Using the Library
Code of Conduct
In order to insure that all library users are able to use the library’s resources, services and programs as safely, comfortably and effectively as possible, we require that all library visitors comply with the following rules of conduct.
- The use of cell phones within the library is strictly prohibited. Turn your phone off or to silent signal when in the library. Incoming calls should be taken as quickly as possible to either the front of back foyer. Simply talking very quietly is not good enough.
- The use of picture phones or other electronic recording devices is prohibited without the prior permission of the library.
- Customers may not talk loudly or in a disruptive manner. The use of profane or threatening language or other harassment of library users or library staff will not be tolerated.
- Firearms are prohibited on library property.
- The consumption of alcoholic beverages is prohibited on library property, with the exception of library sponsored events.
- Eating, drinking, smoking, or using tobacco in any form is not permitted inside the library.
- Selling, soliciting, panhandling or loitering on library premises is not permitted.
- Customers are expected to abide by established time limits for the use of public access computers or any other equipment and must observe the library’s Internet use policy.
- Customers should leave the building promptly at closing time; this includes immediately starting to finish up work when advised by staff that closing time is approaching.
- Parents are responsible for the behavior of their children while they are on library property. Minors incapable of understanding and abiding by this code of conduct should not be left unattended.
- The teen and children’s areas of the library are designed for children, teens, their families and their caregivers. Use of these areas by adults who are not parents, teachers, guardians or caregivers may be restricted to ensure that children, teens and their families have adequate access to the resources provided for them.
- Animals are not permitted on library property except when needed to aid persons with disabilities, or as part of a library program.
- Vandalism of library facilities, equipment or facilities will be prosecuted.
- All library materials must be checked out before removing them from the building.
- All patrons will dress appropriately, including shoes and shirts at all times. Clothing bearing obscene images or offensive words is prohibited.
- Anyone who neglects personal hygiene so that it is offensive and constitutes a nuisance to other library patrons may be asked to leave the building until such time as effective hygiene improvements have been made.
- Bathing, shaving, or washing clothes in public restrooms is not permitted.
- The use of skateboards, rollerblades or scooters on library property is not permitted. Bicycles are not permitted in the library – including the lobby areas.
- Library patrons may not post notices or distribute leaflets without the authorization of the library.
- Engaging in any illegal activity or behavior will not be tolerated.
Library management reserves the right to expel any person whose behavior is judged to be disruptive or inappropriate to the library environment or prevents effective use of the library by other patrons.
Persons who fail to observe this code will be asked to leave the building or be subject to arrest.
Library Cards
You must present a currently valid Webster Groves Public Library card, or a card from one of the eight other Municipal Library Consortium Libraries to check out or renew materials, to use public access PC’s, or to access information in your account.
Residents, city employees, property owners, clergy, directors of service institutions, and some temporary residents are eligible for a free Webster Groves Public Library card. Photo ID and verification of your current address will be required to get a card. Patrons under the age of 18 must have a parent or legal guardian’s signature to get a card.
We are a member of the Municipal Library Consortium of St. Louis County. The Webster Groves Public Library card works at all other Consortium libraries: Brentwood, Ferguson, Kirkwood, Maplewood, Richmond Heights, Rock Hill, University City, and Valley Park. Cardholders at those libraries may use their cards at Webster Groves Public Library. If you are a resident of one of those communities, you must get your library card at your home library – then you may use it here.
Reciprocal agreements have also been set up with St. Louis County Library, St. Louis (city) Public Library, and St. Charles City/County Library. Residents of those jurisdictions are also eligible for free cards at Webster Groves Public Library.
Any child who does not meet the above requirements, but attends a public school within the city limits of Webster Groves is eligible for a student card at an annual fee of $3.00.
Any other non-residents may obtain a card for a $30.00 annual fee.
Checking Out
All library materials check out for 2 weeks.
All library materials except for DVDs may be renewed up to three times. You may renew in person, over the phone, or by visiting the online catalogue from this Web site. All renewals require your library card number to proceed.
