Library Policies and Usage
General Policies
Food and beverages are not permitted in the library, unless served as part of a library function.
We request that you do not use your mobile phone in the library. If possible, turn off your ringer. If you must take or make a call, please do so outside or in the lobby.
Borrowing Policies
- Membership
- Library cards are free to all residents of Allegheny County. To obtain a library card, you must have a current ID and proof of address. A Pennsylvania state ID or driver's license counts as both; other forms of ID are acceptable with an official proof of address, such as a pay stub, utility bill, or lease with your name and address on it. (Junk mail and handwritten letters do not count as proof of address.)
- Children under 18 must have a parent or legal guardian present to obtain a library card.
- Cards are valid for two years from the date of issue. To renew your card, present your old card and verify your information. Children may renew their cards without a parent or guardian present.
- The fee to replace a lost card is $1.00.
- Loan Periods
- The majority of materials circulate for 21 days. Videos (VHS and DVD), music CDs, and magazines circulate for 7 days.
- Renewals
- Most items can be renewed two times. 21-day materials can be renewed online, over the phone, or at the library. Some 7-day materials may not be renewed. Call or ask at the desk for assistance.
- Borrowing Limits
- You may have a maximum of fifty (50) items out at one time, including a maximum of ten (10) audio CDs, five (5) DVDs, and five (5) VHS cassettes.
- Overdue Fees
- Dormont Public Library fines for printed materials are 15¢ per day, and fines for audiovisual materials (including DVDs, VHS cassettes, music CDs, and audiobooks) are 50¢ per day. There are additional charges for damaged and/or lost items. The maximum will not exceed the cost of the item plus a processing fee. If your cumulative fines rise above ten dollars ($10), you will be blocked from checking out any materials until your fines are paid.
- Fines of $2.00 or more can be paid online using a Visa, MasterCard, or Discover Card.
- Materials from Other County Libraries
- Any materials checked out at Dormont Library are subject to our borrowing rules and fines, even if the item was ordered from another county library.
Usage
- Availability of Items
- Your Dormont Library card may be used to borrow materials from all libraries in Allegheny County, including the Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh. If you currently have a valid library card with another county library, you may use that card at Dormont Library.
- Materials checked out from Dormont Library may be returned at any county library. Materials checked out from other county libraries may be returned to Dormont Library.
- If the item you are looking for is not at Dormont Library, you can reserve the item from another Allegheny County library. The requested item will be delivered to Dormont Library and we will notify you by phone or email when the item arrives. If the item cannot be found in the Allegheny County library system, we still may be able to locate it via interlibrary loan. Interlibrary loans may rarely be accompanied by a fee; we will notify you if this is the case. You can have a maximum of fifty (50) requests open at one time.
- Catalog Access
- The catalog is a public-access catalog available through any of the library workstations or from any computer with internet access. It may be accessed from our homepage, which is displayed on all library computers. Searches may be done using title, author, or keyword. The catalog includes all items held by Allegheny County libraries. Materials in the Dormont Public Library are clearly designated 'Dormont Public Library'.
Unattended Child Policy
Any child under the age of 9 years old has to be supervised by a person at least 15 years of age or older.
Any child under the age of 5 must be supervised and in the caretaker's visual sight at all times.
This policy shall apply to staff and their families as well as patrons.
Computer and Internet Usage Policies
Purpose
In response to advances in technology and the changing information needs of the community, the Dormont Public Library strives to develop collections, resources, and services that meet the cultural, informational, educational and recreational needs of our diverse community. It is within this context that the library offers access to the Internet.
Computer Use Guidelines
In an effort to ensure that the use of the Internet is consistent with the mission of the Dormont Public Library the following shall apply:
- Use of the computers is free to the public with a valid library card.
- Printing is $.20 per page for black and white, and $.50 per page for color. The printing fee is still charged even if you provide your own paper.
- Computers may not be reserved. They are available on a first come first served basis. If all computers are in use, ask a staff member to be added to the waiting list.
- Sessions on the public computers are limited to 30 minutes, but may be renewed twice if no other patrons are waiting. Each extension adds 30 minutes, for a maximum session of 90 minutes.
- After a session expires or a patron logs out, they must wait five minutes before logging back in again.
- The use of chat rooms is prohibited.
- Parents must accompany children under the age of nine when using the computers.
- Not all computers are equipped with the same software. The staff reserves the right to ask a patron to switch to a different computer if another patron has need of the software on that computer.
- Patrons who wish to hear audio content on Library computers must use headphones. The Library does not provide headphones.
- Patrons may bring USB flash drives or blank CDs/DVDs to store their files. The Library does not sell flash drives or blank media.
- Patrons may not load programs onto the Library computer hard drives or run unapproved software from CD-ROMs, flash drives, or any other device.
- The Library is not responsible for damage to disks, for any loss of data, or damage or liability that may occur from a patron's use of the library's computers.
