Circulation information

Library cards

Email and text notification

Borrowing policies

Loan periods, fines, and fees

Renewals and Returns

Holds / Requesting material

Purchase suggestions

General Information

Library Hours
   Monday:          1:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m.
   Tuesday:        10:00 a.m. - 8:00 p.m.
   Wednesday:   10:00 a.m. - 8:00 p.m.
   Thursday:       10:00 a.m. - 8:00 p.m.
   Friday:           Closed
   Saturday:       10:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.

Directions

Board of Trustees

By-laws

Policies
Civility
Collection
Meeting Room Use
Acceptable Computer and Internet Use
Computer Use Guidelines
Unattended Children
Tutors

Meeting Room Reservations

The Circulation Department can help you get a library card, review what you have out or on hold, and reserve items. You can borrow, return and renew items, as well as reserve and pick up museum passes. Our community and library bulletin boards are located near the Circulation Desk. The staff will happily provide assistance if you have any questions or concerns.

To borrow from another library in the Old Colony Library Network, go to the online catalog or ask a librarian for assistance.

How to replace a Library Card
If you need to replace your Library card, please visit the Circulation Desk. You will be requested to provide your name and address and pay a replacement fee of $1.00.

Email notification
If your email address is included in your library account, the Library will send notices of overdues, fines, or availability of reserves to that address. Please be sure it is an address you check regularly and note that we will contact you either by phone or by email, but not both.

Text notification
The Library can also send text messages in addition to calling or emailing you with information about your account. To sign up for this enhancement, log in to your OCLN account, select "Set Text Message Alerts," and follow the directions.

• Books, audiocassettes, CDs, and older issues of magazines circulate for 2 weeks and have an overdue fine of 5 cents per item per day. The current issues of magazines do not circulate.
• Videos and DVDs circulate for 1 week and have an overdue fine of $1.00 per item per day.
• Language kits (book and tape sets) circulate for 2 weeks and have a fine of 5 cents per item per day.
• Most Museum Passes circulate for 24 hours and have a fine of $5.00 per pass per day.

Renewing material
Most items (except museum passes) may be renewed in person, by phone, or through the OCLN Library Catalog as long as no one else is waiting for the same material. To renew online, click the Renew Your Materials link on our homepage.

You will need your library card number in order to get to your account. The number is printed under the barcode on the front of your library card. You do not need to enter the spaces.

The Old Colony Library Network requires all users to change the PIN on their library account from the default, which is 'OCLN.' If you forget your PIN and you have given an email address in your library account, use OCLN's PIN request form to have your PIN emailed to you. Library staff can reset your PIN to the default 'OCLN,' but they cannot see you PIN, as it is encrypted.

Returning material
All items should be returned at the Circulation Desk when the Library is open. When the Library is closed, use the book drop at the entrance.

You may return material from other OCLN libraries to the Kingston Public Library. These will be checked in on the day you return them. Items we have borrowed for you from other libraries must be returned to the Kingston Public Library.

Requesting material / How to place a hold / InterLibrary Loan

Items held by members of the Old Colony Library Network
You can place a request or hold on most items that you find in the online catalog. You can do this from home, at one of the online catalogs in the library, or with the assistance of a librarian. To do this yourself, you will need your library card number, also referred to as the user id, and a PIN number. Beginning on June 21, 2010, the Old Colony Library Network will start requiring all users to change the PIN on their library account from the default of 'OCLN.' Once you have placed a hold on an item, the first available copy in the network will be sent to the library that you have selected in the holds process as your pickup library. When the library receives the item, you will be notified by either phone or email. Please be aware that other libraries may have different loan periods or overdue fines than we do.

Items not held by members the Old Colony Library Network
If the item you want is not in our network, you can still request it through our Inter-library loan (ILL) service. You can use the Virtual Catalog link on the online catalog to search other libraries in Massachusetts. You can also go to the Reference Desk for help, or call us at 781-585-0517, or email us at kilib@kingstonpubliclibrary.org. Please be aware that other libraries may have different loan periods or overdue fines than we do.

Costs to Patrons
While patrons are not usually assessed charges for interlibrary loan material, if significant charges are involved with the acquisition of material, those charges will be passed on to the borrower. No charge will be levied without prior authorization from the borrower.

