Policies

Meeting Room Policy

Richards Free Library  58 N. Main Street Newport, NH 03773

The Richards Free Library Board of Trustees offers four meeting rooms for use by community members. The Hale Room has space for groups of up to ten people, the Yeomans Room up to eight people, the Orange Room up to ten people and the Ballroom is available for groups up to fifty people with approval of the Library Director.

These rooms are available free of charge to Newport nonprofit organizations engaging in educational, cultural, or charitable activities or events, although donations to help with the upkeep of rooms are always welcome. These rooms can be reserved by contacting the Library Director. Library sponsored events and activities are given priority.

These rooms are offered to commercial organizations or for private social functions. The Ballroom is available for $50.00 a day.

Rules Governing Use of Library Rooms

1. The responsible person must be over 18 years of age and be a resident of Newport or have a Richards Free library card in good standing.
2. Rooms may be reserved for no more than once a month by one organization. Exceptions to this rule may be approved by the Library Director.
3. Reservations can be scheduled up to one month in advance.
4. The Library reserves the right to cancel any reservation in case of emergencies.
5. The Library reserves the right to revoke the use rooms at the discretion of the Library Director.
6. Any organization renting a library room is responsible for letting it be known that their meetings or events are not endorsed by the Library.
7. Rooms are only available during regular library hours.
8. Rooms must be left clean and orderly.
   1. All rubbish must be removed.
   2. Furniture replaced to original position.
   3. Windows closed and locked.
   4. Floors swept or mopped if necessary.
   5. Bathroom cleaned if necessary.
   6. All lights turned off.
   7. Nothing may be attached to the walls of any meeting room.
9. No alcoholic beverages may be served at non-library events.
10. No smoking is allowed on library property.
11. Groups or organizations using the library rooms are subject to all Library rules and may not disturb others.
12. The Library must be notified as soon as possible of cancellations.
13. The Library does not provide audio-visual equipment.
14. Individuals must provide proof of a certificate of insurance before approval.

Meeting Room Reservation Form

Library Cards

Library Cards are free to all residents and property owners of Newport and anyone who works or attends school in Newport. Proof of residence is required to obtain a card. A fee of $1.00 is charged for replacement of lost or damaged cards. Non-residents may obtain a card by paying a non-refundable fee ($50.00 per person for the year or $25.00 per person for three months) which is set by the Trustees.

The library loans books, board games, video games, DVDs, CDs, audiobooks, and learning kits and individual items from our “library of things”. Card holders may also access research databases, downloadable audio and e-books from computers or smart devices.

Loan Periods

Books,  audiobooks, board games, video games,  2 week
DVD/Video and other materials  1 week

Fines & Fees

There are no fines for overdue materials.

Items long overdue will be considered lost and an invoice will be sent with the cost of the materials and restocking fees. Anyone with an invoice for materials will forfeit their library privileges.

Inter library Loan (ILL)

Inter library loan is offered as a service to registered borrowers when material is unavailable in this library. For questions or to place a loan request, please contact Sally Bernier, sbernier@newport.lib.nh.us

Internet Access

Access to the internet is available to the public, no library card necessary. Laptops can be checked out for use in the reference area of the library.

Food in the Library

Eating and drinking in the library are permissible within reason. Patrons should be cognizant of noise while eating around other patrons. Beverages should be in covered containers. Patrons should avoid foods with strong aromas or allergens. All food must be consumed at a table and patrons must clean up after themselves.

Collection Development & Book Challenges

All acquisitions, whether purchased or donated, are evaluated by the following standards.  Clearly, however, an item need not meet all the criteria to be acceptable nor will any single criterion be decisive.