No renewal is allowed on items requested by other patrons.
Vacation loans of up to 8 weeks are available when you are planning an out of town trip, but there is no vacation loan on new items.
Reserves
Unavailable materials may be requested through the online catalogue if you have your library card's barcode number. Otherwise, ask a librarian or fill out one of the green request slips at the circulation desk.
Interlibrary Loan
If we don't own the book you need, we'll try to borrow it from another library. Inter-library loan service is available to residents of Webster Groves only, or to paid non-resident subscribers.
Suggestions for Purchase
If you’ve heard of a recent book you believe would make a good addition to the Library’s collection, ask for a request slip at the front desk, or give us a call and make your suggestion. We can’t purchase everything people suggest, but if it’s a book of general interest that’s being talked about on TV, radio or in newspapers, we’ll consider it.
Returns
Library materials may be returned at the front desk or at one of our outdoor book drops. Some items, such as CDs, audiocassettes, jBATs (children’s book and tape sets), Discovery Packs, and interlibrary loan materials, must be returned inside.
Reciprocal Returning
Materials from other Consortium libraries may be returned and checked in at Webster Groves Public Library.
Materials from St. Charles City/County, St. Louis city, and St. Louis County libraries may be returned to the Webster Groves Public Library, and will be routed to their owning locations, where they will be checked in as of the day they were returned.
Overdue Fines and Charges
When an item is overdue, every day that the library is open counts. You may renew an item after it has become overdue, but you will still owe the fine that had accrued up to that point. If your overdue fines accrue to more than $5, your card is blocked and you cannot renew anything.
If an item is overdue by two weeks, we mail a notice. If it is still overdue at four weeks, we mail the second and final notice. After six weeks, the replacement cost of the item is billed to your library account. If you then return the item, the replacement cost will be removed and a late fee will be charged.
Any account with late fees totaling $15 or more will also be mailed a bill.
If you believe you have received an overdue notice or replacement bill in error, please contact the circulation desk at 314-961-3784.
Overdue amounts and other charges are:
Fines
|
|
Videos (VHS or DVD) :
|
50¢ per day
(maximum $5.00)
|
|
Discovery packs :
|
50¢ per day
(maximum $5.00)
|
|
Magazines :
|
10¢ per day
(maximum $2.50)
|
|
All other items :
|
10¢ per day
(maximum $5.00)
|
|
Damaged barcode :
|
$2.00
|
|
Lost or damaged materials :
|
replacement value, plus
$3.00 service charge per item
|
|
Collection Agency Referral
Any patron with a total debt of $25 or more who does not return library materials or pay outstanding fines will be referred automatically to a collection agency, and a $10 service fee will be added to their account. The collection agency, Unique Management, will send three letters and make two phone calls to the patron. Patrons who do not return library materials or pay fines after being contacted by the collection agency will have their account information sent to a credit reporting agency.
Our Collections
In addition to a collection of over 64,000 fiction and nonfiction books, the Library has a variety of other materials you may want to check out.
Periodicals
The Library subscribes to many local and national magazines and newspapers. Back issues of magazines are available for check-out.
Online versions of local, national, and international newspapers and magazines, and a large selection of academic journals are available through the Library's Internet terminals or from this Web site. Please ask for assistance if you need it in using our online magazine databases.
Pamphlet file
The pamphlet file contains pamphlets, government publications, and privately printed material of all kinds.
Paperback exchange
A selection of donated paperbacks is found in the front foyer. Take home whatever you like, return them when you're finished, and bring in any of your own that you'd like to exchange.
Videos
The library has an established collection of thousands of videocassettes and a newer, growing collection of movies on DVD. We have both feature films and nonfiction films on subjects as diverse as travel, history, cooking, parenting, and home improvement.
Music
Our collection of music on compact disc includes offerings in all the major categories of popular music, classical music, jazz, gospel, and world music.