Patron responsibilities
Patrons should provide a complete citation for the desired item. Materials must be returned by the due date; renewals may be requested before the due date. Patrons are liable for all fines accrued.

Limits to InterLibrary Loan
The Kingston Public Library reserves the right to limit the number of materials requested for one patron at any one time. Some items may be used only at the Reference Desk. Interlibrary Loan service will be limited or suspended for patrons who repeatedly fail to pick up requested interlibrary loan materials or return materials by the due date or who damage or deface interlibrary loan materials.

Search the catalog

Purchase suggestions
If you think the Library's collection would benefit from owning a particular item we encourage you to suggest a purchase. Your input is important to us. Please understand that funding is finite and we may not elect to purchase every suggestion.

If you have a purchase suggestion you can complete a form at the Circulation Desk or send an email to kilib@kingstonpubliclibrary.org. Please include the author's name and the title of the work. Supplying us with the publisher, date of publication, cost, ISBN and format (book, tape, CD, etc.) will help us better identify an item. If you don't have a specific title in mind, you can also suggest areas of the collection that you would like to see developed (books about yoga or digital photography, for example.) Please provide your name and phone number or email address so that we can let you know when the item arrives.

Directions

From the South
Take Route 3 North to Exit 9. Turn right onto Route 3A North. Follow 3A north through 3 traffic lights. At the 106 intersection, keep left onto Route 106/Main Street. Take the second right onto Green Street. The Library is on the corner of Green Street and Summer Street/Route 3A. Parking is immediately before the building. Enter the lot from either Green Street or Cross Street.

From the West
Take Route 27 or Route 106 into Kingston. Route 27 merges with Route 106. Follow Route 106/Main Street for half a mile. Turn left onto Green Street after the Unitarian Church. The Library is on the corner of Green Street and Summer Street/Route 3A. Parking is immediately before the building. Enter the lot from either Green Street or Cross Street.

Take Route 80 into Kingston. Turn right onto Brook Street/Route 80 and follow the detour signs (the Elm Street Bridge is closed). At the traffic light where Brook Street/Route 80 ends, turn left onto Main Street/Route 3A. At the 106 intersection, keep left onto Route 106/Main Street. Take the second right onto Green Street. The Library is on the corner of Green Street and Summer Street/Route 3A. Parking is immediately before the building. Enter the lot from either Green Street or Cross Street.

Library Trustees

The Library Board of Trustees is a six-member policy-setting board. Trustees are elected for a three year term.

Vanessa Verkade, Chair

Kathleen Benassi

Cynthia Sullivan

Valerie Spence, Treasurer

Spencer Clough, Secretary

Cynthia Fitzgerald

Term expires
2014

2014

2015

2015

2013

2013

Board Policies

By-laws of the Board of Trustees of the Kingston Public Library
Revised December 20, 2010

ARTICLE I Name and authorization
This organization shall be called the “Board of Trustees of the Kingston Public Library,” existing by virtue of the provisions of Chapter 78, Sections 10 – 13, and 21 of the Massachusetts General Laws (MGL) and the By-Laws of the Town of Kingston.

ARTICLE III. Responsibilities
1. The Board shall have those responsibilities as provided by MGL, Chapter 778, Section 11 and the By-laws of the Town of Kingston as regards the custody and management of the Library and of all property owned by the Town pertaining to the Library. The Board shall be responsible for all monies appropriated by the town for the Library and all money or property received by the Town by gift or bequest for the Library.

2. The Board shall appoint a qualified Library Director who shall be the executive and administrative officer of the Library on behalf of the Board and under its review and direction. Responsibilities delegated by the Board to the Library Director shall include implementation of policies approved by the Board, selection and supervision of personnel, selection of books and other materials, maintenance of library collections, expenditure of funds within the approved budget, direction of library operations and provision of services to the public. The Library Director shall attend all Board meetings.

3. The Board shall establish written policies governing library activities and services, including a policy for the selection of library materials and the use of library materials and facilities which is in accord with the current standards of the American Library Association as provided for by the MGL, Chapter 78, Section 33.

4. The Board shall execute a written employment contract with the Library Director outlining the basic conditions of employment as provided for by the MGL, Chapter 78, Section 34.

5. In accordance with the By-laws of the Town of Kingston, the Chairperson shall submit to the Office of the Board of Selectmen on or before December 15th each year a report of the activities of the Board for inclusion in the Town’s Annual Report.

