HomeMy WebLinkAboutRES 120925-5.G - Library Policies AdoptionRESOLUTION NO. 1; 0195 - 5-G7
AN RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF
GEORGETOWN, TEXAS, ADOPTING GEORGETOWN PUBLIC
LIBRARY POLICIES; REPEALING CONFLICTING
RESOLUTIONS; INCLUDING A SEVERABILITY CLAUSE; AND
ESTABLISHING AN EFFECTIVE DATE.
WHEREAS, the Georgetown Public Library seeks to engage, enlighten, and empower the
Georgetown community; and
WHEREAS, the Georgetown Public Library is visited by over 350,000 people annually;
contains a collection of approximately 112,000 print volumes; and loans print and digital materials
approximately 700,000 times each year;
WHEREAS, the Georgetown Public Library provides a full slate of lively, informative,
and entertaining programs for community members at all phases of life; and
WHEREAS, the City Council has determined that updating the Georgetown Public
Library policies will serve to update the community regarding current practices and expectations
for the Library and its users; and
WHEREAS, the City Council finds that adopting the Georgetown Public Library Policies
will be in the best interest of the public as set out herein.
NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY
OF GEORGETOWN, TEXAS:
Section 1. The meeting at which this resolution was approved was conducted in
compliance with the Texas Open Meetings Act, Texas Government Code, Chapter 551.
Section 2. The facts and recitations contained in the preamble of this resolution are hereby
found and declared to be true and correct and are incorporated by reference herein and expressly
made a part hereof, as if copied verbatim.
Section 3. The Georgetown Public Library Policies attached hereto as Exhibit A are hereby
adopted.
Section 4. All resolutions that conflict with the provisions of this resolution are hereby
repealed, and all other resolutions of the City not in conflict with the provisions of this resolution
shall remain in full force and effect.
Section 5. If any provision of this resolution, or application thereof, to any person or
circumstance, shall be held invalid, such invalidity shall not affect the other provisions, or
application thereof, of this resolution, which can be given effect without the invalid provision or
application, and to this end the provisions of this resolution are hereby declared to be severable.
Resolution Number: DFN-/ 219 925 Page 1 of 2
Subject: Georgetown Public Library Policies Adoption
Date Approved: December 9, 2025
Section 6. The Mayor is hereby authorized to sign this resolution and the City Secretary to
attest. This resolution shall become effective and be in full force and effect January 1, 2026 in
accordance with the provisions of the City Charter of the City of Georgetown.
PASSED AND APPROVED on the 1 of ��1�� , 2025.
ATTEST: TiHE CITY OF GEORGETOWN:
Robyn nsmore, City Secretary Josh Schroeder, M'AKr
APPROVED AS TO FORM:
kye Wsson, City Attorney
Resolution Number: I Z09,Z, j —5. C-1 Page 2 of 2
Subject: Georgetown Public Library Policies Adoption
Date Approved: December 9, 2025
Georgetown Public Library Policies
The following manual contains many of the major policies of the Georgetown Public
Library (the "Library"). The Library is a department within the City of Georgetown;
policies set by the Georgetown City Council and City Manager can supersede internal
Library policies. Library -specific policies are set by the Director, with annual review and
input from the Library Advisory Board, and review and input at least once every 3 years
by the Georgetown City Council, more frequently if substantive updates are needed.
The Library will make every effort to inform patrons of any major policy changes before
new policies are implemented.
Policies are created to assist the Library in fulfilling its mission.