Recorded books
We have recorded books on tape and on compact disc, in both abridged and unabridged editions.
Special Juvenile Collections
In addition to the same types of items offered in the adult collection, our Children’s Library also has these special items:
Discovery Packs (jDDP)
Discovery Packs are backpacks of books, videos, audio cassettes, games, models and puzzles available for checkout to enrich preschool, primary and upper elementary (intermediate) curricula.
The packs may be checked out by Webster Groves teachers for 6 weeks (42 days, no renewals). Although the Discovery Packs are primarily designed for teachers, other adult patrons may check them out for 2 weeks (14 days), and they can be renewed as long as the pack isn’t reserved for another patron. Discovery Packs may not be checked out on juvenile cards.
The packs should only be checked out and returned in the Children’s Department. Please do not return Discovery Packs in the outside book drops!
If an individual item is lost or damaged from the Discovery Pack the patron may be responsible for paying the replacement cost for the entire Pack, unless that particular item (video tape, book, puzzle, etc.) is available for individual re-purchase.
List of Discovery Packs and age levels.
Juvenile book-and-tape sets (jBAT)
Ideal for learning readers, these are sets that include a book and a tape-recorded reading of that book.
Parent/teacher collection (PT)
A collection of mostly adult books shelved in the Children’s Room, meant to pull together the library’s resources of interest to parents and teachers.
Reference
Our reference librarians will try to answer your questions or direct you to someone who can. Call 314.961.7277 or e-mail your questions.
We maintain a reference room with standard print sources, many of them updated yearly, to assist in finding whatever information you need.
If you prefer online searches, we have a number of public access PC’s that will take you to the resources of the World Wide Web and a number of other online databases. Our reference librarians are always available to advise and help make your searches more productive.
Special Interests
Internet
Computer terminals to access the Internet are available, subject to Library rules and regulations. The time limit is 30 minutes. If there is no one waiting, you can stay on longer. Sign up by presenting your currently valid Library card at the Reference Desk.
The Library is also a wireless Internet hotspot. Patrons with wifi-capable notebook computers are able to access the Internet within the Library.
Word Processing
Several of our public computer terminals have word processing software on them. Sign up for one using your currently valid Library card.
Business and personal finance
The library subscribes to several personal finance reporting services, such as Value Line Investment Survey, Morningstar Mutual Funds, The Kiplinger Letter and Standard & Poor’s Stock Guide.
We also have standard directories such as Sorkin's Directory of Business & Government, Brands and Their Companies and The American Big Business Directory, and the online directory Business Source Premier.
We also receive Wall Street Journal, Investor’s Business Daily, Barron’s and St. Louis Business Journal.
Consumer Publications
Titles include Consumer Reports, NADA Used-Car Guide, and others.
Income tax
During tax season we keep a selection of the most used Missouri state and federal forms and schedules. In the off-season, all forms – including forms from other states, are available from the Internet at a cost of 10 cents per page.
College information
The Reference Room has guides to colleges, scholarships and grants and recommendations, as well as study guides for the ACT, SAT and other standard entrance exams.
Children's Services
Books
The Children's Room has books for all age levels, from pre-school through junior high.
Periodicals
Current issues of popular children's magazines are kept in the Children's Room. Back issues may be checked out.
Reference
Our librarians are always available to help students find the books and information they need for homework, hobbies and other research.
Story hours
The Children's Room has regularly scheduled story hours for young children, as well as special story hours for holidays. Check out our schedule of events.
Summer reading program
Every summer, the Children's Room offers a summer reading program for children from first grade through junior high. Watch for our announcements toward the end of each school year.
Young adult books
YA fiction is found in the southeast corner of the Reading Room. YA nonfiction is shelved with adult non-fiction. All young adult books will have a yellow spine label with the letters YA.
Safety policy
Please read our policy on children's safety in the library.
If you have any questions about Children's Room activities, call 314.961.7262 or send an e-mail.
|
