Policies are the rules and principles that guide the operation and use of the library. Our rules are designed to help create a safe and pleasant learning environment for all of our patrons. The Board of Trustees of the Southeast Steuben County Library has the sole legal authority to make Library policy. The Board encourages staff and members of the community to recommend new policies or reconsider existing policies, as the need arises. Please make your recommendation to the Board Policy Committee.

Library Bill of Rights

The American Library Association and the Southeast Steuben County Library affirm that all libraries are forums for information and ideas, and that the following basic policies should guide their services.

1. Books and other library resources should be provided for the interest, information, and enlightenment of all people of the community the library serves. Materials should not be excluded because of the origin, background, or views of those contributing to their creation.
2. Libraries should provide materials and information presenting all points of view on current and historical issues. Materials should not be proscribed or removed because of partisan or doctrinal disapproval.
3. Libraries should challenge censorship in the fulfillment of their responsibility to provide information and enlightenment.
4. Libraries should cooperate with all persons and groups concerned with resisting abridgment of free expression and free access to ideas.
5. A person’s right to use a library should not be denied or abridged because of origin, age, background, or views.
6. Libraries that make exhibit spaces and meeting rooms available to the public they serve should make such facilities available on an equitable basis, regardless of the beliefs or affiliations of individuals or groups requesting their use.

American Library Association: Adopted June 19, 1939, by the ALA Council; amended October 14, 1944; June 18, 1948; February 2, 1961; June 27, 1967; January 23, 1980; inclusion of “age” reaffirmed January 23, 1996.

The Southeast Steuben County Library: Adopted by the Board of Trustees September 8, 2011

The Freedom to Read Statement

The freedom to read is essential to our democracy. It is continuously under attack. Private groups and public authorities in various parts of the country are working to remove or limit access to reading materials, to censor content in schools, to label “controversial” views, to distribute lists of “objectionable” books or authors, and to purge libraries. These actions apparently rise from a view that our national tradition of free expression is no longer valid; that censorship and suppression are needed to counter threats to safety or national security, as well as to avoid the subversion of politics and the corruption of morals. We, as individuals devoted to reading and as librarians and publishers responsible for disseminating ideas, wish to assert the public interest in the preservation of the freedom to read.

Most attempts at suppression rest on a denial of the fundamental premise of democracy: that the ordinary individual, by exercising critical judgment, will select the good and reject the bad. We trust Americans to recognize propaganda and misinformation, and to make their own decisions about what they read and believe. We do not believe they are prepared to sacrifice their heritage of a free press in order to be “protected” against what others think may be bad for them. We believe they still favor free enterprise in ideas and expression.

These efforts at suppression are related to a larger pattern of pressures being brought against education, the press, art and images, films, broadcast media, and the Internet. The problem is not only one of actual censorship. The shadow of fear cast by these pressures leads, we suspect, to an even larger voluntary curtailment of expression by those who seek to avoid controversy or unwelcome scrutiny by government officials.

Such pressure toward conformity is perhaps natural to a time of accelerated change. And yet suppression is never more dangerous than in such a time of social tension. Freedom has given the United States the elasticity to endure strain. Freedom keeps open the path of novel and creative solutions, and enables change to come by choice. Every silencing of a heresy, every enforcement of an orthodoxy, diminishes the toughness and resilience of our society and leaves it the less able to deal with controversy and difference.

Now as always in our history, reading is among our greatest freedoms. The freedom to read and write is almost the only means for making generally available ideas or manners of expression that can initially command only a small audience. The written word is the natural medium for the new idea and the untried voice from which come the original contributions to social growth. It is essential to the extended discussion that serious thought requires, and to the accumulation of knowledge and ideas into organized collections.

We believe that free communication is essential to the preservation of a free society and a creative culture. We believe that these pressures toward conformity present the danger of limiting the range and variety of inquiry and expression on which our democracy and our culture depend. We believe that every American community must jealously guard the freedom to publish and to circulate, in order to preserve its own freedom to read. We believe that publishers and librarians have a profound responsibility to give validity to that freedom to read by making it possible for the readers to choose freely from a variety of offerings.

