Policy

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Accommodation user profiles

Information about accommodation patron types, which provide options for patrons who may need something other than the standard patron type.

Circulation

Adaptive technology stations and the ADA (search station management)

These guidelines are intended to help staff manage the use of adaptive technology stations (ATS) effectively

Library services

Administrative library accounts

Library employees or work groups may create Administration - Materials use by Staff library accounts to use for library work purposes only

Circulation

Americans With Disabilities Act (ADA) Plan of Service

Plan for serving patrons with disabilities

Facilities

Animals in County Buildings - FAQ

Frequently asked questions

Facilities

Bulletin Board Regulations

Policy for public use of bulletin board spaces. It details procedures for posting materials and maintaining bulletin boards at all locations.

Facilities
Library services

Cellular phones

Cell phone use is permitted by the public within Multnomah County Library buildings and should be regulated by MCL Behavior Rule #22

Facilities
Safety and security

Change Item Specific hold to Copy Returned Soonest

How to change item specific (Copy Hold) to copy returned soonest (Title Hold).

Circulation

Children alone in the library

Guidelines for staff for children under 10 alone in the library

Facilities
Library services
Safety and security

Children left alone in the library after closing

Policy and procedures for staff to assist a child left alone at closing time. It includes guidelines for contacting parents, police, and security.

Facilities
Library services
Safety and security

Comments and complaints from patrons

Information on the process for handling patron feedback, including policies and procedures. It details steps for handling paper comment cards and online submissions via Knowledge Tracker.

Collections
Facilities
Library services

Community rooms policy

Policy and procedural information for use of the community rooms (previously referred to as meeting rooms and study rooms).

Facilities
Library services

Complaints about library materials

Information and guidelines for responding to concerns from patrons about library materials, including statement of concern forms. The entry also provides information on the library's commitment to intellectual freedom.

Collections
Library services

Computer Lab Policy

Computer Lab Policy

Library services

Computers: guidelines for extending public computer tme

Link to guidelines for Extending Public Computer Time

Library services

Confidentiality of library records — staff procedures

Patron records my only be accessed by authorized people.

Circulation

Confidentiality of patron records -- staff procedures, application

How authorized people can access patron record information.

Circulation

Confidentiality of patron records — staff procedures, application, patron is present

Confidentiality application when the patron is present.

Circulation

Confidentiality of patron records — staff procedures, application, patron not present

Confidentiality application when the patron is not present.

Circulation

Confidentiality of patron records — staff procedures, policy

Confidentiality of patron records — staff procedures, policy. account holder, library cards, card numbers, PIN/password, privacy, barcode on phone

Circulation

Confidentiality of patron records — staff procedures, rationale

Why the library has confidentiality policies and procedures.

Circulation

Confidentiality of patron records — staff procedures, unauthorized access

What to do if a patron cannot give 2-3 pieces of identifying personal information or a person only wants personal information from an account.

Circulation

Confidentiality quick facts

Brief highlights of confidentiality practices.

Circulation

Defective Materials, New

New items which are defective to the vendor within these specified guidelines

Collections

Display cases/exhibits

Procedure for using library display cases and exhibit areas. Includes guidelines for the Central Library's Collins Gallery and branch libraries, covering scheduling, installation, and publicity.

Library services

Distribution of Free Community Materials

Procedures and guidelines for distributing brochures, newspapers, and other printed materials.

Facilities
Library services

Emergency Closure/Change in Library Hours

Policy and Procedure for closing or delaying the opening of a library due to inclement weather. It details how staff are notified (Telephone Tree) and the actions they should take to ensure the safety of both staff and patrons.

Facilities
Safety and security

Headphones: loaning, disposal and free earbuds

This policy clarifies when libraries should loan headphones or give away earbuds; how libraries should ensure that headphones are returned; how patrons should be charged for lost or damaged.

Library services

Identification requirements

Identification requirements for getting a library card. Keywords: ID, license, photo ID, library card application, parent or guardian

Circulation

Intellectual Freedom

Multnomah County Library upholds the principles of intellectual freedom and the public's right to know by providing people of all ages with access and guidance to information

Collections
Library services

Internet, filtering and blocking

The library’s policy on Internet filtering has been affirmed by the Board of County Commissioners. Internet filtering options are determined by age.

Circulation

Long distance telephone numbers

How to call a long distance telephone number

Circulation
Library services

Marijuana – response guidelines

Information about handling Marijuana in library locations

Safety and security

Media policies & procedures

Policies and procedures for interacting with the media. It designates official spokespeople and provides guidance for staff on how to handle media inquiries.

Marcom

Name fields

How to enter the name(s) the patron goes by as well as name on ID (if it differs) on patron records. Used when creating a new account, or keeping an account updated to reflect changes.

Circulation

Notice for New Employees & Volunteers Relating to the Prevention of Workplace Violence

MCL is committed to maintaining a safe and healthy workplace and prohibits any form of violence or threats of violence in the workplace. All staff are responsible for assisting with the preservation of a safe and secure work environment.

