Policies

The Collection Development Policy offers guidance to Library staff in the selection and retention of materials for the Cranston Public Library and serves to inform the public of the Library’s philosophy for selection and collection maintenance.

The Collection Development Policy is based on the Library’s Mission and the long-established principles of the Library Bill of Rights, Freedom to Read Statement,  Freedom to View Statement and Access to Library Resources and Services to Minors, as adopted by the American Library Association.

Collection Objectives

The Cranston Public Library provides a contemporary, relevant collection of resources in a wide range of formats to meet the informational, educational and recreational needs of its community. The Library strives to meet these needs within the limitations of space, staffing and budget. The Library endeavors to make use of new technologies and formats to offer library users the greatest access to information and ideas.

The Library maintains a wide variety of fiction and nonfiction materials with added depth in the area of local Rhode Island history. Materials and formats are not maintained past their relevance. This ensures a collection of current interest to our patrons. Textbooks and materials of a highly technical or specialized nature more appropriate for research or special libraries are generally excluded from the collection.

The Library recognizes that there are ideas, opinions, viewpoints and philosophies which are subject for discussion and debate and that any community will be made up of citizens with divergent viewpoints. The Library endeavors to provide equal access to all points of view within the limits of financial resources and physical space.  When judging the merit of materials for purchase, Library staff refer to professional review publications, news media, recommended lists by professional organizations, patron requests, literary awards, and the popularity of similar items. Cultural diversity will be considered in the selection of materials.

Guidelines for Materials Selection

Collection development is based on these specific criteria:

• Community needs, interests and demands
• The importance of subject matter to the collection
• Price and availability for purchase

Responsibility for Selection

The ultimate responsibility for materials selection rests with the Library Director, who operates within the framework of policies determined by the Library Board of Trustees. The Library Director delegates the responsibility for materials selection to library staff.

Approved by the Cranston Public Library Board of Trustees 1/13/2016

GUIDELINES FOR BORROWING AND USE

• Tools/devices from the collection can only be checked out and returned to the Circulation Desk at the Cranston Public Library, Central Library. Do not use the book drop. Do not return to a Cranston Public Library branch location or a public library in another community.
• Tools/devices may be borrowed for one week and may not be renewed.
• Checkout is limited to one tool/device per household.
• At this time, holds may not be placed on tools/devices.
• Borrowers must be 18 years or older.
• Borrowers must be in good standing with the Library, have a valid Ocean State Libraries library card with a current address on file and no outstanding fines over $5.00.
• The library reserves the right to refuse service to patrons who abuse the equipment or who are repeatedly late in returning tools/devices.
• The library is not responsible for any liability, damages or expense resulting from misuse of the tool/device, connection of the device to other electronic devices, or data loss from use of the device.
• The library cannot provide additional instruction on the operation of tools/devices.
• The overdue fine is $5.00 a day. (Maximum fine $25.00.)
• The borrower is responsible for costs associated with damage or loss of the tool/device and/or peripherals due to neglect or abuse.

PROPER CARE AND USE

• As with any device, use care when handling.
• If any technical problems are encountered, patrons should return the tool/device immediately to the Circulation Desk at the Cranston Public Library.

INFORMATIONAL DISPLAYS

The Cranston Public Library permits the distribution and posting of free, printed materials by nonprofit and community groups, educational institutions, and government agencies as display and bulletin board space allows.  The library provides this space to meet the community’s recreational, cultural, civic and educational needs.

Such information may be in the form of brochures, flyers, posters, and similar items.  The library does not endorse the content of posted materials.

Library postings take precedence over other materials.

Materials for posting must be approved by the director, assistant director or the branch librarians prior to display.

EXHIBITS

Cranston Public Library’s exhibit areas at the Central Library and William Hall Library are available for use by individuals or organizations engaged in educational, cultural, intellectual or charitable activities. 

Art exhibitors must meet the “Cranston Public Library Guidelines for Exhibits & Displays” requirements.  An Exhibit & Display Release Form must be completed prior to the exhibiting of materials.

The library will take reasonable care to ensure the safety and security of any items but assumes no responsibility in the event of loss or damage of displayed items.