The freedom to read is guaranteed by the Constitution. Those with faith in free people will stand firm on these constitutional guarantees of essential rights and will exercise the responsibilities that accompany these rights.
We therefore affirm these propositions:

1. It is in the public interest for publishers and librarians to make available the widest diversity of views and expressions, including those that are unorthodox, unpopular, or considered dangerous by the majority.
2. Publishers, librarians, and booksellers do not need to endorse every idea or presentation they make available. It would conflict with the public interest for them to establish their own political, moral, or aesthetic views as a standard for determining what should be published or circulated.
3. It is contrary to the public interest for publishers or librarians to bar access to writings on the basis of the personal history or political affiliations of the author.
4. There is no place in our society for efforts to coerce the taste of others, to confine adults to the reading matter deemed suitable for adolescents, or to inhibit the efforts of writers to achieve artistic expression.
5. It is not in the public interest to force a reader to accept the prejudgment of a label characterizing any expression or its author as subversive or dangerous.
6. It is the responsibility of publishers and librarians, as guardians of the people’s freedom to read, to contest encroachments upon that freedom by individuals or groups seeking to impose their own standards or tastes upon the community at large; and by the government whenever it seeks to reduce or deny public access to public information.
7. It is the responsibility of publishers and librarians to give full meaning to the freedom to read by providing books that enrich the quality and diversity of thought and expression. By the exercise of this affirmative responsibility, they can demonstrate that the answer to a “bad” book is a good one, the answer to a “bad” idea is a good one.

We state these propositions neither lightly nor as easy generalizations. We here stake out a lofty claim for the value of the written word. We do so because we believe that it is possessed of enormous variety and usefulness, worthy of cherishing and keeping free. We realize that the application of these propositions may mean the dissemination of ideas and manners of expression that are repugnant to many persons. We do not state these propositions in the comfortable belief that what people read is unimportant. We believe rather that what people read is deeply important; that ideas can be dangerous; but that the suppression of ideas is fatal to a democratic society. Freedom itself is a dangerous way of life, but it is ours.

This statement was originally issued in May of 1953 by the Westchester Conference of the American Library Association and the American Book Publishers Council, which in 1970 consolidated with the American Educational Publishers Institute to become the Association of American Publishers.
Adopted June 25, 1953, by the ALA Council and the AAP Freedom to Read Committee; amended January 28, 1972; January 16, 1991; July 12, 2000; June 30, 2004.

The Southeast Steuben County Library:
Adopted By the Board of Trustees September 8, 2011

Freedom to View

The FREEDOM TO VIEW, along with the freedom to speak, to hear, and to read, is protected by the First Amendment to the Constitution of the United States. In a free society, there is no place for censorship of any medium of expression. Therefore these principles are affirmed:

1. To provide the broadest access to film, video, and other audiovisual materials because they are a means for the communication of ideas. Liberty of circulation is essential to insure the constitutional guarantees of freedom of expression.
2. To protect the confidentiality of all individuals and institutions using film, video, and other audiovisual materials.
3. To provide film, video, and other audiovisual materials which represent a diversity of views and expression. Selection of a work does not constitute or imply agreement with or approval of the content.
4. To provide a diversity of viewpoints without the constraint of labeling or prejudging film, video, or other audiovisual materials on the basis of the moral, religious, or political beliefs of the producer or filmmaker or on the basis of controversial content.
5. To contest vigorously, by all lawful means, every encroachment upon the public’s freedom to view.

This statement was originally drafted by the Freedom to View Committee of the American Film and Video Association (formerly the Educational Film Library Association) and was adopted by the AFVA Board of Directors in February 1979. This statement was updated and approved by the AFVA Board of Directors in 1989.

The Southeast Steuben County Library:
Adopted by the Board of Trustees September 8, 2011

Internet Access and Use Statement:

Designated Internet stations are located where they can be monitored by staff for assistance and security.
Use of the library’s Internet and Wi-Fi connection is a privilege, not a right. The user is accountable for his or her actions and activity while online. Users are reminded that the library’s computer terminals are located in public areas that are shared with library users and staff of all ages, backgrounds and sensibilities. Individuals are expected to respect the sensibilities of others when accessing information or images.
Unacceptable use of Internet access will result in the suspension of computer privileges, and may result in loss of library privileges.

Revised: March 13, 2014

Customer Service Policy

In fulfilling its mission, the Southeast Steuben County Library strives at all times to provide excellence in customer service. Hospitable, educated and knowledgeable staff members assist patrons in finding the materials and services they want and need. Staff offers services in a fair and professional manner that treats everyone with courtesy and respect and asks for courtesy and respect in return.