ARTICLE IV. Officers
1. The officers shall be a Chairperson, a Secretary, and a Treasurer

2. The Chairperson shall conduct all meetings, appoint all committees, serve as the official representative of the Board, and fulfill all legal functions on behalf of the Board.

3. The Treasurer, in the event of the absence or disability of the Chairman, or of a vacancy in that office, shall assume and perform the duties and functions of the Chairperson.

4. The Treasurer shall be the disbursing officer of the Board, sign all checks, and perform such duties as generally devolve upon the office. He or she shall be bonded in an amount as may be required by the resolution of the Board. In the absence or inability of the Treasurer, those duties shall be performed by such other members of the Board as the Board may delegate.

5. The Secretary shall post all meetings as required by law, keep a true and accurate record of all meetings with the Board, shall issue or delegate responsibility for issuing notice of all regular and special meetings, and be responsible for correspondence as directed by the Board.

6. Officers shall be elected from the Board at that regular meeting of the Board which immediately follows the annual town elections. The term of office shall be one year. In the event of a vacancy in any of the officer’s positions during the year, that vacancy shall be filled by a vote of the Board.

ARTICLE V. Meetings
1. Regular meetings shall be held at the Library on the first Monday of each month beginning at 7:15 p.m. Regular attendance is expected. A Trustee is expected to give advance notice to the Chairperson or Library Director whenever he or she cannot attend a meeting.

2. Special meetings may be called by the Chairperson or at the request of at least two members.

3. A quorum shall be four members.

4. All meetings of the Board shall be subject to the State’s Open Meeting Law as contained in the MGL, Chapter 39, Section 23A-23C. In particular, all meetings are open to the public unless held in executive session under terms of the law. A notice of all meetings will be filed with the Town Clerk along with the meeting’s agenda at least 48 hours in advance of the meeting date and time, and a copy of the notice will be posted in the Town Hall. All records of minutes of meetings will be available for public inspection.

5. An affirmative vote of the majority of all members of the Board present at the time shall be necessary to approve any action before the Board. The Chairperson may vote upon and may move or second a proposal before the Board.

ARTICLE VI. Committees
Special Committees for the study and investigation of special problems or for the performance of specially assigned tasks may be appointed by the Chairperson. Such committees shall function as ad hoc committees and shall consider only that purpose for which they were appointed. They shall disband when their work has been completed.

ARTICLE VII. Collective Authority of the Board
All decisions of the Board are made by the Board as a collective body. No individual member may make decisions or, with the exception of the Chairperson, act or speak for the Board unless specifically authorized to do so by a vote of the membership of the Board.

ARTICLE VIII. Parliamentary Rules
Except as provided for by these By-laws, the current edition of Robert’s Rules of Order shall govern.

ARTICLE IX. Amendments
These By-laws may be amended at any regular meeting of the Board with a quorum present, by a majority vote of the members present, providing that a motion presenting the amendment was duly made and seconded at the previous meeting, or that written notice of the proposed amendment shall have been mailed to all members at least ten days prior to the meeting at which such action is proposed to be taken.

ARTICLE X. Inconsistent Provisions
To the extent that any provision of these By-laws is inconsistent with any provision of the Massachusetts General Laws or the Town By-laws, the Massachusetts General Laws or the Town By-laws, as the case may be, shall govern.

Civility Policy
Approved February 12, 2001

The Kingston Public Library exists to serve the community. To promote effective and enjoyable use of the Library, the Board of Library Trustees has adopted the following rules of use.

The Library is primarily an area for quiet study. Any person who, in the opinion of Library staff, is engaging in conduct inconsistent with the operation of the Library will be asked to stop that behavior and may be asked to leave. (MGL. Ch. 272, Sec. 41)

The Library is a place of civility. Library users are asked to treat each other with respect. Threatening behavior, including, but not limited to, violence, threats of violence, and possession of weapons will not be tolerated.

The Library respects the privacy of its users. Library users are asked to respect the privacy of others.

Parents and caregivers are responsible for the behavior and supervision of their children. While quiet play and conversation are welcome in the Children's Room, children as well as adults should respect the rights of others. Children whose behavior becomes disruptive to the ability of other library users to study, read or play in peace or to the ability of staff to do their work may be spoken to by Library staff. Parents and caregivers are asked to monitor their child's behavior so that staff intervention is not necessary. Parents and caregivers who are unable or unwilling to do this may be asked to take their child out of the building until the child is able to behave appropriately.

