Library Operations and Rules

I. OBJECTIVES

1. To operate this library in accordance with the New Hampshire Library Laws and to strive to meet the current standards set by the American Library Association and the New Hampshire Statewide Library development System for public libraries in towns of similar population.
2. To seek to identify community needs and to assemble books and related materials in order to serve members of the community by providing materials to meet their informational, educational and recreational needs.

II. THE BOARD OF LIBRARY TRUSTEES

• Pursuant with the laws of the State of New Hampshire, five legal residents of the town of Hillsborough shall be elected trustees. The Hillsborough Board of Selectmen will appoint no more than 2 alternates to the board of the Fuller Public Library.
• This board shall be the governing body of the Fuller Public Library, and determine 

      written policies that will govern the operation, program and personnel of the

      library.

• The board shall meet no less than six times per year at times called by the

      chairperson with notice of meetings posted as required by law. Regular board 

      meetings are open to the public.

• The board shall adopt by-laws for its governance. (Attachment  #1)
• The board shall employ a competent and qualified library director. The director shall attend all board meetings except when the position, salary, or performance evaluation of the director is discussed.
• The board, with the cooperation of the director, shall prepare the annual budget, present the approved budget to the proper municipal officers and be available to answer queries at budget hearing and the Town Meeting. Appropriated funds shall be encumbered or expended annually. Income from trust funds will be expended according to the terms of the bequest or donation. Income from fines and/or income generating equipment shall be spent according to law. The fiscal year shall be January 1 to December 31.
• The board, with the director, shall prepare and submit any report required by state or local laws.
• Membership in and conference attendance to New Hampshire Library Trustees Association for all trustees and membership and conference attendance to New Hampshire Library Association for the director shall be provided for in the library budget.

III  STAFFING

Staff shall consist of a Director, Assistant Director and/or Technical Services Assistant, a Director of Children and Youth Services, and full or part-time Assistants.

IV.HOLIDAYS THE LIBRARY WILL BE CLOSED OR CLOSE EARLY

New Year’s Day                          Columbus Day

Martin Luther King Day              Federal Election Day

President’s Day                            (every four years)

Memorial Day                              Veteran’s Day

Fourth of July                               Thanksgiving Day

Labor Day                                     Christmas Day

If a holiday falls on a Saturday, the library will be closed for that day. If a holiday falls on a Sunday, the library will close on the following Monday. Additionally, the library will close New Year’s Eve and Christmas Eve beginning at noon and at 5pm the evening of the annual Town Meeting.

V.    LIBRARY SERVICES AND HOURS

1. The library will be open thirty-six (36) hours per week, schedule to be

      approved by the board of trustees and prominently posted.

• The Fuller Public Library will offer the following basic services:
  • Summer children’s reading incentive program
  • Pre-school story hour
  • Adult literacy program
  • Scheduled visitations by elementary school groups
  • Adult and Teen book discussion groups
  • Audio books
  • Large print books
  • Video collection
  • Computer terminals with access to the internet
  •  Interlibrary loan

• The library staff will utilize interlibrary loans (ILL) to borrow materials not owned

      by the library or to loan materials to other libraries as long as materials

      requested are not in use or on reserve. The library will comply with the

      provisions of the “New Hampshire Interlibrary Loan Protocol Manual 1999”.

1. Patrons in good standing (see section VII Use of the Library) with the library are able to borrow ILL books after their trial period is over.

• Inclement Weather Closings: in case of inclement weather the Library Director will make the decision to close or delay opening the library. The primary factor of any decision made will be the safety of the staff and the library patrons. However, maximum effort will be made to maintain regular operating hours.
  • The Library Director will notify the public of any closures though the local TV station (WMUR), Facebook, and if possible a note on the front door.

• The Library will purchase museum and other passes as long as the budget allows. Patrons in good standing with the Library may borrow the passes.

VI.    RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT

1. Ultimate responsibility for the resource development policy rests with the

      board of trustees. The board authorizes the library director to approve all

      library materials and programs selected.