1. Library staff will treat every patron with equal respect and every request with equal importance.
2. Courtesy and attention to the needs of the library user will be the key to all interactions. Staff will try to be flexible in meeting library patrons’ needs. Whenever possible, judgment calls will be made in the patrons’ favor.
3. Staff will use their knowledge of library resources to fulfill requests in a timely manner or else present alternatives when requests cannot be met immediately.
4. Staff members are expected to act in a friendly, helpful manner which will ensure that the patron will walk away feeling that their experience with the Library has been a positive one.
5. Library policies and procedures exist to make library resources available on an equitable basis:
   • Staff recognizes the need to enforce policies and procedures and that some patrons may find this disagreeable. Staff will be patient, respectful and helpful even when being firm about library rules.
   • If a patron questions a policy or if the purpose of a policy is not understood, staff should provide an explanation or else refer the patron to their immediate supervisor, the Assistant Library Director or Library Director.
6. All interactions and transactions between a library patron or group of patrons and the Library will be considered confidential and will be discussed only in a professional context.
7. Library staff will seek to meet library patrons’ expectations for service in fulfilling the library’s mission. Any comments are welcome regarding how well those expectations are being met.
8. 8. The Library supports high standards of customer service through a plan of employee training, leadership development and opportunities for customer input.
9. During interactions with library staff, patrons can expect to:
   • Be acknowledged appropriately
   • Be treated courteously and respectfully
   • Be valued for their input
   • Receive the same high standard of service regardless of age, race, ethnicity, religion, gender, physical limitations, or other criteria
   • Receive prompt and timely service
   • Receive knowledgeable service and professionalism from all staff
   • Have their privacy and confidentiality respected

Adopted by the Library Board of Trustees on 2/9/2012

Access to Services for our Patrons with Disabilities

The Southeast Steuben County Library recognizes its responsibility to provide access to persons with disabilities. The Library seeks to have its services, facilities, and programs accessible.
The Southeast Steuben County Library will provide and maintain accommodations, or arrange for accommodations to be provided through the Southern Tier Library System or other agencies.
These accommodations may include but not be limited to:

• Material assistance for those with visual or physical handicaps in print, audio and computer peripherals
• Home delivery of library materials through Meals on Wheels or the Postal Service
• We welcome appropriate and qualified service animals and therapy dogs
• A wheelchair is available for in house use
• FM hearing assisted listening is available in the community room
• A qualified sign language interpreter can be provided upon advanced written request. An accommodations form must be filled out in advance for this service.

In order to request an accommodation for programming, please complete and submit an Accommodations Request Form. Accommodation forms can be found at the Circulation desk.

Adopted by the Southeast Steuben County Board of Trustees, October 13, 2011.

Public Bulletin Board and Pamphlet Rack Policy

• • The Library Director or designee must approve all posters, flyers, and other such materials. Final determination on the display of material will be determined by the library in keeping with the library’s role as a source of community information. Please submit all materials to the Circulation desk. Items posted without approval will be removed.
  • Items displayed are restricted to local cultural/educational events or announcements from local non-profit groups.
  • Events publicized should occur within 30 days.
  • Certain restrictions apply to the materials which are displayed.  Disallowed materials are those that do not fit within the library’s role as a source of community information, including, but not limited to:
  • Partisan Political Material
  • Petitions
  • Solicitations
  • Surveys
  • Materials Promoting a Particular Religion or Denomination
  • Items Posted Without Prior Approval
  • The library may, at its discretion, retain copies of any materials posted or placed in the library for distribution.
  • Acceptance of materials for display on the library’s Public Bulletin Board or Pamphlet Rack(s) does not constitute library endorsement of the materials or the events or activities publicized. The library assumes no responsibility therein.

Adopted by the Board of Trustees on April 12, 2012

Circulation Policy- Checking out Materials

The library is committed to providing a wide range of written, video and audio items to respond to the needs of the community.

Circulation Procedures:

A Library patron may borrow items from the library on loan with the provisions as noted below. The total number of allowable items per card is 50.

Renewals are not available if the item is requested by another patron.