Children under the age of 9 should not be left unattended in the Library.

Because of risks to health and safety, smoking is not allowed at any time within the building or in the courtyard. Library users may finish and extinguish their smoking materials in the ashtray outside the Library entrance but should refrain from smoking close to the entrance so that other users do not have to pass through second-hand smoke to enter the building. (Massachusetts General Laws Ch. 270, Sec. 21- 22)

Food and/or beverages are not allowed in the Library, except at designated times or in designated rooms.

Cell phone ringers should be turned off inside the Library. Cell phones may be used in the Meeting Room when it is available but not in the main library.

All bicycles must be left in the racks provided.

Roller blades and skateboards may not be used in the Library.

Shoes and shirts must be worn in the Library.

The Library building, grounds and materials are an investment of the taxpayers. Damage to Library property costs tax dollars to repair. Those who purposely damage Library property may have their library privileges suspended or revoked and will be prosecuted. (MGL. Ch. 266, Sec. 100) Parents can be held liable for damage done by a child under 18. (MGL. Ch. 231, Sec. 85)

Library users who trigger library theft detection systems may be required to open any bags or pocketbooks for inspection.

Library materials and equipment are an investment of the taxpayers. Library materials should be returned or renewed in accordance with the Library's circulation policies so that all users have the opportunity to use them. It is an act of larceny to remove library materials from the Library without having checked them out. Library users who consistently abuse the circulation or computer use policies may have their library privileges suspended or revoked. Theft of library materials, use of false identification to obtain a library card, or use of another person's library card without his or her permission are against state law and will be prosecuted. (MGL. Ch.266, Sec.99A)

All members of the public should feel free to use the Library and its resources. Library users should not interfere with another person's rights to use the Library or with the Library staff's performance of their duties in protecting those rights.

Please cooperate with Library staff, who must interpret and apply these rules. Your help will create a pleasant and productive atmosphere for all.

Collection Development and Maintenance Policy
Approved January 4, 2010

Library Objectives
The role of the Kingston Public Library with regard to collection development is to provide the community with access to a wide range of materials for their educational, informational, cultural, recreational, and social benefit. To accomplish this, the Library collects material in various formats (written, filmed, recorded, electronic), provides a place to hold the material, and allows the material to be borrowed or used in the Library. In the case of electronic resources, remote access is also provided whenever possible. The Library offers professional guidance on locating the material and, when budget permits, sponsors programming to promote awareness of the collections. Since the community is diverse, the approach of the Library must be similarly diverse. Within the limitations of its budget, the Library seeks to obtain as wide a range of materials as possible. To augment its resources, it participates in an automated network with a shared catalog and circulation system, the Old Colony Library Network. It also joins together on a regional basis with other libraries and information providers.
In its collection development policy, the Kingston Public Library fully supports the principles adopted by the American Library Association in its Library Bill of Rights and its Freedom to Read Statement. The key principle underlying both documents and this policy is that of free speech. In all its activities, the Library will support that principle, providing an unbiased platform for the exchange of ideas.

Collection Criteria

A. "Material" is defined in the broadest possible context. The key criterion is useful content, not format.

B. Professional review media are used as tools for selection, along with feedback from the community.

C. All material must meet the following specific criteria: it must have either current usefulness or permanent value, and it must either have a relation to the present collection or fill a gap in the present collection. As a general rule, the Library selects materials that have given good reviews in professional review media. In recognition that the Library is a tax-supported institution, materials may also be selected in response to individual request or popular demand.

D. The Library will reconsider the inclusion of specific materials upon written request. A form is available at the circulation desk.

E. Titles are selected without regard to the gender, race, creed, nationality, political or religious views of the author.

F. In the case of controversial issues, variety and balance of opinion is sought.

G. Responsibility for the reading and viewing habits of children rests with the parents or legal guardians. Selection will not be inhibited by the possibility that material may come into the possession of children.

H. Providing textbooks and curriculum material is the responsibility of the school system. The Library will work closely with the school system to provide the general resources necessary to supplement a student's education. When possible, the Library will obtain from the schools copies of current textbooks to assist students in completing homework assignments.