Displaying or exhibiting materials in Cranston Public Library facilities does not indicate endorsement of the content of displayed collections. 

Library displays and exhibits take precedence over other exhibits.

The library director may reject any exhibit or display that does not meet with the mission of the library.

Approved by the Cranston Public Library Board of Trustees 7/8/2015

MEETING ROOM POLICY

• Meeting rooms at all locations are available to civic, cultural, and educational organizations during library hours of opening.  Meeting rooms are available regardless of the beliefs and affiliations of their members.  Meeting rooms are not available for social gatherings, the benefit of private individuals, commercial purposes or fund-raising purposes.
• Use of a meeting room does not in any way constitute an endorsement of the group's policies or beliefs by the Cranston Public Library.
• Groups applying to use meeting rooms must fill out a Meeting Room Request Form.  
• A library-sponsored program has priority over other uses of the meeting rooms. In the event of a scheduling conflict, if possible, groups will be given one month's notice. Groups are allowed to book rooms up to 3 months in advance. 
• Meeting rooms should not be used in any way that interferes with the operation of the library or which threatens the safety of library patrons. Meeting room attendees must adhere to the library’s Code of Conduct. 
• The Cranston Public Library assumes no liability for organizations or their meeting attendees using the library facilities, or for theft or damage to vehicles or personal property while on the premises.  The library is not responsible for equipment, clothing, or other items left on its premises at the close of a meeting.
• Library management reserves the right to cancel or postpone any meeting or performance at any time in the event of inclement weather or other building emergency.
• Groups are responsible for paying for any breakage, damage to library property, or any inordinate amount of cleaning resulting from the use of the rooms.
• Extended and exclusive use of the library's meeting rooms for cultural and/or educational purposes, for example, a theatre engagement or art exhibit may be arranged under a separate agreement with the library director.
• The director, in consultation with the group's liaison, will determine the necessity of police presence. The group will cover any costs incurred by the use of police details.
• All publicity shall carry the name of the organization sponsoring the program. Cranston Public Library shall not be identified or implied as a sponsor without the consent of the library director.  All press releases & flyers bearing the library name must be sent to the library for approval prior to release.
• Fees may be charged for the use of our meeting rooms.  All fees are payable one week in advance of the event. Checks should be made payable to:  Cranston Public Library. Please refer to the Meeting Room Request Form for fee schedule.
• Groups requesting the use of the meeting rooms will designate on the request form a contact person who shall be its formal representative while the room is being used. It is understood that inquiries concerning the meeting in question may be referred to the contact person.
• Simple refreshments may be served in meeting rooms, with prior approval, provided groups use their own supplies and equipment and leave the area in a clean and orderly condition. Alcoholic beverages are prohibited.  No food in the Central Library Seminar Room; covered drinks allowed. Open flames and candles are prohibited.
• Room capacity, as determined by the fire marshal, will be observed at all times.
• Groups are required to vacate meeting rooms fifteen minutes prior to library closing.
• Library-related or municipal-support groups may be exempted from some of the regulations at the discretion of the library director.

Central Library Criteria

• Due to the numerous requests for meeting space, continuing and repetitious use of the meeting rooms by a single group or organization must be limited. Generally, the maximum allowable usage will be once per quarter for the Meeting Room and once per month for the Seminar Room.
• The Seminar Room may be booked by groups of 2-12 people for up to 2 hours at a time.
• Use of the main meeting room on Saturdays and Sundays is generally not permitted due to exhibit use of the facility and the lack of staff to service the facility.  The main meeting room is generally not available in June, July, and August. 
• Either the library director or the assistant library director must approve the use of one of the Central Library's meeting rooms.
• The Cranston Public Library requests that groups using the Central Library's meeting rooms park in the library's upper parking lot.

