Library Policies
Material Circulation Policy
Library Cards
In order to check out any sort of material from the library, you must be a current library card holder with no more than $5.00 in fines and no materials currently overdue by more than 1 month.
Library membership is free to residents and taxpayers of Camden, and to all children through the age of 14 in Knox and Waldo counties. If children attend Camden-Rockport High School, membership is free through the age of 18.
Parents are not allowed to check out their adult books on a student/child card.
Non-resident Individual and Family Memberships (two or more adults) are $25.00.
Please be sure to bring a current article (piece of mail, utility bill, driver’s license) that proves your local street address. We cannot issue you your card without this proof of address.
Material Loan Rules
New Fiction, children’s materials, nonfiction, all older fiction, audiocassettes, CDs, and magazines circulate for two weeks (14 days). The two most recent issues of magazines are reserved for in-house use only.
Videocassettes and DVDs may circulate for seven days. These materials may be renewed unless they appear on the reserve list.
Videos or DVDs may only be returned to the Circulation Desk, or through the Video Return slot at the Atlantic Street entrance. Music CDs cannot be returned through any drop, and must be returned directly to the Circulation Desk.
The Library assumes no responsibility for damage or alleged damage to a borrower’s tape player, CD player, VCR, DVD player or computer by library materials.
The borrower is responsible for returning loaned materials in good condition. In case of loss, theft or damage, the borrower will be assessed full replacement cost of the materials, including the cost of a full set if an individual material from that set cannot be ordered for replacement. Rewind all audiocassettes and videocassettes before returning them. Please do not use automatic rewinding machines, as these tend to break the tape. Be advised that heat will damage audiocassettes, videocassettes and DVDs. Please report any troubles with a videocassette or DVD to a staff member. Do not attempt to repair the troubles yourself.
Warning: the programs of many videos and DVDs are licensed only for unadvertised home use. All other rights, including duplication, broadcasting or public display are retained by the copyright holder. Be sure to delete any programs that you install from a library DVD before returning that DVD.
Patrons must agree to the terms in the Video/DVD agreement prior to checking out videocassettes or DVDs, which may be found at the Circulation Desk. For student/child cards, the signing parent is responsible for what his or her child views and for any damages caused to the Library’s materials. The parent must indicate if the user is to be restricted to audiovisual materials from the children’s section. Parents are advised that videos and DVDs contains material that may be inappropriate for their children to view, and that not all of the materials in the Library’s collection have been assigned MPAA ratings.
Reserves
A patron’s name and phone number may be placed on the reserve list for any materials circulated by the library that are currently checked out to another patron. Once an item is reserved, it may not be renewed. The patron will be notified by phone when the reserved items are available. Reserve requests may also be placed through the library’s online catalog.
Interlibrary Loan
Books, magazine articles, materials and information unavailable at our library often may be borrowed through Interlibrary Loan (ILL). In some cases, patrons using this service may be asked to pay return postage. The Camden Public Library is a member of the Northeastern Library District with head-quarters at the Bangor Public Library. ILL requests may also be placed through the MINERVA online catalog or the INN-Reach online catalog.
Renewals
Library materials may be renewed by computer, phone, mail, or in person. If you leave a message to renew items on our answering machine, please leave your name and card number, and bear in mind that the library may have to contact you to return any items on your card that are on reserve for another patron, or for items that have been renewed too often. Teachers or special groups who want books for an extended period of time may arrange this with the librarian.
Videos and DVDs may not be renewed. Other materials may be renewed up to five times before being recalled, assuming there are no circumstances (holds, library use) that require the return of the material sooner.
Fines
A fine of $0.10 per day is charged for all materials (with the exception of videos and DVDs) which are not returned on time.
A fine of $1.00 per day is charged for overdue videos and DVDs.
A fine of $0.50 per day is incurred by a patron who, although notified of a waiting list, still fails to return an item.
Overdue interlibrary loan materials are fined at $0.50 a day.
If a case or bag for materials is returned damaged, a fine of $2.00 is charged.
If a video or DVD is put in the book drop, a fine of $5.00 is charged per instance.
If a CD is put in either the video or book drops, a fine of $0.50 per CD is charged. Days when the Library is closed are not included in the assessment of overdue materials.
Patrons are responsible for paying replacement costs for lost or damaged items, including the cost of a full set if an individual material from that set cannot be ordered for replacement.