I. In selecting material, the Library will pay special attention to the commercial, civic and cultural heritage of the community.

J. Goals for selection are not only to meet the needs of current users, but also anticipate the needs of potential users.

K. Library materials are not kept from the general public except for the purposes of protecting the material from damage or theft.

L. Systematic withdrawal of damaged, out-dated, or worn-out material is to be expected. Frequency of use, uniqueness, accuracy and currency of content, and physical condition are prime considerations in this decision-making. These materials will be systematically weeded from the collection according to accepted professional practices, and will be sold, distributed to other institutions, or destroyed.

M. As older formats, such as vinyl records, audiotapes, and VHS tapes, become obsolete, they may be weeded from the collection.

N. Newer formats will be introduced as they come into use within the community.

O. Interlibrary loans are used to obtain materials not in the Library's collections.

P. Gifts received by the Library are judged under the same criteria as purchased materials. They are accepted with the understanding that the Library may dispose of them in any way it sees fit.

Q. The Library is not an advocate of any particular ideas reflected in the materials in its collection. However, it does defend the principles of the freedom to read and declares that no material that has been challenged will be removed from the Library except following the established procedures for reconsideration or under direct orders of a court of competent jurisdiction.

R. Ultimate responsibility lies with the Board of Trustees. Day to day responsibility for material selection is delegated to the Library Director and designated staff. Input from other staff and users of the Library is also actively sought.

The Library Director and the Board of Trustees welcome the opportunity to discuss these principles with interested individuals or representatives of groups.

Meeting Room Use Policy
Revised and approved, December 7, 2009

Meeting spaces are made available to the public on an equitable basis, regardless of the beliefs or affiliations of individuals and groups requesting their use.

After the Library, preference in scheduling is given to Kingston-based organizations. In formulating this policy, the Library Trustees seek to accommodate a broad range of associations while upholding a standard of fairness. The Library reserves the right to review, accept or reject any or all applications for meeting room use.

No group other than the Board of Library Trustees, the Kingston Public Library Foundation, the Friends of the Library, the Library Art Committee and the Library Building Committee will be granted permanent and ongoing meeting space.

II. Purpose.
Use of the meeting rooms is primarily for library staff and library-sponsored programs that enrich and extend library service to the community. Library-related and Kingston Town activities take precedence in scheduling and use of meeting space. The Library reserves the right to cancel any other previously scheduled use of meeting space when necessary. Twenty-four hour notice of cancellation is given by the library whenever possible. Regular library service takes precedence over all other activities and the use of meeting space may not interfere with the normal operation of the library.

III. Scheduling and Reservations.
The main Meeting Room is available during regular library hours as well as during hours that the Library is closed. The Activity Room is available only during the Library’s open hours. Groups using the Meeting Room when the Library is closed are responsible for obtaining and signing for the key and instructions during the Library’s normal operating hours. The key must be returned, with the Meeting Room Use form, by the close of business the day following use. Requests to reserve meeting space are on a first-come, first-served basis. Each request is reviewed to determine meeting room availability, equipment needs, and compliance with library policy. Requests that are received later than on the Wednesday prior to the week of the event may not be processed in time for the event. All requests must be made through the Library Director or a staff person designated by the Director.

Reservations will be accepted for only two events at a time, for a maximum of two events per month. Exceptions to these restrictions may be allowed by the Trustees, provided that they determine that such advance reservations or additional usage will not interfere with the precedence of regular library service over other activities or otherwise conflict with the purposes of this policy set out in Part II above. No more than three ongoing exceptions may be granted during any period. In the event that an exception is granted for an ongoing period, the requestor will be notified of this decision. The exception will be granted for a period of 12 months, after which time a new request must be submitted in writing.

Reservations for use of a meeting room may be made by telephone, mail, email, fax, or in person, using the Meeting Room reservation form.

Groups using the meeting rooms are responsible for setting up the room according to their needs and restoring furnishings to normal at the conclusion of their meeting. They are also responsible for removing their own trash.

The Library must collect statistics for meeting room use and provides a form for that purpose. Each group is responsible for completing and returning the form. Groups that consistently fail to return the form will not be allowed to reserve Library meeting space.

