Books/Audio Tapes/CDs/Nonfiction Videos

No Borrowing Limit (see below for exceptions)
2-week loan
25 cents/day fine
$20.00 Fine Limit
2 renewals (if not on hold)
May renew by phone
May put on reserve

Entertainment Videos/DVDs

May borrow 2 at a time
2-day loan
$2.00/day fine
Fine Limit per item: $20.00
No renewals
May not renew by phone
May not put on reserve
Must be over 18 to borrow

Exceptions to borrow policy

Only 3 nonfiction books on a subject may be borrow at a time
Unaccompanied children may only borrow 3 books at a time

Meeting Room Policy

Meeting rooms in the McCowan Memorial Library provide an opportunity for bringing together the resources of the Library and the activities of the community for educational, cultural, civic, intellectual, and charitable purposes. The primary purpose of the meeting rooms is for Library activities, including programs presented by Library staff or by the Friends of the Library and other organizations affiliated with the Library. The Library reserves the right to cancel reservations for meeting rooms if the space is needed for library activities. When not in use for Library-sponsored events, meeting rooms are available for use by community groups that meet the Library’s guidelines and for purposes that are consistent with the Library’s mission, goals and objectives*.

First preference will be given to groups that are using or sponsoring the use of Library materials or programs. Examples of this category are: Friends of the McCowan Memorial Library and book discussion groups.

Second preference will be given to non-profit, cultural, scientific, humanitarian, self-help, educational, and community-service groups whose purpose in meeting is to provide information, study or problem-solving. Examples of this category are: wildlife and nature organizations, social service agencies, hobby and special interest groups, and city departments.

McCowan Memorial Library’s meeting rooms are available free of charge to any individual, organization (profit or nonprofit), commercial entity or professional practitioner as long as:

It is not for:

private social gatherings
money-raising
commercial purposes
sales presentations or solicitations
religious services or ceremonies
benefit of private individuals or commercial concerns
organizations whose primary business is offering classes for profit or academic credit.
meetings that are closed to the public or admission is charged
selling of a particular product or service
acquiring of personal information through pre-registration, registration, sign-in-sheets, etc.

Organizations--non profit or otherwise--whose reason for using the meetings room do not meet the above criteria may use the meeting room for conferences, seminars etc. for a fee of $20.00 an hour or portion thereof. The fee must be paid prior to or on the day of the scheduled event.

The meeting rooms are made available on an equitable basis regardless of the beliefs or affiliations of individuals or groups requesting its use. Permission to meet at the Library does not in any way constitute or imply endorsement of the user’s policies or beliefs by the Library staff, Board of Trustees or the Borough of Pitman.

Groups shall abide by applicable laws, ordinances, codes and other rules. (See General Regulations and Guidelines.) Violations of any regulation may result in the immediate removal of the group from the meeting room and Library.

Liability
The Library allows the use of its facilities with the understanding that the Library accepts no responsibility for the personal safety of any person, either inside or outside the building, during that use. The Library is not responsible for damage, loss, or theft of personal property.

Application Procedure
The application form is available at the Circulation Desk and is to be completed in advance by a representative of the group requesting use of the Meeting Room. Completed forms will be returned to the Circulation Desk at least forty-eight hours before the proposed meeting, but no more than six months in advance. These forms may be requested by telephone to be mailed to an applicant, but no reservations will be made or confirmed until the Reservation Form is returned to the Library. Notification will be given to the applicant only when the requested date is unavailable.

Cancellations by the organization will be accepted by telephone by the person who made the original application. In event of emergency, the Library Director reserves the right to cancel meeting room reservations. Such cancellations may be made by telephone.

If a meeting is scheduled during a time when the Library is not open, a key to the Library entrance and Meeting Room can be obtained one day prior to or on the day of the meeting from the Circulation Desk. There is a $20.00 refundable deposit for the key. All keys must be returned to the Circulation Desk no later than the first hour of business of the day following the meeting.

*Mission Statement

The mission of McCowan Memorial Library is to inform, enrich and empower every person in our community by providing open and equal access to the resources and services of the Library. To meet the informational, educational and cultural needs of the community, the library seeks to encourage reading and the use of technology for life-long learning and the enhancement of the quality of life.

Adopted by the Board of Trustees November 17, 2009

Unattended Children

McCowan Memorial Library welcomes children to use its facilities and services. However, the responsibility for the care, safety and behavior of children using the library rests with the parent, guardian or caregiver.

An unattended child is defined as;
1. A child unable to care for himself/herself when left in the Library without a parent, guardian or caregiver within sight or sound range and/or
2. A child without a safe way home from the library at closing time.

It is not the intention of the Library to seek out unattended children, but to have a reasoned response prepared when a problem does present itself. For this reason, the following policy and procedures have been established.

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