Library Materials Selection
Library materials are selected by the Director and members of the library staff. Sources for selection include: The New York Times Book Review, Library Journal, and Publisher’s Weekly. The selection policy is on file in the Director’s office.
A suggestion form for patrons is available at the circulation desk. We welcome ideas and requests from the public, and we especially appreciate when these requests are accompanied by a book review or other descriptive material.
The Camden Public Library also welcomes the donation of appropriate books, videos and CDs from members of the community. Materials donated will be reviewed by our selection policy and will be submitted into the collection or sold at our annual book sales.
Library Computer/Internet Access Policy
The Camden Public Library established a connection to the Internet in the summer of 1995 and now has 17 computers available for patron use, including our card catalog which is entirely electronic. Internet access, educational CD-ROMs, a grants information CD-ROM, and an online index of periodicals are also available. The library also offers several methods of online access for laptops, including wireless, Ethernet and limited dial-up access.
Public Access Computers
For long-term computer access, a patron must read and agree to the Computer Usage Policy, available to any users of the library. Patrons are permitted one 30-minute session per day. Our computer management system will provide more time if there are free resources. Patrons must surrender their carrel at the end of their session. A patron may only use his or her personal patron barcode to access the library’s computer resources. For short-term computer access, patrons are permitted one 15-minute session per day, and must sign in at the Circulation Desk.
Prohibitions
You will not use our computer resources unlawfully. This includes, but is not limited to, using our resources to violate copyright agreements, harassing others through the Internet, or exploiting security holes in computers or networks, including our own. Access to child pornography, obscenity or, in the case of users under 17, materials harmful to minors, is illegal.
You will not expose (intentionally or not) other individuals to material that they or, if under 18, their parents, may find objectionable.
You will not tamper with our computers, systems or settings in any way, nor will you save or download programs or files to the hard drives of these computers or to the network.
You will not use storage media that have been brought in from elsewhere. If you wish to save information, you must purchase a disk from the Circulation Desk. If a disk purchased from the Library leaves the Library, it may not be brought in and used again. We will, however, hold disks at the Circulation Desk for users who wish to continue to save information from session to session.
You will report any problems with a computer to a staff member immediately.
The Library shall have no liability for any damages, direct or indirect, occurring as a result of the use of our electronic resources.
If you do not comply with these rules, you agree to be held liable for any damage your actions may cause and agree your privilege to use the Library’s computer resources may be revoked.
The signing parent is responsible for what his or her child accesses, and for any damages caused to the Library’s computer resources. The parent must indicate whether the user is to have Internet access only when with a parent or designated adult. Parents are advised that the Internet contains materials and forums that may be inappropriate or unlawful for their children to access; parents are further advised that some websites or individuals may attempt to gather personal information regarding users via electronic means.
Laptop Access
The Camden Public Library offers free access to the Internet for wireless and Ethernet-ready laptops.
Users of this service need to be aware of the rules for acceptable usage:
The Library is not responsible for any damages or difficulties, direct or indirect, resulting from the use of this service. It is recommended that users maintain all security measures while using this service.
The user is responsible for providing all necessary components (wireless cards, cables, etc.) for using the service, and for the configuration of any software. Library staff are unable to provide technical support.
The user is advised that the wireless access provided is not secure, and that any data transmitted may be intercepted and viewed by other users.
The user is bound by the Library’s Acceptable Use Policy (AUP) at all times. Users are required to familiarize themselves with the AUP prior to use of this service. If a user has any questions, he or she must speak with a Library staff member.
The Library staff may, at any time and without notice, interrupt this service at their discretion. Users of the service may be asked to discontinue use of the service should the library staff suspect the user of breaching the AUP or be a risk to the continued operability of the network.
Rules of Library Use
The Camden Public Library is open to the public for the purposes of reading, studying, providing educational and cultural programming and permitting the borrowing of materials. It is the policy of the library to provide a full range of library services to individuals regardless of age, sex, marital status, sexual preference, race, color, religion, ancestry, political affiliation, national origin, or physical or mental disability.
To better serve all library patrons, the Library Board of Trustees has established certain rules to maintain an atmosphere that promotes these purposes, protects the library resources and facilities from damage and fosters the safety of all users and library staff.
These rules apply to all persons using the library building and its grounds and will be enforced by the library staff. The library grounds include the library lawns and parking lots, amphitheater next to the library and the harbor park located across Atlantic Avenue from the library. The library reserves the right to require anyone who violates these rules to leave the library building and/or grounds and to restrict such person’s privilege of using the library building and/or grounds.