- Internet use will be managed in a manner consistent with the Library's policy on acceptable use. The Internet workstation must be used in a responsible manner, respecting the rights of other users. Users may not make any attempt to damage computer equipment or software. Computer and internet settings may not be changed. Users may not use the network to make unauthorized entry into other computational, informational, or communication services or resources. Users may not invade the privacy of others or engage in any activity that is harassing or defamatory.
Policy Regarding Access to Internet Resources
The Internet is a global communications network and information resource. As a result the information on the internet is as varied as its many users. The Dormont Public Library does not monitor and has no control over the information available through this resource. The Library cannot assume responsibility for the accuracy, quality, or timeliness of Internet information. Some information on the Internet may be considered controversial in nature. The determination of viability and usefulness of Internet information falls upon the patron.
Users should be aware that the internet is not a secure medium and that third parties may be able to obtain information regarding users' activities on the Internet. The Dormont Public Library however will not release information on the use of specific Internet resources by members of the public except as required by law or necessary for the proper operation of the library.
The Dormont Public Library assumes no responsibility for any damages, direct or indirect, arising from the use of its computing resources.
Internet workstations cannot be used for any fraudulent purpose, including any activities prohibited under applicable Federal, Pennsylvania, or local laws. Users may not display and/or print materials that may be unlawful.
Material on the Internet and the World Wide Web is copyrighted. it is the user's responsibility to be aware of the display of any notices concerning the copyright of information on the Web and to respect the copyright laws of the United States.
Internet resources through the Library are provided equally to all users regardless of age. The Library upholds and affirms the right of each individual to access constitutionally protected material. A minor's access to the Internet, as well as access to all other materials, is the sole responsibility of the parent or legal guardian. The Library strongly encourages parents or legal guardians to supervise their children's Internet use and to provide them with guidelines about acceptable use. It is the responsibility of parents and/or guardians to instruct their children not to give private information about themselves or others, when using web sites or e-mail. The Library does not have the right or responsibility to determine the appropriateness of a particular resource for any minor. However, in no event is any person under the age of 18 permitted to view any obscene and other sexually explicit materials and performances as defined and described in 18 Pa. C.S. 5903 and any amendments thereto.
The Dormont Public Library is committed to providing an environment free from sexual harassment. Adults may be advised that while accessing and viewing sexual materials is within the law for an adult, the risk of exposure to minors and the consequences of being 'harmful to minors' are significant. When children are in the proximity or even if another adult is expressly offended, the patron viewing such materials may be asked to close a website. Users may not display on screens and/or printers materials that may be unlawful or prohibited under any applicable federal, Pennsylvania, or local laws. The Library staff will be the sole arbiter of what constitutes unacceptable content. The library staff reserves the right to end an internet session at any time if it is creating a disturbance.
CIPA Compliance
The Children's Internet Protection Act (CIPA) is the federal law that requires all computers in a public library to be filtered if that library accepts any federal funds for Internet access or computers used for Internet access. [Supreme Court decision: United States v. American Library Ass'n, Inc. No. 02-361 (June 23, 2003)]. The Dormont Public Library complies with the requirements of CIPA.
All computers in the Dormont Public Library are filtered. Please be aware that filters are unreliable, at time blocking sites of legitimate information or educational value, or allowing access to sites that are illegal, obscene or sexually explicit within the meaning of 18 Pa. Cons. Stat. Sec. 5903.
The Dormont library uses filtering software that blocks or filters Internet access to some Internet sites that may not be consistent with the policy of the Dormont Library.
Parents or legal guardians, and not the Library or its staff, remain responsible for monitoring their children's use of the Internet and for the information selected and/or accessed by their children. the Library strongly encourages parents or legal guardians to supervise their children's Internet use and to provide them with guidelines about acceptable use.
The Dormont Library computers cannot be used for any fraudulent or unlawful purposes, including any activities prohibited under any applicable federal, Pennsylvania, or local laws, including activities in violation of 18 Pa. Cons. Stat. Sec. 5903, which prohibits certain acts of public indecency.
Any adult (17 years of age or older, as defined by CIPA) may request that the filter or technology protection measure be disabled without significant delay by a Dormont Public Library staff member authorized by the Library director, consistent with the privacy policy of the Dormont Public Library.
An authorized Dormont Public Library staff member may override the filer or technology protection measure for a minor (age 16 years or younger, as defined by CIPA) in the event that the filter wrongly blocks or filters Internet access to a site with legitimate information value.
The Dormont Public Library cannot be responsible for any patron's unauthorized use of a computer with a disabled filter.
Compliance with Library Policy Guidelines
Violation of the policies and regulations that govern the use of the Library's Internet resources may result in suspension or loss of the privilege to use these resources. Any illegal activity involving the Library's Internet resources or equipment will be subject to prosecution by the appropriate authorities. The Library reserves the right to take appropriate action to ensure compliance with this policy. This policy may be revised from time to time.
Complaint Procedure
Any patron who wishes to file a complaint about the filtering software on the library computers may do so within thirty (30) days to:
- The Library Director and/or the Library Board President.
- The Director of the Electronic Information Network.
- The Federal Communications Commission.