The name of the library of the city shall be the “W. Walworth
Harrison Public Library.”
(1990 Code, sec. 9.100)
(a)
Library policy, including the fines and fees structure, shall be
recommended by the library director in consultation with the library
advisory board, and shall be approved by the city council prior to
enforcement. Once approved by the city council, library policies shall
be filed with the city secretary, where such policies shall be kept
available for public inspection.
(b)
Library policy shall set forth reasonable rules and regulations relative
to hours of operation; all fines and fees; meeting rooms; eligibility
requirements for cardholders; and other restrictions, limitations,
and exemptions.
(1990 Code, sec. 9.401)
(a)
A W. Walworth Harrison Public Library card is available free of charge
to all persons living within the city limits. This card extends to
cardholders the privilege of borrowing designated materials from the
library as long as all rules and regulations are upheld.
(b)
A W. Walworth Harrison Public Library card is available free of charge
to persons living outside of the city limits but actively working
for or attending a school inside the city limits. This card extends
to cardholders the privilege of borrowing designated materials from
the library if all rules and regulations are upheld.
(c)
Individuals who are eighteen (18) years of age or older, who reside within the county but live outside the city limits, are welcome to utilize the library facility and materials therein, but must pay an annual fee as provided in section A16.03.003 of the fee schedule in appendix A to this code in order to obtain a library card and have the same borrowing privileges as residents of the city.
(d)
Persons seventeen (17) years of age and under, who reside within
the county but outside the city limits, may obtain a library card
free of charge if one parent or legal guardian registers for a card
and pays the annual nonresident fee.
(e)
All individuals who live in the state but outside of the county are welcome to utilize the library facility and materials therein, but must pay an annual fee as provided in section A16.03.003 of the fee schedule in appendix A to this code in order to obtain a library card and have the same borrowing privileges as residents of the city.
(f)
A registration form must be completed and signed in order to obtain
a library card. Upon proof of current address, a library card will
be issued to persons eighteen (18) years of age and older. Persons
seventeen (17) years of age and under must have their parent’s
or legal guardian’s signature and provide proof of their current
address in order to obtain a library card.
(g)
Any person presenting a valid library card or who is currently a
registered borrower of the library and presents a valid photo ID shall
be eligible to borrow materials from the library.
(h)
A person who owes any sum of money to the library-for whatever reason-shall
not be entitled to borrow other materials until all fines/fees have
been paid or until arrangements for such payment have been made with
the library director or designee.
(i)
Any person who removes from the W. Walworth Harrison Public Library any materials located within the library-either temporarily on display or contained as part of the collection-without checking the materials out or without the consent of the library director, shall be guilty of a misdemeanor and upon conviction shall be punished by a fine as provided for in section 1.01.009 of this code. Each day a violation continues shall constitute a separate offense.
(j)
The library director or designee shall be responsible for the disposal
of library materials that are withdrawn and/or are donated to the
library. With the approval of the city manager, these items may be
given to nonprofit agencies (i.e., Friends of the Library) or sold
in-house, via a book sale, online, or disposed of through some other
means.
(Ordinance 20-063 adopted 9/8/20)
(a)
Trespass.
Anyone who interferes with the use of the premises or materials therein by others or who intentionally and knowingly engages in any of the activities listed in subsection (b) below can be removed from the premises of the library within the meaning of section 30.05 of the Texas Penal Code.
(b)
Prohibited activities.
(1)
Smoking, vaping, or otherwise using tobacco products;
(2)
Stealing;
(3)
Panhandling or soliciting contributions;
(4)
Bathing, shaving or washing clothes on the premises;
(5)
Drinking beverages or eating food in other than designated areas;
(6)
Spitting, expectorating;
(7)
Using audio equipment without earphones or at a volume audible to
others within the library;
(8)
Using a cell phone in any area of the library not designated for
such use;
(9)
Entering or using restrooms intended for the opposite gender;
(10)
Possessing bedrolls, blankets, large plastic bags, large boxes or
suitcases, sleeping bags or sporting equipment;
(11)
Possessing or consuming alcohol or illegal drugs;
(12)
Bringing animals inside the building, except service animals for
the disabled or animals used in programs;
(13)
Sitting or standing on display or work surfaces;
(14)
Exhibiting poor personal hygiene evidenced by odors that are unreasonably
offensive to library patrons/staff; or
(15)
Soliciting the sale of goods or services while on the premises, with
the exception of items whose revenue is ultimately being donated to
the library for use.
(c)
Audie Murphy room and conference room use.
(1)
Scope.
Meeting space in the public library was created
to provide facilities for library programs and events. Secondarily,
it is intended for civic, educational and cultural activities. The
space is also available for use by the city for conferences, meetings,
activities and programs related to its services. Special consideration
for meeting room use shall be given to those organizations acting
as support groups for the library or which are “cosponsored”
by the library (i.e., Friends of the Library, Hunt County Genealogical
Society, etc.). When the meeting rooms are not scheduled for library-
or city-related activities, the library may rent the meeting room
or conference room to groups or businesses.
(2)
Room use regulations.
(A)
The library director or designee must approve all room rentals. Exceptions
to the policy may be granted by the city manager. Requests for exceptions
to established policy must be submitted in writing at least thirty
(30) days prior to the requested usage.
(B)
Reservations must be made in writing on the application forms provided
by the library.
(C)
Reservations shall be accepted only from persons eighteen (18) years
of age or older.
(D)
Reservations are taken on a first-come, first-served basis and may
not be made more than three months in advance.
(E)
The library reserves the right to cancel a reservation at any time
for a library activity.
(F)
Unless cosponsored by the library, organizations are not permitted
to have more than 12 meetings (a meeting equals one reservation) per
year in the library.