Unlawful activities will be reported to the police, and when appropriate, violators will be subject to arrest.
General Rules
Persons in the library building or on the library grounds may not engage in conduct that disrupts the orderly operation of the library, unreasonably interferes with the use of the facilities and grounds by others, could result in physical, emotional or mental injury, could result in damage to the library facility, materials or grounds, or is illegal.
Specific Rules
Persons in the library buildings or on the library grounds shall not:
Within the library building, talk or create noise loud enough to disturb the general use of the library by others. Cell phones may not be used within the library building. Audio equipment played inside the library must be used with earphones in a manner so as not to disturb other patrons. The top floor reading room of the library is intended to be a quiet area.
Eat or drink inside the library building, provided that food or drink may be permitted within the building for an authorized event with prior approval.
Smoke or chew tobacco inside the library building or in the Children’s Garden, the Atlantic Avenue entrance plaza or on the Main Street entrance steps and landing.
Block isles or doorways or create an obstruction or hazard for others within the library building or in the immediate vicinity of its entrances by such means as gathering in groups, lying or sitting on the floor, leaving personal belongings, or moving furniture.
Skateboard, rollerblade, ride a bicycle or run inside the library building or in the immediate vicinity of the library entrances.
Damage, steal, improperly remove or misuse library materials, equipment or furniture or deface or vandalize library property.
Load or install programs or software on library computers or to otherwise alter or tamper with library computers or software.
Violate any posted rules, including computer usage rules and rules relating to lending of library materials.
Be barefoot or shirtless within the library building.
Bring animals inside the library building, other than those required for personal assistance or for library programs. Dogs left outside by library building patrons should be leashed to the bicycle rack across Atlantic Avenue from the library entrance.
Interfere with the use of the library building by others through offensive odors, scents or poor personal hygiene.
Misuse restrooms for purposes such as bathing, shaving or laundry.
Solicit or advertise for any reason, except as permitted in advance by the library trustees.
Sleep within the library building, except for young children sleeping under the supervision of a parent or other caregiver.
Leave children under the age of eight, or dependent persons, unattended and not in the immediate presence and under the supervision of a parent or other caregiver. The library staff is not responsible for childcare. The library staff reserves the right to contact the police if minors are left unattended for extended periods of time or left unattended at closing time.
Fail to leave the library building promptly at its designated closing time.
Engage in obscene or threatening or harassing language or conduct, including physical and sexual harassment, fighting and disorderly conduct, stalking, or intimidating behavior. Inappropriate display of affection is also prohibited.
Be under the influence or in possession of alcohol or illegal drugs or engage in any substance abuse.
Possess or use weapons or dangerous objects.
Litter or engage in illegal behavior.
If a person violates one of the specific rules set forth above, then the Director of the Library, or a designee of the Director, may communicate a lawful order to that person prohibiting that person from entering the Library buildings or the Library Grounds in accordance with Title 17-A Maine Revised Statutes, § 402. If such an order is given, then entry into the Library or Library Grounds in defiance of that order will result in a charge of criminal trespass as set forth in Title 17-A M.R.S.A. § 402 (1) (E).
Thank you for helping to make the library a safe and enjoyable place for all to visit.
Exhibit and Bulletin Board Display Space Policy
The Camden Public Library will provide exhibit space and bulletin board display space to the public on an equitable basis, regardless of the beliefs or affiliations of the individuals or groups requesting their use.
Exhibit Space
Groups requesting exhibit space should make their request, in writing, to the Library Program Director. Specifications of the nature of the exhibit, space requirements and requested length of time for the exhibit must also be provided to the Library Program Director. The Camden Public Library reserves the right to cancel an exhibit at any time.
Bulletin Board
Use of the lobby bulletin board is free to the public. However, because of space limitations, display of public notices will be guided by the following priorities:
- Notices of Library programs, events, activities and services will have first priority.
- Notices of cultural, educational and community-wide events offered by non-profit organizations will be considered next.
The library will accept material for display only if it is of public service and non-partisan in nature.
All materials for display must be approved by the Library Program Director or his/her representative.
The library will not guarantee any specific length of display for the exhibit or materials.
The library reserves the right to remove from display any non-conforming material.
Policy Changes
The Board of Trustees reserves the right to make changes to these policies without prior notice as it may deem advisable from time to time, and to cancel or withdraw permission for the exhibition of materials when in its discretion such withdrawal is advisable.