To Check Out library items:
All patrons must have their library card or appropriate ID
which includes: a New York State Driver’s License, NYS auto registration, a personal checkbook with printed current address, a post marked item of mail to one’s current address, or another official document with one’s current name and address. Southeast Steuben County library materials may be returned to any library in the Southern Tier Library System, which encompasses Steuben, Chemung, Schuyler, Yates and Allegany counties.

* Summer & Special Loans

Regular (not new) materials  may be borrowed for up to 56 days at request of a patron who will be on an extensive vacation or traveling.  Patrons may borrow up to 16 items for up to 56 days with permission of the circulation staff or Library Director for adult materials and with permission of the Children’s Librarian for juvenile materials.

Fine Free

The Southeast Steuben County Library supports access and equity.  Eliminating fines for overdue materials means more people in our community have greater access to the Library’s vital materials, resources, and services. Late fines, no matter how small, are a very real and significant burden for low-income individuals, disabled persons, seniors, children, and families. Fines act as an inequitable barrier to service and will not be imposed on library patrons.

Overdue Items

Overdue notices: Borrowers will be contacted by telephone, email or mail after items are 14 days and 28 days overdue.

Patrons with outstanding charges of $20.00 or more for lost or damaged items and/or fines imposed by another library in the Southern Tier Library system may not borrow materials until at least partial payment is made.

Patrons with items which are more than 56 days overdue will lose all physical material borrowing privileges until items are returned or outstanding replacement costs are paid.  Additionally, after 70 days patron names will be turned over to a library material retrieval company to obtain return of items.

Lost or damaged materials will incur replacement or repair costs.

Damaged and Lost Items

The extent of damage for any borrowed item is determined by staff.  Patrons will pay the cost of repair for each item deemed to be moderately damaged.  Patrons will pay the list price for items damaged beyond repair. Patrons who pay the cost of the item may keep the item after payment.

Patrons must pay full replacement costs for each item which is lost.  For items no longer in print, the patron will be charged for a similar item.

Special accommodations in extenuating circumstances can be made at the discretion of the Circulation Supervisor

Adopted by the Board of Trustees on July 15, 2021

Reserves & Interlibrary Loans

• Patrons in good standing may reserve library materials which are currently charged out. Items loaned from libraries outside of the Southeast Steuben County Library are subject to the providing library’s policies pertaining to fines, damage and loss. Voluntary charges may be applied to Out-of-System loans.

Patron Code of Conduct

INAPPROPRIATE CONDUCT AND ENFORCEMENT OF POLICY

The following conduct is not consistent with appropriate use of Library Services.
Staff is required to fill out an incident report on minor and major offenses

MINOR OFFENSES:

• Using the Library as a place for extended sleep
• Excessive and disruptive conversations/discussions.
• All beverages must be covered and food must be eaten only in designated areas.
• Chairs must not be occupied by more than one person.
• Using materials for purposes other than reading, research, viewing or listening.
• Unauthorized canvassing, selling, soliciting, or engaging in any other commercial activity.
• Extensive staring at patrons or staff which tends to annoy or disturb.
• Being in a state of intoxication.
• Smoking, chewing tobacco or gambling
• Littering or improper waste disposal
• Animals, except those certified as assistance animals and wearing identifying vests, collars or tags.
• Leaving children unsupervised. (See the Unattended Children Policy.)
• Entering the Library without proper footwear or clothing, including a shirt.
• Cell phones and other devices must be muted. Audible use of cell phones is allowed only in designated areas.
• Using skates, skateboards, or scooters in the Library.
• Improper use of computers. (See the Computer Usage Policy.)
• Parking bicycles or scooters in non-designated areas
• Feet on furniture or walls

• Personal items are the responsibility of patrons. Items should not be left unattended.

• Other activities (not listed in Major Offenses) which are inconsistent with activities such as reading, studying, use of library materials, and other similar conduct normally associated with the use of public library facilities.

TREATMENT OF MINOR OFFENSES:

• One warning for first infraction of any offense.
• Second infraction results in removal from the Library premises for the day.
• Third and subsequent infractions may result in banning from the Library premises for not less than 7 days no more than 6 months.

TREATMENT OF MAJOR OFFENSES:

Any patron who violates these rules will be immediately removed from the building. The patron may be banned for a period of 6 to 12 months within the discretion of the Director/designee, depending on the nature and the seriousness of the offense which required removal, the extent of damage or disruption caused, any history of prior infractions of Library policies, and other relevant circumstances.

