Library Policies

RESIDENTS OF UPPER MERION TOWNSHIP

Any resident of Upper Merion Township is eligible to register for a free library card, renewable every 3 years. The Library will require identification containing the name and current mailing address of the applicant. Children under 18 years of age will be issued a library card with the signature and identification of a parent or legal guardian. All residents will receive an ACCESS PA sticker on their library card that enables them to borrow materials at other public libraries in Pennsylvania. In order for a library card to be issued, the person named on the registration form must be present in the library.

Replacement Cards
To replace a lost card there will be a fee of $3.00 for the Adult Department and $1.00 for the Children’s Department.

NON-RESIDENTS OF UPPER MERION TOWNSHIP

Montgomery County Residents
Montgomery County residents who do not have a home library in their township or borough may apply for a Montgomery County-Norristown library card through Upper Merion Township Library.

PA Residents
If you have a valid Access Pennsylvania Library card from your home library, you are welcome to check out materials according to borrowing periods and limits from the Upper Merion Township Library. You will be responsible, as our residents are, for returning on time and in good condition any materials checked out on your card. If you do not have a valid Access Pennsylv?ania Library card, you may use any materials in our Library, you cannot check anything out. “Home library” is defined as the library that serves the town or township in which you live.

Non-PA Residents
Individuals who DO NOT live in Pennsylvania may obtain an Upper Merion Library card for a fee of $65.00 for a year. Library cards issued to individuals who do not live in Pennsylvania will NOT have an ACCESS PA sticker on their card. The card may be used only at the Upper Merion Township Library. The cardholder will be responsible, as our residents are, for returning on time and in good condition any materials checked out on your card.

Temporary Residents of Upper Merion Township
Persons living in Upper Merion Township for a limited time (for example, someone residing here on a temporary employment assignment for a time period of less than one year) are eligible for a Temporary Library Card. Temporary residents must pay a $25.00 deposit. Temporary residents will be responsible, as our residents are, for returning on time and in good condition any materials checked out on your card. Once the library card along with all outstanding materials are returned, the temporary resident will be issued a refund of $20.00. Temporary Residents do not receive an ACCESS PA sticker on their card. This card may be used only at the Upper Merion Township Library.

Persons working in Upper Merion on a temporary basis, but not living in Upper Merion, must apply for a non-resident card for a fee of $65.00.

Adult Department
Books, CDs, Playaways, & Magazines: 3 weeks
DVDs ($1.25/week):1 week
Videogames ($1.00/week): 1 week
Museum & Attraction passes: 3 days

Children’s
Books, CDs, Playaways, Magazines, Toys: 3 weeks
Playaway Views ($1.00/week): 1 week
DVDs ($0.60/week): 1 week

Returns
All items can be returned at the Adult and Children’s Check-Out Desks. Please be sure to hand DVD cases to a staff member to prevent damage to the DVD.

Only BOOKS can be returned in the book drop located between the front doors of the township building. The book drop is open 24 hours/day.

Overdue/Late Fees
Visiting the library and paying by cash or check.

Pay online by credit card by logging in to your account with your library barcode and password. The minimum payment is $5 and there is a $1 processing fee in order to provide and maintain this service. Visal, MasterCard, American Express, and Discover cards are all accepted.

Children’s materials: 5¢/day
Adult materials: 15¢/day
DVDs, Videogames: $2.00/day
Museum/Attraction Passes: $5.00/day

Content
The content of the internet is not monitored by any entity; therefore, users may encounter materials they find personally offensive or obscene. Users are asked to remember that they are in a public building and to show consideration for others when viewing websites. In addition, patrons are forbidden from bringing up on the screen or printing any materials defined as obscene by Title 18 PACS 5903 of the Pennsylvania Crime Code. Such images shown or sent to the staff or the public may be a form of sexual harassment.

The library cannot guarantee the quality or accuracy of information on the internet. Each user must consider the validity and reliability of the information found.

Filtered Computers
All users, both adults and non-adults, will be required to use filtered computers. Although filters have been installed in an attempt to prevent users from accessing obscene materials and images, filters are not completely reliable, and access to these sites is still possible. The library cannot be held responsible for users who gain access to such sites.

Parents or guardians, not the library or its staff, are responsible for internet information selected and/or accessed by their children. Patrons are responsible for material accessed and are prohibited from bringing up on the screen or printing any material which may be offensive, disturbing, or illegal. Offensive images are harassing to the public and staff. Some or all of the resources may be unavailable at any time for technical reasons over which Upper Merion Township Library has no control.

Other Use Policies
No more than two patrons may use a single workstation at the same time and we require that users restrict their access to thirty minutes while others are waiting.