(G)
There are two separate fee structures for the rental of rooms at
the library: profit and nonprofit. Groups charged at the nonprofit
rate will be subject to approval by the library director.
(H)
Social events, including but not limited to anniversaries, birthdays,
showers, dances, trade shows, garage sales or family reunions, are
not permitted.
(I)
Smoking, vaping, firearms and alcoholic beverages are not permitted
at any time.
(J)
No activities interfering with normal library services are permitted.
(K)
The library will not provide storage space to any organization.
(L)
Groups are responsible for maintaining order and seeing that the
space is neat and clean at the conclusion of the program. Items on
display or exhibit may not be disturbed, and items may only be temporarily
affixed to the walls with masking tape.
(M)
Groups failing to comply with the stated policies shall be ineligible
for future use of the facility.
(N)
The person signing the rental agreement shall be responsible for
any damage to the building, furniture, fixtures or litter on the library
premises. In the event of damages or litter, reasonable charges for
the repair, replacement or necessary cleanup will be deducted from
the deposit. Any remaining balance will be billed to the responsible
party.
(O)
“For home viewing only” videos may not be shown, all
or in part, under any circumstances.
(P)
The library authorizes room rentals under the condition that all
programs are open to the public, and admission fees are not charged
except to cover the cost of educational materials that may be provided
to those attending.
(Q)
The library reserves the right to send a city representative to all
meetings/programs.
(R)
The use of meeting space by an outside group does not imply the library’s
or city’s endorsement of a group’s policies or beliefs.
(3)
Conference room.
(A)
The conference room seats eight to ten people around a large table,
with space for an additional eight chairs. This room is available
during regular library hours only.
(B)
The cost of renting the conference room per hour (for a minimum of two hours) for nonprofit groups and for any for-profit or commercial organization, including any event where any product or service is for sale either during the event or at a later date, and for renting the room for the entire day to nonprofit groups and to for-profit groups is as provided in section A16.03.004 of the fee schedule in appendix A to this code.
(C)
The renter is responsible for any overtime incurred by library staff
who may be required to stay on hand to secure the library facility
after closing.
(D)
A deposit is required as provided in section A16.03.004 of the fee schedule in appendix A to this code for the conference room.
(E)
Rental fees must be paid 72 hours in advance of the start of the
event or the reservation will be forfeited.
(F)
Cancellations made less than 72 hours in advance of the event will
result in assessment for the time period reserved or rental fee. Cancellations
are required in writing.
(G)
All fees will be returned if it becomes necessary for the library
and/or city to cancel the reservation.
(4)
Audie Murphy room.
(A)
The Audie Murphy room accommodates 80 people seated lecture style,
40 at tables in an instructional environment. Room setup is the responsibility
of the renter, and the room should be returned to its original setup
at the end of the meeting. This room is available during library hours
only.
(B)
The cost of renting the Audie Murphy room per hour (for a minimum of two hours) for nonprofit groups and for any for-profit or commercial organization, including any event where any product or service is for sale either during the event or at a later date, and for renting the room for the entire day to nonprofit groups and to for-profit groups is as provided in section A16.03.004 of the fee schedule in appendix A to this code. The city reserves the right to have a city employee on the premises at any meeting held within the facilities.
(C)
This room has a small kitchenette for serving premade refreshments.
The area is considered part of the meeting room, and it must also
be left neat and clean following the use of the Audie Murphy room.
On-site meal preparation is not allowed.
(D)
The organization is responsible for any overtime incurred by library
staff who may be required to stay on hand to secure the library facility
after closing time.
(E)
A deposit for the meeting room is required as provided in section A16.03.004 of the fee schedule in appendix A to this code.
(F)
Rental fees must be paid 72 hours in advance of the start of the
event or the reservation will be forfeited.
(G)
Cancellations made less than 72 hours in advance of the event will
result in assessment for the time period reserved or rental fee. Cancellations
are required in writing.
(H)
All fees will be returned if it becomes necessary for the library
and/or city to cancel the reservation.
(Ordinance 20-063 adopted 9/8/20)
(a)
Patrons who borrow materials from the library and do not return them by their due date shall be charged as provided in section A16.03.005 of the fee schedule in appendix A to this code.
(b)
Patrons who lose and/or damage library materials beyond repair, as determined by the library director or designee, will be charged the replacement cost of the item, plus a processing fee as provided in section A16.03.005 of the fee schedule in appendix A to this code to cover the cost of such required items as the bar code, jacket, case, cataloging, etc. In the event that an item is no longer available for replacement, an estimate of its value may be obtained from a legitimate source or a replacement title selected by library staff.
(c)
Any person who borrows materials from the W. Walworth Harrison Public Library and fails to return the same within thirty (30) days from the due date shall be guilty of a misdemeanor and upon conviction shall be punished by a fine as provided for in section 1.01.009 of this code. Each day a violation continues shall constitute a separate offense.
(d)
Replacement cards may be obtained for a fee as provided in section A16.03.005 of the fee schedule in appendix A to this code.
(e)
Persons who request that the library staff search for articles in the city newspapers will be charged a fee as provided in section A16.03.005 of the fee schedule in appendix A to this code for searching up to three (3) articles. (This fee implies no guarantee that the article(s) requested will be found and is “nonrefundable.”)
(Ordinance 20-063 adopted 9/8/20)
The American Library Association affirms that all libraries
are forums for information and ideas, and that the following basic
policies should guide their services:
I.
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.
II.
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.
III.
Libraries should challenge censorship in the fulfillment of their
responsibility to provide information and enlightenment.
IV.
Libraries
should cooperate with all persons and groups concerned with resisting
abridgment of free expression and free access to ideas.
V.
A person’s
right to use a library should not be denied or abridged because of
origin, age, background, or views.
VI.
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.
(1990 Code, sec. 9.500)