IV. Fees.
Non-profit organizations and town-based community or civic groups are not charged fees unless they are sponsoring a profit-making program. No admission fees may be charged nor any monies collected with the exception of dues or charges for refreshments by the individual or organization without the express permission of the library.

Private individuals, for-profit organizations and businesses reserving meeting rooms are charged a room use fee of $50 for meetings that last less than four hours, or $100 for meetings that last more than four hours. No admission fees may be charged nor any monies collected with the exception of dues or charges for refreshments by the individual or organization without the express permission of the library. Payment should be issued to the Town of Kingston.

The Library may waive the above-noted fees upon review of each individual request for waiver.

The Library may require that an organization obtain the services of the Kingston Police Department for traffic control, security or any other purpose. The Library may require that an organization provide its own insurance.

V. Equipment Use
Groups needing to use Library equipment must reserve such equipment in advance.

VI. Responsibility and Liability
Groups using Library facilities and equipment are responsible for any damages. Facilities should be left in the same condition found upon entry. Organizations or individuals leaving the meeting room in an unacceptable condition will be billed a standard custodial fee of $35.00 an hour for the time it requires to return the room to an acceptable condition. Meetings are to be conducted in an orderly manner and participants should avoid disturbing others using the Library at the same time.

Groups may not store items in the Meeting Room unless permission has been granted in advance by the Library Director, and the Library assumes no responsibility for any item left in the Meeting Room.

Non-municipal groups may be required to show a certificate of insurance showing evidence of coverage and naming the Town of Kingston as an insured party.

VII. Restricted Uses
Smoking is not permitted in the building. Eating is permitted only in the Meeting Room. Alcoholic beverages are not permitted in the Library. If food is served at a program, the group reserving the Meeting room must remove all trash at the end of the program.

VIII. Parking
During Library hours, groups using the Meeting Room must park at least half-way up the parking lot to allow sufficient access to the Library for regular Library patrons.

Policy on the Acceptable Use of Library Computers and the Internet
Approved March 5, 2007

The Kingston Public Library is committed to providing outstanding service to all segments of our community as well as employing state-of-the-art technology to improve access to global resources. As part of the mission to meet the recreational, informational, and educational needs of the public, the Library makes available free access to the Internet for all residents, regardless of economic status or age.

DISCLAIMER: Currently, however, the Internet is an unregulated medium. It allows access to a vast array of material from around the globe for individuals of all ages, but it also enables access to some material that might be offensive, harmful, and/or illegal. Information found on the Internet is not organized centrally by any one agency or author, nor does the Library select or restrict the information on the Internet. The Library does not vouch for or take responsibility for the accuracy, quality, or authenticity of information obtained through the Internet. The Library will not tolerate the use of its computers in a way that violates local, state or federal law.

The Internet has many benefits for children, but it can also be a source of potentially harmful and inappropriate material. In order to offer some safeguards for children, the Library will provide filtered access to the Internet for children in the sixth grade and under. Children accompanied by their parents may use Internet computers with the filter turned off. Those who are in seventh grade and older may request to have the filter turned off for a single session. .

Because adults are sometimes made uncomfortable by inadvertently seeing certain sites that they did not intend to bring up, all of the computers in the adult department are also equipped with filters. The filters are on by default, but any adult or child in seventh grade or older may request to have the filter turned off for a single session.

It is important to note that filters are not a perfect solution to this problem. Constant change in web sites may limit the effectiveness of filters. Children are often adept at getting around filters. In addition, the filters may block useful and non-objectionable material. The criteria used by the filtering software are not made public; it is therefore impossible to know on what basis a site has been blocked or allowed.

Library staff will work with children to help them learn how to use the Internet safely and efficiently. However, library staff cannot be held responsible for information, images or ideas children may encounter in their use of the Internet. Ultimately, it is the responsibility of parents to guide the Internet activities of their children. The Library highly recommends that parents explore the potential scope of the Internet, and library staff will be happy to assist parents in learning how to use the Internet. Parents may also wish to accompany their children to the Library to help guide them in their searches. The Library strongly encourages parents to discuss with their children the material encountered on the Internet, much as they would discuss the information and messages found in books, videotapes, television shows and advertisements.

