About Us

Library Policies

Okeene Library Policies

Oklahoma Library Laws, Rules and Regulations

Children in the Library

Young Children

The Okeene Public Library encourages visits by young children and it is the library’s desire to make this important visit both memorable and enjoyable for the child. Library staff is not expected to assume responsibility for the care of unsupervised children in the library. Therefore, it is the library policy that all children under the age of ten must be accompanied by a parent or designated responsible person while in the library. Also, if the young child is attending a library program, we require the parent/responsible person to remain in the library throughout the program.

Children over the age of ten must be picked up by closing time. Children who do not have transportation home prior to closing time will be asked to call for transportation. If no transportation can be located, the local authorities will be called to escort the child/children for their own safety. This is a particular concern in inclement weather and after dark. All children should have the telephone number of someone who can assist them.

Disruptive Children

Children of all ages are encouraged to use the library for homework, recreational reading, and program attendance. The library staff realizes that the library will be noisier at busy times and that children by nature can cause more commotion. However, children (whether with parents or not) who are being continually disruptive will be given a warning that he/she must settle down or will be asked to leave the library. If after a second warning the child continues to be disruptive, he/she will be asked to leave the library. If the child needs to contact a parent, they may do so and then wait with a staff person until the parent arrives.

Internet Policy

The Okeene Public Library provides access to the Internet as a means to enhance the information and learning opportunities for the patrons of the library’s service area. The library board has established the Internet use policy to ensure appropriate and effective use of this resource.

Access to the Internet is available to all patrons; however, this service may be restricted at any time for use not consistent with the guidelines. Parents of minor children must assume responsibility for their children’s use of the library’s Internet service; prior to being granted access to the Internet, anyone under 18 years of age, along with a parent or guardian, must sign the Internet Use Agreement.  All users must sign the log-in sheet prior to beginning their 30 minute session.

Expectations

Users should be aware that the inappropriate use of electronic information resources can be a violation of local, state, and federal laws and can lead to prosecution. The user will be held responsible for his/her actions using the Internet. Users are expected to abide by the policies below which include generally accepted rules of network etiquette. Unacceptable uses of the service will result in the suspension or revocation of Internet use privileges.

Warnings

The Internet is a decentralized, unmoderated global network; the Okeene Public Library has no control over the content found there. The library is not responsible for the availability and accuracy of information found on the Internet.

The library cannot assure that data or files downloaded by users are virus-free. The library is not responsible for damages to equipment or data on a user’s personal computer from the use of data or files downloaded from the library’s Internet service.

The use of the Internet and e-mail is not guaranteed to be private. Messages relating to or in support of illegal activities will be reported to the proper authorities.

Guidelines

• Users may use the Internet for research and the acquisition of information to address their educational, vocational, cultural, and recreational needs.

• Users may use the Internet for the receipt and transmission of e-mail as long as they use a free e-mail service which will establish and maintain an account for them; the library is unable to manage e-mail accounts for any organizations or individuals.

• Internet use is offered in thirty (30) minute sessions on a first-come, first-served basis; each user is allowed one session-if there is no patron waiting for the service at the end of a session, the user can have another session, but once having had the service for 30 minutes the user must abandon use of the Internet if another patron requests use of the service.

• Users will respect and uphold copyright laws and all other applicable laws and regulations; they will not use the library Internet service for illegal purposes.

• Users will respect the rights and privacy of others by not accessing private files.

• Users agree not to incur any costs for the library through their use of the Internet service.

• Users shall not create and/or distribute computer viruses over the Internet.

• Users shall not deliberately or willfully cause damage to computer equipment, programs, or parameter.

Library Use

The library will serve all residents of the community and the public library system area. Service will not be denied or abridged because of religious, racial, social, economic, or political status: or because of mental, emotional or physical condition; age or sexual orientation.

The use of the library may be denied for due cause. Such cause may be failure to return library materials or to pay penalties, destruction of library property, disturbance of other patrons, or any other illegal, disruptive, or objectionable conduct on library premises.

Patron Responsibilities and Conduct

It is the patron’s responsibility to maintain necessary and proper standards of behavior in order to protect his/her individual rights and the rights and privileges of other patrons. If a patron creates a public nuisance, that patron may be restricted from the library and from the use of the library facilities. Those who are unwilling to leave or do not leave within a reasonable amount of time, after being instructed to do so by the staff, will be subject to the law.

Materials Selection

The purpose of the Okeene Public Library is to provide all individuals in the community with carefully selected books and other materials to aid the individual in the pursuit of education, information, research, pleasure, and the creative use of leisure time. Because of the volume of publishing, as well as the limitations of budget and space, the library must have a selection policy with which to meet community interests and needs.