MAJOR OFFENSES:

• Stealing or damaging Library property. Removing protective covers from books, magazines, and other media with the intent to damage and/or steal Library property.
• Causing sounds which are unreasonable and highly disruptive of other persons using the Library facilities, including but not limited to, loud, prolonged, abusive, indecent, profane or drunken conversation and/or behavior.
• Committing any crime, misdemeanor, or violation of a municipal ordinance.
• Behavior which is harassing or threatening in nature to Library patrons or staff. This includes following or stalking of patrons or staff.
• Fighting or challenging to fight.
• Drinking alcoholic beverages or repeatedly being in a state of intoxication that precludes the individual’s using the Library for its intended purposes.
• Knowingly entering, without permission, non-public areas of Library facilities.
• Defacing any Library property (Including desks, restrooms, walls ect)

REPEAT OFFENDERS:

Any person who enters or remains on Library premises after having been notified by an authorized individual not to do so, and any person who enters or remains on the Library premises during the period in which he or she had been banned from the premises, will be subject to arrest and prosecution for trespassing. Such penalty shall not in any way bar or affect proceedings pursuant to the Policies and Procedures of the Library herein concerning the incident in question. APPEALS:

Any patron subjected to the specific enforcement of this policy may file a written complaint with the Director — or, if the complaint concerns a decision of the Director, with the Board by delivery of the complaint to the Director — within 5 days of the Library action which is disputed by the patron. The Director will review any complaint made to the Director and, within 5 business days of receipt, provide a written response affirming or overturning the enforcement action, with the reasons therefor. The Board will review any complaint made to the Board at the next regularly scheduled meeting of the Board and, within 5 business days of such meeting, provide a written response affirming or overturning the enforcement action, with the reasons therefor.

Copyright Statement:
The Copyright Law of the United States (title 17 of the U.S. Code) governs making of photocopies or other reproductions of copyright material. The person using library equipment is responsible for any infringement.

Adopted September 19, 2002 Library Board of Trustees
Revised by the Library Board of Trustees: April 11, 2013

Unattended Children

The Southeast Steuben County Library welcomes library use by children.  Staff members are available to assist children with library materials or services.  The Library is not equipped – and it is not the Library’s role – to provide long- or short-term child care.

While in the Library, parents and caregivers are responsible for monitoring and regulating the behavior of their children.  A responsible adult or caregiver must accompany children while they are using the Library.

In order to maintain a suitable environment for all of our library users, we ask that the rules of the Behavior Policy be observed, and that parents and caregivers be aware of the following policy concerning children in the Library.

• Children under the age of 9 must have a parent/caregiver at least 16 years of age in the same area of the Library as the child.  If a child under nine is found unattended, or violates the rules of the Behavior Policy, the child and parent/caregiver may be asked to leave the Library.
• Children ages 9 and up may use the Library on their own.  Parents, however, are still responsible for the actions and safety of their children.  Children are subject to the same rules and consequences as other library users, including being asked to leave the Library.  Please note:  it is sometimes necessary for libraries to close due to unusual or emergency situations.  All children should have the telephone number of someone to call in an emergency.
• Children may hurt themselves and others when they run or climb on library furniture or shelving.  Please help prevent injuries by watching your children at all times.
• Repeated banging on keyboards damages the computers.  Please keep all young children away from the computers.
• Your children are sharing the library with many other library users, some of whom need and expect a quiet library.  Please be aware that the level of noise which parents are accustomed to may not be acceptable to others.  Quiet voices are expected.
• The Library may not be used as day care.
• Due to staff size and the number of children in the Library, phone calls and messages will not be forwarded except in an emergency.
• Please be sure you know the library hours and promptly pick up your child before the library closes.

It may be necessary to notify appropriate law enforcement or child protective authorities if:

• an unattended child is being disruptive.
• a child is habitually left unattended for long periods of time.

If an unattended child is found in the library the following action will be taken:

• An attempt will be made by staff to reunite the child with the parent or caregiver within the library.
• If the parent or caregiver is not in the library, a staff member will try to obtain a contact phone number from the child.
• If the phone number is obtained from the child, the parent or caregiver will be called and a request will be made to pick up the child within 30 minutes.
• The child will be turned over to the Corning Police Dept. if he/she is not picked up within a reasonable amount of time not to exceed 30 minutes, and an incident report will be submitted.