No user may tamper with the software or hardware configurations provided by the library. Access will be suspended for any user found in violation of these guidelines. Vandalism will be referred to the Upper Merion Township Police Department for legal action. Vandalism is defined as any malicious attempt to harm or destroy data. This includes the uploading or creating of computer viruses and intentional physical damage to the computer and/or its peripherals.

The Upper Merion Township Library complies with the Acceptable Use Policy of the MCLINC Internet Service Provider, the Montgomery County Intermediate Unit (MCIU). Any activity that does not comply with that policy is prohibited.

In order to allow all patrons of the Upper Merion Township Library to use its facilities to the fullest extent during its regularly scheduled hours, the following rules and regulations will be enforced:

1. Patrons shall be engaged in activities associated with the use of a public library while in the building.  Patrons not engaged in reading, studying, or using library materials may be required to leave the library.  Patrons shall not interfere with the use of the library by other patrons or interfere with library employees’ performance of their duties.
2. Patrons shall not consume food, smoke, use tobacco or tobacco products in the library.  water, in containers with lids, is permitted.  Patrons under the influence of alcohol or drugs will be removed from the library.
3. Patrons shall not engage in any illegal activity while in the library.
4. Patrons shall respect the rights of other patrons and shall not harass or annoy others through noisy or boisterous activities, by staring at another person with the intent to annoy that person, by following another person about the library, with the intent to annoy that person, by playing audio equipment so that others can hear it, by singing or talking loudly, by using a cell phone or by behaving in a manner that reasonably can be expected to disturb other persons.
5. Any materials removed from the library must be checked out on a valid library card or through other standard library procedures such as interlibrary loan.
6.  Patrons shall not deface, damage, or destroy any part of the collection, furnishings, equipment or building elements of the library.  Patrons who do will be required to pay all direct and associated costs.  All privileges will be suspended until restitution is made.
7. Patrons shall not be permitted to enter the library without a shirt or other covering of the upper body or without shoes or other footwear.  Patrons whose bodily hygiene is a nuisance to other patrons may be required to leave the library.
8. Each patron shall be responsible for any fines, fees or other charges due in accordance with the library’s standard schedules.  Failure to pay these fines will result in a suspension of borrowing privileges.
9. Patrons shall not bring pets or animals into the library, other than guide dogs.
10. Children under the age of seven (7) may not enter or be left in the library without an attending adult.
11. All briefcases, bags, and similar items are subject to inspection by staff members.
12.  Abusive patrons or anyone not abiding by the rules and regulations of the library may be referred to the librarian in charge and may be required to leave the library.  Library employees may contact the Upper Merion Township Police for appropriate action.
13. Any patron who violates library rules and regulations may be denied access to the library by the library board, on recommendation of the library director.  Any patron whose privileges have been denied may have the decision reviewed by the board.

1. Rooms may be reserved no more than 1 (one) week in advance in person, by phone or from the library’s website.
2. Rooms may be reserved for no more than 2 (two) hours per day. However, if the patron wishes to stay beyond the allotted time they may do so, as long as the room has not been reserved for someone else. If another patron needs to use the room the patron must give it up.
3. Use of Study rooms is limited to those 18 years of age and out of high school.
4. NO excessive noise. The rooms are NOT soundproof.
5. NO food in the rooms. Drinks permitted if in closed containers.
6. Limit of 4 (four) persons per room.
7. Person signing in assumes responsibility for the room.
8. Furniture is to be left in the original configuration of the room.
9. ROOM RESERVATION WILL BE HELD FOR 30 MINUTES BEFORE BEING GIVEN TO ANOTHER PATRON UNLESS WE ARE NOTIFIED.

The Library will proctor written, emailed, or online examinations. Charges for this service include:

• $10.00 proctoring fee
• A $5.00 cost recovery fee for any faxing or scanning required by the exam
• A cost recovery fee for any postage/shipping required by the exam
• A cost recovery fee for any printing required by the exam

Appointments are required for this service. You must call the library to schedule an appointment.
Students must schedule a time during library operating hours. The test must be completed 30 minutes before the library closes.

The student is responsible for ensuring that the exam and other required materials are sent to the proctor from the learning institution before arriving to take the test. Library computers will not be modified to accommodate online tests. Installation of any special software needed to take the exam will not be allowed.

The student must arrive for the test with a current photo I.D. that matches the name on the testing materials. The student must bring all supplies needed to take the test (i.e. scratch paper, pen, pencil, calculator) .The proctor will not enter any personal information on the proctoring forms.

Proctors will enforce time limits or other rules set forth in the exam materials, however the proctor will not sit with the student for the length of the exam.