The Purpose of the Materials Selection Policy

The materials selection/collection development policy is used by the library staff in the selection of materials and also serves to acquaint the general public with the principles of selection. The Library Bill of Rights and The Freedom to Read Statement have been endorsed by the Okeene Public Library Board and are integral parts of the policy. The material selection/collection development policy, like all other policies, will be review and/or revised as the need arises.

The ultimate responsibility for selection of library materials rests with the library director who operates within the framework of the policies determined by the Okeene Public Library Board. This responsibility may be shared with other members of the library staff; however, because the director must be available to answer to the library board and the general public for actual selections made, the director has the authority to reject or select any item contrary to the recommendations of the staff.

Selection Criteria

The main points considered in the selection of materials are:

• Individual merit of each item

• Popular appeal/demand

• Suitability of the material for the clientele

• Existing library holdings

• Budget

Reviews are a major source of information about new materials. The sources of reviews are varied. The lack of a review or an unfavorable review shall not be the sole reason for rejecting a title which is in demand. Consideration is, therefore, given to requests from library patrons and books discussed on public media. Materials are judged on the basis of the work as a whole, not on a part taken out of context.

Gifts and Donations

The library accepts gifts of books and other materials with the understanding that they become the property of the library and will added to collection only if appropriate and needed. If they are not needed because of duplication, condition, or dated information the director can dispose of them to the greatest benefit to the library. The same criteria of selection which are applied to purchase materials are applied to gifts. Memorial gifts of books or money are also accepted with suitable bookplates placed in the book.
The Okeene Public Library encourages and appreciates gifts and donations. By law, the library is not allowed to appraise the value of donated materials, though it can provide an acknowledgment of receipt of the items if requested by the donor.

Weeding

An up-to-date, attractive and useful collection is maintained through a continual withdrawal and replacement process. Replacement of worn volumes is dependent upon current demand, usefulness, more recent acquisitions, and availability of newer editions. This ongoing process of weeding is the responsibility of the library director and is authorized by the Library Board. Withdrawn materials will be handled in a similar manner and under the same authority as donated materials.

Challenged Materials

Although materials are carefully selected, differences of opinion can arise regarding suitable materials. Patrons requesting that material be withdrawn from or restricted within the collection may complete a “Statement of Concern about Library Resources” form which is available in the library. The inquiry will be placed on the agenda of the next regular meeting of the Okeene Public Library Board.

Meeting Room

The Okeene Library Meeting Room is available to individuals or organized groups in the library service area. Exceptions may be made by the library board if the board deems extenuating circumstances are involved. The room may be reserved not more than ninety days in advance. To reserve a meeting room contact the Okeene Public Library or fill out the Meeting Room Reservation Form. It is understood that library programming will have first priority in room use.

There will be no charge for the use of the meeting room if one of the users is a member of the library board or is a staff member, or the meeting takes place during regular library hours. No admission may be charged by the group or individual using the meeting room.

Refreshments may be served in the meeting room only and shall be provided by the group.

No smoking is allowed.

Persons using the room shall leave it in a neat, clean, orderly condition; if not, the group/individual will be given notice that continued offense will result in denied access to the meeting room. The library is not responsible for any equipment, supplies, materials, clothing, or other items brought to the library by any group or individual attending a meeting. The library board and staff do not assume any liability for groups or individuals attending a meeting in the library. The fact that a group is permitted to meet at the library does not in any way constitute an endorsement of the group’s policies or beliefs by the library staff or board.

Wireless Access Policy

The Okeene Public Library provides free wireless access in the library for the public to use with their personal notebooks, laptops, and other mobile devices. These access points are unsecured and may be accessible only during normal library hours. Use of this service inside the library is governed by the Okeene Public Library policies.

Wireless Internet Use Guidelines

Wireless connections are not secure. Cautious and informed wireless users should not transmit personal information (i.e.: credit card numbers, passwords and any other sensitive information) while using any wireless “hot spot”. Please take appropriate precautions when using this service. All wireless users should have up-to-date virus protection on their laptops or other wireless devices. The library is not responsible for any information that is compromised or for any damage caused to hardware or software due to security issues.

• All wireless users must use battery-operated electronic devices. The library’s electrical outlets are limited and restricted.

• Wireless users requiring sound must use headphones so as to not disturb other library patrons.

• Library printers are not available via wireless connections.

Library staff will not trouble shoot problems related to your wireless device or assist in making changes to your device’s network setting and/or hardware configuration. The library does not guarantee that your device will work with its wireless access.

Responsible, ethical use of this resource includes accessing educational, information and legal recreational resources. Respecting the privacy of others by not attempting to modify or gain access to files, passwords or data belonging to others, introducing viruses and/or seeking unauthorized access to any computer system, damaging or altering software components of any network or database.

Use of the wireless network is entirely at the risk of the user. The library disclaims any and all liability for loss of confidential information or damages resulting from that loss, or any and all damages resulting from use of the wireless network. It is the responsibility of all persons using wireless internet access to be familiar with this policy.