquisition priorities change over time, the decision to replace an item must take into consideration many factors. Therefore the Chappaqua Library does NOT accept replacement copies of lost items.  Lost items belonging to other libraries should be paid directly to the owning library.

Maximum of 3 items in any one subject.

Fees for Missing or Damaged Items
If only part of an item is lost or damaged, and that part is replaceable, the following fees will apply.

Audiobook CD $10.00
Audiocassette $10.00
Cassette envelope $2.00
CD case $3.00
DVD/Video case $3.00
“J” plastic bag $1.00

For patrons with a disability who are approved by the Director following submission of the attached application, the three week loan period for books will be extended to five weeks. Those books borrowed with an extended loan may be renewed for an additional three weeks (as long as there are no pending reserves).

A maximum of three books may be borrowed, at any one time, for an extended loan period.

Items not included under this policy are DVD’s, items from other libraries, items on reserve for other patrons, and materials received through Interlibrary Loan from colleges and libraries outside of Westchester.

The extended loan service is available to disabled patrons only and not to other members of the disabled patron’s household, family members or friends.In the event that the patron ceases to be under disability, the patron must notify the Library and the extended loan service will no longer be available to the patron.

To qualify for this service, applicants must already have a valid Chappaqua Library card and meet the regular registration requirements of the Chappaqua Library.

Click here for a printable version of the policy

Adopted by the Library Board of Trustees – November 18, 2008

In order to maintain the integrity of the blog and its content, all comments made to the Chappaqua Library blogs are moderated.

Full names and email addresses will be required to post. First names will be published but last names and email addresses will not be published.

The Chappaqua CSD Public Library reserves the right to monitor content before it is posted on all blogs, and to modify or remove any messages or postings that it deems, in its sole discretion, to be abusive, defamatory, in violation of the copyright, trademark right, or other intellectual property right of any third party, or otherwise inappropriate for this service. The Chappaqua CSD Public Library also reserves the right to edit or modify any submission in response to requests for feedback or other commentary. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Chappaqua CSD Public Library is not obligated to take any such actions, and will not be responsible or liable for content posted by any subscriber in any forum, message board, or other area within the service.

Comments will not be accepted if they appear to be indecent or offensive, or contain negative content of a personal, racial, ethnic, sexual orientation, or religious character. We will not post comments that appear to be libelous or otherwise legally problematic.

Comments which may also be refused are those that are:

• irrelevant to the article;
• trivial;
• appear to be advertising or "spam";
• a repetition of comments posted elsewhere on the Chappaqua Library website;
• badly written or incomprehensible; or
• hyperlinks to material that is not directly related to the discussion.

By posting a comment you agree to indemnify the Chappaqua CSD Public Library and its officers and employees from and against all liabilities, judgments, damages, and costs (including attorney’s fees) incurred by any of them which arise out of or are related to the content that you post.Forums and messaging may not be used for commercial purposes or for organized political activity.

If you do not agree to these terms, do not use the service as violation of the terms can lead to legal liability.

Approved by the Library Board of Trustees – February 2008

CHAPPPAQUA C.S.D. PUBLIC LIBRARY
POLICIES AND RULES GOVERNING USE OF THE CHAPPAQUA LIBRARY FACILITIES GENERALLY

These Policies and Rules Governing Use of the Chappaqua Library Facilities Generally are applicable to third-parties’ reservation and use of Library facilities as a general matter.  Use of specific facilities such as the Theater or the Children’s Program Room may be subject to additional Policies and Rules which supplement or may in specific cases supersede these Policies and Rules.  Any user must be familiar with and abide by all applicable policies and rules.