The following general criteria are used:

1. Present and potential relevance to community needs;
2. Suitability of subject, style and reading level for the intended  audience;
3. Importance as a document of the times;
4. Appropriateness and effectiveness of medium to content;
5. Reputation and/or significance of author, publisher or producer;
6. Positive review in one or more appropriate professional journals;
7. Positive critics’ and staff members’ reviews;
8. Relationship to existing materials in the collection;
9. Within the limits of the materials budgets;
10. Not available, or with limited accessibility, from other lending sources;
11. Insufficient materials available on the same subject;
12. Author or illustrator is local;
13. Format is appropriate to library use and is not easily damaged;
14. Enhances a specific collection within the library;
15. Literary and artistic merit;
16. Accuracy of content;
17. Popularity with library patrons.

The trustees realize that because they wish the materials selection policy to be comprehensive, there is the possibility that some materials in the library may be regarded by some as unpleasant or offensive, or in political opposition to local beliefs.  However, if the Richards Free Library is to fulfill its obligation of providing materials and information, then it must have in its collection material of varied views, even those points of view which may be regarded as controversial.

If a borrower wishes to register a complaint about a specific item, s/he will be asked to fill out a complaint form provided by the library.  The librarian will present this form at the next board meeting, and the borrower will receive a written answer within ten days after the board meeting.

All gifts are subject to evaluation by the general and specific criteria listed in the policy for the relevant collections.  Donors are informed that any gifts to the library may or may not be added to the collection.  Any item which is not added may be donated to another institution where it might be used, or it may be sold in the Library Festival Book Sale.

Materials which are no longer useful in the light of stated objectives of the library will be systematically weeded from the collection according to accepted professional practices.  Such material will either be sold in the annual Library Festival Book Sale, or disposed of in an appropriate manner.

This policy is based not on personal attitudes, but in support of the American Library Association’s official Freedom to Read Statement, which explicitly states that libraries need not endorse every idea contained in materials made available; and on the fundamental Library Bill of Rights, which defines the prerogative of individuals, regardless of their age, to read and use library materials.

Behavior Policy

The Richards Free Library is dedicated to serving the educational and recreational reading needs of the Newport area.  The members of the staff provide service to our patrons and at the same time are stewards of the collection and facilities.  We provide materials and service to all in an equitable manner.  In order to provide a library setting that is conducive to educational pursuits the following policy has been established.

The rules of behavior in the Library are based on common courtesy and a respect for the rights of others.  Smoking is not allowed on library property. Disruptive behavior is not allowed.  Disruptive behavior is defined as any noisy, boisterous or acting-out behavior which is inappropriate in a library setting, vandalism or misuse of library property.  This behavior may represent a physical danger to others, or may serve to interfere with the legitimate library business of other patrons or staff.  Appropriate activities include:  doing homework, writing reports, researching, browsing for books, thinking, daydreaming and reading.  If games, puzzles, the Internet or the listening center are available, they are to be used quietly so as not to disturb others.

Library staff members may ask a patron to leave the premises with or without prior warning, depending upon the seriousness of the violation of these guidelines for behavior. The length of the eviction shall depend upon the nature and seriousness of the offense that required removal, the extent of damage or disruption caused any history of prior infractions of library policies, and other relevant circumstances.

Appeal process:

• Any patron wishing to appeal a library staff decision on unattended children and/or disruptive behavior in the library may do so within 5 days by writing the Library Board of Trustees.
• The Board of Trustees will meet with the patron or patrons at the next scheduled board meeting
• Decision will be rendered within 5 working days following said hearing. 
• Such decisions will be final

The Richards Free Library welcomes children to use its facilities and services.  However, responsibility for children using the library rests with the parent/guardian or assigned chaperone, over the age of sixteen, not with library personnel.  Children under the age of nine are not to be left unattended at the Library.  Damages to library property will be the responsibility of the parent/guardian.

The children’s area of the Library is reserved for children, their parents or responsible adult caregivers, and adults interested in children’s literature, such as teachers and college students taking children’s literature classes. Everyone is invited to browse and use the children’s and young adult collection, but we ask that patrons take the materials to use in the general use part of the library. Out of concern for the safety of young patrons, adults who are unaccompanied by a child in the children’s area of the library may be questioned by staff, and may be asked to move to another area of the Library.