William Hall Library Criteria

• Generally, the maximum allowable usage of William Hall Library meeting spaces is limited to once per month.  More frequent use of a meeting space must be approved on a case-by case basis by the Branch Librarian.
• Admission fees for performances and events may be charged. These fees shall not limit access to individuals who may be unable to pay but who wish to attend.
• Theater companies or other groups shall not attach scenery or stage sets to walls or floors. They shall not remove lights, stage draperies or other equipment without written permission.  Any stage sets should be covered to protect floors.
• Any removal of the piano from the stage area must be done by professional piano movers. Organizations using William Hall Library meeting space are required to pay for removal and return of the piano to the stage.
• Performances, events and meetings are limited to hours when the library is open unless prior permission is given.  Meeting spaces may be used for theater or performance rehearsals during the hours when the library is open.
• Organizations using William Hall Library meeting space and their participants/audience members are not allowed access to other parts of the building unless prior permission is given.

Updated by the Cranston Public Library Board of Trustees 1/10/2018

PHOTOGRAPHY & RECORDING POLICY

Attendance at Cranston Public Library programs, events and facilities constitutes consent to be photographed and/or recorded for use in print and/or electronic publicity for Cranston Public Library (the Library). Such outlets include, but are not limited to, publications, productions, presentations, displays and the Internet, including Library-sponsored social media websites. Once published, content may be shared or repurposed with or without the consent of the Library. The Library takes no responsibility for the sharing and/or republishing of photograph(s), video(s) and/or recording(s) by third parties, or for the management of content beyond its own publications and websites.

Photograph(s), video(s) and/or recording(s) will not be identified using full names or personal identifying information without written approval from the subject, parent or legal guardian.

If you wish to withhold your consent, please notify library staff.

Approved by the Cranston Public Library Board of Trustees January 14, 2015

PUBLIC RECORDS REQUEST GUIDELINES

The Cranston Public Library adheres to the Access to Public Records Act, R.I. Gen. Laws §38-2-1, et. seq., and has instituted the following procedures for the public to obtain public records.

1. In order to document compliance with the Access to Public Records Act, we request that you complete the Public Records Access Request Form. Completed forms may be mailed to:
Cranston Public Library, 140 Sockanosset Cross Road, Cranston, Rhode Island 02920 Attn: Library Administration/Public Records Request 
or hand-delivered to the Library Administration Office, Cranston Public Library, 140 Sockanosset Cross Road, Cranston, Rhode Island 02920 during regular business hours.
Regular business hours of the library administration office are Monday through Friday 9:00am to 4:30pm.

2. Please be advised that the Access to Public Records Act allows a public body ten (10) business days to respond, which can be extended an additional twenty (20) business days for “good cause.” We appreciate your understanding and patience.

3. Pursuant to R.I.G.L. § 38-2-4, the Cranston Public Library may charge a fee of fifteen cents ($.15) per page and an hourly rate of fifteen dollars ($15.00) per hour of time spent searching, retrieving and copying documents; however, no fee will be charged for the first sixty minutes of such time. Copies on paper larger than standard legal size, or made available on media different than that on which the information is stored, will be charged at the actual production and/or reproduction cost.

4. You are not required to provide identification or the reason you seek the information, and your right to access public records will not depend upon providing identification or reasons.

5. These guidelines are not exhaustive and the Library reserves any and all other rights that may apply to it under the Access to Public Records Act.

Click here to download the Public Records Request Form

SAFE CHILD POLICY

• Parents and caregivers, not the library staff, are responsible for children’s safety and behavior in the library.
• Children under the age of 10 must be accompanied and adequately supervised by a responsible caregiver, and children under the age of 6 must be in the immediate vicinity of that caregiver at all times. Library staff may supervise children for the duration of certain programs, but caregivers should remain in the building.
• Young people age 10 and older may visit the library independently, but they are still the legal responsibility of their parents.  Young people who visit the library by themselves must know how to reach a responsible caregiver in case of emergencies, health and safety issues, inappropriate behavior, or early closure.
• If a young person’s behavior is unduly disruptive, he or she may not be allowed to remain in the library or to visit again unaccompanied.
• If any young person remains at the library 15 minutes after closing, staff may call the proper authorities.