PARENTS AND CAREGIVERS, NOT LIBRARY STAFF, ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE ACTIONS AND SAFETY OF CHILDREN VISITING THE LIBRARY.

Adopted September 19, 2002     Library Board of Trustees
Amended September 12, 2013….Library Board of Trustees

Computer Use & Sign Up

(607) 936-3713 ext. 502

• Adults must have a Library card to use the computers (Exceptions to this rule may be made by the Library staff for out-of-town visitors) Adults agree to the Library’s Technology Policy by signing in to use one of the computers.
• Children, under the age of 18, must have a Library card and show parental consent by completing a Technology Policy Agreement Form. Once a policy form has been filled out a computer usage sticker will be attached to the child’s’ card indicating the child has computer privileges.
• Patrons may use the computers for one hour per day. Persons doing research may request an extension of time at the discretion of the Library staff.
• The Library may reserve computers for training or class use at any time.
• Patrons must be present to sign up for computer usage time. Telephone sign ups will only be accepted for persons with special needs (such as persons with disabilities or the elderly).
• The Library makes no guarantee regarding computer sign ups due to matters beyond its control.
• Patrons must stay at the computer while it is in use. Leaving the computer for more than 5 minutes constitutes the end of the session.
• In the adult section, computer usage is limited to one person per computer at a time.
• In the children’s section parents or teachers may work with a single child per computer at one time.

Security Restrictions

• Patrons may save temporary files to the local hard drives, however, temporary files will be deleted upon reboot.
• Patrons may not open equipment or try to fix any problems or printer jams. Any computer related issues must be directed to the Library staff.
• Patrons may not attempt to modify or damage computer hardware or software. Please notify a staff member if there is hardware or software you feel should be part of the Library.
• Only the software provided and installed by the Library may be used.
• Patrons will be charged for any damage to equipment
• Documents may be printed by utilizing the electronic credit/debit card system.
• It is unlawful and users are expressly forbidden to copy Library-owned commercial or copyrighted software. Users attempting to circumvent this legality will be reported to the appropriate authorities.
• Under no circumstances should a user attempt to download or run any additional software, or in any way change or attempt to bypass the desktop configuration on any Library computer.

Staff Assistance

Individual assistance on using the Library’s computers is available upon request at the Reference Desk. Many staff members are able to answer brief questions and offer suggestions on where to search for information. However, Library staff does not provide in-depth training in the use of the computer software, the Internet or personal
electronic mail, except in designated classes.

Privacy And Confidentiality

Transaction logs, electronic mail and other information, which could be used to identify users with specific materials or subject matter, are considered by the Library to be confidential, and will not be divulged to anyone other than the user. All users are advised that such Designated Internet stations will be located where they can be
monitored by staff for assistance and security.

The user is accountable for his or her actions and activity while on-line. Unacceptable use of Library computers will result in the suspension or revocation of computer privileges and may result in loss of Library privileges.

Equipment Use

(607) 936-3713 ext. 501

Copier

The public access photocopier is available for use by anyone during Library hours. Cost per copy is posted prominently on the machine and may be changed at any time. The Copyright Law of the United States (Title 17 US Code) governs the making of photocopies of copyrighted materials. The Library expects that every patron user
of the copier abide by the regulations. The person using the copier is liable for any infringement.

Fax Machine

Patrons can request to have faxes sent from the library fax machine. The cost is $1 per page faxed. There is no charge for the cover sheet.

Microfilm Reader-Printer

A Microfilm Reader-Printer is available for public use. Copies of articles are available for a fee of .25¢ per page (8 1/2 X 11″ page size).

Telephone

Patrons may not use the Library business telephones.

Meeting Room Equipment

The following equipment is available for use in the Library meeting rooms:

• Projector with DVD/VHS and laptop capabilities
• VCR / DVD player
• Large screen (community room) or Smart Screen (conference room)
• Headsets for the hearing impaired
• A podium
• Wireless & stand microphone
• Cassette / CD player
• Slide projector
• Dry erase boards
• Folding tables and chairs.

Meeting Rooms Policy

For our meeting room use application click here.

(607) 936-3713 ext. 501 to reserve meeting space or email Maryalice Little at littlem@stls.org.