It is not acceptable to use Internet access for any purposes that violate U.S. or state laws. Examples of unacceptable use include, but are not limited to: harrassment of library users or staff; libeling or slandering others; violation of computer security systems, unauthorized use of computer accounts, access codes, or network identification numbers assigned to others; destruction or damage to equipment, software or data belonging to the library or other users; disruption or unauthorized monitoring of electronic communications; unauthorized copying of copyright-protected materials.
Violations of this policy may result in loss of computer privileges and/or loss of library privileges. Illegal acts involving library computing resources may also be subject to prosecution by local, state, or federal authorities.
The Kingston Public Library assumes no liability for any damage to user data or loss of user privacy sustained while using Kingston Public Library equipment.

The Library offers programs, books and tutorials to help library users learn how to navigate the Internet safely and efficiently, and how to evaluate the information found online.

Computer Use Guidelines
October 2012

Computer Availability and Use
Users must sign in at the reference desk. In the Children’s Room, users do not need to sign in.
Sessions are limited to one hour. Users may be able to stay longer if no one is waiting.
No more than two persons at a time on the computer.
Software games and programs may not be installed on any public computer.
Users may not change wallpaper or settings.
Report any computer problems to the reference staff.
If you leave your computer during a session it may not be available when you return. If you leave, please log out and take your belongings with you.

Printing
Printing is $.20 per page.
All computers are set to print in black and white. Please let the reference librarian know if you wish to print in color.
Use the Print Preview option and select only what you want to print.
Only paper supplied by the library can be used in the printer.
There is no two sided printing.

Internet Filters
Library computers do have filters. If you cannot view a site that you need, please notify the reference librarian who can remove the filter on that machine.

Laptops, eBook Readers and other devices in the Library
To access the library’s wireless connection, patrons need a laptop with built-in WiFi capability.
Patrons should connect to kplcomcast.
Library staff are not able to provide in-depth technical assistance. Library staff are not allowed to handle your device.
The Library does not assume responsibility for the safety of your equipment. Please remember that this is a public setting and keep your belongings with you at all times.

Food and Drinks
No food is allowed in the library, except during specific programs.
Drinks in covered containers are allowed in the main reading room. However, they are not allowed at the computers or on the floor near the computers.

Policy on Unattended Children
Approved April 14, 2008

The Kingston Public Library welcomes children of all ages. However, the Kingston Public Library is NOT responsible for the safety or wellbeing of children who are unattended in the Library. This is solely the responsibility of the parent or guardian. The Kingston Public Library staff are here strictly to help you and your children with library needs. The staff are not licensed to perform childcare.

The Kingston Public Library reserves the right to ask any patron to leave the building if he or she is acting in an inappropriate manner, creating a public nuisance, or inhibiting the rights and privileges of others. This includes children. In the case of young children, a parent or guardian must accompany the child. In the absence of a parent or guardian, the Library staff will call the Kingston Police Department.

Parents should be aware of the Library's schedule in order to avoid having a child stranded after the Library closes. In the event that an unattended child is not picked up at least 15 minutes prior to closing, the Library staff will attempt to notify a parent or guardian. If these attempts are unsuccessful, the Library staff will notify the Kingston Police Department prior to closing. A staff member will stay with the child until the police arrive.

Policy on Tutors
Approved December 7, 2010

The Kingston Public Library welcomes tutors and their students.

The Meeting Room has been reserved from 3:00-5:00 daily for tutors to use. We encourage tutors working with younger students to use the Children’s Activities Room during those hours. Tutoring is confined to these group areas, thus keeping the main rooms of the library relatively quiet for individual study and reading.

We do ask tutors to observe the following guidelines while tutoring in the library:

Please register initially at the Reference Desk. This helps the staff know which tutors are using the library, when and who to contact should the library unexpectedly need to close.

Tutors are responsible for students under 18 years of age while on library property until they are released to a parent/guardian or to authorized transportation.

Tutors are responsible for the behavior of the students being tutored in the library.

Tutoring sessions should be kept as quiet as possible.

Tutors and students should bring their own supplies.

Thank you for your co-operation!

How to reserve the Meeting Room

Non-profit organizations and town-based community or civic groups are not charged fees unless they are sponsoring a profit-making program Private individuals, for-profit organizations and businesses reserving meeting rooms are charged a room use fee of $50 for meetings that last less than four hours, or $100 for meetings that last more than four hours. Conditions for use are outlined in the Meeting Room policy.

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