Approved by the Cranston Public Library Board of Trustees on 4/10/14

SOCIAL MEDIA POLICY

Cranston Public Library (the Library) welcomes interaction with members of the community on various social networking websites, platforms and media. Social media is broadly defined as any web application, site or account created and maintained by the library which allows users to share or obtain information. The intended audience for the Library’s social media accounts is the general public, including residents of communities that are members of the Ocean State Libraries Consortium, visitors to the library, and other interested parties.

The Library invites comments, posts and messages, while recognizing and respecting differences of opinion and upholding the standards of ethics and conduct delineated in the Cranston Public Library Code of Conduct. Comments expressed on the Library’s social media accounts do not reflect the views or positions of the library, its officers, or its employees. Social media users should exercise their own judgement about the quality and accuracy of any information presented through social media. Cranston Public Library will not be held responsible or liable for the content posted to any Library-affiliated websites. The Library further reserves the right to reproduce comments, posts and messages in other public venues, without further permission from subscribers.

The Library seeks to provide social media users with environments free from discrimination and obscenities. Therefore, all comments, posts and messages are subject to review by the Library. The Library reserves the right to remove any comment, post or message that it deems, in its sole discretion, to be abusive, defamatory, in violation of intellectual property rights, or otherwise inappropriate. Content containing the following will be removed:

• Disrespectful, inflammatory or off-topic comments

• Obscene, racist or otherwise threatening comments

• Personal attacks, insults, or harassment

• Plagiarized material (quotations without credit lines)

• Information that is likely to compromise the safety or security of the public or public systems

• Private or personal information published without consent

• Commercial promotions, spam or organized political activity

• Hyperlinks and images which meet any of the above criteria

If it happens that any individual repeatedly and/or habitually provides content to Library-sponsored websites that meets the criteria above, the Library may block them from posting any further information to the library’s social media sites, but only after said person has received one warning that they are violating the policies contained herein. Any social media user who has been banned or had a message/content deleted may appeal this decision, in writing or email, to the Library Director.

• Email reconsideration requests should be sent to: director@cranstonlibrary.org

• Mailed reconsideration requests should be addressed to:

Cranston Public Library

Library Director

140 Sockanosset Cross Rd.

Cranston, RI 02920

Upon receipt, the Library Director will respond to the reconsideration request within ten business days. A final appeal may be made to the Library Board of Trustees.

The Library will not collect, sell, or knowingly transfer to any third parties any personally identifiable information related to social media engagement with the library. Users must understand that social media is permanent, retrievable, and public. Messages can potentially be read by anyone once posted, regardless of status on friends, follower, or subscriber lists. The Library recommends that users do not post their personal information or contact information on social media sites.

Interaction (posting, commenting, or messaging) with any Library-affiliated page, constitutes the indemnification of Cranston Public Library, its employees, its affiliates and the City of Cranston from and against any and all liabilities, judgments, damages and costs incurred by any of them which arise out of or are related to content you post.  The Library assumes no liability regarding any event or interaction that takes place by any participant on any Library-affiliated social networking website.

Pursuant to RI General Laws § 11-18-32, § 11-49.3, and § 38-2-2 sub-§ 4(U), and as part of our commitment to intellectual freedom, it is the policy of Cranston Public Library to protect the confidentiality of patron records and the privacy of patron interest and inquiry.  Privacy is essential to free speech, free thought, and free association.  Confidentiality extends to all records with identifying information about patrons, including their borrowing records, requests for information, materials, and their loan transactions.  It also includes their use of library computers, all electronic and print resources they access, all items printed on library 3D printers, and items related to library programs and services. Cranston Public Library will keep patron records confidential and will not disclose this information except as necessary to library staff and vendors for the proper operation of the library, upon consent of the user, pursuant to a subpoena or court order, or as otherwise required by law.

The only exception to this policy is for minors. Parents or legal guardians of children under age 13 may have access to information on their child's library card. Parents or guardians of 13 to 17 year olds may have access to their child’s library record only as necessary to settle their child’s financial obligation to the library.

Approved by the Cranston Public Library Board of Trustees May 13, 2015

Approved by the members of Ocean State Libraries May 4, 2017

Revised by the Cranston Public Library Board of Trustees September 12, 2018