Employee resources

Pageturners To Go bookclub kits

Pageturners To Go kits were created for book groups to use. Pageturners To Go kits are sets of 10 copies of the same title. Keywords: book club, page turners

Circulation
Collections

Passport Program

The Passport Program allows library cardholders of participating Oregon libraries(link is external) to get a Multnomah County Library card.

Circulation
Library services

Patron use of library phone

The policy for patrons using library phones.

Safety and security

Patron use of the Internet Stations

Library patrons may use the internet stations up to four hours per day.

Library services

Patrons outside the free service area

How to figure out if your patron is in the free service area and what to do if they are outside the free service area.

Circulation
Library services

Patrons without address or identification

How to help patrons who may not have an address or photo ID.

Circulation

Petitioning, soliciting and hand-distributing of written materials at the library

Policy for petitioning, soliciting, and hand-distributing written materials at approved Multnomah County Library locations.

Library services

Photography and Video in the Library

Explains when permission is required and provides contact information for the Public Communications Manager. The document also emphasizes patron privacy and restricted filming locations.

Facilities
Library services
Marcom

Policy review team

Through conducting Equity Impact Reviews of policies and doing research as requested, the Policy Review Team supports the policy development process for policies and procedures related to intellectual freedom and library services.

Policy

Prayer

Policy on prayer in public spaces and gives guidance to staff on handling patron inquiries and requests related to prayer.

Library services

Public Internet Use Click-through Agreements

Text of the Agreement for Use of Public Computers at Multnomah County Library     

Employee resources

Reasonable accommodations for patrons with disabilities

Policy for providing reasonable accommodations to patrons with disabilities, per the Americans with Disabilities Act. It details procedures for handling accommodation requests, including interim accommodations and exceptions to library rules. The document also includes guidelines for requesting sign language interpreters.

Circulation
Library services

Reasonable accommodations for patrons with disabilities FAQ

Answers for: What a reasonable accommodation is and why we offer it, when to submit a request for reasonable accommodation, how to submit an accommodation request, what to expect in the process, how to support an accommodation, and who to contact with questions.

Circulation
Library services

Records retention - patron and item records

How long patron and item records are kept in Symphony. Keywords: inactive accounts, inactive checkouts, inactive holds, Missing, shred, shredding

Circulation

Renewals

How to renew items.

Circulation

Request for Information

Follow this procedure if you are asked for library records by a law enforcement officer.

Safety and security

Responding to Requests for Legal Verification and Declaration

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Collections

Security Camera Use in the Library

Policy and guidelines for the use of security cameras in Multnomah County Library locations. It covers Security Camera Locations, Access to Digital Images, Use and Disclosure, and Retention of Digital Images. Also details authorized staff and procedures for handling requests for video footage, including those for security incident report purposes.

Facilities
Library services
Safety and security

Sensory rooms at the library policy

Information about sensory rooms for patron use, including a link to the policy and additional guidance for staff on monitoring, managing use and access, and cleaning of the rooms.

Library services

Service Animals

Guidelines for animals in the library and definition of a service animal.

Safety and security

Shredding Quick Tips

When and how to shred records as required by law

Employee resources

Social Software Policy

Multnomah County Library's policy on social software use by staff. It covers content creation, both on and off the job, staff responsibilities, and moderating public content. It defines social software, addresses employee free speech, and provides guidelines for professional online conduct.

Employee resources
Marcom

Staff Parking at Library Locations

PolicyMultnomah County Library requires that employees who park their cars in a branch library parking lot use those spaces that are farthest from the public entrance to the building....

Facilities

Staff use of personal library accounts

How library staff should use their personal library cards to comply with ethics laws and standards.

Circulation
Facilities
Library services

Staff use of Symphony, the Integrated Library System (ILS)

How staff should use Symphony, the Integrated Library System (ILS) to protect patron privacy, library data, and to comply with ethics laws and standards.

Circulation

Staff, volunteers and the free service area

Library employees and active volunteers will receive a library card for personal use free of charge even if their residence is outside Multnomah County or the free service area

Circulation
Library services

Statistics

PolicyThe Multnomah County Library collects and records statistics in order to measure library usage.RationaleStatistics are used to monitor library activity for the...

Employee resources

Sterling Room for Writers

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Facilities

Taxpayer cards

Individuals living outside free service area but paying Multnomah County property taxes may have free library service for themselves and their household

Circulation

Telephone interpretation and sign language interpreter services

Information on the available interpreter services, including telephone, in-person and sign language at Multnomah County Library.

Library services

Use of discarded materials for library programs and services

Procedures for use of discarded materials for library programs and services. Keywords: discard, retired

Facilities

Visitors to staff only areas of Central Library

RationaleTo ensure that staff can easily identify authorized visitors in “Staff Only” areas of the Central Library.  Library staff members should question unknown persons who do not...

Facilities

Wireless Internet Access

Wi-fi Policies for Multnomah County Library

Library services

Wireless Internet Use Click-through Agreement

Public wireless internet agreement

Library services