Table of Contents
I. Mission Statement........................................................................................ 4
II. Vision Statement...........................................................................................4
III. Patron -Use Policies...................................................................................... 5
a. Library Behavior Policies........................................................................... 5
i. General Rules................................................................................. 5
ii. Children's Use of the Library Rules ................................................. 6
b: Library Membership................................................................................... 8
i. Library Cards and Fees.................................................................................8
ii. Children's Library Cards.................................................................. 9
iii. Texshare Cards............................................................................................. 10
iv. Borrowing Library Materials....................................................................... 10
v. Internet Use.....................................................................................................13
vi. Printing and Fax Services..........................................................................15
vii. Proctoring Services....................................................................................... 15
viii. Meeting Room Use.......................................................................................16
ix. Art Displays..................................................................................................... 21
x. Exhibits, Signs, and Soliciting Policy.....................................................22
IV. Collection Policies.................................................................................................24
a. Criteria for Selection of Materials........................................................... 24
b. Formats Collected.................................................................................. 26
c. Placement in Library Collections............................................................ 26
d. Patron Requests for Purchase/Interlibrary Loan ...................................... 27
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e. Multiple Copies ................................... ..................................................... 28
f. Library Collection Donations.................................................................... 28
g. Withdrawing and Discarding Items from the Collection ............................ 29
h. Reconsideration of Library Materials....................................................... 31
V. Appendix A — Meeting Room Rental Fees ....................................................... 34
VI. Appendix B — Library Collection Descriptions and Levels .........................39
VII. Appendix C — Georgetown Citizen's Request for Reconsideration of
LibraryMaterial Form............................................................................................43
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I. Mission Statement
The Georgetown Public Library engages, enlightens, and empowers the
community.
II. Vision Statement
The Georgetown Public Library will be a catalyst for an enriched community.
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III. Patron -Use Policies
a. Library Behavior Policies
i. General Rules
1. Tobacco use is prohibited throughout the Library campus,
including the parking lot, patios, and sidewalks. Tobacco use
includes cigarettes, cigars, pipes, rolling tobacco, snuff,
tobacco substitutes, chewing or spit tobacco, or any type of
electronic smoking device.
2. Persons appearing to be intoxicated or on drugs will be
required to leave.
3. Abusive, vulgar, or excessively loud language or noise that
is disturbing to patrons or staff is prohibited.
4. Personal items must remain with their owner at all times. A
limited number of day -use lockers are available in the 9tn
street entrance: patrons can ask a staff member for
assistance borrowing a locker. Any items not in a locker
must be kept with the owner at all times. Items left
unattended for more than 15 minutes will be removed and
stored until they are picked up or until the Library closes for
the day, at which point they will be disposed of.
5. Bicycles must be stored outside of the Library, at one of the
bicycle racks near either entrance. Bicycles are not
permitted inside the Library building. If a bicycle is locked or
stored someplace other than at a bicycle rack, the lock will
be cut and the bicycle will be moved to the nearest rack.
6. Service and well-behaved companion animals on leash are
allowed in the building. Animals that lunge or bark at Library
patrons or staff, or that are otherwise uncontrolled by their
owners will be required to leave.
7. All patrons must wear shoes and shirts in the Library.
8. Wheeled recreational devices such as skateboards, shoes
with wheels, roller skates, roller blades, bicycles, and
scooters are prohibited in the Library.
9. Physical, verbal, or sexual harassment of staff, visitors,
volunteers and patrons is prohibited.
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10. Soliciting, panhandling, and proselytizing in the Library is
prohibited.
11. Patrons are expected to treat people and property with
respect and to use spaces and resources appropriately.
Moving shelving, equipment, and furniture is prohibited.
Sitting on tables, desks, carrels, or bookstacks is prohibited.
12. Bathing in the Library restrooms or outdoor fountains is
prohibited.
13. Running, sleeping, lying down on furniture or the floor, and
climbing on furniture and equipment is prohibited.
14. Room occupancy limitations must be followed for study and
meeting rooms. Additional seating or furniture is not
permitted.
15.Any other activity or behavior that undermines the function of
the Library, the work of staff and volunteers, or other
patrons' use and enjoyment of Library facilities and
resources is not permitted.
16.Violations may result in Library staff asking a user to leave,
revoking their Library privileges, prohibiting them from
returning to the Library, or calling the Georgetown Police
Department. Any violations of applicable law may result in
arrest and prosecution.
ii. Children's Use of the Library Rules
1. The Library cannot act in loco parentis. Parents or legal
guardians must assume responsibility for deciding which
Library resources are appropriate for their children. Parents
may feel some resources are inappropriate for their children.