The Southeast Steuben County Library offers a Community Room with a retractable room divider and a Conference Room for use by community groups and individuals that wish to conduct meetings, conferences, or workshops which are open to the general public.

The Southeast Steuben County Library recognizes its responsibility to provide access, and seeks to have its services, facilities, and programs accessible to persons with disabilities.  All groups holding meetings in the library should allow handicap access.

The library does not advocate or endorse the viewpoints of any group or individual.

Subject to availability and other conditions stated below, the rooms may be reserved on a first-come-first-served basis by any group regardless of its beliefs or affiliations or those of the individuals belonging to the group.

Meeting Room Use Rules & Regulations
All organizations, groups and individuals wishing to use the Laura Beer Community Room or the Conference Room must abide by the following regulations.

1. Scheduled Library programs take precedence in cases of scheduling conflicts. The Library reserves the right to pre-empt the use of meeting space for Library purposes upon two (2) weeks’ notice to the organization requesting that space.
2. Rooms are reserved on a first-come-first-served basis.
3. A Library Community/ Conference room Use Permit must be filled out at least one week prior to the scheduled programs and returned to the library. A library permission confirmation (either email or phone) will be granted within 3 days of the submitted Use Permit. The reservation is NOT complete until the Use Permit has been approved.
4. Meetings shall be open and free of charge to the general public. No admission fees or donation collection is allowed. Any commercial intent or solicitation for profit or sales from the group, individual or organization is prohibited. However at the discretion of the Library Director, the following will be permissible at Library sponsored programs: Fund raising to benefit the Library, Friends of the Library or other Library-related groups. The sale of books, CDs or other published items by authors or artists as part of a Library program may be allowed.
5. Reservations may not be made more than three months in advance. Individuals or groups may book no more than three meetings in any three-month period.
6. An authorized adult representative of the group (18 years or older) must request use of the meeting room. This representative will be required to sign a Use Permit. By signing the form, the applicant agrees that the rules and regulations regarding meeting room use have been read and understood. Failure to abide by these regulations may disqualify the organization from future use of the rooms.
7. Group representatives must check in at the front desk before and after their community room use. A staff member will check the space to make sure the room is left in good order.
8. Rooms will not be used for personal or family purposes for example, birthday and retirement parties. The library offers these spaces for groups or individuals that wish to conduct meetings, conferences, or workshops, which are free and open to the general public.
9. One-week notice must be provided in case of cancellation. Groups that regularly fail to use reserved time may be barred from future reservations.
10. Organizations may be asked to provide a Certificate of Insurance that is acceptable to the Library Director. The Library Director will determine if a certificate of insurance is required.
11. Use of the room by a group must be in compliance with local codes and regulations.
12. The Community Room and the Conference Room are available for use only during library operating hours.
13. Limited food and beverages are permitted in the meeting rooms; however, the person filling out the User Permit must indicate if food or beverages will be provided. The Library does not provide coffee pots, serving utensils, trays, etc. The user must provide these. Alcoholic beverages are prohibited. Open flames sources and open heating elements are prohibited. Toaster ovens, microwave ovens and hot plates capable of cooking food, candles, and incense are prohibited.
14. Room preparation and clean-up is the responsibility of the group reserving the room. The Community Room and Conference Room must be left clean and orderly. All chairs and tables that were used during the meeting must be put away. Failure to do so will result in a warning letter. A second violation will result in the group being prohibited from using the meeting rooms.
15. Any personal or group equipment, supplies, or materials left in the room will be the responsibility of the group reserving the room. The library assumes no responsibility for any loss or damage to personal property.
16. If vacuuming is needed after your event, groups must vacuum the space.
17. Not adhering to the Community Room or Conference Room policies may result in the loss of meeting room privileges. If substantial cleaning is required, the group will be liable for the cleaning cost.
18. The library reserves the right to close due to adverse conditions and will attempt to notify scheduled applicants.
19. The use of the name, address or telephone number of the Southeast Steuben County Library as the address or headquarters for any group or organization using the library for meeting purposes is prohibited. Publicity generated by a group may recite the library name and address only. Any other mention requires the express written approval of the Library Director.

For any questions, please call (607) 936-3713 ext. 217
Southeast Steuben County Library
Adopted revised Meeting Room Policy: June 14, 2011