Children’s Safety at the Library

In order to provide for the safety and welfare of all patrons and staff, and to protect library resources and facilities, certain rules of conduct and levels of responsibility must be followed on The Joe Barnhart Bee County Library premises. The Joe Barnhart Bee County Library includes the main building, the parking lot (main property lot and across the street) and the lawn.

Anyone violating the behavior policy will be asked to stop and/or to leave. If the behavior continues, the staff will ask the individual to leave the library. Failure to leave will result in staff calling the police for assistance and the offender will be subject to arrest and/or be issued a criminal trespass warrant.

• Children 8 years and under must be accompanied by a parent, legal guardian, or assigned caregiver. The parent/ caregiver must be in the immediate vicinity and in visual contact with the child. The assigned caregiver must be a responsible person and must carry emergency contact information.
• Children under 18 and older than 9 may be left unattended in the library for only two hours per day. The library may notify the Police regarding any child left beyond the two hours.
• Children under 8 may attend programs exceeding 2 hours, however the parent/caregiver is expected to remain in the library building and immediately rejoin the child at the end of the program.
• Parents/caregivers are responsible for their children’s use of library materials and equipment.
• Children using computers must use their OWN library card for access.
• Children using computers must follow the Computer Use Policy.
• The library may notify the Police regarding any child 8 years old and under left unattended. The responsibility for the safety and behavior of children in the library rests with the parent/caregiver and not with library staff.
• Children, who do not follow the Library policies, will be asked to leave the library and a block may be placed on their library account. If the child refuses to leave, the police may be called.

Computer/Internet Access

Internet users should be aware that not all sources on the Internet provide accurate, complete or current information. The Joe Barnhart Bee County Library is not responsible for information on the internet nor can the library protect user from information that is controversial, unreliable, personally offensive, or illegal under U.S. law.

Computer users will observe generally accepted “community standards” in their selection of websites to access. All public access computers are filtered. This is in accordance with the Children’s Internet Protection Act (CIPA).

Patrons must have their library card, in good standing, in their possession to use computers. All patrons must have complete and clear library accounts including associated accounts (no blocks – i.e. overdue charges over $5.00, returned check/credit charges, missing information, etc.). If a patron forgets or temporarily misplace their library card three (3) courtesy logins are available per library account. Additional courtesy log-ins will be charge $1.00 per use until a replacement card can be purchased. Replacement cards cost $2.00. Library workstation time usage is limited to 2 hours per card. Computer printing rates are 20¢ for black and white, 50¢ for color pages per printed side. Note: This service will shut down 15 minutes prior to closing.

PATRONS MAY NOT USE COMPUTERS TO:

• Operate a business or commercial activity.
• Patron may not use another patron’s access to the computers. If they do, both the patron using the computer and the patron whose card is being used will be temporarily suspended from using the computer. First offense=individual/family accounts BLOCKED for 3 days. Second offense=individual/family accounts BLOCKED for one (1) week. Third Offense=individual/family accounts BLOCKED for one (1) month.
• Patrons must be seated when using the computer. They may not lean over another patron who is using the computer.
• The Library staff cannot set up electronic mail accounts. If a patron wishes to use this resource, they are responsible for accessing and creating their account independently.
• Gain unauthorized access to restricted files or networks.
• Obstruct other people’s work on the network.
• Access content violating community standards
• Attempt to cause the system performance to be degraded.
• Attempt to alter or damage computer equipment or software.
• Perpetrate any illegal or criminal purpose.
• Violate copyright laws or software licensing agreements.
• Install or download any software.
• Use unapproved devices to download software or save programs.
• Use of electronic information networks for any purpose that result in the harassment of other users.
• Destruction of, damage to, or unauthorized alteration of the Library computer equipment, software, or network security procedures.
• Use of electronic information networks in any way that violates a Federal or State or local law.
• Unauthorized duplication of copy protected software or violation of software license agreements.
• Violation of system security.

Violations will result in loss of computer use privileges and/or banning from the library premises. Unlawful activities will be referred to appropriate legal authorities.

Guest Pass

Anyone over the age of 18 may use the computer 3 times a month for 2 hours per day with state identification. After three (3) courtesy guest log-ins, patrons will be charged $1.00 per use untiil a non-resident card ($5.00) or a replacement card can be purchased.

CHILDREN’S USE

All public access computers are filtered. This is in accordance with the Children’s Internet Protection Act (CIPA).

Parents/guardians of children under 18 years of age must declare explicit permission for their child to use access the internet. Parents/guardians are responsible for their children’s use of equipment and should monitor their children’s selection of viewing material.

Children 8 years and younger must be accompanied by a parent/guardian while using the Library’s computers. Children must be seated when using the computer. They may not lean over another child who is using the computer

Functional Spaces

Service Animal Policy

• Pets or any other animals are not allowed in the library.
• Animals that are necessary for library programming are allowed in the library.
• Service animals or service animals in training are allowed in the library.
• Under the ADA, a service animal is a dog that has been individually trained to do work or perform tasks for an individually with a disability. The dog must be trained to take a specific action to assist the person with a disability, and the task(s) performed must be directly related to the disability.
• Emotional support, therapy, comfort, or companion animals which have not been trained to perform a specific job or task do not qualify as service animals under the ADA and are not allowed in the library
• If it is not obvious that a dog brought into the library is a service animal, a staff member may ask the following questoins:
  • Is the dog a service animal required because of a disability?
  • What specific work or task has the dog been trained to perform?
• Library staff may not request any documentatoin for the animal, require that the animal demonstrate its task, or inquire about the nature of the person's disability.
• Service animals are not allowed on library furnature, and must remain on the floor or be carried (as appropriate) by their handlers at all times>
• Service animals must be under the immediate control of their handlers at all times.
• The service animal must be harnessed, leashed, or tethered unless these devices interfere with the animal's work or the person's disbility prevents the use of these devices.
• Service animals which are not housebroken, bark repeatedly, are uncontrolled, or are otherwise disruptive will be required to leave the premises.
• When a servie animal must be removed, library staff will offer the person with the disability an opportunity to obtain materials or services without the animal's presences.
• Other library users' allergies or fear of dogs are not valid reasons for the removal of serice animals.
• Animals may never be left unattended on library grounds.
• Misreperesenting a dog as a service animal is a violation of State of Texas Human Resources Code Sec. 121.006 and may result in suspension of library privileges.