Library staff and tools such as the Library's online catalog
are available to assist parents and children in finding
materials and information that meet their needs.
2. Children in the Library
a. The Library is a public building. Library staff cannot
provide long- or short-term childcare or supervision.
b. For children under the age of 18 to safely and
comfortably use the Library, a responsible parent,
guardian, or adult caregiver must accompany and
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supervise children who are in the Library. Parents,
guardians, and adult caregivers are responsible
for monitoring and regulating the behavior of the
children they bring into the Library, including
which areas of the Library they visit and the
materials they use.
c. "Accompany" means being on the same floor of the
Library and being near enough to provide appropriate
supervision and enforcement of the Library policies
for all children under their care.
d. Library staff will intervene in the following situations:
i. A child under 12 appears to be unattended;
ii. An unattended child is found frightened or
crying;
iii. An unattended child is perceived to be
endangering themselves or another person;
iv. Another person appears to pose a threat to an
unattended child;
v. An unattended child is behaving counter to the
Library's behavior policies; or
vi. An unattended child has not been met by a
responsible caregiver at closing time or at the
conclusion of a Library youth program event.
e. Staff members will evaluate the situation and will
attempt to contact the parent or guardian of the
unattended child. If a parent or guardian cannot be
reached, the child will be placed in the care of the
Georgetown Police Department.
3. Children's Programming. A parent, guardian, or caregiver
must accompany their children to all children's programming.
There may be limited instances where children's
programming staff encourage the parent, guardian, or
caregiver to allow their child to participate independently,
however, the parent, guardian, or caregiver must remain on
the premises.
4. Children's use of Library materials. Parents or legal
guardians are responsible for deciding which library
resources are appropriate for their children. Parents may feel
some resources are inappropriate for their children. Library
staff and resources such as the Library's online catalog are
available to assist parents and children in finding materials
that meet their needs.
5. Children's use of Library computers and wifi. Library
computers use filtering software to access the Internet. As
there is no filtering software that can control access to all
content that an individual may deem inappropriate, parents
are responsible for supervising their children's computer and
internet use while in the Library.
b. Library Membership
The Georgetown Public Library is a department of the City of Georgetown
supported by the general fund.
i. Library Cards and Fees
1. Individuals older than 18 who wish to apply for Library
membership must present picture ID and proof of current
residence. A parent or guardian must apply for membership
for a child under 18 years of age.
2. If a person applying for a new library card lives at the same
address as a person who has fines or fees of $5.00 or more,
the new applicant may be denied a library card until the fees
are paid.
3. Residents of the City of Georgetown means persons who
own or rent property inside the corporate City Limits of
Georgetown, Texas ("Residents"). Residents may receive
library membership at no cost.
4. Non -Resident Users:'Patrons who are not eligible for a no -
cost Resident Library membership may become members
through other means:
s
a. A Non -Resident user may pay an annual fee which
will provide Library membership for that person and
members of their immediate household. A discounted
fee is available for users aged 65 or older.
b. Cardholders in good standing with other Texas
libraries that participate in the TexShare card program
may present a current TexShare card in order to gain
borrowing privileges for circulating physical library
materials.
c. Current active -duty members of the military and
members of their immediate households may receive
a Library card for no annual fee, regardless of
residency status.
d. Military veterans who were discharged due to injury or
disability and members of their immediate households
may receive a Library card for no annual fee,
regardless of residency status.
e. City of Georgetown Employees and former
employees who retired from the City of Georgetown,
and members of their immediate households may
receive Library membership for no annual fee,
regardless of their residency.
f. A volunteer who provides 100 or more hours of
service to the Library in a year may receive a Library
membership for no annual fee, regardless of their
residency.
g. Children enrolled in or staff who work for the
Georgetown Independent School District may receive
borrowing privileges for circulating physical library
materials from the beginning of a school year until
August 31 of the following year.
ii. Children's Library Cards
1. A child of any age may receive a library membership when
an adult parent or guardian library member requests that
they be added to his or her record. The adult parent or
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