• Resources include books, periodicals, audio and videos, library

      initiated programming and other library material including computer usage.

• Resources will be developed that meet the interests and needs of the

      community, will represent a wide range of ideas and views and will be

      consistent with the library’s policy of free access to information. Topics,

      speakers, books, media and other resources will not be excluded because of

      possible controversy.  

• Library programs may be presented in coordination with other agencies,

      organizations and institutions as well as other public and private resources. All

      materials to be used by co-sponsoring agency must be approved in advance.

      Library sponsorship of a program does not constitute endorsement of the

      program of the views of the participants.

• Library programs are free and open to the public. There may, however, be a

      charge for materials, or to off-set the cost of a class.

• The director is responsible for the withdrawal and disposal of library materials

      no longer needed. Such materials may be sold, gifted to other institutions or

      sold.

VII.   USE OF THE LIBRARY

1. The library shall serve all residents of the community. Persons residing outside

the Town of Hillsborough, but owning property, attending or working at Hillsboro-Deering public schools or working in town shall be considered residents. Individuals are required to show proof of residence, proof of property ownership or proof of employment.

1. Anyone under the age of 18 must have parent/guardian permission to open a library card.
   1. Children must be in first grade to open a library card.
   1. Trial Period: First time users may check out 2 items, when they are returned by their due date more can be checked out.
   1. Patrons in good standing do not have overdues or fines on their accounts.

• Non-residents may be asked to pay an annual fee to obtain borrowing

privileges in the Fuller Public Library. Summer Residents pay a monthly fee. Residents of Windsor do not pay a fee as long as the Town of Windsor sends a donation every year.

• By borrowing materials from the library, the borrower is deemed to have

       agreed to return the materials by the stated deadline and in the same condition

     in which they were borrowed. Fines will be assessed for overdue materials as stated in the Recovering Overdue Material Procedure. Patrons are responsible for the replacement/repair cost of lost or damaged materials that were borrowed by them. Patrons may be denied registration for programs, use of the computers, or the right to borrow additional materials pending satisfactory resolution of any of the above.

• The meeting room may be used in accordance with the Meeting Room Policy.

• Announcements of community interest from nonprofit organizations, schools

       and governmental agencies may be displayed at places and at times approved

       by the director. No materials, leaflets or posters, which advocate the election of

       any candidate, may be displayed on library property.

• Service animals that are specifically trained to aid a disabled person are permitted in the library.

VIII.     GIFTS AND MEMORIALS

1. Books and other materials will be accepted on the condition that the library has

       the authority to make whatever disposition it deems advisable. All materials so

       acquired will be designated as gifts.

• Gifts of money, real property and/or securities may be accepted providing that

       conditions attached, if any, are acceptable to the board of trustees and allowed

       by law. Personal property, art objects, portraits, antiques and other objects may

       be accepted at the discretion of the board of trustees.

• The director will issue a receipt for gifts of personal property, art antiques, etc.

       but can not attach a dollar amount.

IX.    CONFIDENTIALITY

                 Pursuant to RSA 201-D: 11, the library’s circulation records and other records

identifying the names of library users with specific materials, are confidential.

                 The trustees, director or staff shall not make these records available to any

                 agency of the federal, state or local government without consent of the

                 individual involved or by subpoena or court order (Attachment #6).

X.    FRIENDS OF THE LIBRARY

                 An autonomous citizen’s group serving as liaison between the community and

                 the library, it acts in cooperation with the director and the trustees and has no

                statutory authority.

XI.   VOLUNTEERS

            See the Volunteer Policy.

XII.   AMENDMENTS AND REVIEW

1. This policy may be amended at any regular meeting of the trustees, provided

        that all proposed changes have been submitted to all trustees in writing four

                weeks prior to said meeting.

• This policy shall be reviewed annually.

Approved 8/9/2021; revisions 4/11/2022; revised 9/12/2022.